Samsung Unpacked 2025: Is the Galaxy S25 Series Worth the Upgrade?
Samsung just announced the Galaxy S25 series, bringing smarter features, better cameras, and small design changes. Instead of big hardware upgrades, Samsung is focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) to make everyday tasks easier. But does that make this phone worth buying? Let’s go over what’s new.
Galaxy S25 Series: Smarter and Faster
Colors
Galaxy S25 Ultra
Regular Colors: Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Whitesilver
Online Exclusives: Titanium Jadegreen, Titanium Jetblack, Titanium Pinkgold
Galaxy S25 & S25+
Regular Colors: Navy, Mint, Icy Blue, Silver Shadow
Online Exclusives: Blueblack, Coralred, Pinkgold
Storage Options
Galaxy S25 & S25+: 256GB, 512GB
Galaxy S25 Ultra: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB The Galaxy S25 lineup comes with AI-powered tools, a stronger processor, and a sleek design. Here’s what each model offers:
Galaxy S25 – 6.2-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display
Galaxy S25+ – 6.7-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display
Galaxy S25 Ultra – 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display
120Hz refresh rate – Smooth scrolling and animations (1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate)
Snapdragon 8 Elite processor – Faster and more efficient
AI Companion – A smarter assistant to manage daily tasks
Now Brief – Personalized updates on weather, news, and schedules
AI Photo Filters – Auto-adjusts brightness and colors for better pictures
Battery Life – Up to 31 hours of video playback on the S25+
Wi-Fi 7 & Bluetooth 5.4 – Faster wireless connectivity
AI Features: What’s New?
Samsung wants AI to make your phone easier to use. Features like Press, Talk, and Done help you search, schedule, and share information without switching apps. Smart Widgets and AI Actions suggest music, workouts, and reminders based on your habits. ProVisual Engine enhances your photos, and Auto Trim for Videos creates highlights from your clips. The goal is to save time and make things feel more natural.
Camera Upgrades: Are They Worth It?
Samsung’s cameras are a major selling point, but the changes this year are mostly software-based:
Galaxy S25 & S25+
50MP Main Sensor
12MP Ultra-Wide (F2.2, 120˚ FOV)
10MP Telephoto with 3x Optical Zoom (F2.4, 36˚ FOV)
Galaxy S25 Ultra
200MP Primary Sensor (F1.7, 85˚ FOV, OIS)
50MP Ultra-Wide (F1.9, 120˚ FOV)
50MP Periscope Telephoto with 5x Optical Zoom (F3.4, 22˚ FOV, OIS)
10MP Telephoto with 3x Optical Zoom (F2.4, 36˚ FOV, OIS)
12MP Front Camera (F2.2, 80˚ FOV)
AI-Powered Adjustments – Improves lighting, skin tones, and textures
Expert RAW & Virtual Aperture – Pro-level photography tools
Log Video Mode – Adds detail for better video editing.
The biggest camera change is the improved ultra-wide sensor, making close-up shots sharper. Samsung also added better AI-powered noise reduction for videos. While useful, these updates might not be a huge upgrade unless you take a lot of photos and videos.
Battery & Charging: Faster Power, Same Capacity
Samsung kept battery sizes the same, but charging speeds have improved:
Galaxy S25 – 4,000mAh battery (50% charge in 30 minutes with 25W charger)
Galaxy S25+ – 4,900mAh battery (65% charge in 30 minutes with 45W charger)
Galaxy S25 Ultra – 5,000mAh battery (65% charge in 30 minutes with 45W charger)
Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 & Wireless PowerShare – Charge other devices wirelessly
Wired Charging – QC2.0 and AFC PD compatibility
While battery life is solid, Samsung’s decision to stick with the same battery capacities may leave some wanting more. However, improvements in processor efficiency should help extend battery performance.
Design & Durability: Small but Useful Changes
The S25 series doesn’t look too different from last year’s models, but there are a few improvements:
Titanium Frame – Stronger and lighter for better durability
Corning® Gorilla® Armor 2 – More scratch-resistant glass
IP68 Water & Dust Resistance – Protects against spills and dirt
S25 Ultra is 218g & 8.2mm thick – Slightly thinner and easier to hold
While these refinements improve durability and usability, they aren’t groundbreaking changes.
What Reviewers Think
Tech experts have mixed feelings about the Galaxy S25 series. MKBHD, The Tech Chap, and SuperSaf say it feels like an "S24S"—a small upgrade rather than something completely new. They like the AI tools but don’t think they are enough to make S24 users switch. GadgetMatch, This is Tech Today, and Thao Huynh also believes Samsung is focusing too much on AI instead of making major improvements to battery life or hardware.
iJustine and Jenna Ezarik like the lighter build and better ultra-wide camera. They think the software refinements make the phone feel more polished, but they wish Samsung had improved battery life and charging speeds. Zolotech and Mrwhosetheboss point out that while prices haven’t increased, the design changes are minimal, making the upgrade feel minor. UrAvgConsumer and Dave2D believe Samsung played it safe, improving AI but not pushing hardware forward. Denki and Karl Conrad agree, saying the S25 makes everyday use easier but doesn’t bring enough exciting changes for longtime Galaxy users.
On the other hand, Becca Farsace and ThisIsE are skeptical about Samsung’s AI approach. They think AI features are useful but don’t replace real hardware upgrades. While the S25 lineup is polished, it looks and feels very similar to previous models.
Is It Worth Upgrading?
If you have an older phone like the S22 or earlier, the S25 will feel like a big step up with its AI features and camera refinements. But if you already own an S24, you might not notice a huge difference. Many AI tools will likely come to older models through software updates, meaning the S25 may not be a must-buy.
For mobile gamers, the S25 Ultra brings some nice perks, but it’s not a game-changer. The Snapdragon 8 Elite chip improves performance, but real-world gains over the S24 Ultra may not be drastic. The 120Hz refresh rate and QHD+ AMOLED display ensure smooth gameplay, and Wi-Fi 7 could reduce lag in online matches. However, Samsung didn’t increase battery capacity, which means long gaming sessions may drain the battery just as quickly as before. Suppose you’re coming from an S22 or older. In that case, you’ll definitely feel an upgrade in performance and heat management, but S24 Ultra owners might not see enough improvement to justify a switch.
Samsung is betting on AI to make phones smarter, but does that make them better? If you care about AI-powered convenience and minor camera improvements, the S25 could be worth it. But if you want big changes in battery life, design, or charging speed, you should wait.
Pricing & Availability
Galaxy S25 – Starts at $799.99
Galaxy S25+ – Starts at $999.99
Galaxy S25 Ultra – Starts at $1,299.99
Pre-orders available now – Official release on February 7, 2025
Samsung is improving its phones step by step, but is AI enough to make this upgrade worth it? Would you switch to the S25, or are you holding out for bigger changes?