Samsung Galaxy S25 Rumors: Upcoming Features, Camera, and Performance Insights
Time is ticking down to the release of Samsung’s next big phone — the Galaxy S25. With just under a month to go, the anticipation is building. The Galaxy S25 is expected to be one of the top smartphones when it launches, continuing Samsung’s legacy of excellence.
We can expect the Galaxy S25 to make all the right improvements to stay at the forefront of Android phones. After all, the Galaxy S24 already introduced a lot of impressive AI features, so it’s likely that Samsung will add even more AI-powered innovations with the Galaxy S25.
As leaks start to surface, we’re getting a clearer picture of what to expect from Samsung’s new flagship. So much so that we’re even starting to think about how the Galaxy S25 might compare to the upcoming iPhone 16. Based on the latest rumors and information, here’s everything we know so far about the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, and Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy S25: Rumored Release Date and Price
Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy S25 series will be arriving in the first half of 2025, and we might already know when it will be revealed. Leaks suggest that Samsung will hold a Galaxy Unpacked event toward the end of January, with some pointing to January 22 and others to January 23. A teaser poster shared by well-known leaker Evan Blass backs up the January 22 date, giving us a solid hint of when to expect the announcement.
If Samsung sticks to its usual schedule, the official release of the Galaxy S25 should come around two weeks later, possibly on February 7.
There’s also buzz around the potential launch of a Galaxy S25 Slim, which may arrive a bit later, perhaps in late spring. However, details on this model remain scarce, and we don’t know its price yet.
As for the price of the Galaxy S25 series, we’re hoping it stays similar to the Galaxy S24 lineup. The S24 started at $799 for the base model, $999 for the Plus, and $1,299 for the Ultra, with the latter seeing a price hike. Given that Apple didn’t raise the price of the iPhone 16, it seems less likely Samsung will increase the cost. However, leaks indicate the Galaxy S25’s price might rise due to the expensive Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and increased manufacturing costs. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests the 3nm process for the Snapdragon 8 Elite adds to the cost, and political instability in South Korea could drive prices up there, though it’s unclear if the same will happen in the U.S.
Samsung Galaxy S25: Design and Display
One way Samsung could refresh the design of the Galaxy S25 is by increasing its screen size. According to leaker Yeux1122, the Galaxy S25’s display could grow from the 6.2 inches seen on the S24 to 6.36 inches, aligning more closely with the iPhone 16 Pro’s size. This would likely mean the overall size of the phone will be slightly larger to accommodate the bigger screen, though Samsung might keep the phone manageable by rounding the back of the Ultra model for a more comfortable grip.
While the larger display is a notable change, the rest of the design is expected to remain familiar. The Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus will likely feature the same armor aluminum frame, while the S25 Ultra is expected to stick with its signature titanium frame. Of course, design elements could change as more leaks emerge.
A rumored render of the Galaxy S25 Ultra shows a more rounded design compared to previous Ultra models, with wider edges and a built-in S Pen. This rounded look has appeared in multiple leaks, including case designs and hands-on videos, giving the phone a shape reminiscent of the iPhone 16 with its rounded corners and flat edges.
In terms of displays, while the Galaxy S24 series featured 2,600-nit displays, Samsung may use the same M13 OLED technology in the Galaxy S25, according to Ross Young. However, the S25 Ultra might offer a “high-brightness” mode capable of reaching up to 3,000 nits, putting it on par with the Pixel 9 Pro.
Display quality will be important, especially after the issues seen with the Galaxy S24, including the Mura effect, which caused a clouding effect at low brightness settings. We hope Samsung addresses this with the S25 to ensure a better viewing experience.
Color-wise, the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus are expected to come in Moon Night Blue, Silver Shadow, Sparking Blue, and Sparkling Green. Meanwhile, the S25 Ultra may come in Titanium Black, Titanium Blue, Titanium Gold, and Titanium Silver, based on leaks of SIM card tray colors.
Samsung Galaxy S25: Performance
One of the earliest Galaxy S25 leaks hints at a major performance boost, thanks to Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. This system-on-chip promises significant improvements in both CPU and GPU performance. Excitingly, reports suggest that all Galaxy S25 models will exclusively feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite, although there have been some benchmarks showing models with Exynos chips.
This is a shift from how Samsung handled the Galaxy S24 lineup. While the Galaxy S24 Ultra featured the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus models in North America used this chipset, while those sold elsewhere had the Exynos 2400 chipset. However, it now seems likely that Samsung will stick with the Snapdragon 8 Elite for the entire Galaxy S25 series.
We can see why Samsung might choose Qualcomm’s latest chip. In our benchmarks, the Snapdragon 8 Elite outperformed the iPhone 16 Pro running Apple’s A18 Pro chipset, excelling in both graphics and Geekbench 6 multicore tests. However, the single-core performance was a bit closer between the two.
Leaked benchmarks for the Galaxy S25 Ultra also show strong results, with Geekbench 6 scores of 3,148 in single-core and 10,236 in multi-core tests. Unfortunately, the standard Galaxy S25 appears to have lower scores, with single-core and multi-core scores of 2,481 and 8,658, respectively. Despite this, the S25 Ultra is still expected to see a performance boost compared to the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
In Europe, it’s rumored that the Galaxy S25 Plus will use the Exynos 2500 chipset, but its performance isn’t as impressive, with Geekbench 6 scores of 2,358 in single-core and 8,211 in multi-core.
Apart from the chipset, there are also rumors that the Galaxy S25 series will see an increase in RAM, with a minimum of 12GB to support AI processing. The Galaxy S25 Ultra might also get UFS 4.1 storage, which is slightly faster than the UFS 4.0 found in most Galaxy S24 models. This storage upgrade would improve performance, especially for AI tasks.
Samsung might also introduce a new Game Assist feature for the Galaxy S25, which could include upscaling, similar to how Game Boost prioritizes performance.
Finally, another significant upgrade expected for the Galaxy S25 series is satellite connectivity, which will allow users to send messages, particularly to emergency services, even when they’re off the grid.
Samsung Galaxy S25: Cameras
Samsung has long dominated the camera space with its Galaxy S Ultra series, and while the Galaxy S23 Ultra maintained its position as the leader, the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s controversial downgrade in zoom capabilities has raised some concerns. The shift to a 5x optical zoom camera on the S24 Ultra led to a noticeable decline in zoom performance compared to the previous generation, leaving Samsung with much to prove with the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Early leaks surrounding the Galaxy S25 Ultra suggest significant camera upgrades that could help Samsung regain its crown. The main camera is expected to be upgraded, accompanied by a 50MP ultra-wide angle camera (up from the 12MP sensor in the S24 Ultra), and a new telephoto camera with “variable capabilities.”
The ultrawide camera is rumored to feature a 50MP sensor that will use 4-in-1 pixel binning to produce 12.5MP shots. With an f/1.7 aperture, this lens would allow more light in, likely improving low-light performance. This would mark a significant improvement over the S24 Ultra’s 12MP ultrawide, which struggled in certain lighting conditions.
The “variable capabilities” of the telephoto camera could imply several features, such as a lens that adjusts its zoom levels smoothly, a feature that was initially rumored for the S24 Ultra but didn’t materialize. Another possibility is a variable aperture, similar to the one found in the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, which allows the aperture to adjust based on the lighting conditions. Regardless of the exact implementation, zoom capabilities are a hallmark of the Ultra series, and Samsung would need to impress to redeem itself after the S24’s shortcomings.
However, there’s some confusion around the number of cameras on the S25 Ultra. Some leaks suggest that Samsung might drop the 3x telephoto lens, resulting in a triple camera setup, instead of the usual quadruple camera array. Leaker @ISAQUES81 cites a prototype being tested by Samsung. On the other hand, Ice Universe insists that the S25 Ultra will retain its four-camera setup, with upgrades to both the ultrawide and secondary telephoto lenses, which are expected to feature 50MP sensors, replacing the 12MP and 10MP sensors from the S24 Ultra.
Further reports from Notebook Check suggest the S25 Ultra will sport a 200MP main camera, a 50MP 5x telephoto lens, a 50MP ultrawide camera, and a second telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and 12MP resolution. Meanwhile, the front-facing camera is expected to stay at 12MP for another generation.
As for the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus, rumors about their cameras are fewer, but there are hints that Samsung might switch to Sony sensors instead of the ISOCELL sensors used in previous models. However, leaker The Galox claims the S25 and S25 Plus will maintain their current megapixel and layout configurations.
Additionally, there’s a possibility that the Galaxy S25 Slim could come with an “Ultra” camera, which could mean the 200MP main lens seen in the Ultra models, though it’s unclear whether it will also include the rumored 50MP ultrawide or variable telephoto lenses.
Samsung has also announced new camera sensors, such as the 50MP ISOCELL GNJ, which could make its way into the S25 lineup. This sensor promises to improve light capture, reduce reflections, and enhance color reproduction, which would address some of the shortcomings seen in the S24 series.
Ultimately, Samsung has its work cut out to reclaim its position in the camera race, particularly with the iPhone 16 Pro leading the charge. In a recent photo shootout between the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple’s flagship emerged victorious. The Galaxy S25 Ultra will need to deliver substantial upgrades to its camera system if it hopes to compete with Apple and maintain its reputation as the top choice for mobile photography.
Samsung Galaxy S25: Battery & Charging
The Galaxy S25 series is shaping up to be a powerhouse, with expectations running high, especially in terms of performance and battery life. Powered by the new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, the S25 promises substantial gains in power efficiency. Qualcomm’s claims of a 44% improvement in CPU efficiency and a 40% reduction in GPU power consumption are compelling, suggesting that the S25 models could offer impressive battery longevity, potentially setting new records for Samsung.
Despite these impressive efficiency improvements, the battery capacity of the Galaxy S25 is likely to remain similar to the Galaxy S24. While there have been rumors about Samsung adopting stacked batteries for its flagship models, there’s no concrete evidence that this will happen with the S25. Leaks indicate that the Galaxy S25 Ultra will retain a 5,000 mAh battery, the same as its predecessor. While this could be seen as a potential limitation, the power efficiency improvements of the Snapdragon 8 Elite could help offset the need for a larger battery, leading to comparable or even better battery life.
Charging speeds remain an area where the Galaxy S25 could see substantial improvements. The Galaxy S24 series was limited to 25W wired charging across the board, with the S24 Plus and S24 Ultra supporting 45W wired charging. However, the S25 models could finally see a boost in wired charging speeds to compete with rivals like the OnePlus 12, which is capable of fully charging in just 30 minutes. This would mark a significant leap forward in charging efficiency for Samsung, enhancing the overall user experience.
Additionally, Samsung might introduce Qi2 wireless charging support for the Galaxy S25 series. Qi2, which is an open version of Apple’s MagSafe, offers improved wireless charging speeds by enabling faster 15W charging, up from the previous 7.5W. The inclusion of Qi2 could help Samsung close the gap with its competitors, offering both faster wireless charging and a more seamless experience with magnetic wireless charging accessories.
In conclusion, while the Galaxy S25 may not feature groundbreaking battery size increases, its power efficiency improvements with the Snapdragon 8 Elite and potential charging upgrades make it a highly anticipated release. If the charging speeds and wireless charging capabilities live up to expectations, Samsung could take a significant step forward in terms of overall charging convenience and performance.
Samsung Galaxy S25: Software and AI Features
The Galaxy S25 series is expected to take AI features to the next level, following the introduction of several notable Galaxy AI capabilities with the S24. Features like Instant Slow-mo, Generative Edit, and Voice Recorder Summaries proved to be practical, though some still hover between novelty and true utility. For the S25, Samsung will likely build upon this foundation with more advanced AI features, leveraging the enhanced power of the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset.
One exciting possibility is that on-device AI processing will be more prevalent. The Snapdragon 8 Elite’s power may allow for generative AI photo editing, a feature that could previously have required cloud processing. This would not only improve efficiency but also ensure user privacy by keeping data processing on the device itself, aligning with current trends toward more robust on-device AI functionalities.
While there have been no specific leaks about new Galaxy AI features for the S25, Samsung has confirmed that AI will continue to be a priority for the next-gen Galaxy device. One potential area of enhancement is Bixby, Samsung’s personal assistant, which may see integration with generative AI capabilities. This could significantly boost Bixby’s versatility, making it more intuitive and useful for users.
However, the real question is how long these new AI features will remain exclusive to the S25 series. Many of the advanced Galaxy AI functions introduced with the S24 are being rolled out to older Samsung models via software updates, leading many to wonder if the Galaxy S25’s new features will eventually be accessible to older devices as well.
In terms of safety, leaks indicate that the Galaxy S25 Ultra could incorporate Car Crash Detection, powered by a virtual composite sensor. This feature would likely add a layer of security for users, providing automatic alerts and emergency response capabilities in the event of a crash. While details are scarce, it’s another example of how Samsung is looking to integrate cutting-edge technologies into its flagship devices.
On the software side, the Galaxy S25 will run on One UI 7, based on Android 15. One UI 7, announced in October 2024 and released as a beta in December, will bring a refreshed design, adding to the overall user experience. This new version of One UI is expected to continue refining the interface, focusing on enhancing usability while incorporating new features that make the most of the S25’s hardware and AI capabilities.
Overall, while many details about the Galaxy S25’s AI features and software remain under wraps, it’s clear that Samsung is focusing on improving its AI-driven functions, security features, and overall user experience. Whether these innovations will remain exclusive to the S25 or trickle down to older models remains to be seen, but the S25 is shaping up to be a highly AI-focused flagship.
Samsung Galaxy S25: Outlook
The Galaxy S25 faces significant pressure to deliver substantial upgrades, as the Galaxy S24 already excels in processing performance and battery life. With many of the exclusive AI features from the Galaxy S24 now available on older models, the S25 will need to offer major improvements, especially in the camera and charging departments, to remain competitive. Samsung’s rumored upgrades, including a 200MP main camera and faster charging speeds, are crucial to making the S25 stand out.
To stay ahead of rivals like Apple, Samsung must leverage the power of the Snapdragon 8 Elite to enhance real-world performance, particularly in camera capabilities and charging speed. With faster charging and advanced camera sensors, the S25 can solidify its place as a flagship device and regain consumer trust.
