Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus evaluate: Two-minute evaluate
The Galaxy S25 Plus is significantly better than adequate. For a couple of hundred greater than the Galaxy S25 you’re getting a serious improve over that telephone – a lot larger than the step up from the Plus to the Galaxy S25 Ultra. In case you’re in search of a larger-screen Android telephone and also you just like the scent of what Samsung is cooking, the Galaxy S25 Plus is straightforward to suggest. It does all the pieces effectively, and also you gained’t be losing your money and time on options you don’t want.
Don’t name the Galaxy S25 Plus a Goldilocks telephone. It isn’t only a barely larger Galaxy S25, or a barely cheaper Galaxy S25 Extremely. The display screen dimension is definitely within the center, fractionally smaller than the Extremely show, nevertheless it seems like a a lot bigger telephone in comparison with the Galaxy S25’s extra pocket-friendly dimension.
The Galaxy S25 Plus’s secret weapon is its show. It packs the identical variety of pixels because the bigger S25 Extremely, however extra densely right into a 6.7-inch panel, as an alternative of the 6.9 inches of the Extremely. Which means it’s technically Samsung’s sharpest telephone display screen, with the next pixel density than the dearer flagship, even when you may not discover the distinction in day-to-day use.
What else do you get with the Galaxy S25 Plus, apart from the most effective show? The Plus costs a bit quicker, as much as 45W, than the Galaxy S25, which costs at as much as 25W. After all it has a bigger battery inside as effectively, which interprets to longer battery life. In our battery exams, the S25 Plus really beat the S25 Extremely by 10 minutes – a pleasant win contemplating it has a barely smaller battery cell.
One other enjoyable benefit the Galaxy S25 Plus has over the Extremely is the selection of colours. Samsung despatched me the S25 Plus in blue, and it is the nicest-looking blue telephone I’ve ever seen. It’s a deep, wealthy hue that modifications because it refracts gentle. I’m virtually relieved that I didn’t get a case with it, as a result of I like displaying off this telephone.
Throughout my evaluate interval, the Galaxy S25 Plus was a pleasure to make use of, and I discovered myself utilizing the bigger Plus far more usually than the smaller Galaxy S25. I cherished having extra display screen actual property, particularly when it got here to taking pictures photographs.
I want I had extra to say about Galaxy AI, however within the two weeks I spent with the telephone, it didn’t do very a lot. I used to be anticipating extra solutions and suggestions, if not a whole AI takeover like we’re seeing with Apple Intelligence. As an alternative, throughout my time with the Galaxy S25 Plus, Galaxy AI was… quiet?
I didn’t thoughts. The Galaxy S25 Plus is stable, actually pleasing in virtually each method – and I ponder if extra AI would have made my expertise worse, somewhat than higher.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus evaluate: Value and availability
- Out there for $999 / £999 / AU$1,699 with 256GB of storage
- Higher show than Galaxy S25, cameras a step down from S25 Extremely
Whereas Apple costs $100 / £100 / AU$200 for its ‘Plus’ iPhone 16 over the smaller mannequin, Samsung asks for extra whenever you improve to Plus, and it provides you extra. The Galaxy S25 Plus isn’t only a bigger model of the Galaxy S25; it’s a step up when it comes to the show, and it has higher battery life with quicker charging. Frankly, that places the Galaxy S25 Extremely in a precarious place, priced as it’s above the $1,000 / £1,000 threshold.
What the Galaxy S25 Plus lacks, in comparison with the flagship Extremely, is the most effective cameras Samsung presents. The Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus have the identical cameras as final yr’s Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus, and admittedly these cameras look suspiciously much like the Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus. If you’d like Samsung’s finest cameras, and among the finest digital camera telephones you should buy, you’ll must pay an exorbitant $300 / £250 / AU$450 premium, though you do additionally get the S Pen.
The Galaxy S25 Plus comes within the brighter, extra vibrant colours that you just’ll additionally discover on the Galaxy S25, not the made-for-business hues of the Galaxy S25 Extremely. My evaluate pattern is, to my thoughts, the most effective coloration, the hanging Navy Blue; you additionally get the Plus in Icyblue, Mint, and Silver Shadow, together with some unique colours that Samsung is saving for its personal net retailer.
At this value tier the competitors is particularly fierce. You’ll be able to forgo the essential iPhone 16 and get the titanium iPhone 16 Pro. You may get a Google Pixel 9 Pro for across the similar value, however the Pixel telephone usually drops nearer to the Galaxy S25’s value stage, so it may well look a discount subsequent to the Samsung. The OnePlus 13 is cheaper than the Galaxy S25 Plus, and OnePlus has a perpetual trade-in deal within the US that retains the ultimate value even decrease.
I’m simply saying, this telephone is an efficient selection, however it will be even simpler to suggest if it had some new, wonderful cameras.
| Storage | US value | UK value | AU value |
| 256GB | $999 | £999 | AU$1,699 |
| 512GB | $1,199 | £1,099 | AU$1,899 |
Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus evaluate: Specs
The Galaxy S25 Plus provides you greater than only a larger show and battery, in comparison with the Galaxy S25. The show is far larger, a full half-inch diagonally, which makes the telephone appear a complete bigger class of gadget. It’s additionally a greater show, with extra pixels per inch, making it appear only a contact sharper than the Galaxy S25 – as talked about, it’s technically extra sharp than even the Galaxy S25 Extremely.
You additionally get a much bigger battery within the Galaxy S25 Plus than within the Galaxy S25 Extremely, and Samsung additionally will increase the charging velocity to 45W versus the Galaxy S25’s 25W charging. In our testing, that translated to about 10% extra battery each quarter-hour of charging, a pleasant little increase.
The Galaxy S25 Plus begins with 256GB of storage, which is twice what a lot of the world will discover on the bottom mannequin Galaxy S25. Each Galaxy S25 mannequin, together with the Plus and Extremely, comes with 12GB of RAM inside.
Samsung presents sufficient of a spec bump with the Galaxy S25 Plus to justify its value soar over the Galaxy S25, however I ponder if it may have made higher selections. At this value vary, Apple, Google, and OnePlus provide the finest cameras these telephone makers supply. With Samsung, you continue to must spend extra to get the most effective cameras, and you then’ll find yourself with the Extremely, which is likely to be extra telephone than you want, and more cash than you’d wish to spend.
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Samsung Galaxy S25 |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 158.4 x 75.8 x 7.3mm |
| Weight | 190g |
| OS | OneUI 7, Android 15. 7 main Android upgrades promised. |
| Show | 6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy |
| RAM | 12GB |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB |
| Battery | 4,900mAh |
| Rear cameras | 50MP important, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto |
| Entrance digital camera | 12MP |
| Charging | 45W wired, 15W wi-fi |
Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus evaluate: Design
- A lot larger than the Galaxy S25, not a lot smaller than the Extremely
- Half the buttons of an iPhone 16
Samsung has stagnated with regards to its telephone design, and the Galaxy S25 Plus appears to be like identical to the Galaxy S25, in addition to the Galaxy S24 and S23. That’s not the worst factor – the Galaxy S25 Plus seems like a elegant, well-built, premium smartphone – nevertheless it additionally seems like a missed alternative.
Possibly Samsung doesn’t want a full redesign, however can’t we at the least have another button? When the iPhone 16 received the Digicam Management and an Motion button I predicted that Samsung would finally catch up; however the Galaxy S25 was already too far alongside, I suppose, for Samsung so as to add extra {hardware} to maintain parity with Apple’s base mannequin iPhone.
The Galaxy S25 Plus simply wants… one thing. The aspect button can now activate Google Gemini, along with Bixby, however I sort of like utilizing that button for Bixby, to activate the flashlight or activate my Wi-Fi hotspot. I don’t want a Gemini button; I need my {hardware} buttons to manage the {hardware}.
I’d like to see Samsung nail the digital camera button, as a result of Apple left me wanting one thing softer, with extra journey. Or possibly a temperature sensor, just like the Pixel 9 Professional. Or possibly an infrared emitter to manage my dwelling gear, just like the OnePlus 13. See, the Galaxy S25 Plus wants one thing, as a result of the competitors is providing increasingly more for a similar value, or much less.
Additionally, the general design hews too near the iPhone… once more. In case you’d by no means seen a smartphone and I handed you a Galaxy S25 Plus and an iPhone 16 Plus, you’d suppose they have been made by the identical individuals. That’s a backhanded praise, however Google, OnePlus, and even Motorola have proven us that there’s room for originality in telephone supplies and design – not each handset must be hazy glass and metallic slabs with rounded corners, and cameras within the upper-left nook.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus evaluate: Show
- Greater decision than the Galaxy S25, not simply larger
- Fingerprint scanner didn’t work persistently
The Galaxy S25 Plus has a improbable show, and it is likely to be Samsung’s finest, on paper at the least. As an alternative of blowing up the Galaxy S25 show, with its decrease decision, Samsung shrank the Galaxy S25 Extremely show a bit, so each telephones pack the identical pixels. As a result of the S25 Plus is a bit smaller, it packs these pixels extra tightly, leading to a show that’s technically sharper. I couldn’t see a distinction from the Extremely, however the step up from the smaller Galaxy S25 is noticeable, and important.
The Galaxy S25 Plus is particularly vibrant, which helps when it’s essential use the telephone open air. This telephone is nice for taking photographs, as a result of the viewfinder is straightforward to see in any scenario, and I most well-liked taking pictures with the bigger S25 Plus versus the Galaxy S25 as a result of the bigger show made it simpler to see my topics.
The Galaxy S25 Plus, just like the S25 Extremely, will get Samsung’s new ProScaler know-how, which the telephone maker says it’s borrowed from the Samsung TV group. This tech is meant to upscale the decision on any video content material you watch on the Galaxy S25 Plus. It gained’t change the body fee, so that you gained’t get the bizarre movement impact you see on some TVs; it simply improves the decision.
In observe, I didn’t discover a lot distinction between common HD video high quality on this telephone and the smaller Galaxy S25. If I paused a video, I may see much less blurriness on the Plus, nevertheless it wasn’t noticeable whereas the video was enjoying.
Just like the Galaxy S25, the Galaxy S25 Plus has a fingerprint scanner that gave me some hassle. About as soon as a day it did not open for my fingerprint, and I had to make use of my password as an alternative. I’ve seen far more dependable scanning from opponents, particularly the OnePlus 13.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus evaluate: Software program
- Samsung One UI is colourful however extra polished than ever
- Galaxy AI isn’t overbearing, at the least not but
I normally complain about Samsung telephone software program – I discover the settings and the sheer variety of options and choices to be complicated and extreme. On this case, I’m going to let issues slide. The Galaxy S25 Plus has the most recent One UI 7 model of Android 15 from Samsung, and it appears to be like good. It’s colourful and authentic, and it nonetheless presents loads of customization, however now the telephone does extra of the give you the results you want, due to improved AI.
For example, each time I opened the Widgets menu so as to add a brand new widget to my dwelling display screen, the Galaxy S25 Plus had new solutions for me – and so they weren’t unhealthy! I discovered some helpful widgets this manner, despite the fact that I’m undecided what standards the AI makes use of to resolve what I’d like. The Galaxy S25 Plus additionally did a superb job with different solutions, like suggesting replies to textual content messages, or suggesting edits within the picture Gallery app.
One way or the other Samsung has struck the most effective stability between highly effective AI and obtrusive AI of any telephone maker. Galaxy AI seems within the type of solutions, not calls for. You’ll be able to virtually ignore the AI options fully, or simply have all the AI outcomes computed in your telephone, as an alternative of within the cloud. It is a properly measured strategy to cell AI, and Samsung is doing it finest.
I additionally recognize the enhancements to Samsung’s personal Bixby AI. Bixby is healthier than ever at discovering and controlling options in your telephone. We’re nonetheless not on the end line – I believe Bixby may change into much more useful if it may clarify issues higher. Nonetheless, for locating options and taking actions on the telephone, Bixby is the most effective AI, higher than Siri or Gemini, for positive.
Sadly, Bixby has been reduce off from a lot of the Galaxy S25 Plus. At startup, your telephone encourages you to make Gemini your side-button companion, relegating Bixby to the settings menu or its personal Bixby app. I fear that most individuals gained’t discover my pal Bixby, which makes me unhappy, as a result of Bixby has lastly gotten sensible sufficient to be attention-grabbing.
It’s nonetheless early days for all of this cell AI stuff, and even new telephones just like the Galaxy S25 Plus may have years to enhance, with Samsung promising seven full Android OS updates. As my telephone collects extra knowledge about me and learns to do extra itself, and as soon as Samsung figures out the right way to combine Gemini and Bixby correctly, I believe Samsung may have the most effective cell AI gadget round.
For now, the AI simply doesn’t do a lot, and I’m superb with that – it doesn’t do too a lot. I want it did all the pieces Samsung promised at launch, like turning off my TV after I go to sleep or suggesting higher lighting for mattress time. We’ll get there. For now, I’m simply having fun with the solutions.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus evaluate: Cameras
- Strong cameras that work effectively in a wide range of conditions
- Nice professional settings, although some require further downloads
The Galaxy S25 Plus takes nice photographs, and I particularly like Samsung’s Digicam app for all of its taking pictures modes, although it may well get a bit complicated, in traditional Samsung fashion. In case you like taking pictures vibrant blue skies, crispy croissants, and colourful crowds, the Galaxy S25 Plus is the correct digital camera for you, as a result of Samsung excels at photographs which might be meant for sharing.
You gained’t get probably the most correct colours or probably the most element, however the Galaxy S25 Plus may be very dependable, and I knew it may seize low-light photographs and get me the small print I wished, or close-up macro photographs to catch that bug earlier than it skittered away. It feels versatile, and there’s no scenario it may well’t deal with.
There are, maybe, a pair too many taking pictures modes. There’s a Professional mode, in addition to Professional Video, and you will get much more Professional and change into an Professional Uncooked person. Professional Uncooked is a separate app, although you entry it by means of the Digicam, and it provides you options like astrophotography and much more picture controls.
In case you shoot principally video, the Galaxy S25 Plus now helps Log file recording, which provides you far more management over your coloration profile on the modifying stage. The utmost video decision is 8K at 30fps, which is higher-resolution than any monitor I personal.
I’m skeptical about AI picture modifying, however the Galaxy AI instruments have change into actually spectacular. For enjoyable, I made a decision to chop my exes out of previous pictures, and the Galaxy S25 Plus gave me good selfie photographs in romantic places – no one else included. It even managed to create correct folds in my pullover, or add panorama to fill within the blanks. Solely the closest scrutiny would trigger a viewer to suspect the picture was altered by AI, have been it not for the ‘AI-generated content material’ brand that seems on the backside after you make such modifications.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus evaluate: Digicam samples
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Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus evaluate: Efficiency
- High-ranking efficiency from the Snapdragon 8 Elite
- The place does all that energy go? It’s exhausting to inform
The Galaxy S25 Plus is without doubt one of the best-performing telephones I’ve ever examined, matched solely by the opposite two Galaxy S25 gadgets. That’s due to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset inside, a bespoke model of Qualcomm’s Elite cell platform that has been simply barely overclocked for Samsung, and whereas it’s sufficient for Samsung to assert bragging rights, this processor was already a lot quick.
The truth is, I’m undecided why I would like all that energy? Final yr’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 may already run all the finest Android cell video games on the prime efficiency settings. What’s above the highest? Samsung hasn’t executed a lot visually to benefit from the improved efficiency, although I think that the Galaxy AI options, particularly the AI options that can finally come to this telephone, will take up a lot of the processor’s clock time.
For now, you possibly can select to run a lot of the Galaxy AI computations on the telephone as an alternative of sending that work to the cloud, when you’re particularly safety acutely aware or nervous concerning the affect on the setting.
You too can run DeX, Samsung’s desktop setting, although DeX is wanting increasingly more cell lately, extra like an enormous iPad than a Chromebook. If you wish to get some work executed on a much bigger display screen, and with a much bigger keyboard, and a mouse even, you possibly can plug all of these into the USB port on the Galaxy S25 Plus (or join wirelessly), and also you all of a sudden have a mini desktop laptop. It’s fairly candy for the correct circumstance, like answering work emails or trying out photographs on an enormous display screen.
I nonetheless surprise if it’s time for the Galaxy collection to step as much as a extra superior expertise. I’d like to see extra desktop-level apps, like an actual Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom, for the reason that Snapdragon appears to have that sort of energy. I haven’t seen enormous enhancements in Android apps for some time, apart from some selection video games, which the Galaxy S25 Plus can deal with simply, with all of the ray tracing and pixel pushing required.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus evaluate: Battery
- Finest battery lifetime of the Galaxy S25 household
- Sooner charging than the Galaxy S25
Battery life on the Galaxy S25 Plus is outstanding. The telephone simply lasted by means of a full day in my time utilizing it for work and play alike, and doubtless may have made it by means of two days with extra conservative utilization – however I take lots of photographs.
Our Future Labs testing agrees. In our battery rundown check, the Galaxy S25 Plus is our new Samsung battery champ, beating even the Galaxy S25 Extremely, which is odd contemplating that the Extremely has a barely bigger battery. The S25 Plus lasted 18 hours and 45 minutes, whereas the Extremely lasted 18 hours and 35 minutes. Each of these are stellar outcomes. The smaller Galaxy S25 was additionally admirable, nevertheless it lasted lower than 16 hours in our testing; so in order for you the most effective battery from a Samsung Galaxy, get the Galaxy S25 Plus.
That stated, the OnePlus 13 lasted 19 hours and 45 minutes in the identical battery rundown check, making it our outright battery champ, however all of those telephones will simply get you thru an lively day of use.
The Galaxy S25 Plus costs quicker than the opposite Galaxy telephones as effectively. With a 45W charger, you possibly can cost the S25 Plus to 70% in half-hour, and my telephone was absolutely charged inside 50 minutes. That’s quicker than the iPhone 16 or the Galaxy S25, which each max out at a slower 25W charging velocity. As soon as once more, nonetheless, the OnePlus 13 steps out forward with extremely quick 80W charging (with a 100W charger on the way in which).
It’s unusual that Samsung hasn’t improved its charging velocity, whether or not that’s for USB-C or wi-fi charging. Telephones from many Chinese language manufacturers can cost a lot quicker, however I assume that since Apple and Google aren’t competing with quicker charging, Samsung hasn’t stepped up. Hopefully we’ll see this enhance with within the subsequent technology.
| Worth | Well worth the premium over the Galaxy S25, with a show and battery life that beat the dearer Extremely. Nonetheless costly, however well worth the excessive value. | 4/5 |
| Design | A stable, refined look that hasn’t modified a lot through the years, and strongly resembles its largest rival. I’m prepared for one thing new, however this design is a traditional, with good coloration choices this yr. | 3/5 |
| Show | A improbable show that’s vibrant and colourful, making it straightforward to make use of in any scenario, even taking photographs in vibrant sunshine. I solely want the fingerprint scanner have been extra responsive, nevertheless it’s nonetheless an excellent display screen with minimal bezels. | 5/5 |
| Software program | Samsung has improved One UI with a refreshed look and brighter colours. The bloatware drawback is rising, although, and lots of the Galaxy AI options talked about at launch don’t present up on the telephone. | 3/5 |
| Cameras | Takes good photographs, however you will discover significantly better cameras on competing telephones, with larger sensors and extra pixels. It’s time for an Extremely-fied digital camera improve for the remainder of the Galaxy S25 lineup. | 4/5 |
| Efficiency | You gained’t discover a quicker telephone than the Galaxy S25 Plus, however what is going to you do with all that energy? This Snapdragon wins benchmark exams, however in real-world efficiency it’s much less obvious. Nonetheless, it’s the quickest telephone round, even when you can’t see it. | 5/5 |
| Battery | Wonderful battery life, topping even the Galaxy S25 Extremely, however the OnePlus 13 is way extra spectacular, with longer battery life and far quicker charging. It’s time for Samsung to catch up if it needs to stay on the prime. | 4/5 |
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus evaluate: Additionally contemplate
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus | OnePlus 13 | Galaxy S25 Extremely |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value: | $999 / £999 / AU$1,699 | $899.99 / £899 | $1,299 / £1,249 / AU$2,149 |
| Show: | 6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED | 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED | 6.9-inch LTPO AMOLED |
| Cameras: | 50MP important, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP 3x telephoto | 50MP important; 50MP 3x telephoto; 50MP ultra-wide | 200MP important, 50MP ultra-wide, 10MP 3x telephoto, 50MP 5x telephoto |
| Battery Life HH:MM (Future Labs check): | 18:46 | 19:45 | 18:35 |
How I examined the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus
- I examined the telephone for 2 weeks
- I took dozens of photographs
- I performed video games and watched motion pictures
- I checked e-mail and labored in Slack
- I used AI options extensively
- Benchmark testing is for comparability, not scoring functions
I obtained the Galaxy S25 Plus virtually two weeks earlier than this evaluate was revealed. I examined the telephone extensively, alongside the Galaxy S25, utilizing the identical work and private apps and accounts on every.
I used the Galaxy S25 Plus for taking photographs, speaking with work colleagues utilizing messages and Slack, and conducting video convention calls. I performed video games, and edited photographs from my Google Photos library.
I related the Galaxy S25 Plus to a Galaxy Watch Extremely and Galaxy Buds 3 Professional, provided by Samsung. I wore the Galaxy Watch to sleep, and let the Galaxy S25 Plus hearken to me as I slept. I additionally related an Xbox wi-fi controller to play video games. I related the S25 Plus to my automotive for Android Auto and multimedia. I related the telephone to my Steelseries USB-C keyboard, my MX Grasp mouse, and my Dell monitor for DeX capabilities.
I used Good Issues on the Galaxy S25 Plus to manage my dwelling thermostat, lights, safety, and tv. I used Gemini as my main side-button AI, however I additionally used Bixby extensively.
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