Unboxing the Samsung Galaxy S25 & S25 Plus: A First Look
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Base and S25 Plus have arrived, following the S25 Ultra. This article provides a detailed first impression and unboxing, focusing on the key upgrades and features based on our initial hands-on experience.
Major Upgrades in the S25 Series
There are two major changes in this year’s lineup. Firstly, unlike previous generations where chipsets differed, the entire S25 series, including the Base, Plus, and Ultra, is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite 4 Galaxy chipset. This unification brings consistent top-tier performance across all models.
Secondly, all the Galaxy AI features found in the S25 Ultra are also available on the S25 and S25 Plus. The software experience is exactly the same, ensuring users of any model in the lineup get access to the latest AI innovations. Additionally, the base variant has been significantly upgraded, now starting with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, moving away from the previous 8GB and 128GB configurations.
Unboxing and Design Impressions
Colors and Feel
The Galaxy S25 series comes in four standard, muted colors, with additional flashy options like pink available exclusively online. The S25 Plus and the S25 Base feel excellent in hand. The Base model is particularly compact and surprisingly light, weighing in at just 161.7g. The Plus model, while larger, is also not heavy at 187.6g. For those seeking a compact flagship phone, the S25 Base is one of the top choices available, offering a very good in-hand feel.
Build Quality and Durability
While the S25 Ultra features a titanium frame, the S25 and S25 Plus are built with an aluminium armour frame. The ports and buttons remain consistent across the models, including a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port for faster data transfers. For protection, both phones use Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
In terms of design, the primary difference from the S24 series is the camera module. The camera rings are now black and more protruding, giving them an appearance similar to the Fold series.
Display Specifications
The S25 Base variant features a 6.2-inch FHD+ 120Hz display, while the S25 Plus comes with a larger 6.7-inch QHD+ 120Hz display. Both models boast a peak brightness of 2600 nits and feature thin bezels on a flat LTPO AMOLED panel, delivering excellent quality and vibrant colors.
Unmatched Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Elite 4 Galaxy
Benchmarks and Gaming
Powered by the 8th Elite 4 Galaxy chipset, both phones deliver impressive real-world performance in gaming, multitasking, and heavy applications. The AnTuTu score for the S25 is around 2.3-2.4 million, while the S25 Plus scores between 2.4-2.5 million. Gamers can enjoy titles like BGMI at a smooth 90FPS. The LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage also contribute to the fast and responsive experience.
Thermals and Cooling
Despite a 15% increase in the vapor cooling chamber (compared to the Ultra’s 40% increase), the S25 and S25 Plus manage thermals exceptionally well. During heavy gaming sessions, the temperature did not exceed 44 degrees, with a maximum recorded temperature of 43.5 degrees. CPU throttle tests also showed that these models achieved better scores than the Ultra.
Battery Life and Charging
The S25 Base is equipped with a 4000mAh battery supporting 25W charging, while the S25 Plus has a 4900mAh battery with 45W+ charging. Both models support 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. Notably, Samsung continues its focus on recycling, with 50% of the cobalt used in the base battery being recycled.
Software Experience: One UI 7 and Galaxy AI
Core AI Features
Running on Android 15, the new One UI 7 offers a fantastic user experience with a refined design language for notifications and quick settings. Samsung guarantees 7 years of major OS updates. The Galaxy AI suite is a major highlight, and all features from the Ultra are present, including Note Assist, Chat Assist, Live Translate, Portrait Studio, Sketch to Image, and Audio Eraser.
Two new features, Now Bar and Now Brief, have been introduced. Now Brief provides at-a-glance information relevant to your day, such as health tips and weather. The Now Bar appears on the lock screen to show the status of ongoing activities like music playback, timers, or food delivery orders.
AI, Privacy, and Security
Circle to Search has been improved and can now identify URLs and links within the search area. The cross-app AI integration allows you to perform multi-step actions across different apps using voice commands. For users concerned about data privacy, a toggle allows all AI processing to be handled on-device. This is backed by Samsung’s Knox security, ensuring a strong security perspective.
Camera Capabilities
Photography
The camera system on both phones consists of a 50MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultrawide sensor, and a 10MP sensor with 3.5x optical zoom. The front features a 12MP selfie sensor. Compared to the S24, the processing algorithms and skin tones in the S25 series have been significantly improved, delivering better details. A virtual aperture feature, similar to the Ultra, is also included, allowing for creative depth-of-field effects.
Videography
The S25 and S25 Plus can shoot video in 8K at 30FPS and 4K at 60FPS. Thanks to the ProVisual Engine, low-light videos have noticeably less grain. You can also record portrait videos with a blurred background at 4K 30FPS.
Multimedia and Connectivity
For an optimal multimedia experience, the larger screen of the S25 Plus is recommended. Both phones have amazing displays and good audio quality. The Plus model also includes the Pro Scaler feature, which enhances details in videos. Connectivity is top-notch with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, and support for all 5G bands. Additional features include IP68 water and dust resistance and Widevine L1 support.
Final Verdict: S25 & S25 Plus vs. S24 Series
The Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus represent a significant refinement over the S24 series. With a more refined operating system, improved algorithms, and powerful new AI features, they offer a compelling upgrade for those seeking a premium and capable smartphone.
Pricing and Availability
With offers, the net effective price for the S24 and S25 Plus is around Rs 70-71K for the base model and approximately Rs 1 Lakh for the Plus model.
Disclaimer: This video was made in collaboration with Samsung. However, the opinions and results shared are based on our own testing and user experience.
