Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus Review: Brilliantly Unremarkable

Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus Review: A Reliable Yet Unexciting Flagship

I’ve been reviewing Samsung’s Galaxy S flagship series for years, and somewhere between the Galaxy S22 Plus and S23 Plus, I lost hope that Samsung would ever truly innovate this lineup.

The Galaxy S21 Plus first pushed me into denial when Samsung downgraded some key specs (such as the display and battery) compared to the Galaxy S20 Plus.

The Galaxy S22 Plus brought a mix of upgrades and downgrades, leaving me frustrated about the future of the S Plus series. Then came the Galaxy S23 Plus, when I tried to justify the lack of major improvements by telling myself:

“Maybe it’s not so bad that Samsung’s flagships remain the same—just like the iPhone.”

However, depression struck when I held the Galaxy S24 Plus in my hands, realizing that my assumption was right: Samsung was playing it too safe.

And now, with the Galaxy S25 Plus, I’ve reached acceptance. Yes, it’s almost identical to its predecessors, with only minor refinements and small upgrades. But so what?

 

1 of 8

- +

After a few days of using the S25 Plus, one thing is clear: this phone is an excellent flagship with great value. In fact, unless you absolutely need an S Pen (which you don’t), you should skip the Galaxy S25 Ultra and get the S25 Plus instead.

That is, of course, if you’re upgrading from an older Galaxy model or considering joining the Samsung ecosystem for the first time.

Is the Galaxy S25 Plus a Great Value Flagship in 2025?

Pros:

✅ Excellent performance with the Snapdragon 8 Elite
✅ Bright and accurate display with vibrant colors
✅ Good battery life and reasonably fast charging

Cons:

🚫 Samsung played it too safe with this release
🚫 Few, if any, exclusive software features
🚫 Camera remains largely unchanged from last year

Overall Rating: 7.3/10

📊 Category Average: 7.2/10

📌 Individual Scores:

• Battery Life: 7.1/10
• Photo Quality: 7.2/10
• Video Quality: 6.6/10
• Charging Speed: 6.1/10

Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus Specs

🔹 Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (overclocked for Samsung)
🔹 RAM: 12GB (standard across all versions)
🔹 Storage: 256GB / 512GB (no microSD expansion)
🔹 Cameras:
✔ 50MP (Main)
✔ 12MP (Ultra-Wide)
✔ 10MP (3x Telephoto Zoom)
🔹 Battery Capacity: 4,900mAh
🔹 Charging: 45W wired / 15W wireless
🔹 Display:
✔ 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X
✔ 120Hz adaptive refresh rate
✔ 2,600 nits peak brightness

Pricing & Value Proposition

🔹 256GB model: $999
🔹 512GB model: $1,119

✔ If you’re using a Galaxy S23 Plus or S24 Plus, upgrading isn’t necessary.
✔ If you’re coming from an older Galaxy model or switching brands, this is a solid choice.
✔ If you don’t need an S Pen, skip the S25 Ultra and get this instead.

✅ The Galaxy S25 Plus is a well-rounded, reliable flagship, but it lacks innovation.