Samsung has refined its flagship lineup with the Galaxy S25+, a phone that doesn’t just tweak last year’s formula but improves on it in meaningful ways. From software to design, display, battery, and AI-powered features, the S25+ is shaping up to be one of the most well-rounded smartphones of the year. But does it truly justify an upgrade? Let’s break it down.

Software: One UI 7 and Galaxy AI Make the Difference

Samsung’s One UI 7 takes what was already a feature-rich interface and makes it cleaner, faster, and more intuitive. The Quick Settings and notifications page have been reworked for better accessibility, making everyday interactions smoother.

A standout addition is Now Bar, Samsung’s take on live notifications. Similar to Apple’s Live Activities, it integrates real-time updates from apps like Maps, Samsung Health, and Google Sports, ensuring key information stays visible without intruding.

Samsung’s Galaxy AI takes productivity up a notch. From enhanced contextual queries in the Settings menu to real-time call translations, AI is woven into the system in a way that genuinely helps. Samsung’s approach leans more toward efficiency than gimmicks, making AI a useful assistant rather than just another chatbot.

With Google’s Gemini AI also in the mix, users have multiple ways to interact with their phone’s intelligence, whether through Samsung AI Assist or Circle to Search. The execution is fluid, and while the overlap between features may be unnecessary at times, the sheer speed and responsiveness of the software make it a joy to use.

Battery: More Efficient, but Not a Huge Leap

Samsung has stuck with the 4,900mAh battery, which isn’t the largest by today’s standards but is well-optimized. Thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite chipset and improved power efficiency, the S25+ outperforms its predecessor in endurance.

In real-world use, the phone easily lasts a full day with 25% battery left, even with social media browsing and video streaming. That’s slightly better than the S24+, which hovered around 20% by the end of the day. Wireless charging and power sharing remain, but charging speeds haven’t seen much of an improvement.

Design: Subtle Refinements, Same Core Aesthetic

If you’ve seen the S24+, you’ve seen the S25+. Samsung has played it safe with design, sticking to the minimalist, floating-camera look. The biggest change is in the materials—Samsung now uses Enhanced Armor Aluminum 2, making the device lighter and thinner than before (6.7 ounces, 0.28 inches thick). While the flat edges can dig into the hand slightly, the build quality remains excellent.

Color options include a new navy blue that catches light beautifully, but aside from that, the design update is more about refinement than reinvention.

Display: Sharp, Smooth, and Bright

Samsung’s 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display remains one of the best in the industry. With a peak brightness of 2,800 nits, outdoor visibility is exceptional. The adaptive 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and animations.

Samsung also keeps Vision Booster for automatic contrast enhancements, meaning colors and details remain punchy even in bright sunlight. It’s a flagship-level display that doesn’t disappoint.

Camera: Better Processing

The S25+ may not have the Ultra’s 200MP shooter, but it holds its own with a 50MP main sensor, 10MP telephoto (3x optical zoom), and 12MP ultrawide. The biggest improvement isn’t in the hardware but in Samsung’s image processing.

Gone is the over-sharpened, grainy look that plagued previous Galaxy phones. Colors appear more natural, and post-processing feels more balanced. Low-light performance has also improved, capturing more detail with less noise.

The camera app has been slightly reworked, making settings like motion photos and quality toggles easier to access. While the Ultra remains the go-to camera phone in Samsung’s lineup, the S25+ offers a solid experience for everyday photography.

Verdict: A Worthy Upgrade?

The Galaxy S25+ isn’t a revolutionary jump, but it refines what Samsung does best. Better AI integration, improved battery efficiency, and smoother software make it a pleasure to use. The camera processing tweaks and subtle design refinements are welcome, but they don’t drastically change the experience.

If you’re coming from an S24+, the upgrade isn’t essential. But for those on older devices, or anyone looking for a fast, feature-rich flagship without going Ultra, the S25+ is one of the smartest buys this year.

Buy Samsung S25+