Incremental annual telephone updates have grow to be fairly regular, however even by trendy trade requirements, the most recent Samsung flagship gadgets really feel iterative.
The Galaxy S25 sequence was unveiled at Samsung’s Unpacked occasion this week with the promise of fancy {hardware} upgrades and helpful new software program options. That is…not solely what we acquired, although. At first blush, the Galaxy S25 Extremely is very much like final 12 months’s mannequin. Its show specs are practically similar, and the story is analogous with its rear digicam measurements. Apart from a brand new 50MP ultra-wide lens (and I do not wish to fake like that is nothing), little has modified.
After some temporary hands-on testing with the Extremely, although, I’ve recognized a few issues that may make this telephone value a purchase order, particularly in case you’re rocking a handset that is getting up there in years.
The brand new chip may be very quick
Most likely the largest {hardware} enhancement Samsung added to the Galaxy S25 Extremely is the most recent and best in Snapdragon processing, the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset. After a bit of little bit of time utilizing the telephone, I can verify the whole lot feels very speedy and responsive.
I will wait till the total overview to get into benchmarking scores and whatnot, however the brand new chip makes an awesome first impression. Issues that appear like they need to be hardware-intensive, corresponding to AI options, appear to run with out a lot of a fuss. I can say the identical about fundamental on a regular basis app utilization. I have never spent an enormous period of time with the S25 Extremely simply but, however based mostly on the early goings, the brand new chip might be going to be the largest change for anybody upgrading from an older handset.
Mashable Gentle Pace
Now Transient is attention-grabbing
I’d not say I am really very occupied with that information story, really.
Credit score: Screenshot: Samsung
Talking of AI options, Samsung went entire hog this 12 months with a set of recent AI goodies that, not less than for now, appear to be unique to S25 Extremely. These embrace various agentic AI options that I have never had time to correctly put by means of their paces but, corresponding to the flexibility to have Gemini search for info for you and add it to your notes or calendar mechanically. This did work for me on the primary strive (I advised it so as to add this weekend’s playoff soccer video games to my private calendar), however I will want extra time with it to completely choose it.
Nevertheless, one new AI options does stick out to me immediately, and that is the Now Transient. It is a widget that lives on your own home display by default that places issues just like the day’s climate, upcoming calendar obligations, and information tales which can be related to your pursuits in a single simply scrollable web page.
Whereas I’m as a lot of an AI hater as anybody (largely because of its harmful environmental influence), I will admit that there is some use to this. Having the ability to shortly see what sort of climate the day will convey, in addition to what it’s that I’ve to try this day and what’s taking place within the information, is handy. May I additionally simply do all of this myself with about 30 seconds of Google looking? Completely. However that is barely extra handy, if nothing else.
The S25 Extremely takes the sting off
Lastly, Samsung made one small change that I actually like: The perimeters of the S25 Extremely are curved.
Beforehand, the titanium body on the S24 Extremely had exhausting corners across the telephone, which distinguished the Extremely fashions from their cheaper brethren, but additionally made them form of a ache to really maintain. That is not as true of the S25 Extremely, which I really feel has a extra pure grip and does not dig into your palms just like the previous cornered edges would. The brand new telephone can be 14g lighter than the previous one, for what that is value.
I will want extra time with the S25 Extremely to completely formulate my ideas on it, however thus far, this telephone appears precisely as iterative as you assume it’s. It is probably not a shock at this level why Samsung’s Unpacked stream waited till the ultimate jiffy to really discuss {hardware}; there simply is not quite a bit to speak about. However possibly after some extra time with the S25 Extremely, I will really feel otherwise.
