Samsung Galaxy S25+ review

The Galaxy + series of phones has long served as a middle ground between the entry-level base handset and the high-end Ultra. Samsung has produced many excellent Plus phones in its history, so how does the Galaxy S25 + compare?
In this review we’ll analyse the S25+ and its features, from the improved processor to advancements in AI, so you can decide if it’s right for your needs.
If you’re interested in the Samsung Galaxy S25+, you can order from a variety of colours including Icy Blue, Mint, Navy, and Silver Shadow.
Specifications
• Dimensions – 158.4 x 75.8 x 7.3
• Weight – 190g
• OS – Android 15
• Display – 6.7” Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• Resolution – 3120 x 1440
• Processor – Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
• RAM – 12GB
• Storage – 256GB/512GB
• Rear cameras – 12MP ultra-wide; 50MP wide; 10MP telephoto
• Battery – 4,900mAh
• Water and dust resistance – IP68
• Connectivity – Wi-Fi 7; Bluetooth 5.3; 5G
Release date
The Samsung Galaxy S25+ was released on the 7th February 2025.
Reasons to buy
• Excellent display that offers the best of the S25 Ultra in a smaller size
• Lightning-fast Snapdragon 8 processor
• Large battery that's very close to the Ultra’s 5,000mAh capacity
Things to consider
• The 6.7” screen isn’t as large as the Ultra’s 6.9” display
Design
If you enjoyed the look of previous Samsung phones like the Galaxy S24+, the S25+ will feel right at home. It maintains that sleek aesthetic defined by rounded corners and flat edges that make the screen pop. We appreciate Samsung’s commitment to the flat edges, given that handsets with a curved design can sometimes feel a bit slippery to hold; not the case here.
All in all, the S25+ very much sticks with what worked so well on its predecessor from a design perspective. You've got the Armour Aluminium frame, which does a fantastic job of protecting the device from knocks while ensuring it doesn’t weigh you down. Up front you have Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the screen for enhanced scratch resistance, and there’s also IP68 water and dust resistance to protect against accidental submersions and dust particles.
So far so good, but there’s one improvement to the S25+ that owners of the S24+ might notice in the hand: it’s 7g lighter. Quite impressively, this was achieved without eliminating any important design features, so props to Samsung for providing a lighter device that feels even more comfortable to carry around.
Display
When it comes to the display, the S25+ includes the same beautiful 6.7” AMOLED screen that dazzled us on the S24+. Its 1440p resolution packs in an incredible amount of detail, and combined with the dynamic 120Hz refresh rate, it’s sure to delight gamers and film buffs who enjoy a blockbuster experience while on-the-go.
Artificial intelligence is a theme that runs throughout the S25+ experience, and it can be found in the display department, too. The AI ProScaler feature intelligently and automatically boosts image quality without the user needing to do a thing.
Performance
Moving onto the processor, the S25+ runs much smoother thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy CPU. Multitasking is much easier as you bounce between apps, and games look fantastic due to the improved silicon. Everything just feels more responsive, and enjoyable, as a result.
This CPU isn’t ‘elite’ in just name alone. The Snapdragon 8 Elite can recreate lighting in games – around a 40% improvement – to make environments look considerably more realistic and true-to-life.
Software & features
The Galaxy S25+ is by far the most intelligent Plus handset, largely thanks to the enhanced capabilities of Galaxy AI. Ever seen some food online you really wanted to recreate and need the recipe? The S25+ can do that. It can also learn how you go about your day and intelligently pick up your routine.
Android 15 is supported on the S25+, bringing with it improved security features such as Private Space and Theft Detection Lock. Several years of feature updates are also planned to ensure the S25+ still feels fresh into the future.
Camera
The Galaxy S25+ certainly shares a lot in common with the S24+ on the camera front, but thanks to features like the Next Gen ProVisual engine and the addition of a 12MP ultra-wide camera, this handset is much more versatile. There’s also a 50MP main camera, a 10MP telephoto lens, and a 12MP front selfie camera. Photos produced by these cameras look fantastic, brimming with detail thanks to the high pixel counts, and the ProVisual engine further enhances subject images with more realistic skin tones.
For filmmakers, the AI Audio Eraser feature is a game-changer with its ability to remove ambient noise. The S25+ also supports LOG video formats, opening up more precise and detailed editing tools.
Battery
Samsung opted to stay with the 4,900mAh battery found on the S24+, but this is hardly a bad thing when you have a capacity of this size. The S25+ can comfortably last most of the day before needing to be recharged, and when this time comes, you won’t be waiting long thanks to Samsung’s Super-Fast Charging technology and Fast Wireless Charging 2.0.
Summary
Whether you enjoy playing mobile games, taking photos on your travels, or take pride in planning your day, the Samsung Galaxy S25+ does all of this and more. Its hardware doesn’t break the mould, but improvements to AI and processing power do more than enough to impress. If you want a balance of the base S25 and Ultra phones, the S25+ is an outstanding choice.
Want to move your old data across to the Galaxy S25+? Our expert guide will get you using your new handset in no time.