Early next year, Samsung will launch the Galaxy S25 and the Galaxy S25 Plus, the more affordable of the upcoming flagship series, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra will be the crown jewel. As the launch draws closer, leaks and rumors are flooding in and we already know a surprising amount about the next-gen Samsung flagship phones.
To kick things off, the Galaxy S25 models are rumored to come with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite chip in the US, while international markets are likely to get Samsung's own Exynos chips. However, there is also speculation that Samsung might switch things up and include MediaTek's Dimensity chips, possibly due to the rising costs of the Snapdragon lineup.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite is looking like a serious powerhouse, possibly outdoing the iPhone 16. This would be a big win for any on-device Galaxy AI features. Plus, the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus are rumored to come with significantly faster storage, which could really enhance overall performance and take Galaxy AI to the next level.
The Galaxy S25 and its sibling are expected to stick with the same design language we have seen in previous years, but there might be a refreshing twist to give them a "fresher" feel. One rumor suggests that the Galaxy S25 could see a slight size bump, growing from 6.2 to 6.3 inches, possibly following in 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 is hope that the slow wired charging speeds will improve. Currently, they max out at 25 W, 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.
Are you excited about the upcoming Galaxy S25 series?
I'm thrilled, can't wait
57.85%
Moderately excited
23.75%
Nah, same old, same old
18.4%
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.
A recent leak has suggested that Samsung might unveil the Galaxy S25 series on January 5, nearly two weeks earlier than this year's January 17 launch. However, a January 5 launch seems unlikely for a couple of reasons. First, CES 2025, one of the year's biggest tech events, will run from January 7 – 11, and Samsung typically unveils its flagship phones after the event.
Second, a more reliable leak points to January 22 as the launch date, which feels like the most plausible option. Not only does it come from a trusted source, but it also aligns with Samsung's usual timeline. The last two Winter Unpacked events were on Wednesdays, and January 22 conveniently falls on a Wednesday too.
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 mid or 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
* - probable dates
Moreover, rumors suggest that the Galaxy S25 lineup might welcome a new addition this year: the Galaxy S25 Slim. This phone is expected to be thinner than the rest of the series, though it might not debut until April or May. However, one leak hints that Samsung could launch the S25 Slim alongside the other S25 models – if the company manages to finalize it in time. So, while it is not guaranteed, it is definitely not off the table yet!
Galaxy S25 price and deals
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.
We haven't had any serious price corrections on Samsung's Galaxy lineup lately, so there is a chance that the Galaxy S25 range could get pricier.
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
What kind of deals can we expect for the Galaxy S25 from Samsung and the major carriers? Based on Galaxy S24 offers and pricing, we can likely expect Samsung, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile to roll out deals and promotions similar to those seen in early 2024.
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.
Rumor has it Samsung might ditch its ISOCELL sensors and employ Sony camera sensors for the Galaxy S25 Plus and Galaxy S25 models. This tidbit of info is courtesy of leakster Revegnus, who has a decent track record of rumors that have materialized. The sensors in question are Sony's fresh new LYTIA ones, which utilize dual-stacked technology for improved light sensitivity and color rendition.
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
The Galaxy S25 range might become the pioneer in incorporating Samsung's latest UFS 4.04-lane storage chip, potentially capable of supporting speeds of nearly 8GB/sec. This marks a significant leap from the current UFS 4.0 standard, which typically offers around 4GB/s, effectively doubling the data transfer rate. Faster storage would be great for on-device AI, but would also improve the overall perceived performance and user experience.
We don't expect any changes in storage capacity in comparison with the previous models.
Galaxy S25 Plus storage capacity:
256 GB
512 GB
Galaxy S25 storage capacity:
128GB
256 GB
Galaxy S25 design
There are whispers that Samsung is planning to shake up the design of the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus. According to tipster Revegnus, the leader of Samsung's design team has been tasked with giving the Galaxy S25 lineup a "fresh" feel. This could either mean a complete overhaul or just a subtle update to give the devices a new vibe.
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.
Rumor has it the small Galaxy S25 could be slated for a slight display increase, from 6.2 to 6.3 inches. Overall, the flat, iPhone-like design that debuted in 2024 will continue with the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus next year and recently leaked renders of the Plus model back this up.
Newly leaked renders of Galaxy S25 Plus show how the smartphone might look like.
While the display is expected to grow in size, the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus are rumored to be slimmer and slightly narrower than their predecessors:
The expected dimensions for the Galaxy S25 are 146.94 x 70.46 x 7.25 mm.
The Galaxy S25 Plus is anticipated to measure 158.44 x 75.79 x 7.35 mm.
In terms of materials, while titanium is already making the rounds on Samsung's Ultra flagship phone, the rest of the lineup is enjoying Armor Aluminum. Currently, we haven't heard any plans that Samsung might be trying to adopt titanium across the board on all Galaxy S25 models, but we wouldn't rule it out.
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.
Of course, no design talk is complete without a mention of colors, right? According to the latest buzz, the upcoming Galaxy S25 will be offered in:
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
If you are curious about how those rumored sparkling colors will actually look, you are in luck! New renders of the Galaxy S25 series recently surfaced online, giving us a sneak peek at the new hues, which are weirdly similar to the Jade Green and Sapphire Blue versions of the current Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus.
Sparkling Blue and Sparkling Green, debuting with the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus. | Image credit – Ross Young
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
Battery capacities are usually among the last details to leak out about a phone. However, a recent report has brought some disappointing news: the Galaxy S25 Plus is expected to have the same battery as its predecessor.
We doubt that the battery of the Galaxy S25 would be larger than the current one inside the Galaxy S24. As a refresher, the smaller current model has a 4,000mAh battery, while the Plus-sized one features a 4,900mAh 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
The Galaxy S25 series will arrive with One UI 7, based on the upcoming Android 15. One UI 7 is shaping up to be one of Samsung's most significant updates, bringing some major changes to the interface and design. Expect a redesigned lock screen, an updated recents/overview screen, a split Notification Panel and Quick Settings, a fresh new battery icon and features, and some new AI features.
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.
We expect that the Galaxy S25 lineup will be supported for seven years, just like the current Galaxy S24 lineup. This essentially means the phones will be supported until 2032. This includes both major Android releases and security patches.
And speaking of software updates, the Galaxy S25 series might be Samsung's first flagship to feature seamless A/B software updates. This would allow for smoother updates, letting users continue using their phones without interruption while the system is being updated in the background.
Just like most previous Galaxy releases (except for the Galaxy S23 series), the Galaxy S25 Plus and Galaxy S25 might use different chips in the different regions. In the US, they will possibly be powered by the recently launched Snapdragon 8 Elite, while Samsung's Exynos chip would power the phones in most regions around the world. The latter was once again supported by a recent leak.
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.
The two performance cores of the Snapdragon 8 Elite are clocked at speeds as high as 4GHz. This represents a significant improvement over the 3.3GHz clock speed of the Cortex-X4 found in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
Meanwhile, the Exynos chip that could power the Galaxy S25 Plus and Galaxy S25 is probably the Exynos 2500, which recently leaked out. It will reportedly maintain a deca-core build.
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.
Tsveta, a passionate technology enthusiast and accomplished playwright, combines her love for mobile technologies and writing to explore and reveal the transformative power of tech. From being an early follower of PhoneArena to relying exclusively on her smartphone for photography, she embraces the immense capabilities of compact devices in our daily lives. With a Journalism degree and an explorative spirit, Tsveta not only provides expert insights into the world of gadgets and smartphones but also shares a unique perspective shaped by her diverse interests in travel, culture, and visual storytelling.
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