Samsung Galaxy S25 Series: Worth the Upgrade? No

Samsung has officially unveiled the Galaxy S25 series, comprising the Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra. While the lineup introduces some enhancements, the question remains: is it worth upgrading from the Galaxy S24 series? Let’s delve into the details to help you decide.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Series vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Series

Design and Display

The new Galaxy S25 series mirrors design elements of the previous S24 lineup. The S25  and S25 Plus models still feature their 6.2-inch display and 6.7-inch display along with standard aluminum frames and flat screens. The S25 Ultra features a 6.9-inch display which is larger than the previous S24 Ultra yet finds room to shrink its bezels. The new designs only make small refinements while maintaining the basic look of previous phones.

Performance

Every S25 model includes Qualcomm’s powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite processor as a significant update. The new Snapdragon 8 Elite processor gives users a 37% speed boost on CPU tasks and 30% faster graphics than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 found in S24 series smartphones. It also enhances AI processing by 40%. By placing the same 12GB of RAM in every S25 model users benefit from streamlined multitasking.

Camera

The S25 and S25+ cameras feature the same camera system as their predecessors, with a 50MP main sensor, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP telephoto lenses with 3x optical zoom. The S25 Ultra increases macro photography by using a 50MP ultra-wide camera instead of the S24’s prior 12MP sensor. The Galaxy S25 variants have the same camera hardware, but Samsung has added advanced AI technologies to improve automatic image corrections.

AI Features

Samsung has placed a significant focus on AI capabilities in the S25 series. These new features provide users with enhanced photo editing capabilities, the Gemini AI assistant, Audio Eraser video noise reduction, and AI Select suggested interactions. AI functionalities from the S25 series are gradually making their way into older devices like the S24 series.

Battery and Charging

Battery capacities remain unchanged from the S24 generation models. The S25 devices support Qi2 wireless charging when using Samsung’s Qi2 Ready magnet cases which makes battery power-ups more convenient.

Pricing and Availability

The Galaxy S25 starts at $799.99, the S25+ at $999.99, and the S25 Ultra at $1,299.99. Preorders are currently open, with the official launch slated for February 7th.

Feature	Samsung Galaxy S25	Samsung Galaxy S24
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (37% faster CPU, 30% faster GPU, 40% better AI)	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
RAM	12GB	8GB
Display	6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz refresh rate, slimmer bezels	6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz refresh rate
Dimensions	146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2mm, 162g	146.3 x 70.9 x 7.4mm, 168g
Main Camera	50MP main sensor, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto (3x optical zoom), AI enhancements	50MP main sensor, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto (3x optical zoom)
Battery	4,000mAh, more energy-efficient chipset	4,000mAh
Charging	Qi2 wireless charging support	Standard wireless charging
AI Features	Advanced AI: AI Select, Cross-App Actions, Now Brief & Now Bar	Limited AI features
Starting Price	$799.99 (S25), $999.99 (S25 Plus), $1,299.99 (S25 Ultra)	$799.99 (S24), $999.99 (S24 Plus), $1,299.99 (S24 Ultra)

The Galaxy S25 series takes a step forward from the S24, delivering enhanced processing power and advanced AI technologies for users. The device keeps its original look and camera system design intact. The upgrades offered to Galaxy S24 users probably won’t convince them to purchase an S25. Whether you’re upgrading from an older device or on the hunt for cutting-edge AI features and performance, the Galaxy S25 offers a solid array of options.