In the future later with Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely – I am slowly turning into an AI cellphone believer

Samsung’s Massive Unhealthy Galaxy cellphone has arrived, and it is nearly the whole lot I anticipated. The Galaxy S25 Extremely, which begins on the identical daring worth as final yr, $1,299, stays the corporate’s do-everything handset, with a extra sturdy show, an upgraded digital camera system with some helpful enhancing methods, and the most recent Qualcomm processor conserving issues working. Oh, and sure, AI is the whole lot, all over the place, all of sudden.

Additionally: Samsung Unpacked 2025: 5 largest bulletins, together with S25 Edge and AR glasses

Whereas final yr’s Galaxy S24 collection ushered in Samsung’s Galaxy AI period, this yr feels extra like the corporate cementing itself because the chief within the house, besting Apple and even Google (for now) on options and capabilities. In fact, how ornamental that honor is in the end is determined by how invested you might be in utilizing AI.

I’ve spent the previous day and a half testing the S25 Extremely and wasn’t too stunned to search out myself each fascinated and bored. In any case, that is now Samsung’s fifth iteration of the S-series Extremely mannequin, and the adjustments year-over-year have been modest, to be beneficiant. However for those who’re at the moment utilizing a three- to four-year-old handset and contemplating an improve, take this first-hand testimonial — I am not calling it a full evaluation but — to coronary heart. (And for those who’re an fanatic, it’s going to matter simply as a lot to you.)

The Galaxy S Extremely has at all times been a big-phone, two-handed affair, and that holds this yr. Once I first unboxed the S25 Extremely, it felt just like the fanciest calculator ever (and I imply that in a pleasant manner), with its spherical edges and tall stature. Coming from the OnePlus 13 I lately reviewed — which, on paper, is comparatively related in dimension — the S25 Extremely had a bolder and extra hanging presence.

Fortuitously, the gadget shouldn’t be as top-heavy as I keep in mind earlier fashions being, though Samsung encased the 4 rear cameras with thicker rings this time round. The truth is, the S25 Extremely is lighter than its predecessor by 16 grams, incomes it the title of the thinnest Galaxy S Extremely ever. You will seemingly hear extra concerning the “thinnification” of telephones later this yr.

Additionally: I went hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy S25 – and the AI options have been surprisingly polished

The opposite notable design improve with the S25 Extremely is the Corning Gorilla Armor 2 layered over the entrance show. It does not take away from the anti-reflection floor remedy that made headlines on final yr’s S24 Extremely, but guarantees improved drop safety and scratch resistance. I consider it. My S24 Extremely final yr had quite a few micro scratches after simply days of testing, whereas my S25 Extremely evaluation unit has remained pristine to this point.

Now if solely Samsung might convey again the glory days of psychedelic Aura Glow finishes, as a result of these S25 Extremely colours are uninspiring. Maybe it is the character of titanium finishes or the tough actuality that customers usually tend to go for safer colours with black, white, and silver hues than poppy and brilliant. Regardless, you may need to slap on a case if you wish to give your S25 Extremely even a contact of persona.

Underneath the hood is a brand new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, the identical processor powering competing Android telephones just like the OnePlus 13 and Honor Magic 7 Professional. Probably the most notable good thing about the chipset comes within the type of AI experiences — particularly, a 40% enhance in NPU efficiency in comparison with final yr’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

Additionally: Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely vs. iPhone 16 Professional Max: We examined each, and the winner shouldn’t be so apparent

In layman’s phrases, on-device AI options ought to take up much less bandwidth and energy to function whereas additionally functioning rapidly. I noticed the ends in particular person, placebo impact or not, as my S25 Extremely can swiftly take away topics (together with their shadows) from the background of pictures by way of Generative Edit and pull up Gemini search ends in a matter of seconds.

You may as well chalk up the efficiency to the improved Gemini app, which might now be fired up with a protracted press of the facility button. Beforehand, Samsung telephones have been restricted to Bixby — or Google Assistant, for those who made some sketchy, backend modifications — so this modification is a breath of contemporary air. It makes transitioning from every other Android cellphone that makes use of Gemini because the default assistant rather more burdenless.

Talking of which, the brand new Gemini-Bixby hybrid AI agent, as Samsung confusingly places it, can deal with natural-sounding, conversational chains of actions, equivalent to trying up the upcoming schedule of your favourite sports activities workforce and including the date(s) to your calendar. Whereas the agent-like functionality primarily works throughout Google and Samsung apps, some third-party providers like Spotify are supported, too. 

Additionally: I could lastly ditch my Google Pixel for a Samsung Galaxy cellphone in 2025. Here is why

The essential factor is figuring out how one can phrase your instructions. For instance, after I requested the AI agent to create a Spotify playlist for street journeys and ship it to my spouse, it responded that it was unable to take action. When, as an alternative, I requested it to discover songs that have been good for street journeys, it curated the checklist and drafted a modifiable textual content message. Girls and gents, AI.

Contemplating final yr’s S24 collection launched Google’s Circle to Search function, and this yr’s S25 collection is doing the identical for the improved Gemini-Bixby expertise, it would not be farfetched to say that Samsung, not Google, makes one of the best AI cellphone available on the market proper now. 

Another new Galaxy AI instruments like AI Choose and Now Temporary solely reinforce that assertion, with the previous being an adaptive, context-aware display screen choice software, and the latter providing you with every day summaries of the climate, calendar occasions, and information. 

Additionally: Samsung home equipment are about to get smarter and wiser – due to AI

I simply want Now Temporary confirmed me extra than simply political information; even with my matter preferences inside my Samsung Information app set to expertise and sports activities, the app nonetheless wakes me up with an “Uplifting Morning Prep” Spotify playlist and the most recent scoop on the US president signing govt orders.

One of many key causes to purchase a Galaxy Extremely cellphone continues to be the digital camera, although Samsung hasn’t improved the specs a lot this yr — at the least on paper. The one {hardware} change is the 50-megapixel ultrawide lens (up from 12MP), which, from my preliminary photographs, yields higher element and vividness, particularly when capturing macro pictures. The remainder of the lenses, such because the 200MP broad, 50MP 5x telephoto, and 10MP 3x telephoto, are similar to final yr’s S24 Extremely. 

Additionally: The very best Android telephones to purchase in 2025

There is a greater deal with the software program facet of issues, with Samsung introducing useful photograph and video options like 10-bit HDR video recording by default to seize a wider dynamic vary, a brand new Audio Eraser function that permits you to regulate the volumes of varied frequencies (categorized as audio topics like voices, wind, and noises), and the power to file in Galaxy Log mode. 

The latter function means that you can higher spot overexposed areas and regulate the dynamic vary as you are recording movies, whereas additionally making use of LUTs in submit for higher colour and light-weight management. I will be testing the taking pictures mode extra within the coming days.

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation (for now)

My first full day of testing the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely confirms a number of issues for me. Whereas most elements of the cellphone, equivalent to the colourful, glare-free show and flexibility throughout the cameras and AI options, are simple to understand, the upgrades this yr really feel iterative and secure. 

In methods, Samsung has even taken a number of steps again, with the S Pen stylus not supporting Bluetooth controls and gestures, and the corporate choosing Qi2-ready instances as an alternative of embedding the precise expertise inside its telephones.

It is comprehensible that early adopters and tech fans may really feel underwhelmed by the S25 Extremely. However after I think about customers who’re coming from an S21 collection, Pixel 6 or 7, and even an older iPhone, Samsung’s new flagship handset checks nearly each field you’ll be able to consider. And it’s possible you’ll even rating a beneficiant trade-in deal by means of your native provider or retailer.