The tech world’s first major event of 2025 is just hours away. Samsung is set to take the stage in San Jose today at 1 PM ET for its Galaxy Unpacked event, and the anticipation is building. While Samsung’s legendary secrecy remains intact, the rumor mill has been working overtime, giving us a tantalizing glimpse of what might be in store.
Last Call for Early Birds
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The Main Event: Galaxy S25 Family
Just as surely as Apple unveils new iPhones each fall, Samsung kicks off its year with fresh Galaxy S flagships. This year’s lineup is all but confirmed to follow the now-familiar three-tier structure, with the S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra leading the charge. Need proof? The FCC has already given its stamp of approval, as first reported by 91Mobiles.
Design Evolution
While the hiring of a former Mercedes-Benz designer sparked speculation about a radical redesign, this year’s changes appear more evolutionary than revolutionary. Leaked footage on Reddit and images from the reliable tipster Ice Universe suggest a refined aesthetic: rounded corners, flatter edges, and slimmer bezels. Android Headlines’ extensive photo leaks back this up, showing the S25 and S25+ maintaining their 6.2-inch and 6.7-inch displays respectively, while the Ultra edges up slightly to 6.9 inches.
Power Under the Hood
In the US market, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite processor is a virtual certainty. Qualcomm themselves let this cat out of the bag in October, naming Samsung among the manufacturers launching devices with their latest chip “in the coming weeks.” The processor’s focus on on-device generative AI aligns perfectly with Samsung’s recent AI-centric direction.
Interestingly, Ice Universe suggests this might be the year Samsung goes all-in with Snapdragon globally, abandoning the traditional split between Snapdragon and Exynos processors in different markets. Given the historical performance gap favoring Qualcomm’s chips, this could be welcome news for international customers.
Display Technology: A Strategic Choice
In an unexpected twist, Samsung may stick with their M13 OLED displays rather than upgrading to the brighter, more efficient M14 panels found in the iPhone 16 Pro and Google Pixel 9. While it might seem counterintuitive for Samsung not to showcase its latest display technology, this decision could help maintain competitive pricing while focusing resources on AI capabilities.
AI Takes Center Stage
Expect artificial intelligence to dominate the presentation. DigiTimes reports the S25 series will feature an AI Agent offering personalized styling advice and transportation insights. This aligns with Samsung’s October announcement about One UI 7 (based on Android 15), which they’ve dubbed their “first integrated AI platform.” The company promises these phones will serve as “true AI companions,” capable of understanding natural language across speech, images, and text.
Camera Updates
According to Ice Universe, the Ultra model’s camera system will see one significant upgrade: a jump from 12MP to 50MP in the ultra-wide sensor. The rest of the Ultra’s impressive camera array appears unchanged, maintaining its 200MP main sensor and dual telephoto setup (10MP 3x zoom and 50MP 5x zoom).
Charging Into the Future
While Samsung is adopting the new Qi2 wireless charging standard, there’s a catch. Leaker chunvn8888 suggests the phones won’t include built-in magnets for native MagSafe-style charging. Instead, Samsung may offer a specialized case with a magnetic ring to enable full Qi2 functionality – a move that might disappoint those hoping for integrated magnetic charging.
The Plot Thickens: S25 Slim?
Rumors persist about a potential Galaxy S25 Slim variant, with Ice Universe suggesting an ultra-thin 6.4mm profile. However, with FCC certifications only covering the standard trio of flagships, this slimmed-down model – if real – might be slated for a later release.
The countdown is on. Check back today for our full coverage of Samsung’s first major announcement of 2025, where we’ll separate fact from fiction and bring you detailed hands-on impressions of everything revealed at Galaxy Unpacked.
