Samsung’s latest flagship, the Galaxy 25, has launched in the UK. We managed to get our hands on it a couple of weeks ago to take it for a thorough test run. Here we’ll look at the S25’s specs, its latest features and decide whether it’s worth it for business users.
The Galaxy S25 – A Subtle Evolution
It’s fair to say that we are in a period of diminishing returns with high-end smartphones. Just as the latest iPhones are hardly revolutionary, it was clear before launch that Samsung would struggle to excite us with anything truly ground-breaking. Whilst they arguably lead the field with foldable devices like the Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6, are the Samsung Galaxy S25, S25+ and S25 Ultra worth getting excited about?
We’d say that the S25 represents a subtle evolution over its predecessors. If you’re on the equivalent S24 models, unless you the person who has to have the latest version, then there’s little that got us truly excited about the latest Galaxy S25 series, comprising the S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra. It’s fair that there are several enhancements over the previous S24 lineup, but the design remains largely consistent, and we are largely talking about subtle refinements and minor hardware upgrades aiming to improve user experience rather than a great leap forward.
However, if you’re currently using a phone more than 2 years old, then you’ll be truly impressed by what Samsung has to offer here. This reviewer is due for an upgrade soon, and the Samsung S25 looks to be the phone for me! Here’s a brief summary of the various changes and improvements:
Design and Display
The Galaxy S25 series maintains the sleek aesthetics of its predecessors, with the S25 Ultra receiving the most noticeable design update. The device now features flat edges and slimmer bezels, offering a more modern look. The S25 Ultra’s chassis is 0.4mm thinner, contributing to a more comfortable grip.
All models boast Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X displays with a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth visuals. The S25 sports a 6.2-inch screen with a resolution of 2340×1080, the S25+ offers a 6.7-inch display at 3120×1440, and the S25 Ultra features a 6.9-inch screen with the same 3120×1440 resolution. The S25 Ultra’s display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Armor 2, enhancing durability.
While the screens are very similar on first glance, the S25 includes ProScaler, which Samsung claim will “boost image quality by up to 40%.” While we can’t independently verify the claim, we did notice that the S25’s screen was more vibrant than the S24, with more brightness and colours looking sharper.
Business users who like to stream films during their commute will definitely be happy with the S25’s screen.
Hardware Improvements
Under the hood, the S25 series is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, delivering smooth performance and improved thermal management, particularly beneficial for gaming enthusiasts. All models come with 12GB of RAM, with storage options ranging from 128GB to 1TB, catering to various user needs.
The Snapdragon Elite is the top-end Android processor and it allowed us to complete tasks very quickly. This will undoubtedly benefit business phone users who need to multi-task between several apps at once, including work emails, having several browser tabs open, and using spreadsheets or accounting software.
If your company uses AI, you’ll be pleased to know that the S25’s inclusion of the Snapdragon 8 Elite means that it offers fantastic speed with AI apps. More on this below.
Gemini AI Integration
Samsung has transitioned from its Bixby assistant to Google’s Gemini AI, aiming to provide more personalized and actionable assistance. This claim is that this integration enhances natural language processing and allows for more intuitive interactions. However, some users may find certain AI features impractical or confusing, and personally I find AI getting in the way of the interface rather than enhancing it. It’s a personal thing!
If you are an AI user, you’ll enjoy Galaxy AI – Samsung’s suite of AI-powered features aimed at making quality-of-live improvements for its S25 users. Some examples include cross-app functions that allow you to chain requests together between different apps.
How might business users benefit? Some examples we were able to play with include receiving meeting request emails and having them automatically added to our calendars, and summarising videos for us into a handy document. While we didn’t get the chance to try it, we were intrigued by the possibility of the S25 being able to take notes in our meetings, and automatically create follow-up actions in our project management tools.
Camera Enhancements
The camera systems see modest upgrades. The S25 and S25+ are equipped with a 50MP wide sensor, a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide sensor. The S25 Ultra stands out with a 200MP wide sensor, a 50MP 5x periscope telephoto lens, a 10MP 3x telephoto lens, and a 50MP ultrawide sensor. These enhancements, particularly in the Ultra model, promise improved image quality and versatility.
As you’d expect for a flagship model, the camera is more than sufficient for capturing professional images and video content for use on company socials, websites and other promotional material.
Qi2 Wireless Charging
A notable addition is support for Qi2 wireless charging. Qi2 introduces a magnetic alignment system, similar to Apple’s MagSafe, ensuring optimal charging efficiency. However, the S25 series lacks built-in Qi2 magnets, necessitating the use of magnetic cases for proper functionality.
Additional Features
The S25 Ultra is constructed with a durable titanium frame, balancing strength and weight. The device also retains the integrated S Pen, though the Bluetooth functionality has been removed, simplifying the design but limiting some features. The battery capacities remain unchanged from the S24 series, with the S25 Ultra housing a 5,000 mAh battery. Samsung continues to offer IP68 dust and water resistance across the lineup.
Any colour as long as it’s black?
Gone are the day when phones came in a Henry Ford-inspired black only. The S25 and S25+ are available in Navy (which in lower lighting looks black-ish), Silver Shadow, Mint and Icy Blue. The S25 Ultra is available in Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Silver Blue and Titanium White Silver. Of course you’ll only get these benefit of these if you put a clear case on your final choice!
Conclusion
While these devices are powerful and reliable, if you’ve already got an S24 then you may find the lack of groundbreaking innovation underwhelming, especially considering the premium pricing. But if you are due for any upgrade and are looking for a high-end phone with Android then these should be on your shortlist. The S25 especially is a nice, compact phone for those who don’t require a massive screen (and want it to fit in their pocket) but still want a top spec. For those seeking a solid and polished smartphone experience, it’s difficult to beat Samsung’s offering.
You can view the S25 models and competitively priced business contracts in our Samsung Business Phone Shop, or if you’re still unsure why not take a look at our Best Business Mobile Phones article which we keep regularly updated – there you’ll find reviews of the best phones for various needs, including the top-end models as well as budget offerings.
