What we know so far
Like many previous Galaxy flagships, the Galaxy S25 models are expected to feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip in the US, while most international markets will likely get Samsung’s own Exynos chips. However, some reports suggest that Samsung might consider using MediaTek Dimensity chips as well, citing rising costs for the Snapdragon lineup.
These two phones will boast the same design language, which has been the case with most pairs from previous years. New here could be a potential design refresh that will reportedly aim to make the phones feel “fresh”. Another rumor relates to the design and claims that the Galaxy S25 might grow from 6.2 to 6.3 inches, potentially following the footsteps of the iPhone 16.
Rumor has it that Samsung might be moving away from its ISOCELL sensors in favor of Sony’s. If this switch happens, we could see a noticeable improvement in image quality.
The battery capacity is likely to remain the same as the previous model, but there’s hope that the slow wired charging speeds will improve. Currently, they max out at 25W, which is behind many other Android flagships.
When it comes to pricing, it is still too soon to nail down any specifics, but we don’t expect any major price hikes. The two devices are likely to be unveiled in January, with a release following in late January or early February.
Galaxy S25 release date
The Galaxy S25 series will most probably be announced in January or February 2025. Unveiling its flagship phones so early has slowly become a tradition for Samsung, so we are pretty certain the next Samsung flagships will be announced then.
After a Galaxy flagship lineup is announced, there is usually around ten days to two weeks until it hits the market. What this means for the Galaxy S25? The phone will possibly be released in late January/early February, falling in line with previous Galaxy launches.
| Device lineup | Announcement | Market release |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S25 | January 2025* | January/February 2025* |
| Galaxy S24 | January 17, 2024 | January 31, 2024 |
| Galaxy S23 | February 1, 2023 | February 17, 2023 |
| Galaxy S22 | February 7, 2022 | February 25, 2023 |
| Galaxy S21 | January 14, 2021 | January 29, 2021 |
| Galaxy S20 | February 11, 2020 | March 6, 2020 |
* – probable dates
Galaxy S25 price and deals
It is still too early for any pricing rumors to be taken seriously.
While there is not much info on the Galaxy S25‘s price yet, it is unlikely that Samsung will make its next flagship models significantly more expensive (or cheaper) than its current lineup. So, it is a safe bet that the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus will be priced similarly to their predecessors.
| Model | Price |
|---|---|
| Galaxy S25 Plus | $999 (256 GB), $1119 (512GB)* |
| Galaxy S25 | $799 (128 GB), $859 (256GB)* |
| Galaxy S24 Plus | $999 (256 GB), $1119 (512GB) |
| Galaxy S24 | $799 (128 GB), $859 (256GB) |
| Galaxy S23 Plus | $999 (256 GB), $1119 (512GB) |
| Galaxy S23 | $799 (128 GB), $859 (256GB) |
* – anticipated prices
- Samsung: The company itself usually offers some of the best deals on Galaxy phones. For example, you can trade in your old device and get up to $600 in credit. And if you don’t have a device to trade in, no worries – Samsung often has other discounts, too. For example, right now, you can get $80 off the Galaxy S24 without a trade-in. Plus, there are various payment plans available if you prefer not to go for a one-time payment option.
- Verizon: The Galaxy S24 was – and still is – available for $0 upfront if you qualify. Monthly payments vary depending on the initial down payment and the plan you choose. With Verizon, the Galaxy S24 was also available with a trade-in option, letting you save up to $800. In fact, you could get $800 off with any Samsung smartphone trade-in – any model, any condition – as long as you add a new line on select Unlimited plans.
- T-mobile: T-Mobile’s offers are pretty similar. You have several ways to save on the current model, including trade-in options that can give you up to $800 off your purchase. If you qualify for the full amount, that means you can get the new device free – or almost free – since you’ll need to choose a two-year plan like Go5G Plus or Go5G Next. Alternatively, you can save up to $200 on any available plan.
- AT&T: The carrier offers even more in trade-in credit, with up to $1,000 off for the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus. The minimum trade-in value is $95. AT&T also has great deals if you buy through a qualifying installment plan with an eligible AT&T Unlimited plan, including getting the phone for as low as $10.99 a month.
Galaxy S25 camera
As it’s simply too early to know anything credible about the Galaxy S25 models, most of what we know about the lineup is mostly based on rumors, some of which should be taken with more salt than usual.
At this point, we don’t expect neither the Galaxy S25 Plus nor the Galaxy S25 to change their rear camera setups. Thus, we expect a wide-camera, a ultra-wide, and a telephoto with 3X optical zoom to make the rounds.
As is tradition, Galaxy flagship releases usually introduce a ton of software and image-processing upgrades that are equal part responsible for any improved image quality enhancements. It’s a certainty that such improvements wouldn’t miss the Galaxy S25 Plus or Galaxy S25 models.
Galaxy S25 storage
Galaxy S25 Plus storage capacity:
Galaxy S25 storage capacity:
Galaxy S25 design
However, recently, a new leak gave us a glimpse of renders for the Galaxy S25, suggesting that Samsung might be leaning toward a more subtle touch-up. The renders show a design that feels familiar yet has some eye-catching enhancements. The cameras now feature sleek rings, reminiscent of the Z Fold 6, and the bezels around the display look even slimmer.
Renders showing how Galaxy S25 might look like.
Newly leaked renders of Galaxy S25 Plus show how the smartphone might look like.
Another possible upgrade for the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus could be the new Gorilla Glass Armor that eliminates most display reflections and boosts display legibility. This design quirk is currently making the rounds on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, so there is a chance that it could trickle down to the Galaxy S25/Galaxy S25 Plus.
- Moon Night Blue
- Silver Shadow
- Sparkling Blue
- Sparkling Green
Meanwhile, the Galaxy S25 Plus, its larger sibling, is rumored to have an additional color, launching in:
- Midnight Black
- Moon Night Blue
- Silver Shadow
- Sparkling Blue
- Sparkling Green
For a complete rundown of the potential color options, be sure to check out our Galaxy S25 colors article.
Galaxy S25 display
As per the redesign rumors, the Galaxy S25 display could grow to 6.3 inches, a 0.1-inch bump in comparison with the current Galaxy flagship. No such change is currently expected for the Galaxy S25 Plus, so it could remain at 6.7 inches.
Aside from size, the Galaxy S25 Plus and the Galaxy S25 will certainly come with Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays. Both phones will offer super-smooth user experience, dynamically switching between 1 and 120Hz. The Galaxy S25 Plus will retain its QHD+ resolution, while the Galaxy S25 could remain a FHD+ phone. We suppose we might see higher maximum brightness on both devices.
Galaxy S25 battery
However, fresh new rumor claims that Samsung might utilize a so-called Battery AI that might extend battery life by throttling the CPU/GPU, as well as limit the 5G modem’s capabilities. It could also be more aggressive in killing background tasks deemed unnecessary. As Samsung is further pushing Galaxy AI, it only makes sense that such a feature could make it to the Galaxy S25 range.
While the Galaxy S25 Plus could boast 45W wired fast charging, matching what we expect of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, it is the smaller Galaxy S25 that could use a charging speed upgrade. The previous model supports 25W charging, which is slow compared to other phones on the market.
Galaxy S25 features and software
Samsung is all-in on generative AI, and we can only imagine that this will deepen with the Galaxy S25 series. The potential for generative AI is enormous, thus we can’t wait to see what features could make it to the Galaxy S25 models.
Galaxy S25 hardware and expected specs
Meanwhile, the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip (don’t let the new name fool you, this chipset is the successor to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3) adopts Qualcomm’s new CPU cores, replacing ARM’s Cortex cores. According to Qualcomm, the Snapdragon 8 Elite offers 45% increase in both single-core and multi-core performance and a whopping 62% improvement in web browsing.
Should I wait for the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus?
- You should wait for the Galaxy S25 if you haven’t upgraded in a while and could see yourself being interested in the upcoming Galaxy S25 lineup. If you’re using an older Galaxy phone, like a Galaxy S20 or a Galaxy S21, next year’s Galaxy S25 could be the perfect upgrade for you.
- You should not wait for the Galaxy S25 if you’ve recently upgraded your phone or are using a relatively modern device. Anyone coming from a Galaxy S23 or a Galaxy S24 probably shouldn’t consider upgrading, but of course, this could change depending on the Galaxy S25‘s merits.
