Time is ticking down as we wait for Samsung’s next big release: the Galaxy S25. While we’re still a little while away from the launch, it’s safe to say these new flagship phones will be among the best when they hit the market.
Of course, we expect the Galaxy S25 to bring all the improvements needed to keep it at the top of the Android phone game. With the Galaxy S24 already packed with impressive AI features, it’s a good bet Samsung will push the envelope even further with more AI-driven upgrades in the S25.
As leaks trickle in, we’re starting to get an idea of what to expect from the Galaxy S25 lineup. We’ve even made a wishlist for the Galaxy S25 Ultra! Here’s what we know so far about the Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra.
Samsung usually drops its flagship phones early in the year—typically in January or February. For example, the Galaxy S24 was announced on January 17, 2024, and hit stores on January 31. Based on that, we’re expecting the Galaxy S25 to follow a similar timeline around the same time in 2025.
Could Samsung Move Up the Galaxy S25 Launch?
Samsung moved up the Galaxy S24 announcement by a week compared to the Galaxy S23, so it’ll be interesting to see if they do it again for the Galaxy S25. If they do, it could overlap with other big announcements at CES 2025.
As for pricing, we’re hoping there won’t be much change. The Galaxy S24 lineup came in at $799 for the base model, $999 for the S24 Plus, and $1,299 for the S24 Ultra, with only the Ultra seeing a price bump from the previous year. Since Apple kept its iPhone 16 prices steady, it’s possible Samsung won’t raise theirs either.
However, there’s a rumor that the Galaxy S25 could be more expensive, mainly because of the pricey Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chips expected to power some models. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo supports this, noting that the 3nm process used for these chips is costly. There’s still time before the Galaxy S25 launch, so things could change, but this is definitely something to keep an eye on.
Could a Bigger Display Be in Store for the Galaxy S25?
One way Samsung could mix things up with the Galaxy S25 is by increasing its display size. According to a well-known leaker, the Galaxy S25’s screen might jump from 6.2 inches on the S24 to 6.36 inches, putting it on par with the iPhone 16 Pro. This would likely mean the phone itself will be a bit bigger, especially since Samsung already slimmed down the S24’s bezels compared to the S23. To keep it comfortable to hold, Samsung might make the Ultra model rounder on the back, making it sit better in your hand.
Other than the possible display size bump, we expect the rest of the design to stay pretty familiar. Both the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus should still have the same armor aluminum frame, while the Ultra will likely stick with its exclusive titanium frame. However, there’s still time for new leaks to shake things up.
Speaking of the Ultra, we’ve seen renderings based on rumors, and the design looks similar to past models. It’s expected to still have the built-in S Pen, but with rounder corners and a wider display, giving it a slightly different vibe.
As for the displays, Samsung emphasized the 2,600-nit screens on all three Galaxy S24 models. But in our tests, none of them quite hit that mark. Still, Samsung will probably improve this feature for the Galaxy S25. What they really need to fix, though, is the display issue from the Galaxy S24 — known as the Mura effect, which causes a clouded look at low brightness levels. We tested the S24 Plus and S24 Ultra and confirmed both models had this problem, so hopefully, it’s something Samsung addresses with the S25.
No color rumors have surfaced yet for the S25, but word is the Ultra could come in titanium, black, green, and blue.
Galaxy S25 Set for a Major Speed Boost with Snapdragon 8 Gen 4
One of the first leaks about the Galaxy S25 hints at a big speed upgrade, thanks to Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chipset. This new chip is rumored to reach clock speeds up to 4GHz (or even 4.26GHz), breaking new ground and giving the Galaxy S25 a serious edge over the competition. The secret sauce? Qualcomm’s move to a 3-nanometer manufacturing process, which is expected to make this chip faster and more efficient.
While some reports suggested Samsung might switch to using the Exynos 2500 chip, there’s now talk that the Galaxy S25 will only use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 across all models. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo backs this up, which could explain the potential price hike we’ve been hearing about. Another rumor, however, suggests Samsung might partner with MediaTek for some S25 models, so it’s still up in the air.
Early benchmark leaks show the Galaxy S25 hitting impressive scores of 3,236 (single-core) and 10,049 (multi-core) on Geekbench 6. Another test revealed slightly lower scores, possibly due to the chip running at a slower speed in that version. Either way, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 looks poised to bring some serious power to the Galaxy S25.
With all that extra power, though, the S25 may need bigger batteries to keep up, which could lead to shorter battery life or slower charging. We’ll have to wait and see how Samsung balances that out.
On the Ultra model, we could also see a performance bump with UFS 4.1 storage, an upgrade from the UFS 4.0 found in most Galaxy S24 models. It’s a small improvement, but it should help with AI features and overall performance.
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Another exciting potential upgrade? Satellite connectivity, which could allow users to send messages to emergency services while off-grid, making it a handy feature for adventurers and anyone in remote areas.
Samsung Needs to Bounce Back in the Camera Game with the Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung has been a powerhouse in smartphone photography, with the Galaxy S23 Ultra reigning supreme throughout 2023. But things changed with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which saw a downgrade to a 5x optical zoom camera — a move that didn’t sit well with many fans. Our zoom tests showed a clear difference between the S24 Ultra and the S23 Ultra, meaning Samsung has some work to do with the Galaxy S25 Ultra to reclaim its spot at the top.
Early rumors suggest the Galaxy S25 Ultra could feature an upgraded main camera, a 50MP ultra-wide camera (a big jump from the S24 Ultra’s 12MP), and a new telephoto camera with “variable capabilities.” This telephoto upgrade was rumored for the S24 Ultra, but it seems more likely to debut with the S25 Ultra. It could mean a variable zoom lens that adjusts to different levels, or perhaps something like the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s variable aperture, allowing for better control over light and depth of field. Zooming has always been a strong point for Samsung’s Ultra line, and they need to get it right this time to redeem themselves.
One rumor, however, claims that Samsung might ditch the 3x telephoto zoom lens entirely, reducing the S25 Ultra to a triple-camera setup instead of the usual four. Another leaker disputes this, saying the S25 Ultra will still have four lenses, with upgrades to both the ultra-wide and secondary telephoto cameras — both expected to use 50MP sensors, a big step up from the 12MP and 10MP sensors on the S24 Ultra. Multiple sources seem to agree on this, so it’s something to watch for.
Meanwhile, there’s been less buzz about the camera upgrades for the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus. One report hints that Samsung might switch to a Sony sensor for these models, but a reliable leaker suggests there won’t be any major changes to their megapixel count or layout. That said, Samsung recently announced a new 50MP ISOCELL GNJ sensor, which could find its way into these models. This sensor promises better light capture, reduced reflections, and more accurate colors — all key improvements if Samsung wants to stay competitive.
Whatever upgrades come to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Samsung will need to bring its A-game, especially after the iPhone 16 Pro Max recently outshined the Galaxy S24 Ultra in a head-to-head camera comparison. Samsung can’t afford to fall behind, especially when the stakes in mobile photography are higher than ever.
Can the Galaxy S25 Break Battery and Charging Records?
The Galaxy S25 has a real chance to set new records, especially if the rumored power efficiency of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chipset proves true. All three Galaxy S24 models already boasted significantly better battery life than their predecessors, and with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 built on a 3-nanometer process, the Galaxy S25 could take endurance even further.
At the very least, we’re expecting the Galaxy S25 to keep the same battery capacity as the S24. There have been whispers about Samsung adopting stacked batteries in its flagship phones, but there’s no solid evidence we’ll see them in the S25 lineup. Multiple leaks suggest that the S25 Ultra will stick with a 5,000 mAh battery.
One area Samsung definitely needs to improve is charging speed. The Galaxy S24 still had 25W wired charging, which feels outdated compared to the 45W charging speeds of the S24 Plus and S24 Ultra. If Samsung could push charging speeds across the entire S25 series, it would make a huge difference. Just look at the OnePlus 12 — it can fully charge in just 30 minutes.
Wireless charging is another spot where Samsung has been lagging behind. Since the Galaxy S9, Samsung’s wireless charging speed has been capped at 15W, which is far behind the competition. The OnePlus 12, for example, boasts a 50W wireless charging speed. It’s time for Samsung to step up and give the Galaxy S25 series the charging upgrade it deserves.
What New AI Features Could the Galaxy S25 Bring?
With the Galaxy S24 introducing a range of AI-powered features like Instant Slow-mo, Generative Edit, and Voice Recorder Summaries, Samsung will need to step up its game for the Galaxy S25. We’ve tested these Galaxy AI features and found many to be genuinely useful, though some still feel more like novelties.
So far, there haven’t been any major leaks about new AI features for the Galaxy S25. However, a Samsung executive hinted that Bixby could get a boost with generative AI, which would be a big step forward. The real question is whether these features will stay exclusive to the Galaxy S25 or trickle down to older models, as we’ve seen with the S24’s AI tools becoming available on previous Samsung phones through software updates.
As for the Galaxy S25’s overall operating system, it will run on One UI 7, which is based on Android 15. Samsung announced this new OS in October 2024 and confirmed it will debut on “the new Galaxy” next year. While the new design is confirmed, we’re still waiting to learn what other features One UI 7 will bring once more beta users get their hands on it.
Samsung Faces Big Expectations with the Galaxy S25
Samsung has a major challenge with the Galaxy S25. While the Galaxy S24 delivered solid improvements in processing power and battery life, other upgrades felt pretty minor — especially since many of the AI features have already made their way to the S23.
That’s why there’s even more pressure for the Galaxy S25 to deliver bigger and better upgrades, especially when it comes to the cameras and charging speeds. Samsung needs to step it up to keep its flagship phones ahead of the competition.