Samsung Galaxy S25 and S25+ Review: Premium Performance Without Compromise

The Galaxy S25 and S25+ bring the same flagship performance and Galaxy AI features found in the Ultra model to a more accessible form factor at a more attainable price point. For buyers who don't need the S Pen or the 200MP camera, these devices offer the core Galaxy flagship experience in more manageable sizes.

Both the S25 and S25+ adopt the same design language as the S25 Ultra — a refined aluminum frame with flat edges, premium glass construction, and the distinctive floating camera design. The S25 is a compact flagship at just 147mm tall and 167 grams, making it one of the few truly small flagships available in 2025. The S25+ offers a middle ground at 158mm and 190 grams — large enough for comfortable media consumption but not as unwieldy as the S25 Ultra. Both devices feature Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on front and back with an Armor Aluminum frame. IP68 dust and water resistance is standard on both models.

Display & Design

The Galaxy S25 and S25+ feature Samsung's refined design language with flatter edges, slimmer bezels, and a more premium feel than their predecessors. Both models use Armor Aluminum frames with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on front and back, providing excellent durability. The S25's compact 6.2-inch form factor is particularly appealing for users who want a powerful phone that's comfortable to use one-handed.

The Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays on both models deliver stunning visuals with 120Hz adaptive refresh rates, HDR10+ support, and Samsung's signature vibrant color tuning. The S25+ steps up to a QHD+ resolution (vs FHD+ on the S25), providing noticeably sharper text and finer detail — a worthwhile upgrade for users who consume a lot of media or do creative work on their phone.

Galaxy AI Features

The Galaxy AI suite is a major differentiator for the S25 series. Circle to Search lets you identify anything on screen by drawing a circle around it — from landmarks to products to text in foreign languages. Live Translate provides real-time voice and text translation during calls, while Chat Assist helps refine your messaging tone across different apps.

Generative Edit allows sophisticated photo manipulation — moving objects, removing distractions, and filling in backgrounds with AI-generated content that's surprisingly convincing. The AI-powered keyboard suggestions, email summarization, and voice transcription features make the S25 series genuinely more productive than previous Galaxy generations.

Performance & Camera

The Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy delivers excellent performance across both models, with the custom-tuned chip providing marginally better efficiency than the standard variant. Gaming, multitasking, and AI processing all feel snappy and responsive. The 12GB of RAM on the S25+ (8GB on S25) provides better headroom for heavy multitasking.

The camera system features a 50MP main sensor with improved image processing, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom on the S25 (the S25+ gets the same setup). Photos are detailed with good dynamic range and Samsung's characteristic punchy color science. Night mode has been improved with better noise reduction and more natural-looking results.

Battery & Value

The S25's 4,000mAh battery provides adequate all-day battery life for most users, while the S25+'s larger 4,900mAh cell offers more comfortable headroom for power users. Both support 25W wired charging and 15W wireless charging — adequate but not class-leading. The S25+ supports 45W fast charging, which is a meaningful upgrade for users who need quick top-ups.

Starting at $799 for the S25 and $999 for the S25+, both models offer strong value in the flagship smartphone market. The S25 is the better choice for users who prefer compact phones, while the S25+ suits those who want a larger display and bigger battery without jumping to the Ultra's premium price.

Both phones use the same Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset as the S25 Ultra, meaning they deliver identical CPU and GPU performance. The camera hardware is the same across both devices, with a 50MP main sensor that captures excellent detail and a 3x optical zoom telephoto for portraits and close-up photography.

Both devices include the full Galaxy AI suite: Circle to Search with Google, AI Photo Assist with generative editing, Live Translate for real-time call translations, Note Assist for meeting summaries, and Chat Assist for message composition.