Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. Samsung Galaxy S25+

So, you’ve gotten your coronary heart set on a shiny new Samsung Galaxy S25 system? There’s undoubtedly a lot to like concerning the Korean large’s new flagship lineup. To be completely frank, it’s a bit too just like final 12 months’s S24 household, not less than for our style, however that is a complete different dialogue. As we speak, we’re wanting on the selection between the vanilla Galaxy S25 and the Galaxy S25+.

For a lot of, this might be an apparent selection that merely comes right down to measurement and/or value because the two gadgets virtually share the identical {hardware}. Nonetheless, there are just a few delicate variations right here and there that could be price declaring.

Desk of Contents:

For starters, you may examine the whole specs sheets or instantly proceed with our editor’s evaluation within the following textual content.

Dimension comparability

Let’s be frank: for many potential consumers, measurement would be the massive figuring out issue between the 2 gadgets. The vanilla S25 is a compact system with a 6.2-inch show and 146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2 mm physique, tipping the size at simply 162 grams.

In distinction, you get a reasonably sizeable 6.7-inch show with the Galaxy S25+. It measures 158.4 x 75.8 x 7.3 mm and weighs 190 grams, which can be fairly affordable for its measurement.

For higher or worse, in contrast to Apple, Samsung does not supply a compact “Extremely”, so to talk. If a small measurement is what you might be after, then it’s a must to make some {hardware} compromises.

One factor you will not need to realistically sacrifice, nonetheless, is construct high quality and supplies. Positive, the Extremely nonetheless has considerably of a leg up on the opposite two S25 fashions, however the S25 and S25+ are equivalent on this division and ship massive. Each telephones make use of a premium “glass sandwich” development with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on either side and an Armor aluminum 2 body.

Each telephones even have the identical IP68 ingress safety score, which ought to permit them to outlive for as much as half-hour in as much as 1.5 meters of recent water.

Show comparability

Final 12 months’s S24 era marked a quite main show improve. Each fashions acquired LTPO tech for extra dynamic refresh fee adjustment and higher energy effectivity. And the S24+ received its QHD decision again, which was absent for just a few generations.

This 12 months, nonetheless, the panels for the S25 era appear unchanged from final 12 months on each the S25 and S25+. We won’t precisely complain about these explicit panels since they nonetheless maintain up very properly within the trendy smartphone panorama. As talked about, each are LTPO-based and supply a dynamic 120Hz refresh fee. Additionally, loads of brightness and HDR10+ certification.

To be completely trustworthy, it’s a bummer that Samsung continues to be sticking to 8-bit colour depth shows on each fashions whereas most of its opponents have already superior to 10-bit and even 12-bit colour.

The show division is the place we discover one of many main variations between the S25 and S25+ – measurement. That one is apparent. However past display screen actual property, there’s additionally the extra delicate distinction in decision. The S25+ comes with a QHD+ show, in comparison with the S25’s FHD+. This additionally interprets to a distinction in sharpness, with the S25 peaking at round 416 ppi, in comparison with 513 ppi on the Plus mannequin. To be completely frank, nonetheless, the real-world distinction is tough to identify except you actually pixel-peep, even in particular person, facet by facet.

Battery life

A much bigger cellphone naturally means a much bigger battery. The vanilla Galaxy S25 comes with a 4,000 mAh pack, in comparison with 4,900 mAh on the S25+, which is sort of on par with the Extremely mannequin. That is fairly spectacular energy density, in our opinion, given each telephones` measurement and weight.

Each telephones supply a stable Energetic Use Rating, however the Plus mannequin naturally comes with a tangible bump in its total endurance.

Charging pace

The charging pace is clearly completely different between the vanilla S25 and the S25+. There’s something to be stated about battery capability on this regard. Nonetheless, the logic is not so simple as a smaller battery equals faster charging occasions since bigger batteries do have the benefit of charging faster and taking in additional present to some extent and a sure level.

Nonetheless, on this explicit comparability, we even have the truth that the vanilla S25 solely helps Samsung’s 25W charging whereas the S25+ is marketed as taking as much as 45W. This ends in a noticeably sooner cost time on the S25+, each for a full cost and a partial cost for 15 or half-hour on the charger.

Speaker take a look at

The Galaxy S25 and S25+ have very related speaker programs. Each depend on a hybrid setup, with the front-facing amplified earpiece performing as one channel and a devoted bottom-firing speaker as the opposite. This intrinsically brings about some imbalance to the output, although Samsung ought to nonetheless be recommended on how properly it has combatted that via tuning.

Talking of tuning, each telephones are remarkably related on this respect. You get very clear output. The vocals are nice, and the excessive frequencies are properly introduced, however the bass is barely there.

Each telephones even have Dolby Atmos on board with Film, Music, Voice and Auto presets. There’s additionally a particular Dolby Atmos for Video games choice.

Nonetheless, we have now to offer a slight edge to the Galaxy S25+ right here since it’s barely louder, incomes a VERY GOOD mark in our testing in comparison with GOOD on the Galaxy S25. We are able to solely assume that the S25+ has more room to work with internally for higher speaker acoustics. The distinction is not main, however it’s nonetheless there.

Efficiency

Each the S25 and S25+ use the identical Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. Gone is the uncertainty and market segmentation from the S24 era, the place sure markets received a Qualcomm chip whereas others received a Samsung Exynos one. The Snapdragon 8 Elite in use right here can be the higher-clocked model with a barely boosted max pace on the 2 massive Oryon V2 Phoenix L CPU cores.

One other distinction between the vanilla and the plus fashions was the bottom RAM configuration, the place the S24 can be obtainable with as little as 8GB of RAM. That is now not the case; each the S25 and S25+ now include 12GB of RAM. The one distinction is storage, the place the S25 begins at 128GB, whereas the least you may get on the S25+ is 256GB of storage. Neither cellphone has expandable storage.

One factor nonetheless unique to the S25+ and absent on the vanilla S25 is Extremely Wideband (UWB) help.

As for software program features, the 2 telephones supply the very same One UI expertise and class-leading function set, together with many Galaxy AI options. Plus, each telephones include Samsung’s glorious help promise of a whopping seven main OS updates.

Benchmark efficiency

It comes as no shock that each telephones supply glorious burst efficiency because of the top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. There’s hardly any distinction within the precise efficiency numbers; any distinction that may exist is only run-to-run deviation.

We’d say that the S25+ has a really slight benefit in sustained efficiency since its bigger measurement permits it to deal with thermals barely higher. It is hardly a large distinction, although.

Digital camera comparability

The Galaxy S25 and S25+ have precisely equivalent digicam {hardware}. The actual setup is borrowed straight from the S24 and S24+, so there have not been any main {hardware} modifications on this division. Aside from the brand new ISP that ships with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset.

As talked about, you do not fairly get the identical digicam prowess because the Extremely fashions, however the S25 and S25+ nonetheless take pleasure in a reasonably versatile setup. On the again is a 50MP most important unit and a 10MP 3x telephoto, each backed by OIS and a 12MP ultrawide. The latter lacks autofocus, which is a little bit of a bummer, however Samsung continues to insist that that function stays an Extremely unique.

Whereas the selfie digicam hasn’t been modified both, it stays a little bit of a spotlight because it does function autofocus and has confirmed to seize very competent stills and movies.

Talking of movies, videography is likely one of the robust fits of the Galaxy S25 and S25+, similar to the S24 and the S23 household earlier than that.

Picture high quality

The principle digicam on each telephones produces clear 12MP stills with quantity of element, extensive dynamic vary and punchy, but not over-the-top colours. The picture high quality is rather like final 12 months.

Samsung has what we’d think about fairly mature but in addition fairly laid-back processing. That implies that sharpness leaves a bit to be desired, particularly if you shoot inside and never in broad daylight. We could have praised these images 2-3 years in the past, however the {industry} is shifting quickly, and this kind of wonderful element rendition is now not class-leading. Distinction is mostly nice, although some more difficult scenes can come out wanting a bit flat.

The 2x crop zoom images are greater than first rate. Positive, you get a bit extra grain, and stills are usually softer than their 1x counterparts, however Samsung achieved lossless-like high quality.

Samsung Galaxy S25: 0.6x • 1x • 2x • 3x

Samsung Galaxy S25+: 0.6x • 1x • 2x • 3x

The 3x telephoto images are pretty first rate however undoubtedly not a standout function of both cellphone. The 3x telephoto unit matches the principle digicam’s processing by way of colours, distinction, colour temperature, and so forth. Element is stable, maybe higher than you’d anticipate, given the 10MP to 12MP upscale motion. The grain is there within the shadows when you go in search of it, however it’s not getting in the way in which. Dynamic vary and colours are nice.

The ultrawide digicam is much from what we’d think about industry-leading. Its images aren’t terribly sharp. On the constructive facet, the dynamic vary is surprisingly extensive for such a digicam. The distinction can be stable. The colours are very well-matched to the opposite cameras.

Our vanilla Galaxy S25 evaluate unit has some apparent points with focus misalignment on the ultrawide, the place the components of the picture are blurry (beginning nearly from the middle of the body upwards). This isn’t the case with our S25+ unit, and whereas each are technically retail models, we want to imagine that this can be a one-off manufacturing high quality concern with the S25.

Like many different telephones, the S25 and S25+ have automated evening mode and a devoted mode within the digicam app. The automated evening mode does a reasonably good job by itself, however it’s a bit lax, and you may get a bit completely different outcomes through the use of the handbook evening mode. The next samples are all taken with automated evening mode.

Common nighttime images have a laidback processing and good spotlight retention however not very vivid shadows. There’s loads of noise, too. The colour rendition is good.

With the 2x images, rendition is basically akin to that of the usual 1x, however anticipate a slight drop in sharpness and an extra enhance in noise.

Samsung Galaxy S25: 0.6x • 1x • 2x • 3x

Samsung Galaxy S25+: 0.6x • 1x • 2x • 3x

The low-light images from the devoted 3x telephoto are significantly better. You get loads of element and nice colours.

The ultrawide digicam seems to be good in low mild (for this kind of digicam). The dynamic vary is on level, and the general processing appears to match the principle cameras’.

Video high quality

Under, we have now just a few framegrabs from the movies taken by the 2 telephones at every focal size so it is simpler to match to at least one one other.

Unsurprisingly, the principle cameras on the S25 and S25+ seize glorious 4K movies. These are sharp and detailed, with a large dynamic vary and nice colours. At 2x digital zoom, video high quality stays nice, and it appears Samsung has nailed the ‘lossless’ half. The 3x telephoto digicam produces detailed, sharp movies with good dynamic vary and colours. They’re additionally very properly matched to the principle digicam. The above is legitimate for the 4K movies from the ultrawide. They’re superb (for this kind of digicam), colours look good and are well-matched to the opposite two cameras.

The principle digicam stays very competent in low-light circumstances. The identical goes for the 3x telephoto, which is form of spectacular on condition that this can be a very small telephoto. The ultrawide struggles fairly badly in low-light circumstances. Element is a bit missing, and dynamic vary is not superb.

Samsung Galaxy S25: 0.6x • 1x • 2x • 3x • 1x low-light

Samsung Galaxy S25+: 0.6x • 1x • 2x • 3x • 1x low-light

Verdict

Unsurprisingly the Galaxy S25 and S25+ are very related gadgets. Other than some area of interest issues just like the presence of UWB on the larger mannequin, the distinction between the 2 primarily comes right down to measurement and value.

In the event you do not thoughts and even desire the bigger show and may swing the additional money, then the S25+ delivers a bit extra in just a few minor however notable features. You get to benefit from the sharper show with a better decision and the sooner charging pace on a much bigger battery that gives higher endurance. If none of that is significantly vital to you, then you may in all probability save a couple of bucks and go along with the vanilla Galaxy S25 as a substitute.