Galaxy Unpacked Highlights: Samsung Galaxy S25 Delivers Cutting-Edge AI Features and Design Overhaul

BY MUFARO MHARIWA
Jan 23
5 min read

Updated: Jan 28

All images: Samsung

Companies have possibly hit the peak of smartphones. They do all the basics so well that there isn’t much left to differentiate one device from another across brands. So now, companies are stuck asking themselves, “What can we do next?” For the past year (and then some), the answer has been AI. It’s become a race to outdo one another with as many AI features as possible packed into their phones.

It was fun for a while, but for most users, AI hasn’t drastically changed how they use their phones. Samsung, more than Apple, is known for pushing innovation, so the pressure was on when they unveiled the S25 line. They did the whole Galaxy AI thing last year; surely, they couldn’t headline AI again this year, right? Right?

Well, this year, Samsung has certainly innovated. They have said goodbye to the smooth, curved body in favour of a flat, iPhone-style design with rounded corners. But that’s not all. More AI. Yay.

All jokes aside, the S25 line is a significant upgrade, not necessarily on paper but in real-world use. With the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip taking the tech world by storm, Android has finally caught up to Apple in performance. Add to that new cameras, better battery life, and an improved display. Let’s dive in.

Performance and Efficiency: Star of the Show

The Snapdragon 8 Elite chip is the star of the show, promising a leap in performance that's hard to ignore. While the S24 Ultra was already a powerhouse, this new chip elevates the S25 Ultra to laptop-level productivity—yes, the same chip is now powering fully functional laptops.

However, it's worth mentioning that such immense power has presented overheating challenges in some devices. Samsung seems prepared to tackle this with their new and expanded heat dissipation chamber, which is 40% larger and designed to keep things cool even under heavy use.

Battery life, on the other hand, has been solid in Samsung’s flagship devices for years. So, when they claim the S25 Ultra boasts the longest battery life yet, with up to 31 hours of video playback, it’s a welcome improvement rather than a necessary fix. On paper, these enhancements look promising, but the true test lies in how they perform in real-world usage.

Design: More Lighter and Thinner

The Samsung S24 Ultra was, and still is, one of the better-looking phones out there. Its design made a statement, but it did come with a small gripe. The curved sides, while sleek, didn’t always feel as comfortable to hold as flat sides, and the sharp corners left a bit to be desired. Thankfully, that’s all a thing of the past with the S25 series.

Samsung has adopted a more streamlined, iPhone-style flat design, but with rounded corners for a comfortable grip. This small but noticeable change makes the phone feel more natural in your hand. The body is 15 grams lighter than the S24 Ultra, dropping from 232g to 217g, and it's 0.4mm thinner. Samsung’s attention to detail means you can now enjoy a premium design without compromising on comfort.

Camera: With a Major Boost

At this point, what can Samsung really do to their cameras for a notable upgrade? Not much. Their cameras have been top-tier for a while, delivering stunning shots in a variety of conditions, but there's always room for improvement. The device boasts a quad-camera setup:

200MP wide-angle lens
50MP telephoto lens
50MP ultra-wide lens
10MP telephoto lens

Photography gets a major boost with AI-powered features. The S25 Ultra can adjust skin tones and lighting automatically, thanks to its AI enhancements. Features like Virtual Aperture, advanced filters, and Nightography ensure stunning shots in any light. Creators will appreciate Log Video mode, perfect for professional-grade editing. Samsung continues to push boundaries with its new features, starting with the updated Nightography mode, designed to improve low-light performance even further. This isn’t just about brightening up your photos; it’s about keeping details sharp, reducing noise, and maintaining that true-to-life colour even in the darkest environments.

Software: AI Activated

For much of the unveiling, the spotlight was on AI. Some features were a bit of a snooze fest, but others were undeniably helpful. Samsung has made sure their AI features are now easily accessible right from the home screen. A quick press and hold of the power button lets you engage with the AI Assistant for all sorts of tasks.

Another useful feature is how the AI can fetch helpful info from your emails to remind you of things like expiring coupons or unreplied messages. The Galaxy S25 Ultra runs on One UI 7, introducing seamless new features:

Now Brief: A personalised daily overview combining weather, sleep insights, calendar updates, and live activities, such as sports scores.
AI Select: Generates stickers, summarises browser pages, and detects background music, effectively replacing the need for Shazam.
Call Translate: Expands language support, with transcripts and summaries provided after calls.

Health and Smart Features

Samsung continues to push boundaries with its health-related AI tools, offering users a more personalised approach to their wellness. The new features help track various health metrics, including your antioxidant index, which provides insights into your body’s ability to combat free radicals and maintain overall health. In addition, Samsung’s AI can now check your mood and offer suggestions on how to improve it, whether through meditation, sleep tips, or personalised activities. This kind of proactive health monitoring goes beyond just tracking steps or heart rate; it’s about understanding and optimising your overall well-being.

Sleep is another area where Samsung’s AI excels. By analysing your sleep patterns, the system can provide tailored suggestions for improving your quality of rest, ensuring that you wake up feeling more refreshed and ready for the day. This focus on sleep quality is particularly valuable in a world where we’re increasingly aware of how crucial proper rest is for mental and physical health.

Samsung’s SmartThings ecosystem has also received notable upgrades. Now, users can check in on their pets at home, monitor their health metrics, and even control home devices all from their phone. This level of integration makes the Galaxy S25 Ultra not just a tool for personal communication, but a hub for managing various aspects of daily life, including the well-being of family members (both human and furry). Whether you’re at work or on the go, SmartThings lets you stay connected to everything that matters.

These enhancements make it clear that Samsung is taking the health of its users seriously, using AI and smart technology to provide a comprehensive wellness experience that extends far beyond traditional fitness tracking.

Pricing and Availability

In a surprising turn, the Galaxy S25 line comes with a more accessible price tag this year. The flagship S25 Ultra starts at R30,000, while the S25 Plus is priced from R23,500 and the base S25 from R20,000. These competitive prices make the impressive upgrades more attainable for a wider range of users. Pre-orders for the devices are now open, and you can expect the phones to be available for purchase starting 7 February 2025.