1 month ago
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Samsung has finally unpacked the newest Galaxy S25 Series, and surely, the first thing that comes to mind—how are the new flagship lineup any different from last year’s iteration?
The good news? A very crucial change this time around lies in the performance department. In previous years, all but the Ultra variant, were powered by Exynos chips in certain markets, including the Philippines, which garnered mixed reactions.
This time around, however, every model in the Galaxy S25 series is equipped with the cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. That’s right, even the base Galaxy S25 benefits from Qualcomm’s advanced 3-nanometer processor—and that’s a welcome upgrade already.
But performance is just one part of the equation. What about other key areas of the phone? Let’s dive into the details.
| 6.2-inch FHD+ LTPO Dynamic AMOLED 2X | 6.2-inch FHD+ LTPO Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| 2340 x 1080 pixels, 1-120Hz | 2340 x 1080 pixels, 1-120Hz |
| 2600-nit peak brightness | 2600-nit peak brightness |
| Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy | Samsung Exynos 2400 for Galaxy |
| 12GB RAM (base) | 8GB RAM (base) |
| 256GB, 512GB storage | 256GB, 512GB storage |
| Triple rear cameras: | Triple rear cameras: |
| - 50MP f/1.8 main, OIS | - 50MP f/1.8 main, OIS |
| - 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide | - 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide |
| - 10MP f/2.4 telephoto, OIS | - 10MP f/2.4 telephoto, OIS |
| 12MP f.2,2 selfie shooter (hole punch notch) | 12MP f.2,2 selfie shooter (hole punch notch) |
| 5G, 4G LTE | 5G, 4G LTE |
| Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| GPS | GPS |
| USB Type-C | USB Type-C |
| NFC | NFC |
| Under-display fingerprint sensor (ultrasonic) | Under-display fingerprint sensor (ultrasonic) |
| IP68 dust and water resistance | IP68 dust and water resistance |
| Dual stereo speakers | Dual stereo speakers |
| One UI 7, Android 15 (7 years OS upgrades) | One UI 6.1, Android 14 (7 years OS upgrades) |
| 4000mAh battery | 4000mAh battery |
| 25W charging (wired) | 25W charging (wired) |
| 15W wireless (Qi2) | 15W wireless (Qi1) |
| 146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2 mm | 147 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm |
| 162g | 167g |
Samsung Galaxy S25 advantages:
- Higher standard RAM at 12GB
- More powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC
- Significantly costs less than its predecessor
- Qi2 wireless charging support
Design
At first glance, one might say nothing has changed in the Galaxy S25’s appearance, and that’s a valid observation. It still rocks the signature Galaxy look, sports the same aluminum frame, and retains the flat-screen aesthetic.
However, if you look closely, you’ll notice at least one minor design change—the camera rings. The lenses still protrude from the left, and while they retain color-matched sides, the top part of these lenses has thicker outlines.
To my eyes, this makes the cameras appear larger than they are, and I kind of like the reflective outlines. I personally prefer this design change as the lenses look more refined, perhaps giving off a weird yet higher sense of premium.
Aside from that, there are no other noticeable changes worth mentioning.
Display
Flip the phone over and we are greeted by the same 6.2-inch Full HD+ LTPO AMOLED display. It appears to be a carryover sporting the same display resolution (2340 x 1080 pixels), 1-120Hz dynamic refresh rate, and the same peak brightness rated at up to 2600 nits.
For biometrics security, there’s still the trusty under-display fingerprint sensor (optical).
Chipset
As I mentioned earlier, all models in the Galaxy S25 Series are now powered by the latest flagship chip from Qualcomm. True to form, Samsung is using a custom chip, dubbed “Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy,” which offers a slight performance boost over the standard version.
While we don’t yet have specific performance metrics for the Galaxy S25, we can confidently expect a noticeable leap in performance compared to its predecessor.
We’ll have a clearer picture of once we receive the new unit in for a full review.
Memory and Storage
As for configuration, I’m happy to report that Samsung has upped the standard RAM offering for all models to 12GB (previously, it was only 8GB).
Storage-wise, the S25 still comes in either 256GB or 512GB variant.
Cameras
While the lenses came with a minor design change, the sensors themselves appear to be carryovers from last year.
The Galaxy S25 still features three cameras at the rear with a 50-megapixel main with optical image stabilization (OIS) support, a 12-megapixel ultrawide, and a 10-megapixel telephoto also with OIS.
This is the same camera setup as its predecessor, but users can expect incremental improvements to its camera performance.
Battery and Charging
Battery-wise, everything stays the same: a 4000mAh unit combined with 25W of wired- and 15W wireless charging.
Just like with its processing power, we should expect some improvements in battery life thanks to its efficient 3-nm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip.
Connectivity and Other Features
The Galaxy S25 runs on the latest Android 15 skinned with One UI 7 out of the box. Users can expect minimal redesigns across the system such as updated icons and control panel, the nifty ‘Now Bar’, as well as smoother experience across the board.
Of course, there are the usual Galaxy AI features along with new ones such as Audio Eraser.
Just like last year, Samsung also promised seven years of OS upgrades and security patches for the Galaxy S25 Series. This puts it among the ranks providing the longest software support alongside the recent Google Pixel lineup.
Price
Now, let’s finally move on to the most important bit: the pricing.
With all the notable improvements the Galaxy S25 offers, one might assume that it would be much more expensive, especially with the new, shiny Snapdragon 8 Elite chip.
Well, Samsung did the exact opposite! Interestingly, the Galaxy S25 costs less than last year, starting at PHP 51,990 for the base 256GB trim. That’s two thousand pesos less compared to its predecessor.
While the Galaxy S25 might not be making waves with a complete redesign, it’s clear that Samsung’s attention to detail and incremental improvements are what make this device a compelling option.
The subtle changes in design, the substantial performance boosts, and the increased RAM all point toward a refined user experience without straying too far from what made its predecessor great.
Add in the fact that it’s priced more affordably than last year, then the Galaxy S25 feels like a smart and savvy upgrade.
