The Galaxy S25+ performs it protect...

Once I began penning this story in regards to the Galaxy S25+, the primary time I typed the title of the telephone, I by accident wrote the Galaxy S24+, which I really feel completely captures my ideas in regards to the system. After utilizing the Samsung Galaxy S25+ for over a month, I can confidently say this can be a nice telephone that gives numerous worth. Nonetheless, it is also honest to say that Samsung performed it extraordinarily protected with this year’s refresh.

On the skin, when you mentioned this was a Samsung Galaxy S23+ or S24+, I’d imagine you — the principle distinction between the S25+ and its predecessors is not actually on the skin; it is on the within. The telephone 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 recreation, multitasking, or searching. It is the smoothest expertise I’ve ever had utilizing a Samsung system, 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 occurring right here.

Associated

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

Samsung would possibly skip mid-cycle variations of One UI 7 and as an alternative deal with One UI 8.

The definition of a refresh

Small refinements do make a distinction

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

The S25+ is 7 grams lighter and 0.6mm thinner than the S24+, and I discovered the system very snug to carry and use for lengthy intervals. 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 telephone is its bigger 6.7-inch Dynamic OLED 2X show, which has a 3120 x 1440 pixel decision, a 120Hz adaptive refresh fee, 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 not any query that it’s a stunning and vivid show. Whereas the S25+ has the identical show because the S24+, given its prime quality, it is not a lot of a bummer that it hasn’t modified. Nonetheless, it’s disappointing that the anti-reflective coating the S25 Extremely options hasn’t trickled all the way 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 system’s battery life, which repeatedly impressed me. After a full day of use, together with texting, doomscrolling social media, searching the online, taking pictures, and watching YouTube movies, I at all times discovered myself with 20-30 p.c cost left.

Associated

What I think Samsung should do with the Galaxy S26

It may possibly’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 number of enhancements, together with cleaner animations, a revamped notifications heart, redesigned app icons, and an overhauled consumer interface. Up to now, 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. I discovered this notably helpful for managing Spotify playback controls on the fly. I additionally appreciated how, when you comply with 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 after I could not watch a recreation.

Now Temporary can also 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. Nonetheless, after utilizing it now for a month, I can say it is fairly ineffective. All it did for me daily was inform me the climate and my calendar, two issues I used to be already very conscious of. Typically, it will suggest me a random Spotify Playlist, too, however I by no means discovered any of them value listening to.

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

One UI 7 will roll out to older Galaxy S sequence units starting in April, which means it will not be a big promoting characteristic for the S25+ for for much longer. Nonetheless, it is value noting that the telephone already consists of it proper out of the field.

Associated

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

Apple’s funds telephone is not the very best deal – these Android alternate options offer you extra for much less

The Galaxy S25+ is a good telephone

Enjoying it protected wasn’t that unhealthy 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 better purchase over the S25 Extremely. For $1,000, you get a quick smartphone with a vivid display, wonderful battery life, good cameras, and trendy 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 telephone go on sale for $800. That is $200 off already, and the telephone 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+ won’t be essentially the most revolutionary smartphone out there, however it represents a constant evolution of Samsung’s improvements within the Galaxy S sequence in recent times. This yr, Samsung performed it protected with the S25+, leading to an effortlessly stable but unremarkable smartphone that reliably will get the job accomplished. When you have an S23+ or older, in my view, the leap alone in efficiency is value 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 system was offered to Pocket-lint by Samsung.