Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Extremely at its annual occasion, and AI dominated the presentation. There’s agentic AI, a characteristic akin to Google Now known as Now Temporary, and higher integration with Gemini out of the field amongst many others Samsung highlighted, however what you aren’t getting this 12 months is way in the way in which of upgraded {hardware}.
Hardwired
In Hardwired, AC Senior Editor Harish Jonnalagadda delves into all issues {hardware}, together with telephones, audio merchandise, storage servers, and networking gear.
This is not new both; final 12 months’s Galaxy S24 Extremely wasn’t markedly completely different to its predecessor, and I did not use the machine that a lot because of this. I used to be holding out for Samsung to make appreciable modifications with this technology, however that is not the case, and the S25 Extremely misses out on improvements that are actually normal on its rivals.
The important thing omission is silicon-carbide battery tech. The Vivo X200 Professional, Discover X8 Professional, OnePlus 13, and Honor Magic 7 Professional all make the most of silicon batteries to ship higher density, so that you get a lot larger batteries with none distinction in measurement; the OnePlus 13 is definitely thinner and lighter than the OnePlus 12 whereas providing a battery that is 500mAh bigger than final 12 months.
Silicon batteries additionally maintain up higher in excessive chilly climate, and include higher sturdiness. The power to fit in a much bigger battery with elevated sturdiness is a game-changer, and most different producers are taking full benefit of the tech — Xiaomi even presents it on the mid-range Redmi Notice 14 Professional+. However the S25 Extremely misses out on the characteristic, with the machine that includes the identical 5000mAh battery as final 12 months.
Then there’s the charging scenario. The S25 Extremely nonetheless makes use of the identical 45W normal, and we do not get any upgrades this time. I began utilizing Qi2 chargers just lately, and I figured they could be a superb various with Samsung’s newest telephones, however the S25 Extremely is simply Qi2 prepared, and would not have the magnets within the chassis itself — you may want to purchase a case to have the ability to use the characteristic.
Samsung switched out the wide-angle lens on the machine, and there is now a 50MP module that ought to take higher images. However the primary and telephoto cameras are unchanged, and I can not assist however really feel that Samsung will lose much more floor on this space in opposition to units just like the X200 Professional and Discover X8 Professional.
Chinese language producers are doing unimaginable issues with cellphone cameras, rolling out large sensors and delivering generational upgrades on a constant foundation. The X200 Professional will get a 200MP telephoto digicam that takes phenomenal portraits at 3x, and Samsung simply would not have a solution to that.
Even the primary digicam on most Chinese language telephones is markedly higher than what I used final 12 months, and whereas the S25 Extremely ought to take higher images because of the modifications to the ISP, I am unsure it’s going to dethrone Vivo, OPPO, and Honor anytime quickly — I will be placing that to the check as soon as I get my fingers on the machine.
Much like final 12 months, a lot of the new options on the machine focus on AI. Each different cellphone producer is getting on the AI bandwagon, and all telephones I used within the final 18 months had some model of an AI utility. In every of those circumstances, I bought the sense that the manufacturers are shoehorning doubtful AI options onto their units simply because it’s the buzzword de jour. Samsung, nonetheless, is positioning Galaxy AI because the cornerstone of the S25 Extremely, and I am unsure that is a successful technique.
Do not get me mistaken; I just like the design modifications Samsung launched this 12 months. The S25 Extremely has flatter sides with rounded edges, and it’s thinner and lighter than its predecessor, which is sweet to see. Samsung additionally shrunk the bezels, accommodating a much bigger 6.9-inch AMOLED panel with out growing the peak. Because of this, the S25 Extremely is simpler to carry and use, and because of Gorilla Armor 2 safety at the back and front, it ought to have a lot better resistance in opposition to tumbles.
With the swap to Qualcomm’s newest Snapdragon 8 Elite, the cellphone ought to be quicker as properly. Samsung as soon as once more labored carefully with Qualcomm to customise the platform, and the overclocked chipset has respectable positive factors over final 12 months. However it wasn’t just like the S24 Extremely was brief on energy anyway, and whether or not you get any noticeable distinction is one thing I am going to want to attend and see till I get the cellphone.
Look, I am not saying that the S25 Extremely is a foul cellphone — removed from it. It is simply disappointing that Samsung performed it protected but once more, and the S25 Extremely is not the very best model of the cellphone it may make if it actually wished to take action. Samsung would not have any significant rivalry in North America, so it will probably get away with out providing tangible upgrades to the digicam or battery life.
Whereas the OnePlus 13 is a a lot better displaying this 12 months, it would not have anyplace near the identical degree of service backing because the S25 Extremely, making it a nonstarter within the area. Mix that with Samsung’s beneficiant trade-in incentives, and the S25 Extremely inevitably finally ends up being the default choice if you’d like a high-end Android cellphone.
