I recently spent time with SamsungGalaxy’s newest addition to the S series – the S25 – and I have a simple verdict: it’s a beast of a device and you should buy it you are a journalist, writer or publisher who is constantly pressed for time.
While it does not look too different from its predecessor, the Galaxy S24, it packs ease, smart features, speed and reliability that made my life and work easier.
Samsung Galaxy S25: Unparalleled battery life
Let’s start with the battery life, by far the most impressive offering of the Samsung Galaxy S25. I fully charged the phone at 17:00 on 11 June and by 16:30 on 13 June, it still had 13% left.
That’s nearly two full days of regular use – scrolling social media, instant messaging, taking pictures, checking emails and using WordPress – all without needing a charger. It’s perfect for people always on the move (and a klutz like me who loses power banks and always forgets to pack a charger).
The speed and responsiveness is just as impressive. Apps open quickly. Switching between apps or opening web links from another app is quick and seamless. I gave it a Herculean test by using the WordPress app – usually heavy and temperamental on Android devices – but it passed with flying colours, which means I didn’t have to swear at it.
Circle to Search
One of the coolest features is the Circle to Search. Although not new to the Galaxy S series, it is a wonder to use on the S25. You just draw a circle around an element on your screen – be it an object, image or text, and the phone instantly (and I mean instantly) searches for it. It’s quick, smart and surprisingly accurate.
To give you an example, I took a picture of a CNN guest’s face on my TV, long pressed the home button to bring up Circle to Search, encircled the woman’s face and boom – I had her name (Pam Bondi), designation and credentials in my hand. All of this in less than 10 seconds.
Speech-to-text, transcriptions, camera
The speech-to-text feature has improved significantly in terms of accuracy. I first used it with the Samsung Galaxy S21+ and the results were poor. However, with the S25, it is a vastly improved experience.
I recorded quotes by Floyd Shivambu, former uMkhonto weSizwe Party secretary-general, during his exit press conference in June, and it picked up his “revolutionary English” with incredible accuracy. This is very useful if you’re not adept at speedily taking notes.
When it comes to photos and videos, the S25 does the job.
Granted, I wasn’t outside taking pictures of beautiful sunsets, but where it came in really handy was when I wanted to shoot pictures or footage from a TV screen, which usually ends in blurry mess. With the S25, my images were crisp and clear, with colours popping and motion handled well. See below
If you live life on the move, the Samsung Galaxy S25 is for you
The Samsung Galaxy S25 is a reliable, powerful smartphone that handles everything, from AI features to heavy apps, like a champ. It’s fast, smart and keeps going without needing a charge every few hours. For South Africans looking for a solid premium phone that won’t let you down, the S25 is well worth it.
| Processor | CPU Speed | CPU Type |
| 4.47GHz, 3.5GHz | Octa-Core | |
| Display | Size (Main Display) | Resolution (Main Display) |
| 156.4mm | 2340 x 1080 (FHD+) | |
| Technology (Main Display) | Colour Depth (Main Display) | |
| Dynamic AMOLED 2X | 16M | |
| Max Refresh Rate (Main Display) | ||
| 120 Hz | ||
| Camera | Rear Camera – Resolution (Multiple) | Rear Camera – F Number (Multiple) |
| 50.0 MP + 10.0 MP + 12.0 MP | F1.8 , F2.4 , F2.2 | |
| Main Camera – Auto Focus | Rear Camera – OIS | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Rear Camera – Zoom | Front Camera – Resolution | |
| Optical Zoom 3x, Optical quality Zoom 2x (Enabled by Adaptive Pixel sensor) , Digital Zoom up to 30x | 12.0 MP | |
| Front Camera – F Number | Front Camera – Auto Focus | |
| F2.2 | Yes | |
| Main Camera – Flash | Video Recording Resolution | |
| Yes | UHD 8K (7680 x 4320) @30fps | |
| Slow Motion | ||
| 240fps @FHD, 120fps @FHD, 120fps @UHD | ||
| Storage/Memory | Memory (GB) | Storage (GB) |
| 12 | 256 | |
| Available Storage (GB) | ||
| 223.5 | ||
| Network/Bearer | Number of SIM | SIM size |
| Dual-SIM | Nano-SIM (4FF), Embedded-SIM | |
| SIM Slot Type | Infra | |
| SIM 1 + SIM 2 / SIM 1 + eSIM / Dual eSIM | 2G GSM, 3G WCDMA, 4G LTE FDD, 4G LTE TDD, 5G Sub6 FDD, 5G Sub6 TDD | |
| Connectivity | USB Interface | USB Version |
| USB Type-C | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | |
| Location Technology | Earjack | |
| GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS | USB Type-C | |
| MHL | Wi-Fi | |
| No | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be 2.4GHz+5GHz+6GHz, EHT320, MIMO, 4096-QAM | |
| Wi-Fi Direct | Bluetooth Version | |
| Yes | Bluetooth v5.4 | |
| NFC | PC Sync | |
| Yes | Smart Switch (PC version) | |
| OS | Android | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Barometer, Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Hall Sensor, Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor | |
| Physical specification | Dimension (HxWxD, mm) | Weight (g) |
| 146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2 | 162 | |
| Battery | Video Playback Time (Hours) | Battery Capacity (mAh, Typical) |
| Up to 29 | 4000 | |
| Removable | ||
| No | ||
| Audio and Video | Stereo Support | Video Playing Format |
| Yes | MP4, M4V, 3GP, 3G2, AVI, FLV, MKV, WEBM | |
| Video Playing Resolution | Audio Playing Format | |
| UHD 8K (7680 x 4320) @60fps | MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, AMR, AWB, FLAC, MID, MIDI, XMF, MXMF, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA, DFF, DSF, APE | |
| Services and Applications | Gear Support | Samsung DeX Support |
| Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Buds3 Pro, Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Galaxy Buds Pro, Galaxy Buds Live, Galaxy Buds+, Galaxy Buds3, Galaxy Buds2, Galaxy Buds, Galaxy Buds FE, Galaxy Fit3, Galaxy Fit2, Galaxy Fit e, Galaxy Fit, Galaxy Watch FE, Galaxy Watch Ultra, Galaxy Watch7, Galaxy Watch6, Galaxy Watch5, Galaxy Watch4, Galaxy Watch3, Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Watch Active2, Galaxy Watch Active | Yes | |
| Bluetooth® Hearing Aid Support | SmartThings Support | |
| Android Audio Streaming for Hearing Aid(ASHA) | Yes | |
| Mobile TV | ||
| No | ||
| Price | R19,999.01 |
Would you buy the Samsung Galaxy S25?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
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