Samsung Galaxy S25 review: Is it still worth it with the Galaxy S26 out?

Why you can trust this review of the Samsung Galaxy S25 series

Back Market is a company made up of tech enthusiasts. Although we have a passion for all things tech, we’re industry experts with a deep understanding of the latest devices and their real-world performance. 

Our team evaluates smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra daily to provide our clients with well-informed insights and an unbiased review of specifications, user experience, and features. Besides doing our own research into a device, we also work closely with top tech professionals to ensure every recommendation is backed by hands-on testing and industry expertise.

Since we’re a professionally refurbished electronics company, you can also trust that our insights and value assessments of S25 phones are trustworthy. Our reviews are designed to help you make informed and confident decisions about your next device.

Samsung Galaxy S25 specs

✨The Galaxy S25 delivers flagship performance in a compact design with a vibrant display, capable cameras, and reliable battery life.

• Battery: It comes with a 4,000 mAh battery that supports 25W wired charging and 15W wireless charging, keeping you powered throughout the day.

• Memory and storage: To suit your needs, it comes with a notable 12GB of RAM and three storage options of 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB.

• Processor: It features the impressively fast and efficient Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) chipset.

• Display: It boasts a 6.2-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support, offering vibrant visuals.

• Cameras: It features a triple rear setup with a 50MP wide lens, a 10MP 3x telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultrawide lens, complemented by a 12MP front-facing camera for high-quality selfies.

Samsung Galaxy S25+ specs

✨The Galaxy S25+ offers flagship performance with a large and smooth display, reliable cameras, and solid battery life.

• Battery: It has a 4,900mAh battery with 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging, so you can stay powered up without constantly hunting for an outlet.

• Memory and storage: It packs 12GB of RAM and gives you 256GB or 512GB of storage – plenty of space for all your apps, photos, and downloads.

• Processor: It runs on the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) chipset, meaning smooth performance whether you're gaming, streaming, or just multitasking like a pro.

• Display: It has a 6.7-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support – because scrolling should always be buttery smooth.

• Cameras: It features a 50MP main camera, a 10MP 3x telephoto lens, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 12MP front camera for selfies that actually look good.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra specs

✨The Galaxy S25 Ultra delivers flagship power with a massive display, pro-level cameras, long battery life, and top-tier performance.

• Battery: It has a 5,000 mAh battery with 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging, keeping you going longer – because who likes being tethered to a charger anyway?

• Memory and storage: It comes with up to 16GB of RAM and storage options of 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB, so you'll never have to delete your favorite memes.

• Processor: It's powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset, delivering ultra-fast performance, AI smarts, and enough power to handle anything you throw at it.

• Display: It has a 6.9-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate, QHD+ resolution, and S Pen support – basically a pocket-sized productivity beast.

• Cameras: It has a 200MP main sensor, a 50MP 5x periscope telephoto lens, a 10MP 3x telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultrawide lens, along with a 12MP front cam for pro-level shots every time.

Samsung Galaxy S25, S25+ and S25 Ultra pros & cons

Each Samsung phone in the S25 series has its strengths and weaknesses. In the tables below, we break down the pros and cons of each to help you quickly scan through and spot the highlights.

✨The Galaxy S25 base model is a top compact flagship, offering strong performance and a premium display, though its battery and 128GB storage may leave some wanting more.

✨The Galaxy S25+ remains a strong option in 2026, delivering great performance, display quality, battery life, and software support, making it a solid value for a dependable, full-size phone.

✨The Galaxy S25 Ultra remains an exceptional flagship today, offering top performance, a brilliant display, and versatile cameras, despite its bulky size and S Pen limitations.

Samsung Galaxy S25, S25+ and S25 Ultra features

You can enjoy many different features and benefits when choosing a Samsung Galaxy S25, S25+, or S25 Ultra. Below, we share what you need to know to decide whether these phones are worth buying, especially now that the Galaxy S26 series is out. Let's dive into our detailed reviews of the Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra. For comparison, here's our Samsung Galaxy S26 review.

Does the Galaxy S25 have the latest AI features?

✨ The Galaxy S25 series may no longer have the newest AI features, but it still offers practical, day-to-day AI tools at a lower price, making it a smart choice.

With the Galaxy S26 now available, the Galaxy S25 series' AI features are no longer the newest on the block, but they still deliver solid, practical value, especially at a lower price point. Samsung originally marketed the Galaxy S25 series as:

"setting a new standard as a true AI companion with [our] most natural and context-aware mobile experiences ever created."

While not every feature is groundbreaking, the S25 still makes everyday tasks easier. AI tools let you add AI-generated objects to photos, adjust writing tone, perform natural language searches, and take advantage of Google Gemini. Gemini comes pre-installed and integrated into key Samsung apps, letting you take notes in Samsung Notes, create events in Samsung Calendar, and perform Cross-App Actionslike finding nearby attractions and pasting them directly into a message. These features are convenient and time-saving, even if they aren't unique to the Galaxy S25.

Other AI features include Now Bar and Now Brief. The Now Bar provides quick access to media controls, timers, sports scores, and Google Maps directions right from your lock screen. Now Brief is more limited, surfacing calendar events, weather, and a single news article, but it still offers skimmable information that some users find handy.

Ultimately, while the Galaxy S26 may have more refined AI integrations, the Galaxy S25's tools are fully functional and practical for day-to-day use, and they may even get some of the AI features of the S26 in future software updates. At its current price, the S25 series delivers flagship AI capabilities without an upcharge.

How does the Galaxy S25 perform in 2026?

✨Even with the Galaxy S26 out, the Galaxy S25 series remains a solid, reliable option that can handle both daily tasks and more demanding workloads at a more affordable price.

With the Galaxy S26 now available, the S25 series is no longer the newest flagship, but it still delivers impressive performance. The series is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset paired with 12GB of RAM, an upgrade over the 8GB previously present in the non-Ultra models of the Galaxy S24. This ensures fast, fluid operation for everyday tasks, gaming, and productivity.

This performance boost alone convinced many users to upgrade when the S25 series first launched, with one Reddit user saying:

"I know this may not be the craziest upgrade from S24, but honestly, the fact that it has a Snapdragon (in Europe) is good enough for me to upgrade from the a52s."

While the base S25 is speedy and responsive, the S25+ benefits from a larger cooling system, and the S25 Ultra takes things further with 16GB of RAM, a larger vapor-chamber cooling system, and optimized GPU performance for smoother gaming and demanding apps.

How does the Galaxy S25's camera hold up in 2026?

✨The Galaxy S25 series delivers reliable, crisp cameras for everyday use, matching the solid performance of the Galaxy S24 and S26, with the Ultra model offering true flagship-level photography.

From a hardware standpoint, the Galaxy S25's camera is largely the same as the S24 and also similar to the S26, with most of the improvements coming from software tweaks and AI-powered features rather than new sensors. The Galaxy S25 and S25+ feature a 50MP main shooter, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 10MP 3x telephoto lens, with a 12MP front-facing module for selfies. Photos are crisp and vibrant in good lighting with accurate colors and solid detail, though low-light performance and moving subjects can be challenging. As mentioned, these are the same cameras on the Galaxy S24 and S26, meaning you're getting tried-and-true image quality without paying a premium for the newest hardware.

For users seeking a truly top-tier camera experience, the Galaxy S25 Ultra remains the standout. Its 200MP main shooter, 50MP ultrawide lens, 10MP 3x telephoto lens, and 50MP periscope telephoto (5x optical zoom) sensor deliver versatile, high-resolution photography, while the front-facing 12MP camera captures detailed selfies.

How does the Galaxy S25 series battery life compare across models?

✨The Galaxy S25 series offers reliable battery life across all models, with the base S25 sufficient for a full day, the S25+ lasting longer, and the Ultra matching flagship standards.

The Galaxy S25 has a 4,000 mAh battery with support for 15W wireless charging and 25W wired charging. For a compact device, this is sufficient, delivering around 5 to 6 hours of active screen time for most users—enough for a full day of moderate use. While some rivals, like the Pixel 9, can stretch to 8 hours thanks to a larger battery, the Galaxy S25 remains competitive for everyday tasks and benefits from its smaller, more efficient form factor.

The Galaxy S25+ steps things up with a 4,900 mAh battery and 45W wired charging, supporting roughly 6 to 7 hours of screentime. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S25 Ultra offers the largest battery in the lineup at 5,000 mAh, delivering 7 to 8 hours of active use and matching many flagship competitors. The Ultra only has a 45W wired charging speed, however, which could have been made better.

How has the Galaxy S25 series design evolved?

✨The Galaxy S25 series offers a refined design with durable materials, vibrant AMOLED displays, and improved build quality while still maintaining the core Samsung look.

From a hardware and software perspective, the Samsung S25 series is similar to the S24 series, aside from its new powerful chipset and AI integrations. Still, there have been a few updates on the design-and-build front.

For example, Samsung decided a thinner phone would be better this time, so the S25 and S25+ have been slimmed down. On the other hand, the S25 Ultra is noticeably bulkier.

You should also know that the S25 and S25+ feature rounded corners, and both models feature Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on their front and rear panels for durability. In contrast, the S25 Ultra has been upgraded to a titanium body with rounded corners, and Gorilla Glass Armor 2 reduces glare. So, if you're after the classic Samsung look but want maximum durability and a device that's easy on the eyes – pun intended – the Ultra may be your best choice.

Additionally, and perhaps controversially, the Samsung S25 features a 6.2-inch screen, which is smaller than many other phones in this price range. However, it's more than big enough for most tasks, if not for extensive YouTube or Netflix watching. If you're still concerned, you can explore the S25+ and S25 Ultra, both of which feature bigger screens.

What's also notable is that the S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra all feature variable refresh rates up to 120Hz and AMOLED screens with peak brightness hitting 2,600 nits, making them vibrant and easy to view even in direct sunlight. The S25+ offers a larger 6.7-inch display, while the S25 Ultra takes it even further with a 6.9-inch QHD+ panel and S Pen support, perfect for productivity and creativity.

These models also come in various colors, including the sleek Silver Shadow for the S25 and S25+, which features a frosted finish that many love — you might, too! If silver isn't your thing, navy blue is another option, and the S25 Ultra also comes in Titanium Silver Blue and Titanium Gray and Black. But let's be honest; most of us will throw a case on anyway, so color may not be a dealbreaker.

Shopping tips for the Samsung Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra

✨With the Galaxy S26 out, you can grab a Galaxy S25 series phone at 20% to 50% off the price of new at Back Market any day of the year.

With the launch of the Galaxy S26 series, the Galaxy S25 is no longer the newest flagship on the block. As such, you can score a refurbished Samsung Galaxy S25 at 20% to 50% off the price of new at Back Market any day of the year. If you're looking for an S25 series phone but are concerned about how to get one at a lower price, here are a few ideas to help you get your hands on one of these nifty smartphones.

• Consider buying refurbished with Back Market anytime. If you shop with Back Market, you can save 20% to 50% on average compared to the retail price when buying a Samsung S25 series phone. Our devices are professionally tested and certified with a 1-year warranty. You can also buy from us at any time of the year. In addition, buying refurbished is by far the most eco-friendly choice.

• Wait for major sales events. If you don't need a new phone immediately, you can wait for major sales events before buying a Samsung S25, S25+, or S25 Ultra. The best discounts happen during Samsung's Spring Unpacked event, Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, when retailers offer temporary price drops on Galaxy devices. However, there is no guarantee.

• Check for carrier deals. Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon often offer discounts when you trade in a phone or sign up for a new plan. However, you should note that carrier discounts often involve long-term contracts that may make you pay more over time.

• Explore Samsung's trade-in offers. Sometimes, Samsung offers trade-in discounts, just like we do at Back Market. These discounts could provide up to $500 in credit when you swap in an older Galaxy device in good condition.

Don't forget to compare pricing. Whether purchasing new or refurbished, check prices across Amazon, Best Buy, and Back Market. In most cases, Back Market offers the lowest price with better warranty coverage and no contract restrictions.

Why choose refurbished 

"This phone is absolutely gorgeous. no scratches or scuffs anywhere on it. Fast performance, and it works super well for the price I paid for it. Great battery life, and I'm totally digging the yellow color. I'm convinced this thing is practically brand new. I did end up returning it only because I wanted the S25 Ultra for its better AI features. I would recommend this phone, though." Sashenko I. Reviewed 2/26/26.

When you buy refurbished, it's not only about saving money — though that's an undeniable advantage. In our opinion, buying refurbished is about getting top-tier phone tech at a fraction of the price without sacrificing quality.

A refurbished S25, S25+, or S25 Ultra is a good choice because these phones are tested to ensure everything works as it should, and their software and hardware are professionally cleaned to avoid malware and other hazards. After our tech experts have refurbished them, these phones function like new.

Additionally, unlike buying used from an individual seller, refurbished phones from trusted platforms like Back Market come with certifications, warranties, and a performance guarantee. Each Samsung Galaxy S25 series model on Back Market is tested by experts, restored to peak condition, and graded based on aesthetics, so you know exactly what you're getting.

Buying refurbished phones is also a more sustainable choice for the planet. When you choose a refurbished Samsung Galaxy S25 model phone, you're helping reduce e-waste, lower carbon emissions, and extend the life of high-quality electronics, meaning fewer end up in landfills.

In addition, Back Market ensures every purchase is backed by a 1-year warranty and a convenient 30-day money-back guarantee, giving you unshakeable confidence in your purchase. Ultimately, there's no reason to overpay for a new phone when you can get a certified, high-performing Galaxy S25, S25+, or S25 Ultra for much less.

Trade in old tech and choose a Samsung Galaxy S25

Back Market’s trade-in program makes upgrading to a refurbished Samsung Galaxy S25, S25+, or S25 Ultra effortless and rewarding. Instead of allowing your old phone to collect dust unnecessarily, trade it in for instant cash or credit toward your next buy, which will help you save even more on an already discounted device. 

Our process is fast, transparent, and hassle-free, with real-time quotes and free shipping for your trade-in. So, whether you’re upgrading from an older Galaxy or switching from another brand, Back Market gives you the best value for your old device while ensuring your next phone is certified, high-quality, and backed by a 1-year warranty. It’s the smartest way to upgrade.

Final thoughts: The Galaxy S25 remains a solid pick with excellent value

Even with the Galaxy S26 now available, the Galaxy S25 series remains a smart, value-packed choice. It offers reliable performance, vibrant displays, and practical AI features without the premium price of the newest generation. Refurbished options, like the Galaxy S25 Ultra on Back Market, make it even more affordable, letting you enjoy flagship features and long-term usability with a smaller environmental footprint, making the Galaxy S25 series a practical and cost-effective S-series pick in 2026.