Rating: 4/5
The Galaxy S series phones have always been the best of what Samsung has to offer in the bar form factor and while the lineup includes three models - the vanilla, the Plus and the Ultra, the Plus has always been the one doing the balancing act between the two. The tale is no different this time around. Galaxy S25 Plus – the middle man of the Galaxy S25 series still carries that weight targeting a specific segment who want a bigger phone but without that extra cost or added bells and whistles of Galaxy S25 Ultra.
The Rs 99,990 starting price tag --well– is a bit more than the Galaxy S24+. But it now has a bigger role to play in the series too.
For instance, it packs all the Galaxy AI features, comes with the same – Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy – chip as the Ultra and even has a good camera setup.
The idea here is to prioritise function over fiction. The question to be asked is: Can Galaxy S25+ live up to that expectation? Or, it falls short and leaves a little too much room for improvement.
We have been testing the phone over the past few weeks and this is what we think about it.
Design
Samsung Galaxy S25+ retains the familiar design language of its predecessor, the S24+, with subtle refinements that enhance its premium appeal. The flat back, floating camera lenses, and aluminum frame exude sophistication, while the addition of thicker rings around the camera lenses adds a bold aesthetic touch. Same as its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S25+ also comes with IP68 rating which makes the smartphone resistant to dust and water. Available in s colours like Navy, Icy Blue, Silver Shadow, and Icy Mint, the device stands out, especially in the Navy Blue variant. The slim form factor makes it comfortable to hold, though it can feel slippery, necessitating a protective case.
The front of the smartphone is dominated by a 6.7-inch QHD+ AMOLED display which is protected with a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on top. The screen is surrounded by thin bezels on all sides and the 12MP selfie camera is placed in the centre. Despite a large display, the smartphone comes with a compact form factor and it is easy to hold and use with one hand.The smartphone's rear panel boasts a sleek, frosty finish that resists fingerprints, ensuring a clean and polished look. The Samsung branding is subtly positioned near the bottom, while the triple rear camera setup is neatly aligned vertically in the top-left corner. The power button and volume rockers are placed on the right side while the bottom part houses the USB Type C charging port and the SIM card tray. The Samsung Galaxy S25+ boasts a sleek and minimalistic design, perfect for those who appreciate simplicity while still making a bold impression.
Display
Samsung Galaxy S25+ houses a 6.7-inch QHD+ display with 1440x3120 pixel resolution. The Infinity-O display comes with adaptive refresh rate from 1 to 120Hz. The screen is made scratch-resistant with the help of the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The display is undoubtedly one of the standout features of the Samsung Galaxy S25+. Its bright and vibrant screen offers excellent visibility, even in direct sunlight, while accurately reproducing colors for a lifelike viewing experience. The variable refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and transitions, with the option to lower it to conserve battery life. By default, the display settings provide a visually comfortable experience, but users can personalise the colour profiles to suit their individual preferences. The smartphone also allows you to select from three different screen resolutions — HD+, FHD+ and QHD+. Samsung Galaxy S25+ users have access to additional display controls, including night mode and blue light levels, which allow them to optimise and maximise their display experience. Apart from this, we also liked the Easy mode of the display which makes the text and on-screen items appear larger. It also increases touch-and-hold delay to prevent accidental actions and provides a high contrast keyboard for better readability. Also, the display's high resolution and HDR10+ support make it ideal for watching movies and videos, providing an immersive viewing experience.
Performance
Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, the Galaxy S25+ delivers top-tier performance. The smartphone comes in two variants – 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage and 12GB RAM and 512GB internal storage. Samsung Galaxy S25+ is designed to handle every task smoothly. Whether multitasking, gaming, or running resource-intensive applications, the device handles everything with ease. The chipset's efficiency ensures minimal heating, even during prolonged usage. The smartphone's powerful Qualcomm processor handles graphic-intensive games with ease, and the touch sampling rate of 240Hz via the Game Launcher enhances the gaming experience. Moving on to audio performance, the Samsung Galaxy S25+ excels in this area as well. While many smartphones struggle to deliver a satisfying audio experience, the S25+ stands out. Its stereo speakers provide loud and crystal-clear sound, even at higher volume levels, without any noticeable distortion. Whether using headphones or speakers, the audio quality was thoroughly enjoyable. Additionally, the smartphone impressed us with its consistent and reliable performance during calls, ensuring clear communication.
Samsung Galaxy S25+ runs Android 15 operating system topped with the company's own layer of One UI 7. The company has promised that the smartphone will get seven years of OS and security patch updates.
One UI 7 is the biggest update – One UI --has received since the inception. The entire design language of the user interface has changed. While it is still unmistakably Samsung with clean and futuristic design, there are design changes that makes it one of the best Android interfaces out there.
One more thing to note is that Samsung has designed it keeping the AI integration in mind and that can be seen with the deep integration Galaxy AI has thought the interface. We will get to that later.
Before that, the interface is clean, customisable, and packed with features that enhance usability. The inclusion of features like split-screen multitasking and enhanced privacy controls further elevates the software experience. With One UI 7, the Samsung has divided the notification and quick toggles into two distinct planes. You can access the notification panel by swiping down from the top left corner of the screen, while the expanded quick toggles panel is accessible by swiping down from the top right corner. All the Google suite apps come pre-installed on the smartphone along with some Samsung apps which include Gallery, My Files, Internet, Health, Calculator, Calendar, Wallet and more. Powered by Google Gemini, the device offers a versatile AI experience. Users can engage in extensive conversations, generate creative ideas, such as recipes from fridge contents or artistic concepts, and even create images.
We really liked the AI Summarise feature on the Samsung Galaxy S25+ which is designed to enhance productivity and efficiency. This feature allows users to generate concise summaries of various types of content, such as documents, articles, or even videos, directly on their device. By leveraging advanced natural language processing, the AI can extract key points and present them in an easy-to-digest format, saving users time and effort.
Another interesting feature of Samsung Galaxy S25+ is the Cross-app Action feature which simplifies multitasking by enabling seamless interactions across multiple apps. For example, you can perform complex tasks like searching for a restaurant and sharing its location with a friend in one step, without manually switching between apps. By simply using voice commands, such as "Find a restaurant on some street and send it to your friends and family," the feature handles the entire process efficiently.
The Galaxy Generative Edit is another useful feature of Samsung Galaxy S25+. The tool is designed to enhance photo editing capabilities. This feature allows users to move or delete objects within their photos seamlessly. Once an object is removed or repositioned, the AI intelligently fills in the background, ensuring a natural and cohesive look. To use this feature, users can simply outline the object they wish to edit using their finger. They can then drag the object to a new location or remove it entirely. The AI processes the changes and generates a refined image with the adjustments applied. This tool is particularly useful for removing unwanted elements or distractions from photos, making it easier to create polished and professional-looking images directly on the device.
To read more about the AI features you can click here.
These AI enhancements not only improve usability but also set the S25+ apart from its competitors.
Camera
Samsung Galaxy S25+ features a triple rear camera setup which consists of 50MP main camera with LED flash, 12MP 120° Ultra Wide sensor and 10MP Telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The front is home to a 12MP selfie camera. The camera system on the Galaxy S25+ is versatile and reliable. Samsung’s One UI 7 introduces a refreshed camera app interface. The mode carousel has been repositioned below the shutter button for easier access. Additionally, the Pro mode has been reworked to ensure controls remain unobtrusive.
The 50MP primary sensor captures detailed and vibrant photos. The main camera captures clean and clear images with the right amount of detailing and impressive dynamic range. The Samsung Galaxy S25+ main camera also excels with rapid subject focusing, nearly flawless white balance and exposure, and delivers images with vivid colour accuracy and impressive detail. While colours may occasionally appear slightly oversaturated – and that's just Samsung's way – the camera maintains excellent image quality even in low-light settings, with minimal noise. The main camera can also capture images in 50MP resolution and you will love the results. The 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom delivers sharp images, though it feels slightly outdated compared to competitors offering higher zoom capabilities. Additionally, the telephoto lens captures images with ample detail and minimal noise, although occasional colour and sharpness inconsistencies may arise. The 12MP ultra-wide lens on the Samsung Galaxy S25+ excels in landscape and group shots. The 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens delivers precise colour reproduction, exceptional detail, and a versatile focal length, making it ideal for creative photography.
The Samsung Galaxy S25+ boasts remarkable video capabilities, effortlessly recording 8K videos and FHD videos at 120fps. The footage showcases exceptional clarity, balanced exposure, and a wide dynamic range. Even in low-light conditions, the videos remain sharp, bright, and richly detailed.
The Samsung Galaxy S25+ 12MP front camera delivers impressive performance, featuring autofocus and excellent overall quality. It captures sharp, vibrant selfies with accurate colors and performs well even in challenging lighting conditions, making it a reliable choice for photography enthusiasts.
Battery
The Samsung Galaxy S25+ is bound to impress you with its exceptional battery performance. The smartphone is backed by a 4,900 mAh battery which comes with 45W fast charging, Qi wireless charging and Wireless PowerShare functionality. In our testing, the smartphone lasted 24 hours on a single charge with mixed usage. Battery backup can vary depending on usage patterns. For instance, avid gamers engaging in intense gaming sessions may find the battery depletes faster. The smartphone, however, compensates with robust charging options, including 45W fast charging, Qi wireless charging, and wireless PowerShare. While the device doesn't come with a charging adapter, the company asserts that it can charge from 0% to 50% in just 15 minutes.
The smartphone comes with a Battery protection feature which is designed to adjust the charging behaviour to extend the battery life. The mode comes with three options — Basic (when your battery is charged 100%, charging will stop until the battery level drops to 95% and then the charging will start again), Adaptive (Stop charging at 80% while you are asleep and switch to Basic before you wake up. Sleep time is estimated based on your phone usage patterns) and Maximum (your battery will stop charging when it reaches 80%). The smartphone also comes with a power saving mode which enables users to toggle multiple settings in order to increase the battery life.
Despite a slightly smaller battery capacity, the phone's performance remains dependable and unlikely to disappoint users.
Verdict
It's time to answer the question that we asked: Can Galaxy S25+ live up to that expectation? Or, it falls short and leaves a little too much room for improvement. In one line – it does live up to the expectations. But also falls short at places where it perhaps won't matter to users much. And, this is why the ‘Ultra’ is there.
It has a functional design, reliable performance, and a practical camera setup. The battery is big enough with multiple charging options, that delivers solid battery life. AI features add to its functionality and are practical too which makes everyday tasks easier. Everything about the phone is built from a practical and functional aspect, offering a well-rounded, no-nonsense experience.
Is there room for improvement – yes there are places, but most of them aren't deal breakers. And this is exactly what we discussed – the idea is to offer function over fiction and that's exactly what Galaxy S25+ is all about.
The Galaxy S series phones have always been the best of what Samsung has to offer in the bar form factor and while the lineup includes three models - the vanilla, the Plus and the Ultra, the Plus has always been the one doing the balancing act between the two. The tale is no different this time around. Galaxy S25 Plus – the middle man of the Galaxy S25 series still carries that weight targeting a specific segment who want a bigger phone but without that extra cost or added bells and whistles of Galaxy S25 Ultra.
The Rs 99,990 starting price tag --well– is a bit more than the Galaxy S24+. But it now has a bigger role to play in the series too.
For instance, it packs all the Galaxy AI features, comes with the same – Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy – chip as the Ultra and even has a good camera setup.
The idea here is to prioritise function over fiction. The question to be asked is: Can Galaxy S25+ live up to that expectation? Or, it falls short and leaves a little too much room for improvement.
We have been testing the phone over the past few weeks and this is what we think about it.
Design
Samsung Galaxy S25+ retains the familiar design language of its predecessor, the S24+, with subtle refinements that enhance its premium appeal. The flat back, floating camera lenses, and aluminum frame exude sophistication, while the addition of thicker rings around the camera lenses adds a bold aesthetic touch. Same as its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S25+ also comes with IP68 rating which makes the smartphone resistant to dust and water. Available in s colours like Navy, Icy Blue, Silver Shadow, and Icy Mint, the device stands out, especially in the Navy Blue variant. The slim form factor makes it comfortable to hold, though it can feel slippery, necessitating a protective case.
The front of the smartphone is dominated by a 6.7-inch QHD+ AMOLED display which is protected with a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on top. The screen is surrounded by thin bezels on all sides and the 12MP selfie camera is placed in the centre. Despite a large display, the smartphone comes with a compact form factor and it is easy to hold and use with one hand.The smartphone's rear panel boasts a sleek, frosty finish that resists fingerprints, ensuring a clean and polished look. The Samsung branding is subtly positioned near the bottom, while the triple rear camera setup is neatly aligned vertically in the top-left corner. The power button and volume rockers are placed on the right side while the bottom part houses the USB Type C charging port and the SIM card tray. The Samsung Galaxy S25+ boasts a sleek and minimalistic design, perfect for those who appreciate simplicity while still making a bold impression.
Display
Samsung Galaxy S25+ houses a 6.7-inch QHD+ display with 1440x3120 pixel resolution. The Infinity-O display comes with adaptive refresh rate from 1 to 120Hz. The screen is made scratch-resistant with the help of the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The display is undoubtedly one of the standout features of the Samsung Galaxy S25+. Its bright and vibrant screen offers excellent visibility, even in direct sunlight, while accurately reproducing colors for a lifelike viewing experience. The variable refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and transitions, with the option to lower it to conserve battery life. By default, the display settings provide a visually comfortable experience, but users can personalise the colour profiles to suit their individual preferences. The smartphone also allows you to select from three different screen resolutions — HD+, FHD+ and QHD+. Samsung Galaxy S25+ users have access to additional display controls, including night mode and blue light levels, which allow them to optimise and maximise their display experience. Apart from this, we also liked the Easy mode of the display which makes the text and on-screen items appear larger. It also increases touch-and-hold delay to prevent accidental actions and provides a high contrast keyboard for better readability. Also, the display's high resolution and HDR10+ support make it ideal for watching movies and videos, providing an immersive viewing experience.
Performance
Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, the Galaxy S25+ delivers top-tier performance. The smartphone comes in two variants – 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage and 12GB RAM and 512GB internal storage. Samsung Galaxy S25+ is designed to handle every task smoothly. Whether multitasking, gaming, or running resource-intensive applications, the device handles everything with ease. The chipset's efficiency ensures minimal heating, even during prolonged usage. The smartphone's powerful Qualcomm processor handles graphic-intensive games with ease, and the touch sampling rate of 240Hz via the Game Launcher enhances the gaming experience. Moving on to audio performance, the Samsung Galaxy S25+ excels in this area as well. While many smartphones struggle to deliver a satisfying audio experience, the S25+ stands out. Its stereo speakers provide loud and crystal-clear sound, even at higher volume levels, without any noticeable distortion. Whether using headphones or speakers, the audio quality was thoroughly enjoyable. Additionally, the smartphone impressed us with its consistent and reliable performance during calls, ensuring clear communication.
Samsung Galaxy S25+ runs Android 15 operating system topped with the company's own layer of One UI 7. The company has promised that the smartphone will get seven years of OS and security patch updates.
One UI 7 is the biggest update – One UI --has received since the inception. The entire design language of the user interface has changed. While it is still unmistakably Samsung with clean and futuristic design, there are design changes that makes it one of the best Android interfaces out there.
One more thing to note is that Samsung has designed it keeping the AI integration in mind and that can be seen with the deep integration Galaxy AI has thought the interface. We will get to that later.
Before that, the interface is clean, customisable, and packed with features that enhance usability. The inclusion of features like split-screen multitasking and enhanced privacy controls further elevates the software experience. With One UI 7, the Samsung has divided the notification and quick toggles into two distinct planes. You can access the notification panel by swiping down from the top left corner of the screen, while the expanded quick toggles panel is accessible by swiping down from the top right corner. All the Google suite apps come pre-installed on the smartphone along with some Samsung apps which include Gallery, My Files, Internet, Health, Calculator, Calendar, Wallet and more. Powered by Google Gemini, the device offers a versatile AI experience. Users can engage in extensive conversations, generate creative ideas, such as recipes from fridge contents or artistic concepts, and even create images.
We really liked the AI Summarise feature on the Samsung Galaxy S25+ which is designed to enhance productivity and efficiency. This feature allows users to generate concise summaries of various types of content, such as documents, articles, or even videos, directly on their device. By leveraging advanced natural language processing, the AI can extract key points and present them in an easy-to-digest format, saving users time and effort.
Another interesting feature of Samsung Galaxy S25+ is the Cross-app Action feature which simplifies multitasking by enabling seamless interactions across multiple apps. For example, you can perform complex tasks like searching for a restaurant and sharing its location with a friend in one step, without manually switching between apps. By simply using voice commands, such as "Find a restaurant on some street and send it to your friends and family," the feature handles the entire process efficiently.
The Galaxy Generative Edit is another useful feature of Samsung Galaxy S25+. The tool is designed to enhance photo editing capabilities. This feature allows users to move or delete objects within their photos seamlessly. Once an object is removed or repositioned, the AI intelligently fills in the background, ensuring a natural and cohesive look. To use this feature, users can simply outline the object they wish to edit using their finger. They can then drag the object to a new location or remove it entirely. The AI processes the changes and generates a refined image with the adjustments applied. This tool is particularly useful for removing unwanted elements or distractions from photos, making it easier to create polished and professional-looking images directly on the device.
To read more about the AI features you can click here.
These AI enhancements not only improve usability but also set the S25+ apart from its competitors.
Camera
Samsung Galaxy S25+ features a triple rear camera setup which consists of 50MP main camera with LED flash, 12MP 120° Ultra Wide sensor and 10MP Telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The front is home to a 12MP selfie camera. The camera system on the Galaxy S25+ is versatile and reliable. Samsung’s One UI 7 introduces a refreshed camera app interface. The mode carousel has been repositioned below the shutter button for easier access. Additionally, the Pro mode has been reworked to ensure controls remain unobtrusive.
The 50MP primary sensor captures detailed and vibrant photos. The main camera captures clean and clear images with the right amount of detailing and impressive dynamic range. The Samsung Galaxy S25+ main camera also excels with rapid subject focusing, nearly flawless white balance and exposure, and delivers images with vivid colour accuracy and impressive detail. While colours may occasionally appear slightly oversaturated – and that's just Samsung's way – the camera maintains excellent image quality even in low-light settings, with minimal noise. The main camera can also capture images in 50MP resolution and you will love the results. The 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom delivers sharp images, though it feels slightly outdated compared to competitors offering higher zoom capabilities. Additionally, the telephoto lens captures images with ample detail and minimal noise, although occasional colour and sharpness inconsistencies may arise. The 12MP ultra-wide lens on the Samsung Galaxy S25+ excels in landscape and group shots. The 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens delivers precise colour reproduction, exceptional detail, and a versatile focal length, making it ideal for creative photography.
The Samsung Galaxy S25+ boasts remarkable video capabilities, effortlessly recording 8K videos and FHD videos at 120fps. The footage showcases exceptional clarity, balanced exposure, and a wide dynamic range. Even in low-light conditions, the videos remain sharp, bright, and richly detailed.
The Samsung Galaxy S25+ 12MP front camera delivers impressive performance, featuring autofocus and excellent overall quality. It captures sharp, vibrant selfies with accurate colors and performs well even in challenging lighting conditions, making it a reliable choice for photography enthusiasts.
Battery
The Samsung Galaxy S25+ is bound to impress you with its exceptional battery performance. The smartphone is backed by a 4,900 mAh battery which comes with 45W fast charging, Qi wireless charging and Wireless PowerShare functionality. In our testing, the smartphone lasted 24 hours on a single charge with mixed usage. Battery backup can vary depending on usage patterns. For instance, avid gamers engaging in intense gaming sessions may find the battery depletes faster. The smartphone, however, compensates with robust charging options, including 45W fast charging, Qi wireless charging, and wireless PowerShare. While the device doesn't come with a charging adapter, the company asserts that it can charge from 0% to 50% in just 15 minutes.
The smartphone comes with a Battery protection feature which is designed to adjust the charging behaviour to extend the battery life. The mode comes with three options — Basic (when your battery is charged 100%, charging will stop until the battery level drops to 95% and then the charging will start again), Adaptive (Stop charging at 80% while you are asleep and switch to Basic before you wake up. Sleep time is estimated based on your phone usage patterns) and Maximum (your battery will stop charging when it reaches 80%). The smartphone also comes with a power saving mode which enables users to toggle multiple settings in order to increase the battery life.
Despite a slightly smaller battery capacity, the phone's performance remains dependable and unlikely to disappoint users.
Verdict
It's time to answer the question that we asked: Can Galaxy S25+ live up to that expectation? Or, it falls short and leaves a little too much room for improvement. In one line – it does live up to the expectations. But also falls short at places where it perhaps won't matter to users much. And, this is why the ‘Ultra’ is there.
It has a functional design, reliable performance, and a practical camera setup. The battery is big enough with multiple charging options, that delivers solid battery life. AI features add to its functionality and are practical too which makes everyday tasks easier. Everything about the phone is built from a practical and functional aspect, offering a well-rounded, no-nonsense experience.
Is there room for improvement – yes there are places, but most of them aren't deal breakers. And this is exactly what we discussed – the idea is to offer function over fiction and that's exactly what Galaxy S25+ is all about.
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