Abstract

• Galaxy S25+ presents a giant show, nice cameras, and stable battery life.
• The center baby in Samsung’s lineup is a worthy improve from older fashions.
• The Galaxy S25+ competes intently with the Extremely mannequin at a extra reasonably priced value.

The center baby in Samsung’s newest flagship telephone lineup, the Galaxy S25+, is considerably straightforward to miss. Nonetheless, that might be a mistake. Certain, it is virtually the identical because the Galaxy S24+ and the S23+ earlier than it, however it’s nonetheless a wonderful telephone for these trying to improve. It is so near being the Extremely I would argue that is the mannequin most individuals should purchase.

Value and Availability

The Samsung Galaxy S25+ is accessible in 4 fundamental colours: Navy, Silver Shadow, IcyBlue, and Mint. Moreover, unique colours on-line embody Coralred, Blueblack, and Pinkgold. The telephone begins at $999.99 with 256GB of built-in storage, or $1,119.99 for 512GB. Each fashions embody 12GB of RAM and are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Galaxy processor.

As common, Samsung (and each service) presents profitable trade-ins, so there is a good probability you possibly can get this telephone at a big low cost.

Extra of the Similar, However That is Okay

Everybody is looking Samsung’s Galaxy S25 sequence boring as a result of it’s so similar to last year’s, however that is okay. Most individuals do not improve yearly, so whereas they’re certainly practically similar, the Galaxy S25+ is stable for potential patrons who really want a brand new telephone.

Sure, this telephone is nearly the identical measurement, form, and design because the Galaxy S24+. That is irritating on a number of ranges, however Samsung is not the one one which performs this recreation. We have now the identical 6.7-inch show, practically similar cameras, the identical 4,900mAh battery with 45W charging, and many others., and many others.

What’s new, nevertheless, is the marginally slimmer bezels, lighter body, thinner design, upgraded Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, One UI 7, and some different issues. You probably have final yr’s mannequin, you most likely weren’t going to improve anyway. We’re simply at some extent the place {hardware} innovation has slowed, and types all over the place try to make use of software program and AI to exchange it, however extra on the AI stuff later.

The Galaxy S25+ is a well-designed, trendy telephone, similar to the prior mannequin. It appears good, feels good, and performs nice. My solely actual grievance concerning the {hardware} and design is that Samsung dropped the ball on Qi2 charging. They’re comfortable to say it is appropriate, however you will want a case with built-in magnets to reap the benefits of MagSafe equipment. And a bump within the digicam division would have been good.

Get This As a substitute of the Extremely

I’ve a confession to make. I acquired the Galaxy S25 Extremely and the Galaxy S25+ to match the 2 and resolve on which one to maintain. Ridiculous, I do know. Coming from the Galaxy S21 Extremely, I wished a giant Extremely telephone with one of the best digicam round. Truthfully, I do not want the S-Pen, and the loopy telephoto zoom lens is extra of a celebration trick than something.

When utilizing the Galaxy S25+ day in and time out, it was a transparent winner. The display is 6.7 inches vs. 6.9 inches on the Extremely, which is not that a lot. And also you get a 4,900 mAh battery that is solely 100mAh smaller. However due to the slim design, tiny bezels, and extra rounded edges, the in-hand really feel is leaps and bounds higher. Utilizing the Galaxy S25 Extremely all day is troublesome and tiring. The telephone is just too unwieldy. For 95% of the identical expertise, solely with a hair smaller display, the Galaxy S25+ delivers all the pieces I need and wish. And I will exit on a limb and say most individuals are in an analogous boat.

I returned the Ultra and kept the S25+. Taking a look at issues from a shopper’s perspective with a 2, 3, or 4-year-old telephone makes it clear how nice this center mannequin is. And, for the final two years, the Plus and Extremely fashions have been loads nearer by way of specs than ever earlier than—making it onerous to justify the larger, costlier variant.

Good Cameras, As Normal

When it comes to cameras, it is the identical setup as final yr, which delivers a stable all-around expertise like each different flagship Galaxy telephone. You may get pleasure from a 50MP fundamental digicam, 10MP telephoto with 3X optical zoom, and 12MP ultrawide digicam. All three lenses seize glorious pictures and movies stuffed with crisp particulars and wealthy saturation—one thing Samsung is thought for.

No, the Galaxy S25+ cannot zoom in so far as the Galaxy S25 Extremely, however that is a characteristic I did not use all that a lot on my final Extremely telephone, anyway. If you do must zoom in a bit, the S25+ is greater than succesful. I used to be pleasantly shocked by these punchy pictures.

Whether or not taking pictures indoors, in low-light conditions, or zooming in on a topic, I get persistently good outcomes, as anticipated. Utilizing portrait mode on my new child jogged my memory simply how nice Samsung’s Portrait mode actually is. Then, you can reap the benefits of all of the Galaxy AI modifying capabilities to take away topics from a photograph, eradicate shadows, and do different neat issues.

You may get no actual complaints from me within the digicam division.

A Refreshed But Comparable Software program Expertise (However With Extra AI)

Android purists and Pixel followers do not love Samsung’s One UI software program, however I believe it is nice and improves yearly. Samsung’s One UI 7, based mostly on Android 15, is quick, clean, and polished, however there are just a few new issues I each love and hate.

For starters, it has all the standard One UI parts, which means limitless customization and an expertise many Samsung followers get pleasure from. Then, there’s the “Now Bar,” which I absolutely love. It is a pill-shaped widget just like Apple’s Dynamic Island, solely it lives in your lock display or notification panel. When a sporting occasion I cared about was beginning, it pulled the information from Google Uncover and neatly displayed it for me. Following rating updates, navigation instructions, and different real-time info proper right here is enjoyable, new, and useful.

That very same space on the display can be used for “Now Transient,” a characteristic that is good in concept however not in apply. It is presupposed to be a day by day abstract (transient) of all the pieces essential, however I do not want one other place displaying me the climate or an upcoming calendar reminder. My teammate reviewing the S25 Ultra had similar conclusions.

This telephone is quick and fluid due to the Samsung 8 Elite processor and loads of RAM. My solely actual complaints in regards to the software program, or One UI 7, are the notification pulldown bar, notifications, and the battery icon. Samsung copied Apple and break up the notification pulldown bar into two completely different actions. Most swipes will present you notifications, whereas a swipe from the proper nook opens all the short settings and such. I shortly disabled this within the setting and returned to the outdated fashion.

Moreover, notifications from the identical app get stacked collectively and tossed into the standing bar, and I missed just a few essential alerts. This, too, might be reverted to the outdated lock display notification fashion. Why they made the change to start with is baffling.

AI, Battery Life, and Quick Charging

As anticipated, these new telephones are all about AI. We nonetheless have all these considerably helpful Galaxy AI features from final yr, and a brand new Google Gemini expertise. Lengthy-pressing the ability button fires up a succesful Gemini that may deal with multi-step duties to a level, however it’s fairly hit and miss. It is nice for alarms, reminders, and all the standard issues we do with Gemini. Plus, something is healthier than Bixby.

Different AI options embody pure language search within the settings menu, face-swap digicam instruments, background noise cancellation in video clips, generative modifying, and others.

For me, battery life and charging are much more crucial than AI, and I have been very impressed with this telephone. Efficiency is superb, but all that energy would not kill the battery. It simply lasts 24–36 hours, if no more, and I can cost it within the morning and never give it some thought once more till someday the following day. Standby battery is superb, and it will sip on juice when that fancy display is not actively scrolling social media or streaming Netflix.

The Galaxy S25 sequence would not have a charger within the field, which is not new. The previous few generations help a quicker 25w and even 45w charging. It is a bummer I’ve to purchase that individually, however no less than Samsung threw a 5A USB-C cable within the field that may reap the benefits of these speeds. This telephone is quick, lasts lengthy sufficient, and recharges extremely shortly. Battery life is not a priority.

Ought to You Purchase the Samsung Galaxy S25+?

So, is the Samsung Galaxy S25+ a telephone price shopping for? Completely. Is it straightforward to miss and virtually forgettable? Sure. That mentioned, so long as you do not have a Galaxy S24 sequence telephone, it is a stable improve throughout the board. It presents glorious efficiency, an attractive show, and stellar battery life—and it is not as huge because the Extremely.

You probably have any Galaxy S21 mannequin, Galaxy S22+, and even the Galaxy S22 Extremely, the most recent Galaxy S25+ is implausible and approach nearer to the Extremely this yr than the older generations. I would argue that is the Samsung Galaxy mannequin most individuals ought to get. Should you’ve ever owned a Samsung Galaxy, you realize what you are getting, and that is completely advantageous. Consistency would not must be a foul factor.

There’s nothing particular right here that we did not see final yr. These coming from an older telephone will adore it, and for everybody else with a Galaxy S24, there’s all the time subsequent yr.