David Bridges
Samsung kicked off its 2025 Unpacked event with the highly anticipated launch of the Galaxy S25 series. While the specifications of these devices haven’t dramatically changed, Samsung has significantly enhanced the integration of artificial intelligence into their functionality. This new generation of smartphones is designed to be more context-aware and predictive, allowing users to experience improved efficiency and responsiveness, all while leveraging the upgraded hardware that is only slightly better than its predecessor.
Discover the Cutting-Edge Features of the Galaxy S25 Ultra
The Galaxy S25 Ultra stands out as the flagship model in this new lineup, boasting a large 6.9-inch display and a sleek, rounded edge designed for optimal grip and comfort. Samsung proudly claims that this is the “slimmest, lightest, and most durable Galaxy Ultra device ever,” featuring a robust titanium body paired with Corning’s Gorilla Armor 2, which offers advanced drop protection and excellent scratch resistance.
In a significant upgrade compared to its smaller counterparts, the Ultra model now features a 50MP ultrawide camera, a substantial enhancement from last year’s 12MP lens. This upgrade allows for capturing stunning landscapes and group shots with exceptional clarity and detail.
Powered by a customized version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, the S25 Ultra and its siblings excel at processing various AI-driven features directly on the device. This on-device processing not only enhances performance but also ensures better privacy for user data, making the experience more secure.
Retaining the beloved S Pen, which harks back to the Galaxy Note series, the S25 Ultra has seen some functional changes. The Air Commands feature has been removed due to low usage rates—less than one percent of S Pen users utilized it. The adjustments made have allowed Samsung to reduce the overall weight of the device while also enhancing the durability of the S Pen itself, making it more robust for everyday use.
Engadget’s Sam Rutherford had the opportunity to test the Galaxy S25 Ultra early and remarked that it appears to be a solid phone. He noted that Samsung’s AI suite is now more cohesive and user-friendly, but he also expressed that the company could enhance the experience further for its premium device.
With 12GB of RAM, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is available in storage configurations of 256GB, 512GB, and a remarkable 1TB. Starting at $1,300, it remains a significant investment for anyone looking to own one of the most advanced smartphones on the market.
Explore the Versatile Galaxy S25 and S25+
The Galaxy S25 and S25+ models have received a memory upgrade, now featuring 12GB of RAM, matching the Ultra variant. This increase works in tandem with the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, enhancing the phone’s ability to manage numerous AI functionalities seamlessly.
The core hardware specifications of the S25 and S25+ remain largely unchanged from their predecessors, the S24 and S24+. They continue to offer 6.2-inch and 6.7-inch displays, respectively. However, Samsung has introduced its new ProScaler AI feature, which can upscale images in real-time, potentially enhancing the viewing quality by an impressive 40 percent, thus making up for the similarities in hardware.
Engadget’s Mat Smith had a hands-on experience with the Galaxy S25 and S25+ and praised their “premium and solidly built” designs, highlighting the “vivid, bright and gorgeous” displays. Nonetheless, he expressed some skepticism regarding the heavy focus on AI features. He noted that Samsung has amassed a considerable suite of artificial intelligence applications and tools over the years, with some truly impressive capabilities like live translation and annotation, while others—especially generative AI features—may not offer enough practical use to justify regular engagement.
Storage options remain consistent with the S24 series, offering 128GB or 256GB for the Galaxy S25 and 256GB or 512GB for the S25+. Pricing has also remained stable, with the S25 starting at $800 and the S25+ available for $1,000 and up.
Unlock the Power of AI with Galaxy S25 Series
With minimal hardware upgrades this generation, Samsung is heavily emphasizing artificial intelligence features to entice consumers to invest in the latest models. The new One UI 7, layered over Android 15, introduces what Samsung refers to as an “AI-integrated operating system.” This innovative platform aims to deliver a more personalized and contextually aware AI experience, moving beyond a collection of isolated tools.
AI is integral to the camera capabilities of the Galaxy S25 series, with the Qualcomm chip enhancing the devices’ ability to assess and reduce noise, resulting in improved performance in low-light conditions. Additionally, the Audio Eraser feature utilizes AI to eliminate disruptive background noises from videos, such as wind or unintended conversations, ensuring clear audio quality.
Samsung has consolidated its new suite of on-device AI features into what it calls the Personal Data Engine. This collection of multimodal machine learning agents—spanning text, images, video, and audio—enables functionalities like AI Select. This upgraded version of the classic Smart Select tool intelligently scans your screen and proposes context-aware actions, such as creating a GIF from a YouTube video you are currently viewing.
One of the standout features is the AI-powered Now Bar, which serves as Samsung’s response to Apple’s Dynamic Island. This innovative, pill-shaped bar sits at the bottom of the lock screen and just below the digital clock when the device is unlocked. It proactively generates reminders based on your context. Within the Now Bar, the Now Brief feature provides customized morning, midday, and evening summaries of information tailored to your needs.
Additionally, Samsung has revamped its Sketch to Image tool, now named Drawing Assist, which is more refined and precise. This upgraded feature also allows users to import existing images for their prompts. Furthermore, Google’s Circle to Search has been enhanced, enabling recognition of phone numbers, emails, and URLs, facilitating instant actions with a simple tap.
Introducing the Sleek and Innovative Galaxy S25 Edge
Samsung has kept the excitement alive with a brief teaser of the highly anticipated Galaxy S25 Edge, which is rumored to be a sleek and slim addition to the Galaxy lineup. During the Unpacked event, viewers were given a tantalizing glimpse of the device, showcasing its advanced vapor chamber, cameras, and metallic frame, although the full phone was not revealed. Specific details regarding its price and release date remain elusive, but sources suggest it will share many components with the S25 Ultra while being offered at a lower price point.
Revolutionary Updates to Samsung Wallet for Enhanced User Experience
Samsung has introduced two innovative features to enhance the functionality of Samsung Wallet: Instant Installment and Tap to Transfer.
The Instant Installment feature allows users to convert their purchases into manageable payment plans, a concept akin to “buy now, pay later.” This service operates entirely on the device, supporting transactions made with Visa and Mastercard, providing a seamless payment experience.
Engadget’s Cherlynn Low received insights from Samsung about this service, clarifying that Samsung is not transitioning into a credit provider, but rather facilitating a more convenient purchasing experience. This service is touted as the first offline payment plan experience, making it a novel addition to the Samsung Wallet ecosystem.
In parallel, the Tap to Transfer feature offers a peer-to-peer payment solution, directly competing with Apple’s Tap to Cash. This feature requires users to simply bump their phones together to initiate a payment transfer, making it incredibly user-friendly. Notably, it is
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