Samsung Galaxy S25 Review: No Ultra, but Close Enough

Samsung Galaxy S25: A flagship phone worth considering

Samsung's latest flagship phone, Galaxy S25, may be easily overlooked, but this will be a mistake. While it's very similar to the predecessor Galaxy S24 and S23, it's still a great phone for those looking for an upgrade. It's very close to the Ultra model, and it's even arguably the one that most people should buy.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Highlights:

• Rating: 8/10
• Price: $1000 (256GB) / $1100 (512GB) Some merchants have discounts.
• 6.7-inch QHD Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 120Hz refresh rate , bringing a clear and smooth visual experience.
• Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, 12GB RAM, 4900mAh battery, supports 45W super fast charging 2.0, ensuring strong performance and long-lasting battery life.

Pros and disadvantages:

Pros:

• Large-sized, gorgeous display
• 7 years of software update and operating system support
• Excellent camera and long battery life

Deficiencies:

• AI features are not perfect
• It's too similar to previous generations

View on Samsung official website View on Amazon View on T-Mobile View on AT&T View on Verizon

>View on Verizon

>View on T-Mobile

Product Test Process

We conduct practical testing of each product to ensure it is worth the money.

Price and purchase channels

Samsung Galaxy S25 is available in four main colors: navy, silver shadow, ice blue and mint green, and exclusive online colors include coral red, blue black and rose gold. The 256GB version starts at $999.99, and the 512GB version is $1119.99. Both models are equipped with 12GB of RAM and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Galaxy processor. Samsung and various carriers often offer attractive trade-in offers, and you can get this phone for a much lower price.

Specification parameters

参数	说明
SoC	高通骁龙8 Elite for Galaxy
显示屏	6.7英寸，3120 x 1440，Dynamic AMOLED 2X，120Hz
RAM	12GB
存储空间	256GB，512GB
电池	4900 mAh
接口	USB-C
操作系统	Android 15 with One UI 7
前置摄像头	12MP f/2.2
后置摄像头	50MP f/1.8主摄，10MP f/2.4长焦，12MP f/2.2超广角
连接性	NFC，UWB
尺寸	158.4 x 75.8 x 7.3 mm
重量	190g
充电速度	45W
防护等级	IP68

The nuances from previous generations, but still outstanding

Some people think the Samsung Galaxy S25 series is boring because it is very similar to the previous generation. But for users who don't upgrade their phones every year, this is not a bad thing. The Galaxy S25 is nearly the same as the Galaxy S24 in terms of size, shape and design, but it has improvements like narrower bezels, a lighter body, a thinner design, an upgraded Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and One UI 7. If you own a model from last year, you may not be upgraded at all. Hardware innovation has slowed down, and brands are trying to make up for it with software and AI.

The Galaxy S25 is a well-designed, stylish phone. It has a beautiful appearance, comfortable feel and excellent performance. The only downside is that Samsung gave up Qi2 charging and needed to use a protective case with built-in magnets to use MagSafe accessories.

Why choose it over Ultra?

I bought the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Galaxy S25 to compare. The Galaxy S25 won the final victory. Its 6.7-inch screen is not much different from the Ultra's 6.9-inch screen, and the 4900mAh battery is only 100mAh smaller. But the grip feels better thanks to a slimmer design, smaller bezels and rounder edges. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is too bulky, and the Galaxy S25 offers almost the same experience and is easier to use. For most people, the Galaxy S25 is enough.

Excellent camera as always

The Galaxy S25 uses the same camera settings as the previous generation: a 50MP main camera, a 10MP 3x optical zoom telephoto lens and a 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens. All three lenses can capture clear and colorful photos and videos. While it doesn't have long-range zoom like the Galaxy S25 Ultra, it's zooming capability is enough for most cases.

Satisfactory results can be achieved whether it is indoors, low-light or zooming. Samsung's portrait mode also performed well.

Updated software experience (and more AI features)

One UI 7 is based on Android 15 and runs fast, has high fluency and has been improved. It contains all the commonly used One UI elements with unlimited customization options. I like the "Now Bar" feature, which is similar to Apple's Dynamic Island. It can display real-time information such as sports event scores, navigation routes, etc.

The "Now Brief" function is good in theory, but it is not practical in practice. It provides a summary of daily important events, but my calendar and weather app already provides that information.

AI, battery life and fast charging

The Galaxy S25 has many AI features, including natural language search in the settings menu, face switching camera tools, background noise cancellation in video clips, generative editing, etc. But these functions are not all very practical.

In terms of battery life and charging speed, the Galaxy S25 performs well, with easy battery life of 24-36 hours or even longer. Supports 45W fast charging and is very fast charging.

Is it worth buying?

Samsung Galaxy S25 is definitely worth buying. It offers excellent performance, a beautiful display and super long battery life, and isn't as bulky as the Ultra. If you are using a Galaxy S21, Galaxy S22, or Galaxy S22 Ultra, the Galaxy S25 will be an excellent upgrade option.

Samsung Galaxy S25

• Rating: 8/10
• Price: $1000 (256GB) / $1100 (512GB) Some merchants have discounts.

View on Samsung official website View on Amazon View on T-Mobile View on AT&T View on Verizon

>View on Verizon

>View on T-Mobile All in all, the Galaxy S25 is an excellent phone, and while not particularly stunning features, it performs well in every aspect and is an option that most users deserve to consider.

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