It’s Samsung Unpacked time. Samsung tends to host two major flagship releases every year, and we’re well into 2025, which means it’s time for the first one. Samsung just hosted its first event, and there’s a lot of exciting announcements—including the new Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ devices.
Samsung just announced the Galaxy S25 and the Galaxy S25+ phones, alongside the more powerful and expensive Galaxy S25 Ultra, and there’s a lot to talk about with all three models. At the heart of the S25 and S25+ is the 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. Samsung is actually calling it the “Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy,” which on previous occasions has meant a higher-binned, Samsung-exclusive variant of the Snapdragon chip that’s available for all phone manufacturers. We’re not sure how much better this specific variant would be on this occasion, if it’s any better, but that’s already a good selling point compared to other phones.
Storage options differ between the models, with the S25 offering 128 GB or 256 GB configurations, while the S25+ starts at 256 GB and goes up to 512 GB. Both phones are also coupled with 12GB of RAM, which has been the standard for a few generations now. The Galaxy S25 features a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 2340 x 1080 FHD+ resolution. The S25+, being the bigger model, steps it up with a larger 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display boasting a stunning 3120 x 1440 QHD+ resolution.
This is pretty similar to what the S24 and the S24+ sported. In fact, these phones look and feel pretty similar, if not almost identical, to their predecessors other than the fact that we have software and hardware changes. There are some changes for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and you can check them out in our coverage for that phone.
The Galaxy S25 is equipped with a 4,000 mAh battery, while the S25+ boasts a larger 4,900 mAh battery. Both devices support Super Fast Charging, with the S25 offering 25W and the S25+ offering an even faster 45W charging speed. They also support Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 and Wireless PowerShare, allowing users to wirelessly charge their compatible devices. Again, absolutely no surprises here. Both phones are powered by One UI 7, based on Android 15. The new OS version by Samsung includes useful additions such as AI Select, which will suggest you quick follow-up actions in other apps for things such as saving event details from an image.
The phones also come with what Samsung calls “post-quantum cryptography.” In theory, this cryptography is meant to account for the eventual rise of quantum computers and their potential to break through current encryption methods. We have no specifics on how Samsung will protect its phones against quantum computing, but it certainly sounds interesting.
The pricing remains unchanged from the previous generation. The Galaxy S25 starts at $799.99, while the Galaxy S25+ starts at $999.99. If you signed up for the $50 credit (if you missed it, it’s not like we didn’t warn you), you can use that towards your phone, and you can also get up to $1,250 off with an eligible trade-in. Both phones are available in Navy, Icyblue, Mint, and Silver Shadow colors, as well as Blueblack, Coralred, and Pinkgold if you buy them through Samsung’s website.
There are also a few more options for saving money on upgrades. Samsung has added a new “New Galaxy Club” program for early upgrades—if you want to get next year’s Galaxy S26, you can enroll in the program for $8.33 per month (Galaxy S25+) or $6.20 per month (Galaxy S25), and Samsung will either pay your remaining installments or give you a 50% MSRP trade-in credit towards next year’s phone. If you look at carriers, both AT&T and Verizon will give you a free Galaxy S25 or Galaxy S25+ when you trade in your current phone and sign up for an eligible plan.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus is a premium smartphone with a 6.7-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display and a 120Hz refresh rate. Â It features the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, 12GB of RAM, and a 4,900mAh battery with 45W Super Fast Charging 2.0.
Source: Samsung, AT&T, Verizon
