Starting at $799.99
Rating 4.5 / 5
Alright, I’ll admit it—I’m late to the Galaxy S25 Plus party. While everyone else has been snapping photos, testing battery endurance, and debating whether the rounded corners are “sophisticated” or just “curvy,” I’ve been sitting quietly on the sidelines. But hey, better late than never, right? So here I am, finally adding my two cents to the growing pile of reviews, thanks to a review unit from AT&T. Think of this as the post-credits scene of S25 Plus reviews: not essential, but (hopefully) worth sticking around for.
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Plus is here, and while it might not have the Ultra’s over-the-top bells and whistles, it’s quietly making a case for being the real MVP of the lineup. With its sleek rounded corners, impressive camera tech, marathon battery life, and the pièce de résistance—OneUI 7—it’s a phone that doesn’t need to shout to be heard. Let’s dive into why this “middle child” might be the favorite.
Design: Rounded Corners and Refined Elegance
First impressions matter, and the Galaxy S25 Plus nails it with its rounded corner aesthetic. It’s a subtle but significant design choice that makes the phone feel more comfortable in hand compared to the boxier competition. The aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 sandwich give it a premium feel, while the matte finish on the back adds a touch of sophistication. It’s not a radical departure from its predecessor, but hey, if it ain’t broke, why fix it?
Camera: Processing Powerhouse
The camera setup on the S25 Plus is a testament to Samsung’s mastery of computational photography. The 50MP main sensor delivers sharp, vibrant images, while the AI-powered processing ensures that even your most mundane shots look Instagram-worthy. Low-light performance is stellar, thanks to improved noise reduction algorithms, and the 8K video recording is a nice flex for those who want to future-proof their memories. Sure, it doesn’t have the Ultra’s periscope zoom, but for most users, the S25 Plus’s camera is more than enough.
The camera on the Galaxy S25 Plus is more than just a lens—it’s a whole experience, thanks to Samsung’s thoughtful updates. One of the standout features is the redesigned Gallery app, which now feels more intuitive and user-friendly. Searching for photos is a breeze with conversational search terms, and the app’s AI-powered organization ensures your memories are always easy to find.
Another nifty addition is the hold-to-slo-mo feature, which lets you seamlessly switch to slow-motion recording by simply holding down the shutter button. It’s perfect for capturing those dramatic moments without fumbling through settings.
As for the photos themselves, Samsung has taken a more refined approach with its new camera processing technology, opting for muted tones that feel natural and cinematic. Gone are the days of overly saturated colors—this new processing style delivers a more realistic and sophisticated aesthetic, making your shots look like they belong in a high-end photo book.
These updates, combined with the already impressive hardware, make the S25 Plus’s camera a versatile tool for both casual snaps and creative projects. Let me know if you’d like to explore any other features!
Battery Life: A Marathon Runner
Battery anxiety? Not with the S25 Plus. This phone is a marathon runner, easily lasting a full day of heavy use and then some. The 4,800mAh battery, combined with Samsung’s efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, ensures you’re not scrambling for a charger halfway through the day. And when you do need to juice up, the 45W fast charging has your back.
When I first got my Galaxy S24 Plus, I thought I had met my match—a phone that could keep up with my endless scrolling, impromptu gaming sessions, and my penchant for doom-scrolling the news at 1 a.m. Its battery life was solid, but by the time I crawled into bed, it was always begging for a recharge, clinging to the last 5% like a lifeline.
Enter the Galaxy S25 Plus. I was skeptical when I heard it would have better battery life. Better? How much better? Would I notice? The answer? A surprising yes. Somehow, it feels like Samsung sprinkled a little extra stamina dust into this phone. On the same relentless routine—scrolling, swiping, tapping, streaming—it ended the day hovering around 15%. Not a jaw-dropping leap, but that extra 10% has made all the difference.
It’s like having a friend who drives you home from a party and stops by a drive-thru because they know you’re going to want fries. The S25 Plus doesn’t just finish the day strong—it gives you a little extra cushion to feel more comfortable about your “just one more episode” bad habits. Trust me, my bedtime regrets are now fueled by a slightly fuller battery. Thanks, Samsung.
OneUI 7: Android, But Better
Now, let’s talk about the star of the show—OneUI 7. Samsung has taken Android 15 and turned it into a polished, intuitive experience that even Google’s own Pixel Pro 9 XL struggles to match. The dynamic themes, split quick settings panel, and enhanced AI features make navigating the phone a breeze. The new lock screen editor and vertical app drawer are small but meaningful updates that show Samsung is paying attention to the details. And let’s not forget the on-device AI that powers everything from image enhancement to live call transcription—it’s fast, private, and genuinely useful.
You know that moment when you’re fumbling to open an app to identify the absolute banger playing in the background, and by the time you finally manage to, the song’s over? Yeah, that was my eternal struggle with Shazam on Android. Don’t get me wrong—Shazam has its moments—but its slapstick-style interface had me feeling like I was auditioning for a comedy of errors every time I needed to catch a tune. Enter Samsung’s hold-to-search music feature on OneUI 7, and suddenly, my song-identification game leveled up.
Now, I don’t have to deal with the drama of unlocking my phone, locating the app, and hoping it’s quick enough to catch the chorus. With Samsung’s feature, I just hold down the search icon, and voilà—music recognition magic. It’s quick, it’s seamless, and it feels like it was made by someone who actually understands that life moves too fast for extra steps. Thanks to this streamlined brilliance, I’ve been identifying way more songs than I ever did before, from catchy jingles in ads to obscure lo-fi beats in coffee shops. My YouTube Music playlists are thriving, and frankly, I’m becoming that person who says, “Oh, I’ve heard this track before,” just a bit too smugly.
Now, for the inevitable comparison to Pixel’s automatic song recognition: I’ll admit, Google’s Pixel feature is kind of like a nosy neighbor—it knows every song playing in the vicinity without you asking for help. It’s cool, sure, but it’s also hit-or-miss when it comes to accuracy, and sometimes it feels a little… creepy? Samsung, on the other hand, lets me stay in control. I decide when to search, which makes the process feel less passive and more intentional, like I’m Sherlock Holmes solving the mystery of the song.
In short, OneUI 7’s hold-to-search feature hasn’t just beaten the slapstick inefficiency of Shazam—it’s become my ultimate music sidekick. Pixel may have its automatic recognition charm, but Samsung’s approach feels tailor-made for the multitasking, playlist-building music fiend that I am.
OneUI 7 truly feels like Samsung flexing its design prowess, and nowhere is this more evident than in the fluidity of its animations and the subtle refinements across the interface.
The Smoothness of Animations
Let’s start with the animations—because wow, they’ve never been this silky. Transitioning between apps, opening folders, or even pulling down the notification shade feels more natural and intuitive, thanks to what seems like deeper frame rate optimization and better timing mechanics. For instance, when you swipe to return to the home screen, there’s this delightful continuity in how the app smoothly minimizes into its icon. Even actions like scrolling through long lists or menus are buttery smooth, with zero stutters or jitter. Samsung has clearly worked on eliminating micro-lags, making even minor interactions feel polished and seamless. It’s the kind of refinement that turns routine usage into a surprisingly satisfying experience.
The New Larger Icon Folders
Another big win in OneUI 7 is the redesigned icon folders. These new, larger folders are more visually appealing and make usability a breeze. Instead of squinting at tiny icons crammed together, you now get a spacious layout that’s easier to navigate. The new design works particularly well for those of us with “organized chaos” on our home screens—folders stuffed with dozens of apps. Opening a folder feels more functional and modern, as the icons are now large enough to differentiate at a glance, without having to dig around. Plus, the slight animation that expands the folder when you tap on it ties in perfectly with the system’s overall smoothness.
The Now Bar
Samsung’s OneUI 7 introduces the Now Bar, a sleek and functional addition that redefines how users interact with ongoing activities on their devices. This feature is a pill-shaped UI element designed to provide quick, glanceable information and controls for various tasks, all while maintaining a visually appealing and intuitive design.
What is the Now Bar?
The Now Bar is essentially a dynamic widget that appears at the bottom of the lock screen and on the Always-On Display (AOD). It consolidates live activities, such as music playback, timers, or fitness tracking, into a single, easily accessible interface. Its design is minimalistic yet functional, with smooth animations that make it feel like a natural extension of the OneUI 7 ecosystem.
Key Features of the Now Bar
- Dynamic Activity Tracking: The Now Bar displays real-time updates for ongoing activities. For example, if you’re playing music, it shows album art, playback controls (play/pause, skip), and even a media output switcher. Similarly, if you’re using a timer or stopwatch, it provides quick access to pause or reset functions.
- Multi-Tasking Made Easy: When multiple activities are running simultaneously, the Now Bar stacks widgets for each activity. Users can cycle through these widgets with a simple swipe, making it easy to manage multiple tasks without unlocking the phone.
- Charging Insights: When the device is connected to a charger, the Now Bar displays charging speed, the current battery percentage, and the estimated time to full charge. It even acts as a progress bar, with the pill-shaped element filling up as the battery charges.
- Integration with Stock Apps: Currently, the Now Bar is compatible with several Samsung apps, including Samsung Health, Bixby Clock, Samsung Notes, and Voice Recorder. It also supports Google Maps for navigation updates and sports scores via Google.
- Always-On Display (AOD) Compatibility: The Now Bar works seamlessly in AOD mode, allowing users to interact with it even when the phone is in sleep mode. For instance, you can double-tap the Now Bar to activate buttons like play/pause or skip tracks.
Design and Usability
The Now Bar is not just functional—it’s also visually stunning. Its pill-shaped design blends perfectly with OneUI 7’s overall aesthetic, and the animations are smooth and responsive. The bar’s placement at the bottom of the screen ensures it’s always within easy reach, making it a practical addition for one-handed use.
Limitations and Future Potential
While the Now Bar is a fantastic feature, it currently supports only a limited number of stock apps. However, there’s speculation that Samsung may expand its compatibility to third-party apps in future updates, possibly with OneUI 8.0. This could make the Now Bar even more versatile and indispensable.
The Big Picture
Overall, OneUI 7 takes what Samsung has always been good at—customizability and functionality—and elevates it through clever design and technical finesse. The smooth animations, combined with the larger icon folders and the practical bottom bar, make the entire experience feel cohesive, modern, and user-friendly. It’s Samsung showing that it’s not just about packing features into a phone but also about making those features delightful to use.
It’s fair to say that OneUI 7 has set a new standard for Android skins—and it might just convert even the most die-hard Pixel fans. Let me know if you’d like me to dig into any other specific features!
The Verdict
The Galaxy S25 Plus might not have the Ultra’s flashy features or the base model’s affordability, but it strikes a perfect balance between the two. It’s a phone that feels premium without being pretentious, powerful without being overwhelming. And with OneUI 7 leading the charge, it’s arguably the best Android experience you can get right now—even Google should be taking notes.
So, if you’re in the market for a phone that does it all without trying too hard, the Galaxy S25 Plus deserves a spot at the top of your list. After all, sometimes the middle child really does outshine the rest.