I tested the standard Galaxy S25, and it beats Google and Apple’s offerings in several ways

The Samsung Galaxy S25 might not be as flashy as the Ultra, but it’s still the best compact phone you can buy right now. It refines an already great formula with a slimmer, lighter design, better battery life, and smarter AI features. But with minimal hardware upgrades over its predecessor, is it still worth $799? 

Also: I replaced my iPhone 16 Pro with the Galaxy S25 Ultra – and there’s a clear winner

It helps that Samsung is counting on an upgraded Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor this year, which not only brings speed improvements but also better image clarity and more efficient battery life — arguably the three most important aspects for consumers. I’ve spent the past week testing the device, and while the spec sheet may not excite you, the real-world experience tells a different story.

The Galaxy S25 is slimmer and lighter than last year’s Galaxy S24. In fact, it’s one of the most comfortable phones I’ve held and used. Unlike the larger Galaxy S25 Ultra, the flat sides don’t feel unwieldy, and the curved edges keep it handy. I’d go as far as to say it offers a better in-hand feel than the Google Pixel 9 and iPhone 16. 

Also: Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. iPhone 16: I compared the base models that most people should buy

On the front, there’s a 6.2-inch AMOLED display with an FHD+ resolution, which, on paper, is less sharp than the QHD+ screens found on the Galaxy S25 Plus and Galaxy S25 Ultra. But in practice, it’s still sharp and vibrant for its size. From scrolling through Reels on Instagram to browsing on Chrome to watching movies on Netflix, the Galaxy S25 display delivers a satisfying content consumption experience.

I just wish the anti-reflective coating of Gorilla Armor 2 from the Galaxy S25 Ultra had trickled down to this model, as it makes the screen more usable in bright environments. It’s a quality-of-life upgrade that would have made the compact phone experience truly one of a kind. That said, the screen is still fairly legible in direct sunlight, as shown in the image above.

At Galaxy Unpacked, I had the impression that Samsung was over-relying on the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor to deliver a substantial upgrade over the Galaxy S24 this year. Maybe I dismissed it too quickly because, in my time reviewing the Galaxy S25, I’ve noticed battery life improvements that I’ve never seen from the smallest Samsung model.

Also: I’ve tested every Samsung Galaxy S25 model – and my favorite isn’t the Ultra

From my tests, the Galaxy S25 lasted me at least an hour and a half longer than its predecessor under similar usage. It’s a one-day phone for moderate users — those who browse, use social media, and message frequently. While navigation and camera use will drain the battery faster, most people will be satisfied with the battery life here.

While I like the fact that Samsung has managed to deliver better battery life in a slimmer and lighter design, I’d have preferred a charging rate faster than 25W this year. At least keep it on par with the Galaxy S25 Plus and Ultra’s 45W!

Like the charging, Samsung hasn’t updated the cameras on the Galaxy S25 this year. It features the same optics as the Galaxy S24, which are the same as the Galaxy S23 from the year before. Instead, Samsung continues to lean on the latest processor to enhance its camera hardware, which keeps the devices market-relevant, but nothing more.

For a refresher, the camera system includes a 50MP primary camera with optical image stabilization, a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide-angle sensor.

Also: These useful One UI 7 features are coming to the Galaxy S25 series – and older models too

The phone offers good dynamic range and consistent colors across its sensors. I’ve found my image samples to be slightly more detailed than those from last year’s model. Samsung has also worked on delivering more accurate human skin tones, along with better low-light results in terms of clarity and lesser noise in challenging environments.

Compared to the iPhone 16 and Pixel 9, I prefer the Galaxy S25 camera for its versatility. A dedicated 3x telephoto camera is essential for me. However, if your camera usage involves capturing toddlers or pets, the iPhone may serve you better, as these cameras still struggle with fast-moving subjects. Unless you use the Expert RAW app to adjust the shutter speed for all photos, this isn’t the best camera system for capturing little humans and furry friends.

Some of the biggest camera upgrades come in video mode. You can now shoot log videos with Galaxy Log, enabling cinematographers to apply LUTs to color-grade their 10-bit footage. 

Also: Every Samsung Galaxy S25 model compared: How to decide which phone to buy

The Galaxy S25 also introduces a new post-editing feature called Audio Eraser, which uses AI to recognize and remove unwanted noises such as wind, water, or public chatter. A similar feature is available on Apple and Google phones, so I’m happy to report that Samsung has finally caught up — and it works well.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 runs Android 15-based One UI 7, which will soon roll out to the older Galaxy S24 series, bringing most, if not all, of the features I’m about to mention to last year’s phones.

Starting with AI Select, my most-used AI feature over the past few days. It works like Circle to Search, allowing you to highlight on-screen content and suggest on-device actions based on the information.

Also: This $300 Samsung phone looks as good as the Galaxy S25 – at a fraction of the price

For example, if you receive an event invite via text or email with time, date, and location details, you can tap on AI Select from the Edge Panel, highlight the invite details, and the phone will suggest an “Add to Calendar” option. Tap on it, and the time, date, and location are automatically filled in within your Calendar app.

There’s also a new Galaxy AI feature called Now Brief, an app-widget hybrid that consolidates important data in one place. In theory, it can show weather updates, suggest taking the day easy if Galaxy Health detects poor sleep, recommend Spotify playlists from your favorite artists, display news and calendar events, and suggest YouTube Shorts.

However, in my experience, it has mostly been a glorified weather app. It couldn’t detect my Google Fit data synced with Galaxy Health and didn’t show me any news. The suggested Spotify playlists weren’t based on my preferences either. Samsung claims the service will improve over time, so I’ll update this review if I notice changes.

One UI 7 introduces the Now Bar, a new way to display active app notifications on the lock screen. If you have a timer, music player, or navigation running, they appear as stacked cards on the lock screen that you can swipe and interact with.

It reminds me of Dynamic Island and Live Activities on iPhones and, in a similar fashion, supports a limited number of apps at launch. I expect it to gain support for more apps as developers integrate it into their products. For now, it feels like a nice feature in its early stages.

Also: Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. iPhone 16: I compared the base models that most people should buy

Other Galaxy AI party tricks include Portrait Studio for creating 3D cartoons and sketches from portraits, Sketch to Image, and Generative AI for adding objects to photos. These features are more refined and consistent, but tasks like Generative AI and background expansion in the Gallery app can still take more than 10 seconds to process.

The Galaxy S25 also includes Gemini AI upgrades. The new, transformed version of Google Assistant can be triggered by a long press of the side button. It allows you to ask for information, plan things, and send WhatsApp messages to contacts. It’s better at handling multiple commands in a single line, and I’m looking forward to broader third-party app support.

ZDNET’s buying advice

While it may seem like an underwhelming upgrade on paper, I’ve enjoyed using the Samsung Galaxy S25. My only gripe is its inability to capture moving subjects well without adjusting the shutter speed in Expert RAW. If you can overlook that, this is a solid phone for $799 — and an even better deal if you can snag it with a trade-in offer or promotion.

Compared to Google and Apple, the Galaxy S25 offers a better display, the best in-hand feel in its segment, a more versatile camera setup, and good battery life. It’s better than the similarly priced Pixel 9 and iPhone 16 — and my top pick for anyone looking for a compact flagship right now.