Samsung Galaxy S25 Review – New, Solid but Compact Smartphone

Samsung Galaxy S25

4

Overall Score

4.0/5

The Good Stuff

• Lightweight & comfortable to use
• Superb OLED display
• Many more AI features
• Better sound quality
• Better looking One UI 7 interface
• Same good battery life to S24

The Bad Stuff

• No improvements to the camera
• Charging capped at 25W
• Cheapest at 128 GB storage
• No charger in the box

Samsung Galaxy S25

Samsung Galaxy S25

“Samsung Galaxy S25 seems like a solid performing, compact smartphone, that looks good, feels good, and comes with an impressive all-round package”

Are you curious about what the new Samsung Galaxy S25 has in store for you? If the answer is yes, then you have come to the right place. Introducing the latest compact, entry model smartphone in the Galaxy S25 series – the Samsung Galaxy S25. Does it come with new improvements? Is it better than the older Galaxy S24? All these questions, and more, will be answered as we take you through the review of the new Samsung Galaxy S25.     

Overview

Get rid of last year’s entry model, the Galaxy S24, and look to the next, new, compact and powerful smartphone in the new Samsung Galaxy S25 series, the Galaxy S25 smartphone.

That’s not an under statement. This smartphone really is the smallest in the series, coming with a large 6.2-inch Full HD OLED display, a 50 MP triple-lens camera, a 4000mAh battery, and the most powerful Android chip to date, the Snapdragon 8 Elite.

The rest is still the same. Same durability. Same IP68 rating which means it’s water-and-dust resistance. Same camera features. With the new model comes new color options to choose from. From Navy and Mint, to Silver Shadow and Icy Blue, these are the retail colors that give it that funky fresh look. There are more color options, but you get them if you order online. 

Then there’s the Galaxy AI. Android 15 will come with many new software and security upgrades, and new AI features to make our lives easier.   

If battery life is your thing, then just be aware that the battery capabilities have not changed from the S24. Yet with the new chip, there will be a slight increase in battery life, given that the chip’s efficiency will use less battery power to run. 

What we can say for now is that the Galaxy S25 is a great smartphone. They have upgraded the performance of the smartphone to match the other models in the S25 series, and comes with trendy new colors. 

Specs

Galaxy S25

• Display: 6.2-inch, AMOLED, 120Hz, 1080 x 2340 pixels
• CPU: Snapdragon 8 Elite
• Memory: 12GB RAM
• Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB
• Battery: 4000mAh, supports 25W wired, 15W wireless, and 4.5W reverse wireless
• Primary Camera: 50 MP wide + 10 MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom + 12 MP ultrawide
• Selfie Camera: 12 MP wide, up to 4K video at 60fps
• Primary Video: Up to 8K video at 30fps
• Misc: 162 g, 1x SIM, 1x eSIM, IP68 dust and water resistant, Galaxy AI

 

BUY NOW

 

Display

The Galaxy S25 comes with a large 6.2-inch AMOLED screen, with 1080p full HD capabilities, up to 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ support. On the top of the display is a tear-drop front camera for those you take those much-needed selfie moments that supports up to 4K video recordings.

Brightness is great but similar to the Galaxy S24. It maintains the two refresh rate options – the adaptive mode at 120Hz and the standard mode at 60Hz. Overall, nothing new here from the Galaxy S24. My guess would be that it’s maintaining what makes the display look and feels so great.     

Design

The S25 boasts a premium, sophisticated design with an aluminum frame, seamless transitions, and subtly curved edges for comfortable handling. Its vibrant AMOLED display with minimal bezels enhances the visual experience. Thoughtful details like integrated cameras and intuitive button placement add to its appeal.

However, the glossy finish attracts fingerprints and can be slippery. The camera bump persists, the design is evolutionary rather than revolutionary, and the premium materials contribute to a slightly heavier weight. Overall, the S25 is an attractive and well-built phone, prioritizing refinement over radical change.     

Performance

As previously mentioned, the Galaxy S25 comes with an upgraded Snapdragon 8 Elite chip making it the most powerful Android performer today. From benchmarking tests done the Galaxy S25 scores well compared to other top brand smartphones, such as OnePlus 13 and Xiaomi 14 T. 

The smartphone comes with a 12GB of memory to prevent it from being frozen or get stuck, maintain the smooth transition between menus and to help with power demanding apps like mobile games.

In terms of storage, you get to choose from 128GB to 512GB, with the smaller being the cheapest model to buy. Sadly, its not recommended to get the 128GB model as the space fills up quite fast with the apps, content and media we store. Best start with the 256GB to have more space or you can use online platforms such as Google Drive for optional storage.

Overall, the Galaxy S25 is a solid performer. It beats the competition like a racecar getting pole position. If you are tempted to, get the 128GB model but its not recommended. 

Battery Life

Moving on to the battery life. Has it changed? Not really. On moderate use, you can get a good 13 hours of battery life, with over 25 hours if you just stick to making and receiving calls, but on heavy use, you’re looking at up to 10 hours of battery life. 

The charging speed has not changed either. With a 25W charger you’re looking at 0 to 56% battery charge in half an hour, and 100% full charge takes about 75 mins. The entry model Samsung Galaxy smartphones has never been known to have the best charging speed, but the slower the charging, the battery it is for the battery in the long run.

In the end, the battery life is still the same but it’s as good as ever compared to the previous model. The charging speed is slow but if you’re patient and use the smartphone in moderation you’re looking at more than a full day’s battery life.     

Camera

The Samsung S25 comes with a rear 50 MP triple camera sensor, that includes:

It also comes with a front 12 MP wide camera with autofocus, that’s great for making and taking video calls, taking selfies, and also supports up to 4K videos at 60 fps. 

The S25 boasts a high-resolution 50MP main sensor for detailed photos, enhanced low-light performance, and versatile lenses. AI-powered scene optimization, improved Night mode, and advanced editing tools enhance image quality. Impressive optical and AI-enhanced zoom, along with 8K video recording, offer further creative options.

However, AI processing can sometimes lead to oversaturation, low-light performance varies, and telephoto lens consistency can be an issue. The front-facing camera sees minimal upgrades. While not drastically different from its predecessor, the S25’s camera system leverages AI to deliver high-quality images and videos.

Software & AI

The Samsung S25 runs Android 15 with One UI 7, offering 7 years of software support. One UI 7 maintains a familiar interface with smooth performance but can feel cluttered.

AI features are the highlight, including “Circle to Search,” generative editing, and live translation, all offering impressive functionality.

However, AI processing can sometimes be overzealous, with Bixby still has some quirks, and generative editing can produce odd results. Privacy concerns are also a factor.

In a nutshell, Samsung S25’s software and AI features are a mixed bag of digital delights and occasional quirks. When it works, it’s like having a futuristic super computer in your pocket. But when it doesn’t, it’s like dealing with a mischievous digital gremlin.

Verdict

In the end, Samsung Galaxy S25 seems like a solid performing, compact smartphone, that looks good, feels good, and comes with an impressive overall all-round package.

Yet it fails to introduce meaningful upgrades this time, with hardly no drastic changes in the hardware such as the camera. The charging speed hasn’t improved, the default model starts at 128GB storage, and with the battery life? It’s dependable yet not as great as the competition. 

So if you’re looking for a compact smartphone, to replace your older Android smartphone, or looking for an alternative to the more expensive S25 Plus or the S25 Ultra, then the Samsung Galaxy S25 smartphone may be the one to consider.  

If you have any comments or wish to express yourself, please leave them at the comments section below 😀