Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S25+: A Detailed Comparison
Choosing between the Samsung Galaxy S25 and the Galaxy S25+ can feel overwhelming, but it’s primarily a matter of size and budget. Both phones boast almost identical hardware, making the decision surprisingly straightforward. However, some subtle differences might sway your preference. Let’s delve into a detailed comparison.
Size and Design
The most significant difference is size. The Galaxy S25 offers a compact 6.2-inch display, measuring 146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2 mm and weighing 162 grams. This makes it exceptionally pocketable and easy to handle for one-handed use.
The Galaxy S25+, on the other hand, features a larger 6.7-inch display, with dimensions of 158.4 x 75.8 x 7.3 mm and a weight of 190 grams. While larger, it remains relatively manageable. Samsung doesn’t offer a smaller "Ultra" model, meaning those who prioritize compact size will need to compromise on some features.
Thankfully, both phones maintain the same high build quality. They utilize a premium "glass sandwich" construction with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both front and back, protected by an Armor Aluminum 2 frame. Both also boast identical IP68 dust and water resistance, surviving submersion in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for 30 minutes.
Display Quality
The displays on both the S25 and S25+ received significant upgrades last year, incorporating LTPO technology for adaptive refresh rates (up to 120Hz) and improved power efficiency. The S24+ also saw the return of a QHD+ resolution. This year, however, the panels largely resemble their predecessors.
While the displays are excellent, it’s disappointing that Samsung persists in using 8-bit color depth panels, lagging behind competitors who’ve adopted 10-bit and even 12-bit displays for richer color representation.
The main display difference lies in size and resolution. The S25+ sports a QHD+ (higher resolution) display, resulting in a sharper image at 513 pixels per inch (ppi), compared to the S25’s FHD+ resolution at approximately 416 ppi. The difference in sharpness is subtle in everyday use unless you look very closely.
Battery Life and Charging
As expected, the larger Galaxy S25+ boasts a larger battery – 4,900 mAh versus the S25’s 4,000 mAh. This translates to noticeably longer battery life for the S25+. Both phones offer impressive battery performance considering their size and weight, although the S25+ provides significantly more endurance.
Charging speeds also differ. The S25 supports 25W fast charging, while the S25+ supports up to 45W. This results in a substantially faster charging experience for the S25+, cutting down on charging time significantly.
Speakers
Both phones feature a similar hybrid speaker system incorporating the earpiece as a secondary speaker in addition to a bottom-firing woofer. While this configuration can result in an imbalance, Samsung has done a good job of tuning the speakers to minimize this effect.
The audio output is largely identical. Both phones offer clean sound reproduction with good vocals and high frequencies. However, bass response is limited for both devices. Both come equipped with Dolby Atmos technology with several sound profiles including; Movie, Music, Voice and Auto presets, along with a specialized Dolby Atmos for Games.
The S25+ slightly edges out the S25 in terms of loudness. While the difference is minimal, the S25+ produces marginally more volume, likely due to having more internal space to optimize sound chamber resonance.
Performance and Software
Both the S25 and S25+ use the same powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, eliminating the regional variations seen in previous generations (where different regions might receive either a Qualcomm or Exynos chip). This is a higher-clocked version that boosts the maximum speed of the two main CPU cores.
Both phones now share the same 12GB of RAM, improving upon the 8GB RAM offering present on the previous S24 base model. The storage option is the main difference here. The S25 boasts a 128GB base storage, whereas the S25+ starts with 256GB of onboard storage. Neither offers expandable storage.
One notable distinction is the inclusion of Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology in the S25+, absent in the standard S25 model. The software experience is identical, with both phones running the same version of One UI, featuring the latest Galaxy AI features. Moreover, both offer Samsung’s commitment of seven major Android OS updates, assuring longer software support.
Benchmark Performance
As expected, both phones deliver exceptional performance in benchmarks, thanks to the top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. Any performance variations observed during testing likely stem from normal run-to-run deviations.
The S25+ does show a marginal advantage in sustained performance, probably attributable to better thermal management due to its larger size which allows for more efficient heat dissipation.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy S25 and S25+ share the same camera hardware, directly inherited from the S24 and S24+ models. Improvements stemming from the new image signal processor (ISP) of the Snapdragon 8 Elite are realized on both models. While not matching the extensive capabilities of the Ultra models, both phones offer a versatile camera setup comprising a 50MP main lens, a 10MP 3x telephoto lens (both with optical image stabilization), and a 12MP ultrawide lens. The ultrawide lens lacks autofocus, a feature still reserved for the Ultra models.
The selfie camera is identical, with autofocus, taking crisp photos and videos. Both model utilize similar sophisticated video capture capabilities.
Image and Video Quality
The main camera produces crisp 12MP images, with adequate detail, ample dynamic range, and vibrant color reproduction. Image processing techniques by Samsung lead to good results overall, but image sharpness can be improved, particularly in indoor environments or low-light situations. Contrast is well-handled, although some challenging scenes can appear a little flat.
The 2x zoomed images are good, exhibiting a slight increase in grain and softness compared to the 1x shots. The 3x telephoto photos are commendable, delivering considerable detail with excellent color accuracy. Processing techniques appear near lossless. The ultrawide camera performs fairly well but lacks comparable sharpness to superior cameras, though it offers surprisingly good dynamic range and color matching to the other lenses.
In low-light conditions, both phones employ automatic and manual night modes. The automatic night mode functions effectively, but sometimes manual adjustments yield marginally superior results. Night photos deliver balanced highlight retention but may lack brightness in the shadows. Noise is present, and color rendition is relatively good. Low-light performance from the 3x telephoto camera was superior. The ultrawide struggled in low-light conditions.
Video recording in 4K resolution from both the primary lenses delivers crisp, sharp footage with favorable dynamic range and good color reproduction. The 2x digital zoom performed exceptionally well, with near-lossless 4K video. The telephoto captures highly detailed videos. 4K video from the ultrawide lens also performed remarkably well, presenting good colors well matched to the other cameras. The main and 3x telephoto cameras performed admirably in low-light conditions, while the ultrawide camera struggled to consistently capture pleasing results with reduced detail and dynamic range.
Verdict
The Galaxy S25 and S25+ are remarkably similar, with the most apparent differences being size and price, alongside a few niche features such as UWB on the S25+.
The S25+ offers a more premium experience with a larger, higher-resolution display, faster charging, superior battery life, slightly louder speakers, and UWB support. However, if these extra features are not significant to you, the smaller, more affordable S25 provides an excellent alternative.
Reasons to Choose the Samsung Galaxy S25:
- Smaller size and easier one-handed use
- Lower price
Reasons to Choose the Samsung Galaxy S25+:
- Larger display with higher QHD+ resolution
- Larger battery and improved battery life
- Faster charging speeds
- Slightly louder speakers
- Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Ultimately, the ideal choice depends on individual priorities and budget.
