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Samsung has reportedly decided to 'freeze' Galaxy S25 series prices at the eleventh hour

By Adrian Diaconescu

Published: Jan 20, 2025, 3:20 AM

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Leaked Galaxy S25 Ultra promotional image

Even though we're just a few days away from the moment everything will become clear and official, the Galaxy S25 pricing speculation saga seems to be far from over, with a new Korean media report (translated here) essentially contradicting a recent rumor from the same point of origin in a key aspect.

It was less than a week ago that we heard Samsung had decided against keeping the prices of its next ultra-high-end handsets at the same levels as last year's Galaxy S24 family, and now it appears that the company may have reconsidered... again, at least as far as entry-level variants in its domestic market are concerned.

$399 ⁹⁹

$1419 ⁹⁹

$1020 off (72%)

Get the mighty Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra for up to $1,020 off at the Samsung Store! Eligible device trade-ins help you save up to $900. Moreover, you get $120 off the 512GB variant, landing it at the price of the base storage model. On top of that, you'll receive an additional $80 Samsung credit for accessories.

Buy at Samsung

$319 ⁹⁹

$1119 ⁹⁹

$800 off (71%)

Trade in your old phone to save up to $700 on the exciting Galaxy S25 Plus. Samsung also gives you a $100 instant discount on the 512GB variant, giving you a total of up to $800 off the high-class Galaxy AI phone.

Buy at Samsung

Don't get too excited just yet!

Before you start your celebratory dance, it's crucial to note that today's information exclusively applies to South Korea. Yes, a price hike in a specific region often has global repercussions, and similarly, if Samsung doesn't plan to raise prices (after all) in a market as pivotal as its homeland, that might mean something for other countries and regions too.

But that's definitely not always the case, so for the time being, it's probably still wise to expect the Galaxy S25 series to cost a bit more than the S24 trio in the US or Europe. That's due to a few objective reasons, like the adoption of a vastly improved (and thus more expensive) Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and the "vanilla" S25 model bumping the S24's 8GB RAM count all the way up to 12 gigs.

The Galaxy S25 (pictured here in Mint) might not be pricier than the Galaxy S24 after all. | Image Credit -- Evan Blass

Of course, the same upgrades are likely to happen in South Korea, and yet Samsung is today tipped to price the base Galaxy S25 at 1,155,000 won while charging KRW 1,353,000 and 1,698,400 won for the S25 Plus and S25 Ultra respectively.

All those numbers apply to 256GB storage configurations, and there's really no point in converting them to currency most of you might be more familiar with. The only detail you need to remember is that these are the exact same local starting prices of the Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra from almost a year ago, which makes me hopeful that even if a Western increase is in the cards, it won't be very drastic.

A small hike is still coming to Korea for 512GB variants

Like I said, you really shouldn't be celebrating prematurely, and this is the second big reason for that. Yes, Samsung apparently plans to price the S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra with 512GB storage a little higher than their counterparts from 2024, although the emphasis there is undoubtedly on "little."

We're talking individual jumps of only 15,400 to 25,400 won, which equates to no more than $18. That's practically nothing for a trio of super-premium phones costing a small fortune to begin with, but once again, it's not entirely clear how this trivial change will translate in North America and the old continent.

The S25 Ultra could cost a little more than the S24 Ultra with 512GB storage. | Image Credit -- Evan Blass

One thing that I am fully expecting to cross borders is a launch promotion offering 512GB models at the regular prices of 256GB variants. Of course, you also have to keep in mind that the non-Plus and non-Ultra Galaxy S25 is likely to start at 128 gigs of internal storage space rather than 256GB outside of South Korea, in which case the same introductory deal could apply to the latter model in relation to the former configuration.

Bottom line, nothing is etched in stone at the moment regarding Samsung's US Galaxy S25 series pricing, but there is still hope that the company's next big thing(s) will cost the same as (or at least very close to) their predecessors. Now wouldn't that be something?

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Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.