SamsungDeals LikelyNewer model likely available — look for deals on this one
Galaxy S25
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Clara’s Verdict
Very GoodA reliable, easy-to-use phone that's genuinely better at the things families care about, even if it doesn't feel revolutionary.
Best for: busy parents who want a phone that just works, Galaxy loyalists upgrading from older models, anyone who values battery life and camera quality, people who want AI features without the learning curve
Skip if: tech enthusiasts chasing the latest innovations, professional photographers needing advanced zoom, people expecting dramatic year-over-year changes
Ethan’s Verdict
GoodStrong performance and battery can't justify paying flagship prices for last year's phone with window dressing.
Best for: Galaxy ecosystem loyalists, battery life priority users
Skip if: upgrade seekers, value-conscious buyers, camera-first users
Clara’s Pros & Cons
- +Battery lasts all day with heavy use
- +Camera captures natural, pretty photos
- +Fast performance makes everything smooth
- +Sleek design feels premium and polished
- −Doesn't feel dramatically different from S24
- −3x zoom isn't ideal for serious photography
- −AI features are nice but not revolutionary
- −$799 price tag is still expensive for families
Ethan’s Pros & Cons
- +Battery life genuinely outlasts flagship competition
- +Snapdragon 8 Elite handles everything without breaking a sweat
- +Camera processing produces more natural, grounded photos
- +Polished industrial design feels solid in hand
- −Virtually identical to Galaxy S24 hardware
- −3x telephoto is outdated for flagship pricing
- −Galaxy AI promises exceed actual real-world utility
- −No display brightness or LTPO upgrades at this tier
Score Breakdown
Performance8.510% wt
Display8.010% wt
Camera7.525% wt
Battery Life8.515% wt
Design & Build8.020% wt
Software & Features7.55% wt
Value7.515% wt
Score Breakdown
Performance8.520% wt
Display8.015% wt
Camera7.015% wt
Battery Life8.515% wt
Design & Build7.510% wt
Software & Features6.515% wt
Value6.510% wt
Clara’s Full Review
The Phone That Just Works
Let me be honest: the Galaxy S25 isn't going to blow your mind with innovation. But you know what? It doesn't need to. It's a really solid phone that does everything a busy person actually needs it to do, and it does it well.
The battery life is genuinely impressive. Reviewers report it outlasts the competition, which means you're not scrambling to find a charger during the afternoon school run or while you're out snapping pictures at the park. That's huge for real life.
The camera is where this phone shines for families. The 50MP main sensor captures natural-looking photos without that over-processed, artificial look that drives me crazy. Quick shots of the kids playing, family photos at the playground, even casual pet videos all come out looking great. The ultra-wide lens is perfect for group shots when you can't back up far enough. The 3x telephoto is fine for most situations, but if you're seriously into photography or need professional zoom, you'll feel the limitations.
Performance is smooth and fast. Apps open instantly, scrolling feels buttery smooth, and you can jump between apps without any lag. The Snapdragon 8 Elite processor handles everything you throw at it, whether you're texting, taking photos, or letting the kids watch videos.
The design is sleek and polished. It feels premium without being flashy, which is exactly what you want in a phone you'll use every single day. It's comfortable to hold, and it doesn't feel fragile.
Here's the thing reviewers mention: this phone is pretty similar to the S24. If you have last year's model, the upgrades aren't huge. But if you're upgrading from an older Galaxy or switching from another brand, you'll definitely notice the improvements. The AI features are nice and actually useful for everyday tasks like photo editing and writing, but they're not game-changing. They just make things a little easier.
At $799, it's not cheap. But it's a fair price for a flagship phone that delivers reliable performance, excellent battery life, and solid cameras. For families who want a phone that just works without constant fiddling, this is a genuinely good choice.
Ethan’s Full Review
The Flagship That Forgot to Innovate
Samsung's strategy with the Galaxy S25 is transparent: iterate minimally, market aggressively through AI, and rely on brand loyalty to move units. From a business perspective, it's smart. From a technical standpoint, it's disappointing.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite is legitimately fast. Performance metrics are strong, and the overclocked variants available globally mean you're getting the best-case silicon. But here's the problem: the S24 already had a powerful chip. Real-world performance delta between last year and this year is negligible. You're not waiting for pages to load faster or games to load slower. Samsung is selling you speed you don't need.
Battery life is the genuine win here. Reviewers consistently report measurable improvements over the S24 and clear advantages over the iPhone 15 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro. The 4000 mAh capacity shouldn't deliver all-day battery life, but efficiency gains make it work. This is the only hardware area where Samsung invested meaningful engineering.
The camera story is muddled. The 50MP wide now produces more natural photos with better color grounding than the aggressive processing of the S24. That's progress. But the 3x telephoto is stale for a flagship in 2025. Competitors are shipping 5x and 8x options at this price point. The ultra-wide is unchanged. Samsung's camera hardware roadmap has stalled, and they're compensating with software processing.
Galaxy AI is the elephant in the room. Samsung has plastered AI across every marketing channel, but the actual features don't justify the hype. Generative summaries, photo editing, and writing assistance are nice-to-haves, not must-haves. Most users won't notice the difference between S24 AI and S25 AI in daily usage. This is feature theater, not innovation.
The display is excellent but unchanged from the S24. At $799, Samsung could have upgraded to LTPO, higher peak brightness, or better color accuracy. Instead, they kept the same panel and called it a day. That's the S25 in a nutshell: same hardware, new software, premium pricing.
Value is the sticking point. Yes, $799 undercuts some competitors. But you're still paying flagship prices for a phone that's 85% identical to last year's model. If you own an S24, there's zero reason to upgrade. If you're coming from an older phone, the S25 is good, but the S24 is cheaper and barely different. Samsung's betting you'll buy the brand and the AI story. Don't.
Specifications
| camera | 50MP wide, 10MP telephoto, 12MP ultra-wide |
| battery | 4000 mAh |
| display | 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz |
| storage | 128/256/512 GB |
| processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 |
Overall Rating
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Alternatives Worth Considering
Review History
Initial review from real source data
Initial review from real source data
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