Stylish, compact, and powerful! The latest Samsung Galaxy S25 is a perfect phone that has it all. Straight off, I would say the new S25 is the best vanilla variant of the Galaxy series. As I have talked about in my previous review of Samsung Galaxy S25+, all the phones in the S25 series are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite. Similarly, the company is betting high on AI enhancements and the same can be seen in the latest model. That being said, let’s see in detail what the new Samsung Galaxy S25 has got!
The Samsung Galaxy S25 retains the minimalist yet elegant design of its predecessor but comes with a few refinements. The Gorilla Glass Victus 2 panels and second-generation Armor Aluminum frame ensure durability while maintaining a lightweight feel. One of the noticeable changes is that the phone is now 0.4mm thinner and 5 grams lighter than the S24, making it more compact and easier to hold. It’s an IP68-rated device, ensuring dust and water resistance.
Samsung continues with its clean camera setup, avoiding unnecessary camera bumps. The three lenses sit individually in metal rings, giving it a premium, seamless look. The ultrasonic fingerprint sensor remains under the display, providing fast and secure access. The USB-C port, speaker grille, and SIM tray are neatly placed at the bottom, while the power and volume buttons remain conveniently positioned on the right side.
The 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display is identical to the one on the Galaxy S24, offering a 1080 x 2300 resolution, 120 Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ support. Samsung claims a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, making it bright enough for outdoor visibility. The Android Ultra HDR support enhances highlights in compatible photos, making colours pop while maintaining sharpness. However, Dolby Vision is still missing, meaning HDR content might not look as refined as it does on competitors like the iPhone 16.
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The Samsung Galaxy S25 runs on Android 15 with One UI 7, bringing a range of AI-powered enhancements. Google Gemini AI is deeply integrated, allowing users to summarise text, interact naturally with apps, and generate AI-driven responses. The new notification and quick toggles layout resemble iOS, but users can revert to the traditional One UI layout.
One of the standout AI features is Cross-App Actions, which lets users fetch information, store it in Notes, create calendar events, or send messages—all with a single prompt. Circle to Search now integrates with audio recognition, identifying songs playing in the background. The Gallery Generative Edit allows for seamless object removal and AI-based photo enhancement, making it a handy tool for photography enthusiasts.
The biggest hardware upgrade in the Galaxy S25 is the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor, replacing the Exynos variant from last year. This 3nm chipset features two Prime cores clocked at 4.47GHz, making it the fastest Android CPU to date. Paired with 12 GB LPDDR5X RAM and 256 GB UFS 4.0 storage, the Galaxy S25 handles multitasking, gaming, and demanding applications with ease.
Benchmarks confirm the Galaxy S25’s top-tier performance, with a Geekbench single-core score of 3,118 and a multi-core score of 9,989—similar to the S25+ and rivalling the OnePlus 13. The AnTuTu Benchmark clocks in at 1,926,907, showcasing significant improvements over the S24. Gaming performance is flawless, with Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile, and Call of Duty Mobile running at consistently high frame rates with minimal thermal throttling, thanks to an upgraded vapour chamber cooling system.
Samsung sticks to the familiar triple-camera setup with a 50 MP primary sensor, 10 MP telephoto (3x optical zoom), and 12 MP ultra-wide lens in S25. While hardware remains unchanged, the ProVisual Engine introduces better image processing, reducing motion blur and noise while improving details.
Galaxy S25 camera sample | Photo Credit: Haider Ali Khan
In daylight conditions, the S25 captures stunning shots with natural colours, excellent contrast, and sharpness. The portrait mode offers precise edge detection, delivering professional-looking bokeh effects. The ultra-wide lens also delivers images with consistent colour and sharpness.
Galaxy S25 camera sample | Photo Credit: Haider Ali Khan
Low-light photography has improved with AI-enhanced night processing, ensuring brighter images with minimal noise. Selfies on the 12 MP front camera remain impressive, with autofocus ensuring sharp images. Skin tones appear natural, and video calls look crisp even in dim lighting.
Galaxy S25 camera sample | Photo Credit: Haider Ali Khan
The Galaxy Log video mode now allows flexible colour grading, and HDR video recording has been upgraded to 10-bit HDR, improving dynamic range significantly. The 8K30 video recording adds flexibility, while Pro Mode unlocks 4K24 cinematic recording, appealing to content creators.
The Galaxy S25 retains the 4,000 mAh battery, which might feel small compared to competitors, but optimisations from the Snapdragon 8 Elite ensure better power efficiency. In real-world usage, the phone easily lasts a full day with moderate use, but power users might need a top-up by evening.
Charging remains unchanged at 25 W wired and 15 W wireless. While Samsung has upgraded wireless charging to Qi 2.1, enabling magnetic accessories, the lack of faster charging speeds compared to the competition is disappointing. The iPhone 16 charges faster, and the OnePlus 13 supports 100 W charging, making this an area where Samsung could improve.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 refines the S24 formula rather than reinventing it. With the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite, AI-driven enhancements, and a well-balanced camera system, it checks all the right boxes for a compact flagship. However, if you’re upgrading from an S24, the changes are minimal, with the new processor and refined body being the main highlights.
For those considering a switch from older Galaxy models or other brands, the S25 remains a strong contender. If battery life and charging speeds are crucial to you, other options might offer better value, but for Android lovers seeking a compact, premium phone, the Galaxy S25 is a solid choice, which begins at ₹80,999.
Published - February 18, 2025 12:40 pm IST
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