Samsung Galaxy S25 Review: A Powerful Flagship with AI Features

Over a year since it dipped into generative artificial intelligence, Samsung’s Galaxy S-series phones are now the vanguard for its gen-AI features. This year, we’re getting even deeper hooks into Google’s Gemini AI assistant and more built-in software tricks than ever before. At the same time, however, the Galaxy S25 arrives with marginal hardware upgrades over last year’s S24.

A Case of "If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It"

While there’s a case of "if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it," you’ll need to stare hard at the spec sheets to spot the differences between this year’s phone and the 2024 model. With the Galaxy S25, there’s a triple-camera system, a 6.2-inch Full HD+ screen and support for the ever-improving Galaxy AI, which the company seems to be prioritizing this year — even if it isn’t quite enough to carry an entirely new device.

A Very Good Smartphone

The Galaxy S25 isn’t a bad smartphone. In fact, it’s a very good one. I described the S25’s cameras as consistent and I think that applies to the entire phone. The screen is bright, smooth and rich, the battery life is, frankly, incredible, while both performance scores and my experience with it prove this is a powerful flagship phone.

Streamlined Gemini AI Capabilities

I love the streamlined Gemini AI capabilities, which can take a voice command and easily turn it into a calendar entry, reminder and even plan my route. Even Galaxy AI diversions like the Portrait Studio offered more refined (and consistent) 3D cartoons and sketches of my portrait photos. I’m not sure Samsung’s features would warrant an AI subscription — I doubt many would pay for them as they stand.

A Question of Pricing

And that brings me to a bigger point: Besides a powerful new chip and AI tricks, why isn’t the S25 cheaper? The Galaxy S25 is priced at $799 at launch, the same as the S24 and even the S23. The comparison you have to make isn’t only with the latest iPhone, but also cheaper Android phones, like the $499 Google Pixel 8a. Or, unfortunately, the year-old Galaxy S24. Unless you’re desperate for a bump in processing power and battery life, it would be wise to see how heavily last year’s models get discounted in the coming months.