Galaxy S25, S25+ and S25 Ultra: everything we know about the next Samsung smartphones

After the Google Pixel 9 and Apple iPhone 16, smartphone market leader Samsung is preparing its next high-end weapon: the Galaxy S25. The South Korean firm intends to evolve its family of mobiles smoothly, while placing emphasis on artificial intelligence in order to keep the competition at bay. While waiting for the Galaxy Unpacked conference at the start of 2025, and thanks to the myriad of rumors in recent months, we have put together a summary of everything we already know about this 2025 vintage.

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The design

The first change compared to the Galaxy S24 will be in the photo sensors on the back. According to the first 3D renderings of the smartphones, the rings surrounding the lenses would no longer be the color of the chassis, but black. As a bonus, they would be a little more imposing (see below).

The second change inherent to the entire range would be due to its greater finesse. In fact, the three smartphones would each lose 0.4 mm in thickness compared to the current generation. The Galaxy S25 would not exceed 7.2 mm, while the Galaxy S25+ would measure 7.3 mm, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra, 8.2 mm.

In addition to these developments, the Galaxy S25 and S25+ would follow in the footsteps of the Galaxy S24 and S24+ with flat edges, rounded corners, a flat screen and a photo module integrated into a punch. The developments would be more notable on the side of the most premium model, aka the Ultra.

After introducing a flat screen and titanium on the S24 Ultra, Samsung would refine everything with its Galaxy S25 Ultra. Rumors indeed mention thinner borders (-0.2 mm compared to those of the iPhone 16 Pro Max), rounded corners, flat edges and a lighter weight (-13 g). For the most curious, we refer you to our dedicated and illustrated article on this subject.

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The screens

The display of the Galaxy S24 is about to evolve with the next generation. The first change would concern the entry-level model, the Galaxy S25, which would offer a larger panel reaching 6.36 inches instead of 6.2 inches. To avoid it being more imposing, there is a good chance that the borders around the screen will be refined accordingly.

For the Galaxy S25+, we currently do not expect any format change. We would thus remain on a diagonal of 6.7 inches. Samsung would however intend to touch the Ultra model. According to various leaks, this would be an increase in size similar to that of the Galaxy S25. A larger screen therefore, here 6.86 inches instead of 6.79 inches, and thinner borders around the screen (2.3 mm instead of 3.35 mm). The South Korean would be part of the current trend: we have seen Apple enlarge the displays of its iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Last small subtle change, the corners would gain roundness, thus abandoning the traditional right angles of the Galaxy S Ultra.

Performance

Although rumors suggested the use of the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip on all Galaxy S25s, recent performance tests ultimately show that Samsung would also consider “in-house” Exynos chips.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra would thus benefit from the latest high-end chip from Qualcomm, while the Galaxy S25 and S25+ would feature the Exynos 2500. This would result in a segmentation in terms of power, since the Ultra model would be the most powerful of the series.

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These first benchmarks show precisely the following performances:

• Galaxy S25+
  • Single-core – 2359
  • Multi-core – 8141
• Galaxy S25 Ultra
  • Single-core – 3148
  • Multi-core – 10 236

We thus observe a Galaxy S25 Ultra with 33.45% higher power in single core and +25.73% in multicore. Fairly significant differences, but which should tend to reduce with the South Korean firm's next tests.

In any case, the most premium model will remain in front, just to offer an additional selling point compared to the Galaxy S25 and S25+. This will not prevent them from being more efficient than the Galaxy S24/S24+.

On November 10, 2024, the Plus model actually showed a score of 2021 in single core and 6401 in multicore, which is respectively 14.33% and 21.37% lower than the first test of the Exynos 2500 of the Galaxy S25+.

With all this power, Samsung should unsurprisingly bring even more artificial intelligence to its smartphones. We therefore expect something new for the Galaxy AI suite of tools on the Galaxy S25, S25+ and S25 Ultra, some elements of which could become chargeable.

The photo

When it comes to photography, the Galaxy S25 Ultra should obviously be Samsung's favorite model. According to several informants, he would benefit from three changes.

But let's start with what doesn't change: the 200 Mpx main sensor. According to Ice Universe, Samsung would keep the Isocell HP2 of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, thus keeping the HP9 improvements warm for other generations.

The zoom part would then be clearly improved with the introduction of a first telephoto lens with variable aperture, and another with a definition of 50 Mpx instead of 12 Mpx. This would allow the Galaxy S25 Ultra to gain in quality and versatility compared to the combo introduced in 2024 with the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

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Concerning the ultra wide-angle, Samsung would aim to also increase it to 50 Mpx, thus replacing the emblematic 10 Mpx sensor available since the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Bringing along the way the technology of pixel-binningthis would mark the arrival of photos with better colorimetry, brightness and image quality.

For the Galaxy S25 and S25+, it's still mixed. According to recent information from Ice Universe, the 50 Mpx main sensor would still be there and would even last up to the Galaxy S26. This information should be taken with a pinch of salt knowing that Daniel Araujo, vice-president of mobile experience at Samsung, declared this summer about the photo part: “At launch, the Galaxy S25 will benefit from premium upgrades.”

Rumors in the corridors at one point mentioned the switch to Sony sensors or even no change compared to the Galaxy S24 and S24+…

The battery

In terms of autonomy, the Galaxy S25 would only evolve thanks to their chip. The Ultra model is sure to benefit from improvements in this aspect thanks to the more energy efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite.

Concerning the Galaxy S25 and S25+, the Exynos 2500 should also be engraved in 3 nm. As a result, its energy consumption would be lower than the Exynos 2400, blocked with its engraving fineness of 4 nm.

In terms of battery capacity, nothing new on the horizon. We would therefore stay on 4000 mAh for the Galaxy S25, 4900 mAh for the Galaxy S25+ and 5000 mAh for the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

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A small improvement would occur in terms of wired fast charging by placing all models at the same power of 45 W. Only the Galaxy S25 would thus win, where its predecessors peaked at 25 W for generations.

Finally, wireless and reverse charging should stagnate with a respective power of 15 W and 4.5 W.

The software

Faced with the incremental developments that we have been witnessing for years, Samsung's Galaxy S stand out mainly for their software part. Indeed, the South Korean firm takes the time to refine its algorithms for the photo part, embellish the interface a little, and now implement artificial intelligence with Galaxy AI.

For the Galaxy S25 we would have a bit of all that, with great inspiration coming from Apple. Several rumors actually mention quick shortcuts separated from notifications (like the iOS and MIUI Control Center, soon to be renamed HyperOS), a more customizable lock screen, more fluid animations or even notification summaries thanks to AI.

Other small Galaxy AI additions would be on the menu, such as Live Effects tackling Apple's Live Photos, AI Zoom offering better quality magnifications or even Sketch to Image transforming sketches into drawings.

All this would happen with the highly anticipated One UI 7 update based on Android 15. As a reminder, this has been hugely delayed at Samsung, which plans to start deployment directly with the Galaxy S25 at the start of the year next.

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Besides these exciting new features, there is no indication of an improvement in software monitoring. Samsung had already hit hard with the Galaxy S24 by aligning itself with Google's Pixel 8, representing seven years of major Android and security updates.

Release date and price

If we look at the Galaxy S launches of 2024, the first two months of 2025 seem more than likely for a Galaxy S25 announcement. As a reminder, the Galaxy S23 was unveiled on February 17, 2023, January 27, 2024 for the Galaxy S24.

Judging by the early marketing of the Pixel 9 by Google and the delay in the major One UI 7 update, we expect that the same launch timing as for the Galaxy S24 will be chosen by Samsung. There is therefore a good chance that the manufacturer will meet in mid-January 2025 for a new Galaxy Unpacked conference.

Regarding the price list, little information has been shared for the moment. The only price increase that seems to be on the horizon is expected to go to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip being more expensive than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

For the Exynos 2500 in the Galaxy S25 and S25+, Samsung should not tip the scales towards a price increase. There are many possibilities that the South Korean company will not pass on the production cost of this new processor in order to remain competitive, especially against Apple.

Indeed, it is important to emphasize that the Apple firm has not changed its prices with the iPhone 16, which limits in fact Samsung's scope of action compared to its long-time rival.

The surprise

The range would expand quickly in 2025 with another model: the Galaxy S25 Slim, expected for next spring, the early announcement period for the iPhone SE 4.

However, the aim would not be to attack this model made in Cupertinobut to the iPhone 17 Air expected for September 2025. As the name of the two devices indicates, finesse should be at the heart of the ambitions of the two brands.

We would thus have a thinner Galaxy S25, but not only that! Rumors in the corridor mentioned the arrival of the 200 Mpx main sensor of the latest Galaxy S Ultra. This would be accompanied by a 10 Mpx x3 telephoto lens and a 12 Mpx ultra wide-angle lens, which are serious arguments when we know that the iPhone 17 Air will only be equipped with a single rear photo sensor.

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