The Samsung Galaxy S25 series continues the journey started with the Galaxy S24, aiming to make smartphones more intelligent and personalized. Samsung claims the new phones will offer a more context-aware and personalized user experience thanks to multimodal AI. This could lead to a shift in how we interact with smartphones.
Samsung has collaborated with Google to integrate new AI features into the Galaxy S25 series, utilizing Google’s Gemini 2.0 AI model. Samsung is one of the first manufacturers to integrate this AI at the system level. The phones also use Samsung’s own AI models and interfaces. The Bixby voice assistant is still present and can interact with Gemini to manage system-level functions like creating calendar entries or sending messages.
In demonstrations, Samsung showed how users could ask for the best nearby Mexican restaurant and simultaneously ask a friend if they want to join. The phone suggested a restaurant and drafted a message for the friend. This feature currently works with the Messages app and WhatsApp.
The AI models can also capture content from images, like creating an event from a concert poster. The camera can scan the contents of a fridge and suggest recipes based on available ingredients. This is similar to features shown by Meta with their AR glasses prototype.
Users can control system functions like screen brightness via voice commands and get guidance on settings like eSIM. This is particularly useful for those not technically inclined. The Galaxy S25 models also include AI features introduced with the Galaxy S24, such as the Now-Bar on the lock screen, which resembles Apple’s Dynamic Island. It shows relevant app activities like Maps, Music, Stopwatch, and more.
The Now-Bar includes a feature called “Now Brief,” which offers proactive suggestions based on user behavior. This feature learns over time and provides information on sleep quality, reminders, and more. Samsung assures that this data remains private and secure in the “Knox Vault.”
Many of these features are part of the One UI 7 update, which will be available on various Galaxy smartphones. It’s unclear which features will be available on which models, but many are expected on Galaxy S24 devices. Samsung has stated that Galaxy AI features will remain free on supported devices until the end of 2025, with no plans to charge for them in 2026.
The Galaxy S25 series also sees some hardware updates. The devices are slightly lighter and thinner, featuring Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite chips for a performance boost. The Ultra model has undergone a design update, becoming more compact and less angular, with slimmer bezels. The Galaxy S25 Ultra has a 6.9-inch display, slightly larger than its predecessor.
All models feature bright LTPO displays with refresh rates between 1 and 120 Hz. Only the Ultra model has an anti-reflective coating for better readability in sunlight. Samsung claims the new Corning Armor Glass is more robust than before.
The Galaxy S25 series supports the new Qi2 wireless charging standard, requiring a special charging case sold separately. Charging speeds remain the same, with the Galaxy S25 supporting up to 25 watts wired charging and the others up to 45 watts.
Camera improvements are modest, with the Ultra model’s ultra-wide camera upgraded from 12 to 50 megapixels, now capable of macro photography. The new Snapdragon chip enhances camera performance, especially in low-light video recording.
The Galaxy S25 models ship with One UI 7 based on Android 15, offering new features and a refreshed look. Quick settings are now separate from notifications, similar to Apple’s approach. Apps can be scrolled vertically in the app drawer, following Google’s Pixel design.
Samsung offers a long update guarantee, providing new Android versions and security patches for seven years, ensuring usability until 2032.
The Galaxy S25 series offers subtle hardware updates, likened to a Galaxy S24s series if it were an iPhone. While some competitors focus on new battery technologies, Samsung remains conservative in this area. The practicality of AI features remains to be seen, as they require more than a brief demo to evaluate their usefulness.
The pricing for the new Galaxy S25 models remains similar to their predecessors. The base model starts at 850 euros, the Plus model at 1,150 euros, and the Ultra model at 1,450 euros.