Samsung Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus Review

If you’re shopping for a new smartphone in 2025, there’s a good chance you’ve heard about the Galaxy S25 or Galaxy S25 Plus. Galaxy S phones are among the most popular Samsung releases each year, and the S25 devices are no exception

But is the Galaxy S25 worth it? I spent over a week with the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus to find out. 

The short answer is that if you currently own a Samsung S24 or S24 Plus, the S25 offers only modest updates. However, for those with older Galaxy models, the S25 could be a welcome step up. Here’s Navi’s full review.

{{cta_samsung-buttons}}

Samsung Galaxy S25: What We Like

There are a few things I really like about the Samsung Galaxy S25, including the hardware, its size, and battery life.

Galaxy S25 Hardware

Although not much different from the Samsung Galaxy S24, there’s no denying that the S25 is a well-made and comfortable phone. The matte glass back looks excellent (and hides fingerprints), the flat edges are easy to grip, and the rounded corners rest nicely in your palm. The Galaxy S25 Plus’s hardware is equally great, just a bit larger and heavier.Galaxy S25 Size

I’ve primarily been using the regular Galaxy S25, and as a fan of smaller phones, it’s fantastic. The S25 is incredibly lightweight (just 162 grams) and has a screen I can easily use with one hand. At 6.2 inches, the display is much smaller than the one on phones like the Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max, but it never feels cramped or claustrophobic. It looks incredible, too, featuring a bright, colorful AMOLED panel and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate.

Galaxy S25 Battery

What particularly impressed me about the Samsung Galaxy S25 is its battery life. You will likely need to charge it every night, but you shouldn’t need to top it up before bed. I’ve been starting my days around 7:00 a.m. with a full charge, and comfortably getting to 10:30 p.m. or later with 20-30% remaining—even with five-to-six hours of screen time. If you use your phone less than I do, you could almost certainly get through a day and a half before needing to look for your charger. For a phone of this size, this is excellent endurance.

Galaxy S25 Software

Another highlight has been Samsung’s One UI 7 software. Based on Google’s latest Android 15 update, One UI 7 has some nice upgrades compared to previous versions. The app drawer is easier to navigate, the Quick Settings are more customizable, and everything just feels smoother and more responsive. I’ve never been a huge fan of how One UI looks or feels, but One UI 7 is so good that I may keep using the Galaxy S25 for a while longer after this review.

Speaking of software, the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus have one of the best update policies in the business. Samsung promises seven years of Android OS upgrades, security patches, and other essential updates — ensuring the phones stay up-to-date through January 2032.

Galaxy S25 Cameras

The last thing I want to mention is the cameras. They’re good! They’re completely unchanged from the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus, and while not remarkable, they still take high-quality photos.

The 50-megapixel primary camera is the one you’ll likely use the most, and thankfully, it’s great. It captures a lot of detail, handles itself nicely in low-light environments, and gives subjects in your photos a pleasing amount of bokeh (aka background blur). Colors can be a bit saturated, as Samsung cameras often are, but not overly so.

The 10MP telephoto and 12MP ultrawide cameras add much-appreciated flexibility, though the image quality is a noticeable step down from the 50MP primary camera. They aren’t bad cameras, but I would like to see them upgraded on the Galaxy S26 series next year.

Samsung Galaxy S25: What We Don’t Like

As much as the Galaxy S25 gets right, I do have a couple of issues with the phone. It’s nothing deal-breaking, but it’s important to know before you decide to buy one for yourself.

Now Brief: Nothing to Write Home About

First, we have Now Brief. Samsung makes a big deal about this in its marketing for the S25 series. The idea is that the Now Brief can show you relevant, helpful info throughout your day — such as upcoming calendar events, photos you’ve taken, and tips to optimize your phone based on your usage.

Unfortunately, In my experience, Now Brief hasn’t done much of anything beyond showing me the weather and some random news articles. There’s potential for it to get better over time, but at least in its current implementation, it’s not the groundbreaking new feature Samsung makes it out to be.

Good But Not All That Different

There’s also no denying how similar the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus are to their predecessors. In a bubble, they’re incredible smartphones and both very deserving of your money. But compared to the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus, they’re more similar than they are different. Sure, they’re faster, and the battery life is better, but that’s about it. That doesn’t make the S25 and S25 Plus bad phones, but if you already have one of last year’s Galaxy S24 phones, there’s very little reason to upgrade.

Samsung Galaxy S25: Specs

Although specs aren’t the end-all-be-all for a phone, there are some important ones you should know about. Powering the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. This is one of the most powerful smartphone chips on the market today, so no matter what app or game you want to use, the S25/S25 Plus can handle it without breaking a sweat.

I’ve been using the Galaxy S25 for everything over the last week — including my morning Duolingo sessions, watching 4K YouTube videos, web browsing, and playing a lot of mobile games. The S25 powers through everything easily and stays cool while doing so.

Both the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus have an IP68 rating, meaning they’re water-resistant and can survive being left in the rain or taking splashes from the pool. You can even take them swimming (in freshwater only) up to 1.5 meters deep for up to 30 minutes.

The S25 devices also feature fingerprint sensors under the display, USB-C charging, and the latest Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards (Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, respectively).

Finally, the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus support 5G connectivity on every major carrier. That includes AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, plus smaller carriers like Xfinity Mobile and US Cellular. The S25 phones also support satellite connectivity, including T-Mobile’s Starlink satellite network.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S25 Plus

The Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus have a lot in common, but there are some differences. Here’s the gist of how they compare.

Galaxy S25 vs Galaxy S25 Plus: Size

The most significant difference between the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus is their size. Where the Galaxy S25 has a 6.2-inch display, the Galaxy S25 Plus has a much larger 6.7-inch one. It’s great if you want a big screen, but it also makes the phone heavier and not as easy to use with one hand. This isn’t an objective pro or con—it really comes down to personal preference.

Galaxy S25 vs Galaxy S25 Plus: Battery

Battery life is a more objective perk of the Galaxy S25 Plus. The regular S25 has a 4,000mAh battery, whereas the S25 Plus has a larger 4,900mAh one. The Galaxy S25 Plus should easily last a day and a half — more likely two days — on a single charge. It also charges faster than the regular S25, featuring 45W wired charging speeds compared to 25W on the smaller S25.

Galaxy S25 vs Galaxy S25 Plus: Storage

The final thing to consider is internal storage. The Galaxy S25 comes in 128GB and 256GB storage options, while the Galaxy S25 Plus comes with 256GB and 512GB. 128GB should be sufficient if you don’t download too many games or movies, but especially if you plan on keeping your phone for a while, 256GB is the minimum amount I would choose.

The Bottom Line

This all brings us to the million-dollar question. Or, in this case, the $800 or $1,000 question. Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 or Galaxy S25 Plus?

If you already have a Galaxy S24 or Galaxy S24 Plus, you can confidently sit these phones out. While the new chip and longer battery life are nice, they’re hardly reason enough to upgrade your year-old phone. The cameras and displays are identical, the designs are virtually the same, and the S24 series is on track to get Samsung’s One UI 7 update very soon—adding the same software and AI features from the Galaxy S25.

I’d also wager that anyone with a Galaxy S23/S23 Plus can wait another year before upgrading. If you’re experiencing battery, performance, or other issues, maybe getting a Galaxy S25 makes sense. But if your S23 is still working just fine, there’s no need to rush out and get Samsung’s latest.

Ultimately, the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus are for people still using a Galaxy S22, Galaxy S21, or something older. Samsung’s year-over-year smartphone upgrades haven’t been monumental for a while now. However, if you’re holding onto a Samsung phone that’s a few years old, the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus are wholehearted recommendations. They aren’t phones everyone needs to buy, but if you’re a Samsung fan and due for an upgrade, you’ll be hard-pressed to be disappointed with either one.

Ready to buy a Galaxy S25/S25 Plus for yourself? Make sure to use Navi’s Phone Deal Finder tool to quickly find the best Galaxy S25 deals out there.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the Samsung Galaxy S25 come out?

The Samsung Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus are available for purchase now. Samsung officially launched the phones on February 7, 2025. You can buy the phones directly from Samsung’s website, which has options for purchasing them unlocked or on Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and US Celluar. You can also buy the S25 series from retailers like Amazon and Best Buy or through your preferred carrier.

How much does the Samsung Galaxy S25 cost?

The Galaxy S25 starts at $800 for 128GB of storage, with an optional upgrade upgrade to 256GB available for $860. The Galaxy S25 Plus has a more expensive $1,000 starting price but also gives you 256GB of storage by default. If you need more space, the S25 Plus has a 512GB storage model available for $1,120.

How big is the Samsung Galaxy S25?

The Galaxy S25’s size depends on which version you buy. The standard S25 has a 6.2-inch display and measures 146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2mm. By comparison, the S25 Plus has a 6.7-inch display and measures 158.4 x 75.8 x 7.3mm. If you want a compact phone you can use one-handedly, the Galaxy S25 is the best choice. However, if you have larger hands and/or want a bigger screen for movies, games, etc., you’ll be better off with the Galaxy S25 Plus.