Samsung Galaxy S25+ review: acceptable but not revolutionary

With its high price and minimal changes compared to the S24+, the S25+ seems to be caught between two better-defined models.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 series consists of three models: the more compact S25 (899 euros incl. VAT), the all-rounder S25 Ultra (1449 euros incl. VAT), and the S25+ (1149 euros incl. VAT), which struggles to distinguish itself from the rest. The S24+ already had this problem, and the S25+ changes almost nothing in that regard.

Characteristic Samsung Design

The design of the Galaxy S25+ is identical to that of its predecessor, with an aluminum frame and a glass back that looks very neat and feels premium. Despite the minimalist look, Samsung’s Galaxy devices are clearly recognizable compared to other brands and simply look very attractive. Notably, Samsung opts for a protruding camera island, a choice that can only be applauded. This gives the S25+ a sleek look and prevents it from wobbling on the table.

Our review unit has a matte blue back that unfortunately shows some fingerprints, but is also easy to clean. Weighing 190 grams, the phone feels good in the hand and despite its size, it gets an IP68 rating. This means it’s resistant to dust and water. Many smartphones in this segment have the same or even a higher IP69 rating.

A Screen That Continues to Shine

The 6.7-inch AMOLED screen of the S25+ is top quality. We see razor-sharp images with vivid colors, which can be perfectly adjusted to your preference via the settings. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures that scrolling feels super smooth, and animations flash quickly across the screen. The peak brightness of 1,330 nits, in turn, ensures that the screen remains equally readable at all times, even in bright sunlight.

Those expecting improvements in the screen compared to the S24+ will be disappointed. Everything has remained identical, but that doesn’t necessarily have to be a problem. The screen still ranks among the best on the market.

Snapdragon Power for Smooth Performance

Under the aluminum housing, we find the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in both the S25+ and the S25 and S25 Ultra. Samsung leaves out its own Exynos chip, which is not surprising. The S25+ is powerful and uses little energy. The new Qualcomm chips deliver almost unrivaled mobile performance.

The smartphone feels lightning fast: apps open smoothly and without stuttering, multitasking works well with split view, and even more demanding use cases like resource-intensive games are executed without problems. The S25+ even scores better in terms of CPU performance than the Ultra.

When we look at daily use, such as web browsing and video editing, we see that all Samsung S-series come out on top as the best in the test.

Galaxy AI with Potential

The device runs on One UI 7, based on Android 15. In terms of user-friendliness, we absolutely cannot complain; the interface is clear and the OS contains various optimizations for better performance and battery life. This year, Samsung introduces Galaxy AI: a range of features that tap into the AI trend.

We get live translations for conversations, AI photo editing, and Now Brief, a smart overview of your day based on your calendar and habits. Unfortunately, Now Brief still seems to be in its infancy and the feature is far from groundbreaking. You get an overview of the weather, events planned for that day, and a suggestion for music or a podcast three times a day, meal-wise. At the moment, it feels rather poor, but it does have potential.

As you might expect, there are quite a few pre-installed Samsung apps on the device such as Internet, Gaming Hub, Global Goals, Health, Wallet, and a Bixby assistant. The entire Google suite is also pre-installed, and even some Microsoft apps: Office, OneDrive, Outlook, and LinkedIn. Apart from that, we (fortunately) don’t find any bloatware.

One of the strongest points of the software is the promise of seven years of security and software updates. This means the device will be supported for an exceptionally long time: a strong asset compared to many competitors.

Cameras: Exactly What You Can Expect

Samsung keeps the camera configuration identical to that of the S24+: a 50 MP main camera, a 10 MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 12 MP ultra-wide-angle lens. During the day, the camera takes good photos with natural colors and sharp details. Only the AI-tuned contrast feels washed out when taking photos indoors.

By default, the pixels of the photos are binned to 12 MP. Pixel binning, where multiple pixels on the sensor work together to generate one pixel in your photo, is a technology Samsung has a lot of experience with. You now also have the option to utilize the full 50MP of the main camera. However, we don’t recommend this, as it slows down the shutter speed and introduces a lot of noise in the photos.

The zoom function works well, and the photos lose little detail and sharpness. Only the ultra-wide lens slightly compromises the quality of the photos, but most users won’t notice this. In low light conditions, the S25+ performs well, but it’s not at the absolute top. The portrait mode has become more advanced and can now separate the subject from the background even better. It must be said that the photos, and especially the colors, generally look extremely good.

Photos from Samsung smartphones are often extra saturated, and that’s also the case here. Not that it’s extremely noticeable, but the saturation is clearly intense. You can see this below, especially in the grass and sky. They look better, but sometimes at the expense of realistic colors.

Stubbornly Slow Charging

The common thread throughout this review seems to be ‘good enough but not worth writing home about’. We can also describe the battery in one sentence. The battery capacity is 4,900 mAh. In our opinion, that capacity could be a bit higher. But during testing, we easily got through a day without having to plug it in. With intensive use, you’ll make it to early evening.

The device supports 45W fast charging, which means your device is fully charged in just over an hour. Wireless charging is present but hasn’t gotten faster. Samsung sticks to 15W, and that’s where the tech giant misses the mark. When you pay more than 1,000 euros for a smartphone, you expect at least faster charging times. For example, the Xiaomi 14T Pro and OnePlus 13 have handled this better, with faster charging times and higher battery capacity. The Oppo Reno 13 also has a much higher battery capacity, including fast charging, and costs less than the S25+.

Samsung has optimized its software to further reduce battery consumption, such as adaptive power management that adapts to your usage patterns. This ensures that the device consumes less power when in standby mode.

No Drastic Upgrade, But a Safe Choice

The Samsung Galaxy S25+ (1149 euros incl. VAT) is a fantastic smartphone, but it doesn’t really surprise anywhere. The screen is excellent, the performance is solid, and the camera captures beautiful photos. With seven years of updates, it’s a device that can last a long time, which is an important plus.

For users with an older device, the S25+ is more than a decent upgrade. However, those who already own a recent Galaxy smartphone will find very little innovation. This is a solid smartphone that scores well in all areas but doesn’t make any (major) changes outside of software.

Tested: Samsung S25+, 256 GB + 12 GB, 1149 euros incl. VAT, seven years of software and security updates