The Galaxy S25+ performs it protected, however is that basically a foul factor?

Once I began penning this story concerning the Galaxy S25+, the primary time I typed the title of the cellphone, I by chance wrote the Galaxy S24+, which I really feel completely captures my ideas concerning the machine. After utilizing the Samsung Galaxy S25+ for over a month, I can confidently say this can be a nice cellphone that provides lots of worth. Nevertheless, it is also truthful to say that Samsung performed it extraordinarily protected with this year’s refresh.

On the surface, should you stated this was a Samsung Galaxy S23+ or S24+, I’d consider you — the primary distinction between the S25+ and its predecessors is not actually on the surface; it is on the within. The cellphone is powered by Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, particularly personalized for the Galaxy S25 sequence.

The S25+ is only a powerhouse. By no means as soon as did I expertise a hiccup or slowdown when taking part in a sport, multitasking, or looking. It is the smoothest expertise I’ve ever had utilizing a Samsung machine, and I can not reward it sufficient. However, chipset apart, in comparison with the Galaxy S24+ and even the S23+, there is not a lot new taking place right here.

Associated

Forget One UI 7, Samsung could drop One UI 8 sooner than anticipated

Samsung may skip mid-cycle variations of One UI 7 and as an alternative give attention to One UI 8.

The definition of a refresh

Small refinements do make a distinction

Samsung’s massive focus this yr with the Galaxy S25 sequence was its new Galaxy AI options and One UI 7, so once I first noticed the spec sheet for the Galaxy S25 sequence, I wasn’t shocked to see how comparable it was to final yr’s fashions. The Galaxy S25+ shares the identical display screen, cameras, and general design because the S24+, a flat body with rounded corners. Nevertheless, there are two small however noticeable enhancements the S25+ has that make the in-hand expertise significantly better.

The S25+ is 7 grams lighter and 0.6mm thinner than the S24+, and I discovered the machine very comfy to carry and use for lengthy durations. I am normally a fan of smaller handsets, however my expertise with the S25+ impressed me, and sooner or later, I can see myself choosing bigger handsets in the event that they’re lighter and thinner just like the S25+.

Specializing in the show, what makes this a plus cellphone is its bigger 6.7-inch Dynamic OLED 2X show, which has a 3120 x 1440 pixel decision, a 120Hz adaptive refresh price, and a peak brightness of 2600 nits. I’ve spent each evening for the previous month watching TV exhibits and YouTube movies on it, and there is no query that it’s a lovely and vivid show. Whereas the S25+ has the identical show because the S24+, given its top quality, it is not a lot of a bummer that it hasn’t modified. Nevertheless, it’s disappointing that the anti-reflective coating the S25 Extremely options hasn’t trickled right down to the S25+. Hopefully, the S26 sequence corrects this error.

The S25+ has the identical battery because the S24+, a 4,900mAh battery that’s barely smaller than the S25 Extremely’s 5,000mAh battery. I by no means had any points with the machine’s battery life, which constantly impressed me. After a full day of use, together with texting, doomscrolling social media, looking the online, taking photographs, and watching YouTube movies, I all the time discovered myself with 20-30 p.c cost left.

Associated

What I think Samsung should do with the Galaxy S26

It could actually’t play it protected with smartphone design ceaselessly. Or can it?

One UI 7 and Galaxy AI

Helpful however not earth-shattering

One other out-of-the-box enhancement this yr for the Galaxy S25 sequence is One UI 7 based mostly on Android 15, which introduces a bunch of enhancements, together with cleaner animations, a revamped notifications heart, redesigned app icons, and an overhauled person interface. Thus far, a month into utilizing the Galaxy S25+, I’ve no complaints about One UI 7, and I like how its design philosophy resembles iOS 18 — coming from an iPhone 14 Pro, it made switching to the S25+ a lot simpler.

One in every of my favourite new options is the Now Bar — Samsung’s model of Dynamic Island, basically — which helps you to show reside notifications and music in your lock display screen. I discovered this notably useful for managing Spotify playback controls on the fly. I additionally favored how, should you observe any sports activities groups on Google, the scores for his or her video games are displayed reside on the Now Bar, which I used for maintaining with the Toronto Maple Leafs once I could not watch a sport.

Now Temporary can be prompted within the Now Bar, letting you shortly open your briefing. I used to be enthusiastic about Now Temporary when the Galaxy S25 sequence was introduced. Nevertheless, after utilizing it now for a month, I can say it is fairly ineffective. All it did for me day by day was inform me the climate and my calendar, two issues I used to be already very conscious of. Typically, it could advocate me a random Spotify Playlist, too, however I by no means discovered any of them price listening to.

The one different Galaxy AI characteristic I performed round with was Magic Eraser within the photographs app, and I used to be genuinely impressed with how good it’s at enhancing objects and other people out of photographs. You possibly can’t even inform that a few of the footage have been edited.

One UI 7 will roll out to older Galaxy S sequence gadgets starting in April, that means it will not be a big promoting characteristic for the S25+ for for much longer. Nevertheless, it is price noting that the cellphone already contains it proper out of the field.

Associated

Forget the iPhone 16e, these 5 Android phones are way better

Apple’s funds cellphone is not the most effective deal – these Android options offer you extra for much less

The Galaxy S25+ is a good cellphone

Taking part in it protected wasn’t that dangerous of a factor in spite of everything

In comparison with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, the S25+ doesn’t get sufficient of the highlight it deserves. Should you can reside with out the S Pen and the higher digicam array, I would argue the S25+ is a wiser purchase over the S25 Extremely. For $1,000, you get a quick smartphone with a vivid display screen, glorious battery life, good cameras, and fashionable AI options that may solely enhance with time.

Should you can snag the Galaxy S25+ on sale, it affords even higher worth. I’ve already seen the cellphone go on sale for $800. That is $200 off already, and the cellphone has solely been out for simply over a month. Whereas that deal has ended, I am positive extra nice offers will come sooner or later.

The Galaxy S25+ may not be probably the most revolutionary smartphone obtainable, but it surely represents a constant evolution of Samsung’s improvements within the Galaxy S sequence lately. This yr, Samsung performed it protected with the S25+, leading to an effortlessly strong but unremarkable smartphone that reliably will get the job finished. In case you have an S23+ or older, in my view, the leap alone in efficiency is price it. The Galaxy S25 Edge is rumored to launch in mid-April, so I am additionally actually curious to see how the S25+ compares to it.

This machine was offered to Pocket-lint by Samsung.