Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ review: More of the same, but with a wicked AI twist

Pros
- Phenomenal display, almost as good as the S25 Ultra
- Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy is a proper performance beast
- Solid, bankable camera array
- Samsung’s new Agentic AI
- Tons of new AI features in Galaxy AI
- Seven years of OS updates
- Both offer almost the same software experience as the S25 Ultra
- Galaxy S25 is the best compact phone on the market
- Galaxy S25 now starts with 12GB of RAM instead of 8

Cons
- Still 25W wired charging for Galaxy S25
- Both the devices could have been given Gorilla Armour glass from the S24 Ultra
- No major generational upgrades other than the SoC

Price:
S25+: Starts at Rs 99,999 for the 12GB+256GB unit
S25: Starts at Rs 80,999 for the 12GB+256GB unit

Rating:
S25+: 4.5/5
S25: 4.5/5

Samsung’s approach with the Galaxy S25 and S25+ looks almost identical to last year’s S24 and S24+, with no major changes to the design, display, cameras, or battery. If you were hoping for something fresh and exciting, you might be a little disappointed. But here’s the thing — what they lack in big upgrades, Samsung tries to make up for with Galaxy AI.

At first, all the AI talk felt like a marketing push, but after spending time with the S25 and S25+, I have to admit that some of these features are actually useful. Agentic AI makes navigating your phone easier with natural language commands, and Cross-App Actions allow apps to talk to each other in ways that make multitasking feel effortless.  

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The best part? These AI features aren’t limited to the Ultra model. The S25 and S25+ get the exact same AI-powered tools, making them a better value than past non-Ultra Galaxy flagships. But there’s a catch. Since these features rely on Google Gemini, they’re almost guaranteed to roll out to older Galaxy phones and other Android devices in the near future. This raises a big question: What happens when the new agentic features stop being exclusive to the S25 series?

Another concern is what happens after 2025 when Samsung stops offering Galaxy AI for free. Will it become a paid service? Will users get a limited number of AI requests or tokens per month? Samsung hasn’t given a clear answer yet, which makes it hard to tell whether these AI features will still be worth it in the long run.

So if you take away all the AI-powered magic, do the S25 and S25+ still hold up? Well, that depends. The cameras are the same as last year, the battery hasn’t changed. What has really changed is the performance. The boost from the new chipset is fantastic, but really hard to notice in day-to-day usage. Then, there is also no questioning the fact that in both, the Galaxy S25 and S25+ you get pretty fast, reliable, and well-built flagship devices both of which carry the best smartphone displays out there.

The S25 and S25+ don’t break new ground, but they’re solid, dependable flagships that bring consistency over bold innovation. Whether that’s enough to keep them competitive in a market full of ambitious rivals — well, that’s we had to find out.

Samsung Galaxy S25+ and Galaxy S25 Review: The design

As opposed to the S25 Ultra this year which saw a rather impressive design change, the Galaxy S25 and the Galaxy S25+ look pretty much the same as last year’s Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S4+ — at least until you pick the devices up and really start going through it with a fine-toothed comb.  

The Galaxy S25 is just a hair smaller and lighter than last year’s small S24. The same is the case with the S25+. The Galaxy S25, at 162gms, is about 5 grams lighter than the S24, whereas the S25+, at 190gms, is about 6 grams lighter than the S24+.  

What stands out though is just how thin the devices have become this year. The Galaxy S25 is now 7.2mm thick (as opposed to the 7.6mm of the S24) and the S25+ is about 7.3mm(as opposed to Galaxy S24+’s 7.7mm). Maybe that is why, for some reason, the S25+ has one of the best hand feel in any of the non-Ultra S series devices that I have tested in over three years.  

Both the devices lack the titanium frame and the Gorilla Armour glass that the Ultra devices come with, and instead make do with Samsung’s Aluminum Armor 2, and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 panels on the front and the back.  

Both the devices are IP68-rated for dust and water resistance. However, we are looking at competitors like OnePlus and even some budget offerings from the likes of Oppo and Realme who are pulling ahead in this area with their IP69 certification. Even the formidable S25 Ultra does not get the IP69 certification, so there’s that. The good thing though, is that Samsung has significantly increased the amount of recycled materials used across its line.

Focusing on the rear, we see that typical Samsung-esque design for the cameras, on both devices. All three cameras on the S25 and the S25+ are surrounded by metal rings with no shared big black blots or similar monstrosities. The three standalone rings are unintrusive and make for a seamless and simplistic design, timeless if you will.  

The rear panels, like the frame, have this matte finish, which helps a lot in hiding fingerprints.

For colours, the S25 is available in Navy, Icyblue, Silver Shadow and Mint in general. The S25+ on the other hand, only comes in Navy and Silver Shadow as standard. Both the devices are also available in a few special an exclusive colourways — like Blueblack, Coralred, and Pinkgold — exclusive to Samsung’s website.  

Coming to the front, we see nice, thin and even bezels on the displays of both phones. There is an under-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor on both devices, which works very well, is fast and reliable and does not need illumination as optical ones. The earpiece is so thin, almost invisible, but it is there and it appears nicely loud. It also doubles as a stereo speaker, as usual.

The placement of the button, ports and SIM tray is more or less the same as last year. The physical buttons in both the devices feel just as tactile and sharp as last year.  

Samsung Galaxy S25+ and Galaxy S25 Review: The display

Samsung knows how to make a killer display, and with the Galaxy S25 and S25+, that hasn’t changed. The screens on both phones are pretty much identical to what we got last year with the S24 and S24+, both in terms of design and specs. That might sound disappointing, but honestly, when the displays were already this good, it’s hard to complain.

The Galaxy S25 comes with a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel at 1080 x 2340 resolution, while the S25+ steps it up to 6.7 inches with a 1440 x 3120 resolution. Both phones offer a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and that familiar punch-hole front camera. Peak brightness still tops out at 2600 nits, meaning you won’t have any issues using your phone in bright sunlight.

One thing Samsung still refuses to add is Dolby Vision support. It’s not a dealbreaker, but if you’re big on streaming, you might feel like you’re missing out — especially when competitors offer it. That said, both phones do support Android Ultra HDR, HDR10 and HDR10+ so HDR content still looks fantastic, with deep contrast and punchy highlights.

The S25 and S25+ let you pick between Standard and Adaptive refresh rates. Standard mode locks things between 30Hz and 60Hz, but Adaptive mode can go up to 120Hz, depending on what’s on the screen. Scrolling and animations feel silky smooth, while static content like text or images keeps the refresh rate low to save battery. Both the devices will revert to 1Hz when showing something static.

Unlike the S25 Ultra, which gets the fancy new Gorilla Armor 2 with improved scratch resistance and reduced glare, the S25 and S25+ stick with Gorilla Glass Victus 2. That’s not a bad thing — the S24 and S24+, which had the Gorilla Glass Victus 2, were already great when it came scratch-resistance, plus they handled glare well, so durability should still be solid in the S25 devices. Its just that  it would’ve been nice to see the Gorilla Armor from the S254 Ultra trickle down to devices this year.

Samsung makes some of the best displays in the world, and it shows. Watching videos, playing games, or just scrolling through your phone looks stunning on these screens. The S25 and S25+ might not have the “Ultra” branding, but when it comes to display quality, they’re right up there with the best. We genuinely had a hard time in differentiating between the viewing experience offered by all three of the devices.

The colours are super vivid (maybe a bit too much out of the box, but you can tweak that in settings), the viewing angles are great, and because LTPO tech is in play, your always-on display can show wallpapers while sipping minimal battery.

While there are no big changes this year, that’s not a bad thing. The S25 and S25+ still have some of the best displays in the business — bright, smooth, and incredibly sharp. The lack of Dolby Vision and Gorilla Armor 2 might annoy some, but for most people, these screens will be an absolute joy to use. If you’re going for the S25 or S25+, rest assured — you’re getting a flagship-level display experience, even without the Ultra tag.

Samsung Galaxy S25+ and Galaxy S25 Review: The cameras

If you were hoping for major camera upgrades in the Galaxy S25 and S25+, you might be a little disappointed. Samsung has kept the exact same camera setup as the previous two generations, going all the way back to the S22 series. While that’s not necessarily a bad thing, it does feel like a missed opportunity, especially given the advancements seen in the S25 Ultra and even last year’s S24 Ultra.

Both the S25 and S25+ feature a 50MP main camera (Samsung ISOCELL GN3) with f/1.8 aperture, dual-pixel autofocus, and OIS. The 10MP telephoto camera (Samsung ISOCELL 3K1) offers 3x optical zoom with an f/2.4 aperture and OIS, while the 12MP ultrawide camera (Sony IMX564) has a fixed-focus f/2.2 lens.

For selfies, you get a 12MP front-facing camera, which, like the main shooter, can record at 4K60FPS. The main camera is also capable of 8K30FPS video recording, but the telephoto and ultrawide max out at 4K60FPS.

Despite the lack of hardware changes, we were really impressed with the image quality from both devices. Daylight shots look fantastic, with sharp details and vibrant colours. Interestingly, Samsung seems to have toned down its signature oversaturation, which has been a staple of Galaxy cameras for years. Instead, images look more natural and nuanced, still rich in contrast but not artificially boosted.

Autofocus had a few hiccups during our early tests, especially with fast-moving subjects, but after a couple of software updates, that issue was practically gone.

For close-ups, the 3x optical zoom delivers beautifully natural bokeh, as long as you maintain a good distance between the subject and the background. You can push digital zoom up to 30x, but at that level, image quality drops significantly — it’s fine for binocular-style viewing, but not for capturing usable photos.

In low light, the S25 and S25+ perform really well. There’s minimal grain, and colours remain accurate, with good contrast and balanced exposure. While Samsung’s Night Mode still steps in to brighten things up, it doesn’t go overboard, keeping a more natural look to nighttime shots.

Here are some image camera samples from the Galaxy S25+:

Here are some image camera samples from the Galaxy S25:

Coming to videos, the Pro Video mode adds 24FPS options for 4K and 8K, offering a more cinematic look. However, unlike the S25 Ultra, there’s no 4K120 option, which would have been great for high-frame-rate slow-motion recording.

One notable upgrade is HDR video recording, which has been bumped up to 10-bit HDR (previously 8-bit), making for richer colours and better dynamic range. Samsung has also introduced Galaxy Log video mode, allowing users to shoot in a flatter colour profile for advanced colour grading later — perfect for video editors.

By default, the S25 and S25+ record in h.265 (HEVC), balancing file size and quality, though you can switch to h.264 if you prefer.

Every camera mode includes video stabilization, but you can turn it off in settings if you prefer a wider field of view.

One cool new feature in One UI is AI Audio Eraser, which lets you adjust or remove background noise in videos after recording. You can control the volume of speech, music, wind, nature, crowd sounds, and general noise, making post-production editing much easier.

The Galaxy S25 and S25+ may not have received any hardware upgrades, but the image processing, natural colour balance, and new video features make them solid performers. The main camera delivers excellent results, low-light shots are impressive, and the new video tools add extra flexibility.

However, the lack of innovation — especially when compared to the S25 Ultra — is a bit of a letdown. The fact that the S25+ still uses the same camera system as the S23+ makes it feel like Samsung is playing it safe. That being said, if you’re coming from an older Galaxy S model, the S25 and S25+ still offer one of the best all-around camera experiences in their class.

Samsung Galaxy S25+ and Galaxy S25 Review: Performance, software experience, UI and AI

The Galaxy S25 and S25+ pack the same Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy as the S25 Ultra, which is a big win. In previous years, Samsung gave the Ultra a slightly better chipset, but this time, all three models get the same top-tier performance. The Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy is a custom-tweaked version of Qualcomm’s latest chip, with higher clock speeds on both the CPU and GPU. This means the S25 and S25+ are just as fast as the Ultra when it comes to gaming, multitasking, and handling Samsung’s AI-powered features.

The base RAM and storage options have also been upgraded. Unlike last year, where the S24 started at 8GB RAM with 128GB storage, both the S25 and S25+ now start at 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM with 256GB or 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. That extra RAM is a welcome boost, especially as AI features become a bigger part of the smartphone experience.

Performance is everything you’d expect from a phone running the most powerful Android chipset available. The S25 and S25+ handle everything without breaking a sweat — from casual browsing to intensive gaming, 8K video recording, and AI-powered photo and video editing. The phones stay cool under pressure, thanks to improved thermal management. Even after hours of use, whether gaming, editing, or shooting high-res videos, there’s no noticeable slowdown.

Samsung is also making a bold commitment to long-term software support. The S25 and S25+ will get seven years of Android updates and security patches, meaning these devices will still be getting updates well into 2032. With performance this strong, it’s easy to believe these phones could actually last that long.

Samsung’s One UI 7, running on Android 15, is packed with AI-driven features designed to make everyday interactions feel more intuitive and natural. The biggest addition is Agentic AI, which allows users to control system settings and perform tasks simply by speaking to their phone. Instead of digging through menus, or switching between apps, you can just say what you need — whether it’s setting calendar events and sharing it with your friends, adjusting the font size, lowering the brightness to reduce eye strain, or even finding a specific setting without manually searching for it. This transforms the way users interact with their devices, making commands feel more like a conversation rather than a series of taps and swipes.

The AI Select tool builds upon Samsung’s Smart Select, allowing for faster and smarter content extraction. Whether you need to copy text from an image, or create GIFs from videos, AI Select makes it possible with minimal effort. Another incredibly useful addition is Circle to Search, which lets users simply highlight, tap, or circle anything on their screen to get instant information. This even extends to recognizing audio playing in the background, making it easier to identify songs or search for related content in real time.

Samsung has also made multitasking more seamless with Cross-App Actions, an AI-driven feature that connects multiple apps to streamline everyday tasks. Instead of opening different apps manually, you can ask your phone to find a restaurant, pull up directions on Google Maps, and send the location to a friend — all in one step. This level of integration eliminates unnecessary friction, making tasks feel fluid and interconnected.

Keeping users informed without interruptions, Now Brief and Now Bar introduce a smarter way to receive updates. Now Brief functions as a daily assistant, offering summaries on weather, calendar events, and news updates tailored to your interests. Meanwhile, Now Bar ensures that real-time contextual information is always within reach on the lock screen, whether it’s live sports scores, Google Maps directions, or estimated travel times. These features add a level of convenience that keeps users connected without requiring constant app-checking.

Samsung’s deep AI integration in One UI 7 makes the Galaxy S25 and S25+ feel more than just fast — they feel smarter and more proactive. Whether it’s simplifying interactions, enhancing multitasking, or delivering real-time assistance, these AI-powered tools make the phone work with you rather than just for you.

Samsung Galaxy S25+ and Galaxy S25 Review: The battery life

Samsung has kept the battery sizes the same as last year, with no major changes in capacity or charging speeds. The Galaxy S25 comes with a 4,000mAh battery, supporting 25W wired charging and 15W wireless charging.  

Meanwhile, the S25+ sticks with a 4,900mAh battery, which supports 45W fast wired charging, or as Samsung brands it, Fast Charging 2.0. Like the S25, it also supports 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, but this time, Samsung has updated the wireless charging standard to Qi 2.1.

Because charging speeds remain unchanged, means the S25+ can go from 0 to 100% in about an hour, while the S25 takes longer to charge, despite having a smaller battery — simply because of its slower 25W charging speed. Considering that many competitors now offer 100W+ wired charging and significantly faster wireless charging solutions, Samsung feels like it’s playing it safe rather than pushing boundaries in this department.

I had expected that Samsung, like other premium flagships would use silicon-carbide batteries like OnePlus and other Chinese smartphones. However, that wasn’t the case which is pretty disappointing. Whatever improvement we see in battery life is mainly driven by the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s better efficiency, rather than any changes to battery chemistry.

In real-world use, the battery life is somewhat better than last year’s models. With the S25, I consistently get around 5 to 5.5 hours of active screen-on time, while the S25+ lasts between 6 to 7 hours. The efficiency of the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy plays a big role here, allowing the phones to last longer even with the same-sized battery cells.

While Samsung hasn’t introduced anything groundbreaking in battery or charging, the better power management of the new chipset ensures that the S25 and S25+ still offer respectable battery performance.

Samsung Galaxy S25+ and Galaxy S25 Review: The verdict

Like the Galaxy S25 Ultra, the S25 and S25+ don’t bring a ton of new hardware changes. Instead, Samsung is betting big on AI, particularly Agentic AI, to make the S25 series feel fresh and exciting. While this strategy may not have been enough to justify the Ultra model’s price tag, it actually makes a lot more sense for the S25 and S25+. For the first time in years, all three models in the S series offer the exact same software experience, with the S Pen being the only real differentiator. That alone makes the S25 and S25+ some of the most compelling non-Ultra Galaxy flagships in years.

But let’s be honest — outside of the AI features, not much has changed. The display is the same as last year’s S24, the camera system remains untouched, and the battery size and charging speeds are identical. The Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy is technically an upgrade over last year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, but in day-to-day use, the difference is barely noticeable. The shift to a 3nm chipset also hasn’t resulted in a dramatic improvement in battery life, though power efficiency has improved slightly.

That being said, the S25 and S25+ are still really solid phones. If you’re new to Samsung’s flagship lineup or are particularly intrigued by the AI features powered by Google Gemini, these are great options — arguably even better value than the S25 Ultra. Between the two, the S25+ edges ahead, thanks to its faster charging speed and slightly better battery life.

The challenge, however, is its competition. Xiaomi, OnePlus, and Google are pushing out devices with similar or better hardware at lower prices, making it harder for Samsung to stand out. The S25 and S25+ don’t feel like major upgrades, but they’re still “good enough” — offering top-tier performance, excellent cameras, and one of the best smartphone displays you can get. If you go for either model, you won’t be disappointed, but if you were hoping for something radically new, you might not find it here.