Leaping into the AI era

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  An AI powerhouse

  Samsung Galaxy S25+
  

  Samsung’s Galaxy S25+ continues to be the best center floor within the firm’s flagship lineup, providing an expansive, crisp, and vivid show for individuals who do not want the superior options of the S25 Extremely.

  Professionals & Cons

  • Oustanding 6.7-inch display screen with even slimmer bezels
  • Glorious efficiency
  • Superior AI capabilities, together with Gemini Stay

  • Design is getting a bit bland
  • Not all AI options are helpful

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  Nonetheless going robust

  Samsung Galaxy S23+
  

  The Galaxy S23+ affords surprisingly strong efficiency for an older cellphone, with the power to deal with a lot of Samsung’s newest Galaxy AI and One UI 7 options. It is hampered largely by weaker battery life, a shorter replace coverage, and a lower-resolution show than its successors.

  Professionals & Cons

  • Nice efficiency
  • All-day battery life
  • Stable construct high quality

  • Photographs may be overprocessed
  • Nonetheless a bit dear
  • Nearing the tip of its Android replace cycle

Samsung kicked off 2025 with its annual Galaxy Unpacked occasion, ushering in an thrilling yr for smartphones with its new Galaxy S25 sequence. It’s the identical trio of flagships, upgraded with cutting-edge silicon to energy a extra mature set of AI options.

Samsung gave us a style of this final yr with Galaxy AI, however the Galaxy S25 lineup feels prefer it’s coming into its personal. The newest telephones embraced the “Gemini Period” by adopting Gemini Stay as the usual voice assistant and packing extra highly effective picture processing to take images to new heights.

Samsung’s Galaxy S Plus fashions have at all times been the candy spots among the many firm’s flagships, providing a class-leading full-sized smartphone for people who don’t want all of the bells and whistles of the pricier Extremely fashions. This yr, the Galaxy S25+ solidifies that place, however is it a worthy improve over the Galaxy S23+, a two-year-old mannequin that also handles the newest software program updates and a strong assortment of Galaxy AI options? Let’s check out how Samsung’s two center youngsters evaluate.

Worth, availability, and specs

The Samsung Galaxy S25+ is up for preorder from Samsung and can land in bodily and on-line retail shops, carriers, and clients’ fingers on February 7. The bottom 256GB mannequin sells for $1,000, with a 512GB model obtainable for $1,120. Samsung’s traditional aggressive trade-on affords can be found and may shave fairly a bit off these costs. The usual colours for this yr’s fashions are navy, mint, Icy Blue, and Silver Shadow. Unlocked variations ordered from Samsung.com additionally are available unique Blueback, Corralled, and Pinkgold finishes.

Launched two years in the past, the Galaxy S23+ is difficult to search out in new situation, though Samsung nonetheless sells the 256GB model in lavender on its web site for the unique worth of $1,000. Licensed renewed fashions can be found from Samsung for as little as $769 for 256GB. Even higher offers on renewed fashions may be discovered at Amazon, with costs as little as $500. The Galaxy S23+ initially got here in Phantom Black, inexperienced, cream, and lavender, with unique graphite and lime finishes obtainable from Samsung. Nevertheless, you’ll have problem discovering most of those colours within the renewed market. Phantom Black appears to be generally obtainable.

• 	Samsung Galaxy S25+	Samsung Galaxy S23+
  SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Cell Platform for Galaxy
  Show sort	120Hz AMOLED	AMOLED, 120Hz
  Show dimensions	6.7 inches	6.6″
  Show decision	3120 x 1440	2340 x 1080
  RAM	12GB	8GB
  Storage	256GB/512GB	256GB or 512GB
  Battery	4,900mAh	4,700mAh
  Cost velocity	45W wired, 15W wi-fi	45W wired (Fast Cost 2.0, Samsung Adaptive Quick Charging), 15W wi-fi (Samsung Quick Wi-fi Charging 2.0, WPC), Wi-fi PowerShare
  Cost choices	Wired, wi-fi, wi-fi powershare	USB-C wired, Qi wi-fi
  Ports	USB-C	USB-C
  Working System	Android 15, One UI 7	One UI 5.1 w/ Android 13
  Entrance digital camera	12MP f/2.2	12MP f/2.2
  Rear digital camera	50MP, f/1.8 OIS essential; 12MP, f/2.2 ultrawide; 10MP, f/2.4 telephoto (3× zoom)	50MP f/1.8 OIS essential, 12MP f2.2 extensive (120°), 10MP f/2.4 OIS telephoto (3x)
  Mobile connectivity	5G, 4G LTE	LTE, 5G, mmWave
  Wi-Fi connectivity	Wi-Fi 7	Wi-Fi 6E
  Connectivity	NFC, UWB, Wi-fi DeX	4G, 5G, UWB, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC
  Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.4	Bluetooth 5.3
  Dimensions	158.4 x 75.8 x 7.3 mm	163.3 × 78 × 8.9mm
  Weight	190g	196g
  IP Ranking	IP68	IP68
  Colours	Silver Shadow, Navy, Ice Blue, Mint	Phantom, Cream, Inexperienced, Lavender + Samsung.com unique Lime, Graphite
  Stylus	No	No
  Worth	$1,000	From $1,000

Design

A brand new type for a brand new period

Whereas this yr’s Galaxy S25+ doesn’t change a lot aesthetically over final yr’s mannequin, the Galaxy S24+, it inherits the identical adjustments that set that one aside from the Galaxy S23+.

The Galaxy 25+ preserves the iPhone-like flat edges of its predecessor. Apple might have led the best way into flat edges amongst mainstream smartphones 4 years in the past, however Samsung made it fashionable within the Android world. Practically each producer now embraces the brand new flatness, however Samsung’s Galaxy S25+ stays distinctively a Samsung cellphone.

That’s as a result of as quickly as you flip it over, you’ll see the identical trademark triple-camera array that’s develop into Samsung’s hallmark. The Galaxy S23+ eschewed the digital camera bump in favor of a extra refined design with all three lenses protruding independently. It’s a sublime and uncluttered look, and we’re glad Samsung caught with it.

The Galaxy S23+ is a part of the identical pedigree as its successors, however the Galaxy S25+ feels prefer it’s all grown up. Its edges are flat however not sharp, and the design allowed Samsung to shrink the bezels much more. The result’s a 0.1-inch improve in display screen measurement over the Galaxy S23+ that comes extra from a diminished body than an elevated measurement. The Galaxy S25+ grows by solely 0.7mm in peak over the S23+ however reduces the thickness by 0.3mm.

The Galaxy S25+ and S23+ are tied for sturdiness, not less than on paper. Each function Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Samsung’s Armor Aluminum body, and IP68 mud and water resistance that lets them survive a dip in as much as 1.5 meters of water for half-hour.

Show

Massive and daring

The Galaxy S25+ has a bigger 6.7-inch display screen that follows within the footsteps of final yr’s mannequin, which was a considerable improve over the Galaxy S23+.

The display screen makes good use of its 0.1-inch measurement improve by pushing the decision to a QHD 3120 x 1440 pixel decision, a wholesome bump over the 2340 x 1080 FHD high quality of the Galaxy S23+. The result’s a crisper display screen, at 514 pixels per inch (ppi), in comparison with the 393 ppi of the Galaxy S23+. Within the Galaxy S23 lineup, the S23 Extremely had a noticeable high quality benefit, however that hole now not exists with the Galaxy S25+, which now sports activities the identical decision as its pricier sibling.

The Galaxy S25+ display screen additionally will get significantly brighter, reaching 2,600 nits open air in comparison with 1,750 nits on the Galaxy S23+, and the variable refresh price was prolonged downward to let it drop to 1Hz to ship longer battery life and a few good enhancements to the always-on show.

Final yr, Samsung launched a richer always-on show in One UI 6.1 with the Galaxy S24+ with a extra colourful and dynamic view that might embrace the consumer’s wallpaper and never simply the time. Regardless of being a function of One UI, this didn’t come to the Galaxy S23+ as that older show bottoms out at 48Hz. The Galaxy S25+ nonetheless helps this function. Whereas Apple’s unique implementation proved it’s not everybody’s cup of tea, Samsung made it straightforward to bend it to your will.

Software program

Welcome to the AI era

The Galaxy S25+ ships with the newest Android 15 launch and heralds the official arrival of One UI 7, a major replace that feels larger than the sum of its components.

With One UI 7, Samsung has rethought a few of its core consumer interface designs. There are sufficient adjustments right here that long-term One UI followers might want to make some changes, however we predict most can be pleased with the brand new approach of doing issues after they develop into accustomed to it.

Samsung Galaxy S23+ customers may get One UI 7. The Galaxy S25+ has it out of the field, however the Galaxy S23+ shouldn’t be far behind. Whereas One UI 7 impressed us with how way more easily it ran on the Galaxy S24 lineup in the course of the December beta, we’ll have to attend and see how nicely it performs on the older Galaxy S23+.

One UI 7 introduces a slew of recent Galaxy AI instruments, together with swapping out Samsung’s basic Bixby assistant for Gemini Stay, a Now Bar that gives Stay Actions much like the iPhone, and a Now Transient that provides you a glanceable abstract of necessary info, from information and climate to your schedule and well being metrics. A few of these options will probably come to the Galaxy S23+ when it will get One UI 7, however there’s little doubt it can carry out higher on the Galaxy S25+ because of the enhanced AI processing capabilities supplied by its newer silicon.

The Galaxy S23+ may also attain the tip of its software program updates earlier than the Galaxy S25+. Samsung solely promised 4 years of software program updates for the Galaxy S23 sequence, and we’ve used two of these, which suggests the final it can get is Android 17. In the meantime, the Galaxy S25+ can be good for seven years of updates, taking it to Android 22 sometime.

Efficiency

Residing on the sting

Samsung put the perfect silicon obtainable on this yr’s Galaxy S25 fashions, utilizing a custom-made “for Galaxy” model of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip in all three fashions in all places. This represents a two-generation improve over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip within the Galaxy S23+, which additionally adopted a Snapdragon-only coverage. Qualcomm rebranded its Snapdragon chip with the “Elite” moniker this yr, nevertheless it’s successfully the Gen 4.

The Galaxy S25+ is forward of the Galaxy S23+ in uncooked efficiency, however we’re unsure most folk will discover this in each day use. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 was already forward of its time in 2023, and we’ve by no means had complaints about it being sluggish. The sooner efficiency and souped-up Adreno GPU within the Snapdragon 8 Elite will make an enormous distinction for critical players. Nonetheless, each telephones needs to be equally snappy when performing on a regular basis duties.

The Galaxy S25+ will get a lift from an improved neural processing unit (NPU) that’s practically twice as quick because the one discovered within the Galaxy S23+. This permits for extra superior picture processing within the digital camera, higher pure language processing for Gemini Stay, and sooner execution of on-device language fashions for issues like summaries and writing instruments.

When Samsung unveiled its Galaxy AI options in early 2024, it did its finest to convey these to older Samsung units, and the Galaxy S23 received lots of the similar AI instruments because the Galaxy S24 lineup. Nevertheless, it was disregarded of some, and it’s cheap to imagine that we’ll see the identical factor with this yr’s One UI 7 launch. You’ll want a Galaxy S25 mannequin to reap the benefits of every thing Galaxy AI affords.

Battery life

Energy effectivity is vital

The Galaxy S25+ packs a 4,900mAh cell, which is a modest improve over the 4,700mAh battery of the Galaxy S23+. Nevertheless, it boasts larger battery life because of this yr’s extra environment friendly Snapdragon chip.

The Galaxy S23+ can get you thru a day of typical use, however you’ll probably must hit a charger each evening. Heavy gaming or lengthy streaming video classes may empty the tank prematurely, however lighter customers may get the higher a part of a second day.

We’ll have to attend till we’ve put the Galaxy S25+ by means of its paces to see the way it holds up. Final yr’s Galaxy S24+ had no drawback getting by means of a 15-hour day with 5 hours of display screen time, an hour of gaming, and 20 minutes of GPS navigation, with 23% remaining at bedtime. We anticipate the Galaxy S25+ to do even higher, as we’ve seen what Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip can do on the OnePlus 13, which boasts stellar battery life.

One space the place the Galaxy S25+ hasn’t moved the needle is in charging speeds. It nonetheless caps out at 45W for wired charging or 15W for wi-fi. There’s no direct assist for the brand new Qi2 normal, though you may bridge that hole by including a magnetic case. The Galaxy S23+ has the identical wi-fi charging speeds and Qi assist.

Digital camera

Identical {hardware} with higher software program

It’s develop into evident lately that the race to enhance megapixel counts and different smartphone digital camera specs is over. Immediately, the enhancements are all in regards to the software program and deeper {hardware}, reminiscent of picture sign processors (ISPs) and NPUs.

Maybe nowhere is that this extra obvious than in Samsung’s Galaxy S sequence smartphones. The Galaxy S25+ has the identical digital camera {hardware} as its current predecessors, together with the Galaxy S23+: a 50-megapixel (MP) major, 12MP ultra-wide, and 10MP telephoto.

The improved photographic prowess of the Galaxy S25+ comes from the improved AI processing within the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, which guarantees computational images developments in recognizing scenes and objects, lowering noise, and bettering dynamic vary. Samsung additionally bolstered its ProVisual Engine with a brand new “Nightography” mode that provides higher low-light efficiency. There’s additionally assist for 10-bit HDR video and native assist for the skilled Log V3 video format.

It’s arduous to say how nicely the Galaxy S25+ will carry out till we’ve completed some photographic comparisons. Nevertheless, the enhancements in final yr’s Galaxy S24+ make us optimistic that the Galaxy S25+ will do even higher. For years, Samsung’s telephones have leaned closely into vibrancy and saturation, typically producing over-processed photographs. The Galaxy S24+ was a pleasant course correction final yr, with the ProVisual Engine giving photographs a extra pure and balanced look. We’re hoping the Galaxy S25+ continues this development.

Do you have to improve?

Most smartphone makers perceive that the majority of us change to a brand new cellphone each two to a few years or extra. For this reason many flagships solely provide modest year-over-year upgrades. The Galaxy S25+ might not be an enormous leap over the Galaxy S24+, nevertheless it’s a major sufficient bounce over the Galaxy S23+ to make it price contemplating.

It’s most likely not shocking that the Galaxy S25+ is all about AI. It is going to be a compelling improve for these fascinated by these new options, which embrace Google’s “Gemini Period” in an enormous approach.

Nevertheless, there’s extra to the Galaxy S25+ than AI. Critical players will take pleasure in a greater chip with an enhanced GPU, the brand new One UI 7 was made for Samsung’s newest telephones and will run buttery clean, and the cameras promise a noticeable high quality enchancment. You additionally get a crisper and brighter display screen with a decrease refresh price that helps lengthen battery life, significantly for utilizing the always-on show and streaming movies.

In the event you’re a Samsung fan on a finances, a renewed Galaxy S23+ at half the value could also be price contemplating. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip is greater than highly effective sufficient for on a regular basis use, the cameras are competent, and it’s highly effective sufficient to deal with lots of the finest One UI 7 and Galaxy AI options. Nevertheless, you’ll solely get two extra years of Android updates earlier than it’s put out to pasture. There are different midrange Android telephones in a aggressive worth vary that you may buy model new with extra present specs.