Over a year since Samsung dipped into generative artificial intelligence, its flagship Galaxy S-series continues to be the vanguard for AI-powered features. With the Galaxy S25, Samsung is doubling down on AI integration, weaving Google’s Gemini AI assistant deeper into the device while expanding its suite of software tricks. However, despite these AI-centric advancements, the hardware upgrades are marginal, making the S25 feel like an incremental update rather than a revolutionary leap.
For those following Samsung’s smartphone evolution, the S25 presents a familiar dilemma: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But with such minor differences from its predecessor, is there enough innovation to justify an upgrade? Let’s dive into the details.
Hardware and Design: Subtle Refinements


From a hardware perspective, the Galaxy S25 is a case of deja vu. Barring the introduction of a more powerful processor, Samsung has kept the design refreshingly familiar. The most noticeable change? A slimmer profile. Samsung has shaved off 0.4 millimeters, which is perceptible only if you have last year’s S24 for a side-by-side comparison. While a sleeker form factor is always welcome, it’s hardly a headline feature.
The phone retains a 6.2-inch Full HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a peak brightness of 2,600 nits and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. It’s a stunning screen—no surprises there—but if you were hoping for a leap in resolution or refresh rate innovation, you won’t find it here.
Samsung sent me the Silver Shadow variant, featuring a frosted sheen that resists fingerprints and smudges. It’s elegant but subtle; personally, I found the Navy Blue model more visually striking. Of course, for most users, aesthetics take a backseat once the phone is secured inside a protective case.
Speaking of cases, Samsung’s push for Qi2 wireless charging and magnetic latching means that to experience the fastest charging speeds, you’ll need a compatible case. Unfortunately, those weren’t available for testing at the time of this review. While Qi2 is a promising step toward standardization, requiring an additional accessory for peak efficiency feels like an unnecessary hurdle.
Cameras: Solid, But Stagnant


Samsung has long been a leader in smartphone photography, yet the S25’s camera system remains eerily similar to previous iterations. If you’ve used the S24—or even the S23—you’ll be familiar with this setup:
- 50MP primary sensor
- 12MP ultra-wide lens
- 10MP 3x telephoto camera
- 12MP front-facing selfie camera
While the hardware hasn’t changed, Samsung claims the new Snapdragon 8 Elite processor enhances computational photography, particularly in low-light conditions. The company’s AI-driven noise reduction does improve night photography, identifying static and moving objects separately for more precise image processing. However, I noticed inconsistencies in color processing between the telephoto and primary sensors, with some low-light shots taking on an amber tint.
Digital zoom at 10x is crisper than before, but if you’re looking for 5x optical zoom or higher-resolution sensors, you’ll need to opt for the Galaxy S25 Ultra. That said, the S25 still delivers vibrant, detailed shots with reliable autofocus, making it a solid—but not groundbreaking—camera phone.
For photography enthusiasts, Samsung’s Expert RAW app now includes a Virtual Aperture mode, offering advanced bokeh effects without requiring a subject for traditional portrait mode. The feature is moderately effective but struggles in low-light environments. Unfortunately, Expert RAW remains a separate download, meaning many users might never discover this feature unless they actively seek it out.
Video Upgrades: A Step Forward for Content Creators
While photography improvements are subtle, video capabilities see meaningful enhancements. The Galaxy S25 now records HDR video by default, offering richer contrast and deeper colors.
A new Galaxy Log mode allows users to capture footage with greater dynamic range, enabling professional-grade color grading in post-production. Additionally, Samsung has implemented 10-bit color recording, giving editors more latitude for fine-tuning videos.
Another notable addition is Audio Eraser, a post-processing tool designed to reduce unwanted background noise in videos. While it’s useful, it doesn’t always perform as seamlessly as Samsung’s launch keynote suggested. In real-world scenarios, such as noisy street environments, Audio Eraser’s automatic setting can leave voices sounding compressed or artificial. While it’s an improvement, Google and Apple have more refined noise-canceling solutions.
Software: Samsung’s AI Vision Takes Shape


Samsung’s AI push extends beyond photography, introducing new features like Now Bar and Now Brief:
- Now Bar acts as a lock screen tile, displaying contextual notifications and media controls. While reminiscent of Apple’s Dynamic Island, its functionality remains limited to a handful of supported apps—currently just eight. If third-party developers gain access, this could evolve into a genuinely useful feature.
- Now Brief delivers personalized daily summaries, much like Apple’s Notification Summary. It aggregates notifications, weather updates, and traffic information, making it most useful for morning routines. While promising, it needs more refinement to compete with existing solutions like Google Discover.
Samsung has also rebranded and enhanced Smart Select, now called AI Select, which lives in the Edge Panel. The feature intelligently recognizes text and objects on the screen, suggesting quick actions like translations or calendar events. While handy, its core functionality hasn’t changed significantly.
AI-driven Gemini Assistant integration is another highlight, allowing seamless voice command execution for tasks like setting reminders, planning routes, or sending messages. However, many of these features will roll out to other Android devices soon, meaning they’re not exclusive to the S25 for long.
Performance and Battery Life: A Major Win
Where the S25 truly shines is performance and battery life. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, it outperforms the S24 significantly:
- Multi-core CPU score: 8,950 (up from 7,049 on the S24)
- GPU score: 19,158 (up from 15,082 last year)
Everyday usage is buttery smooth, from gaming to multitasking. However, pushing the phone with back-to-back AI tasks and 4K video uploads does cause noticeable heating—likely due to the lack of the expanded vapor chamber present in the S25 Ultra.
Battery life, however, is phenomenal. Samsung claims 28 hours of video playback, nearly four hours longer than the S24. In real-world usage, I found myself charging the phone only every two days—a rare feat for flagship devices.
Verdict: A Worthy Upgrade?


The Galaxy S25 is an undeniably powerful and polished smartphone, but it feels more evolutionary than revolutionary. While the AI features are compelling, they’re not yet indispensable, and the hardware improvements—apart from the chipset—are minimal.
For those with an S24 or even an S23, the S25 doesn’t offer enough to warrant an upgrade. However, if you’re coming from an older phone—or simply want cutting-edge performance and all-day battery life—the S25 remains a top-tier flagship.
The biggest question: Why isn’t it cheaper? At $799, it retains last year’s pricing, making alternatives like the $499 Pixel 8a or even a discounted Galaxy S24 worth considering. Unless you need the latest chip and enhanced battery life, waiting for price drops might be the smarter move.
Final Score: 8.5/10 ✅ Pros: Stellar performance, exceptional battery life, refined AI features ❌ Cons: Minor hardware upgrades, limited Now Bar functionality, same camera sensors