Mobile Phones
Samsung Galaxy S25 review: A small phone that delivers big
In the last few years, I have used a variety of smartphones. However, my heart has remained with devices that are compact, easy on the hands, and comfortably slip into my pockets. Perhaps this could be the reason I have developed an odd fixation for 3.5-inch smartphones, namely the Sony Xperia Go and the maiden iPhone. More than features and build quality, I long for these tiny smartphones each time I am accosted with a bigger smartphone, which in 2025, is as ubiquitous as a car.
Samsung recently launched its flagship lineup, the Galaxy S25 series, and I have been using the compact and slinky Galaxy S25 baseline phone. At 6.2 inches, the S25 is substantially bigger than its ancestors, but there is something about this glossy slab of technological wonder that makes me root for it.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 offers flagship performance in a pocket-friendly size. (Photo: Bijin Jose/The Indian Express)I have never used a Samsung Galaxy flagship smartphone before nor have I ever had the proclivity to invest in Samsung devices. Regardless, I have time and again recommended these to my friends and family. This is the first time that I am using a Samsung Galaxy device, and I am more than happy to have the S25 as my debut device in the Samsung ecosystem. I have been using the device for the last two weeks, and here is my experience.
Initial thoughts
Right from the packaging, minimalism spills over to the S25. At first glance, I found the smartphone to be refreshingly lightweight and compact. Definitely, a welcome change from the bulky smartphones that have clogged our newsfeeds and billboards. The display is flanked by super-thin bezels, making the 6.2-inch not as big as most smartphone brands intended it to be. The iPhonesque flat edges offer a comfortable grip.
The device does not come with a screen guard slapped on it, and going by pop wisdom, it is advisable to grab one the moment you get the device. Coming to the frame, it is made of aluminium, and it screams premium. It sports Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection on the front and the back; this makes it drop and scratch resistant. But, you should definitely get a screen guard. The Samsung Galaxy S25 comes in Navy, Icy Blue, Silver Shadow, and Mint colourways. For this review, I got the Icy Blue shade, and I am smitten as the pastel blue is subtle yet shiny.
With its compact 6.2-inch display and slim bezels, the Galaxy S25 feels refreshingly lightweight and comfortable to hold. (Photo: Bijin Jose/The Indian Express)Samsung has not really gone all the way out with a design overhaul; however, one could feel the refinements. Simply put, with the Galaxy S25, there is no dramatic departure from the aesthetics of the S24; however, there are minor tweaks that make the phone look sleeker. It is about 0.4 mm thinner than its predecessor. I feel the changes are negligible; however, they translate into a more comfortable grip. I have been using the device without a case, carefree, and there are no visible scratches. The compact size of the S25 leaves ample room in your pockets, and each time I yank it out, it is as good as new. This is precisely because the dash of matte finish on the back curbs fingerprints. The form factor is refreshing, and I can write a 1000-word poem about the comfort it evokes.
The flat edges and matte finish on the back provide a secure grip while resisting fingerprints. Pictured here is the S25 against the iPhone 13 Pro. (Photo: Bijin Jose/The Indian Express)
A feast for the eyes
One of the standout features of the Samsung Galaxy S25 is its expansive LTPO OLED display with 1080p resolution and 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Samsung has retained the display specs from the S24, with bare minimum improvements in brightness. Regardless, it delivers sharp, vibrant visuals and also comes with HDR10+ support. I have been watching movies, shows, and YouTube videos on the S25, and the display offered crisp visuals that are rich in detail.
The Galaxy S25 boasts an impressive peak brightness of 2,600 nits, ensuring clear visibility even under direct sunlight. (Photo: Bijin Jose/The Indian Express)My eyes, accustomed to the muted illumination of the good old iPhone 13, found the S25 display dazzling. However, brightness is a pain point; Samsung offers an array of settings for more comfortable viewing. Eye comfort shield reduces strain on eyes as it limits blue light and offers warmer colours, something that would be helpful for night reading. You can also enable the Adaptive option to allow the S25 to automatically adjust the brightness and tones according to the time of the day. Besides, adaptive refresh rate not only conserves energy but also renders a comfortable viewing experience. The device also features stereo speakers, which are adequate; however, they may struggle in noisy environments.
Photography
The S25 retains the same camera hardware as the S24—a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens. The new S25, however, comes with a ProVisual Engine with enhanced image processing, enhanced dynamic range, and sharper details. I found the 50MP main camera output to be vibrant and detailed. While the colours were punchy, they didn’t seem artificial; the night pictures were low on noise and were high on contrast.
The telephoto lens handles zoom shots well during the day, while the 12MP ultrawide gives varied results each time. The device also lets you shoot 4K and 8K videos. Daytime video footage was sharp and detailed with outstanding stabilisation, and nighttime performance was decent.
Performance and software
The Galaxy S25 comes with Qualcomm’s latest chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, and also features 12GB of RAM, similar to the S25 Plus and S25 Ultra. The RAM upgrade and the latest chipset are an impressive combination, as the device feels like a breath of fresh air. The latest chipset ensures a super smooth performance on One UI 7. Gamers are likely to be charmed by this device as it offers a fluid experience even at 60 FPS and high graphic settings. Besides, the gaming mode is more convenient with features like touch boosters, screenshot capture, and auto brightness settings.
Playing Asphalt legends. (Photo: Bijin Jose/The Indian Express)
I played games like BGMI, Asphalt Legends, Zombie Apocalypse, and a bit of Genshin Impact. While playing, the phone offers a breezy experience, but when downloading these games, the device got a tad bit warmer. However, it remained pleasantly warm during gameplay, which is barely noticeable. The S25 comes in 256GB and 512GB storage options. I recommend heavy users opt for the 512GB variant. On the software front, I feel One UI 7 is a big leap as it opens up a plethora of customisations. Some features, like the split notification shade, which divides the top part of the screen into two invisible zones, are great for single-hand use.
The S25 features a 4000 mAh battery with no significant improvements from the S24. However, the smartphone lasted for more than a day based on my usage, which was mainly taking calls, checking emails, and social media, etc.
AI features
The S25 has some cool AI features that can make day-to-day life easier. The Galaxy S25 comes with Now Bar, Now Brief, Gemini, an improved Circle to Search, AI select, and a slew of generative AI features in Gallery. Now Bar offers contextual updates from apps and shows information about events, music you are listening to, flight timings, etc. On the other hand, Now Brief offers a snapshot of your day, such as weather, reminders, calendar, and health information. Pressing and holding the power button lets you fire up Gemini, your AI assistant that lets you ask anything. I had a great time using the Circle to search; be it looking up information from web pages or searching for objects via camera, this feature is a handy tool.
Summarising text from web using AI Select. (Photo: Bijin Jose/The Indian Express)
The AI select tool is a thoughtful addition, as it instantly lets you summarise text, write with AI, and look up information on just about anything seen on your screen. When it comes to the gallery, the object eraser is a great tool if you wish to edit a photobomber or any other unwanted object in your pictures.
The AI object eraser at play. (Photo: Bijin Jose/The Indian Express)
One can also use the audio eraser feature to switch off unwanted noise in videos or even. The caveat here is that most of these features would require an uninterrupted internet connection.
Verdict:
The Samsung Galaxy S25 is a solid, compact flagship with something for every user. Even though the battery life could have been better, the S25 gets almost everything right. If you are among those who adore the compact form factor or are a fan of the Samsung ecosystem, this is a worthy investment. Samsung has promised security updates for seven years, making the S25 a device that could last you for years.
Source: Samsung Galaxy S25 review: A small phone that delivers big
