Samsung Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus assessment: extremely iterative

Samsung’s Galaxy S-series is in its software program period. Maybe the entire smartphone trade is, too, save for a number of telephones with hinges (Samsung’s included). But general, we’ve exited the hardware-driven innovation cycle and are firmly within the midst of a software-based one. If you need proof, the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus are an excellent place to start out.

These are nice telephones, which is not any shock. They look, really feel, and function like gadgets worthy of their $799 and $999 worth tags. They’re slated to get seven years of OS upgrades, which quantities to a rattling good return on that funding. I used each to take good pictures, play my little video games, and customarily go about my day with out a hitch.

This was all true of the S24 and S24 Plus and the S23 and S23 Plus. I couldn’t provide you with an excellent cause why the S25 stands out in comparison with Samsung’s final three generations of S-series telephones. I don’t suppose Samsung can, both, as a result of its complete gross sales pitch for the S25 revolves round software program and AI capabilities — a lot of which is able to virtually definitely be ported to earlier S-series telephones in brief order.

Here’s the kicker: the software program enhancements aren’t all that nice, both. AI can do a number of helpful issues, like turning a chaotic web page of notes into one thing readable. But a lot of it’s nonetheless too unpredictable to depend on. One UI 7.0 consists of good interface updates, however a number of Samsung telephones will get that improve quickly. The checklist of causes to improve to an S25 except for “my present telephone stopped working and I want a brand new one” is very skinny.

Maybe this says extra about what passes for a “small” telephone in 2025, however the Galaxy S25 is secretly one of the best small Android telephone you should buy within the US. That’s most likely not intentional — extra like a victory in a warfare of attrition. Google’s telephones because the Pixel 5 solely are available in large and greater, and area of interest small telephone choices just like the Asus Zenfone have dropped out of the race. By merely persevering with to exist with a 6.2-inch display screen, the smaller S-series mannequin has turn into the default choice in case you don’t need an enormous Android telephone.

The impact is sort of comical after every week utilizing the gargantuan S25 Ultra. If you want a smaller machine — and I positive do — it’s a reduction to suit the S25 right into a coat pocket comfortably and to succeed in my thumb throughout the display screen to faucet one thing whereas utilizing the telephone one-handed. A smaller battery is a priority with a tinier machine, however the S25’s 4,000mAh acquired me via a full day of average use.

Of course, there’s a much bigger choice. The S25 Plus has all of the display screen actual property to fulfill the massive telephone followers. It comes with a 6.7-inch panel and a bump as much as 1440p decision from the 1080p on the S25, which is an efficient factor; the additional decision is important with such an enormous show. Likewise, the 4,900mAh battery goes all day, even with extra pixels to mild up.

The design is principally the identical because the final go-around: flat edges, curved corners, and Samsung’s signature stoplight rear digital camera association. I nonetheless admire Samsung’s transfer to flat edges right here, because it makes the telephone really feel safer in my hand — particularly after I decide it up off a desk.

Samsung remains to be utilizing Galaxy AI as a key promoting level. This assortment of starter package AI options consists of new additions, like pure language search within the settings menu, background noise cancellation in video clips, and Pixel Best Take-like face swapping. There’s additionally a brand new voice assistant on the wheel: Gemini. Google’s AI-imbued assistant is now the default reasonably than Samsung’s Bixby, and it positive aspects the flexibility to work throughout apps.

This functionality was the one I used to be most excited to strive on the S25, and it’s not even a Galaxy AI function — it’s accessible wherever you should utilize Gemini, together with on iOS and the online. I went into rather more element about utilizing Gemini in my Galaxy S25 Ultra assessment, however the tl;dr is that it’s promising however not constant sufficient to depend on but.

But credit score the place it’s due: Samsung’s synthetic intelligence instruments — which it refers to broadly as Galaxy AI — do an excellent job of including construction to a bunch of chaotic notes. I typed out an inventory of my child’s signs earlier than a visit to the pediatrician, and AI organized it with wise subheadings. It even precisely titled it “Child’s sickness development,” regardless that I hadn’t expressly written that.

Samsung’s One UI 7.0 software program is a major replace that introduces a Dynamic Island-like Now Bar, a cut up notification and fast settings shade, and a few delicate design updates all through. As with any Galaxy telephone, it nonetheless takes me a minute to de-Samsung the software program to my liking, however general, it’s a welcome refresh.

Ever seen a photograph with a sky so blue, it virtually jumps off the display screen? Then you’ve seen an image taken with a Samsung telephone. Samsung is staying true to its oversaturated colours within the S25 sequence and continues one other custom: a rattling good portrait mode. It doesn’t at all times nail topic isolation, however when it’s good, it’s good.

It’s the identical digital camera system because the one within the S24 sequence, minus some software program tweaks. It doesn’t have the upgraded ultrawide within the S25 Ultra, however that’s not an enormous loss. I observed cases the place the S25’s digital camera insisted on focusing within the foreground reasonably than within the distance the place I wished. The depth of discipline is shallow sufficient that this makes a distinction, so I wound up with two unusably tender pictures. It wasn’t a persistent concern, nevertheless it got here up sufficient that I’d regulate it sooner or later.

Maybe it’s the {hardware} cycle slowing down. Maybe it’s software program season. Maybe we’ve simply reached peak telephone. A mixture led us to the iterative S25 sequence. But does that matter in case you’re able to commerce in your S21 and also you simply need one thing acquainted that works?

If you match that description, the S25 or S25 Plus will do the job. The Galaxy S25 is the final full-featured, sensibly sized Android telephone you should buy within the US. And the S25 Plus has the massive display screen that individuals apparently need. The cameras are good, battery life is ok, and the software program updates will stream for seven years. If that is peak telephone, it’s not a foul place to be.

The Galaxy S25 presents a sexy picture of what helpful AI may appear like on our telephones. Telling your AI assistant so as to add the dates from an e-mail to your calendar? Screenshotting a recipe and including the elements to a purchasing checklist? That sounds nice. The hassle is that it doesn’t work persistently proper now, and it’s unclear when which may change. Galaxy telephones from the previous few years will get these updates, too. If you’re completely satisfied along with your present S-series telephone, I don’t see any compelling cause to improve to the S25. And that’s simply high quality — it’s a software program period, in any case.

Photography by Allison Johnson / The Verge