Category: Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (left) and the Galaxy S25 Ultra

Is theSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultraworth an upgrade if you own the last Ultra phone? Equally, if the Galaxy S25 Ultra is on your buy list, understanding how Samsung has improved the camera this time around will be an important point to understand before splashing out on it. To help answer these questions, we put Samsung’s latest Ultra phone against its predecessor, theGalaxy S24 Ultra, in a serious camera battle.

Camera specs

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (left) and the Galaxy S25 Ultra

The first thing to understand is not much has changed on the hardware front. Both have a 200-megapixel main camera with an f/1.7 aperture, phase-detection autofocus (PDAF) and optical image stabilization (OIS). It’s joined by a pair of telephoto cameras on both, one 10MP telephoto with OIS for a 3x optical zoom, and another 50MP telephoto with OIS for a 5x optical zoom.

The single hardware change is the wide-angle camera, which is a 12MP camera on the Galaxy S24 Ultra and a new 50MP wide-angle on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The new wide-angle camera has an f/1.9 aperture compared to the f/2.2 on the S24 Ultra, while both have the same 120-degree field of view.

Inside each phone is a different processor, which can have a considerable impact on the photographic experience. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 powers the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and it’s the latestSnapdragon 8 Eliteinside the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Both chips have been optimized “for Galaxy,” which Samsung says improves overall performance.

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Main camera

• 1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
• 2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

There is very little to split the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy S24 Ultra’s main cameras, but there are two things you need to know before deciding whether to upgrade. The tiny differences in tone, color, and dynamic range will be split by personal preference, as one isn’t better than the other, but I’ve continuously noticed the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s main camera takes sharper photos with a wider focal area.

The front of the church is a great example. Take a close look at the windows on the building deeper in the frame than the entrance, and you’ll see the S25 Ultra introduces blur where the S24 Ultra’s photo is pin sharp. It’s evident elsewhere in the photo too, but because you have to look really closely, it won’t bother everyone. However, it detracts from the overall photo once you’ve seen it.

• 1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
• 2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

The Galaxy S25 Ultra can redeem itself with less noise, which can be seen in the photo of the street, specifically under the awning and through the window. Lets finish with a photo that shows the differences as a whole. The Firebird sign and sky in the photo below has better white balance in the S25 Ultra’s photo, but isn’t as sharp as the S24 Ultra’s picture, and although the contrast is well-judged in the S25 Ultra’s photo, I prefer the color pop in the S24 Ultra’s photo.

• 1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
• 2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

It’s very difficult to say one is better than the other, as some won’t notice the differences at all, and both do have positive and negative points. I wouldn’t rush to upgrade the S24 Ultra to the S25 Ultra, but I also wouldn’t hold back on the S25 Ultra over any concerns the camera is somehow worse. The main camera category is a draw.

Winner: Draw

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Wide-angle camera

• 1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra wide-angle
• 2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra wide-angle

Now we come to the category where the Galaxy S25 Ultra should beat the S24 Ultra. Out testagainst the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Maxhas already shown the wide-angle camera takes good photos, so how does it do next to the Galaxy S24 Ultra? Anyone expecting dramatic differences is going to be a little disappointed.

The wide-angle photo of the church shows you have to look very closely to spot any differences at all, and even when you do, they’re negligible. There’s a bit less noise in the S25 Ultra’s photo, but more pop in the S24 Ultra’s photo, and both have an almost identical level of detail. Neither photo is better than the other.

• 1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra wide-angle
• 2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra wide-angle

The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s wide-angle camera is a little better in low light. In the shot of the cabinets inside a cafe, there’s markedly less noise and edge blurring at the top of the S25 Ultra’s photo, and the white balance is more accurate too. However, if I didn’t tell you about these differences, would you actually notice?

• 1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra wide-angle
• 2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra wide-angle

Here’s a test for you. Which wide-angle photo out of the two above do you prefer? The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s wide-angle camera takes sharper photos, but it’s really marginal, and I’m not convinced it makes that much of a difference. Both photos are technically quite similar, with no obvious negative points. Yes, the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s wide-angle camera is “better” than the S24 Ultra’s, but whether you will ever notice is another thing entirely. It gets the win, but don’t read too much into it.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

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Telephoto cameras

• 1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 3x
• 2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 3x

Finally, as we reach the telephoto category, we can see some consistent improvements in the photos taken by the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Across the 3x, 5x, and 10x zoom the S25 Ultra takes sharper and less noisy photos than the S24 Ultra, and you don’t always need to pixel-peep to see the changes.

The 3x zoom photo of the archway is the hardest to immediately see the changes, but the wooden archway and gate do have more sharpness and texture when you take a moment to examine the photo. This continues into the background. I do prefer the S24 Ultra’s visual pop though, a running theme throughout the test.

• 1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 5x
• 2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5x

The photo of the cat was taken at 5x zoom, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra has nailed the color of its coat, and lessened the intense contrast of the S24 Ultra’s image, giving it a natural look and tone. There’s a lot less noise in the background too.

• 1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 10x
• 2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 10x

Finally, the clock at 10x zoom shows how much the S24 Ultra relies on smoothing to keep noise at bay. The textures in the stone around the edge of the clock face are sharper in the S25 Ultra’s photo, and there’s a lot less pixelation in the darker sections at the top of the image. The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s three primary zoom levels easily surpass the quality of the S24 Ultra’s cameras.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

30x and 100x zoom

• 1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 30x
• 2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 30x

More for fun than anything else, here’s how things have changed for the 30x and 100x zoom levels both phones can achieve. Interestingly, the 30x zoom is getting more and more usable, with far less smoothing, more sharpness, and additional texture to make the 30x photos taken by the Galaxy S25 Ultra much improved over the S24 Ultra.

• 1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 100x
• 2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 100x

The 100x zoom photos still aren’t ones you’d take and want to keep, but similar updates to the 30x mode make them less artificial looking than before, with more texture and realism. It’s advancements made in the software and processing which make all this possible, rather than the camera hardware, and it’s perhaps the area where we can see the most obvious changes between the two phone generations.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Night mode

• 1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
• 2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

The software and processing improvements extend to the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s lowlight performance too. The first photo was taken in practically dark conditions, with ambient light coming from a security lamp behind me. The S25 Ultra’s photo is sharper, and makes better use of the contrast and exposure time to make the scene look more natural, and bring out more of the textures in the wood.

• 1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
• 2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

The next two photos show the S25 Ultra’s greater ability to take a natural looking photo in lowlight. The first has plenty of ambient light, but it was nowhere near as green as the S24 Ultra makes it seem, but there’s a lot less noise in the photo due to its additional smoothing. However, textures are greater and more realistic in the S25 Ultra, such as on the tarmac and the tree trunk.

• 1.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
• 2.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

All this is then emphasized in the photo of the same scene taken from a different angle. The S25 Ultra’s colors are much more accurate, and there’s less blur on the vehicles too. However, it’s less effective at capturing the text on the van, and both photos have noisy skies. When the Galaxy S25 Ultra is this effective in very lowlight, it’ll suit more environments than the S24 Ultra.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

An easy win

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (left) and the Galaxy S25 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has beaten the S24 Ultra in all but one category, with the telephoto sections proving to be the most decisive. The new wide-angle camera is obviously improved, but it’s not as dramatic as you may expect. However, I have been really impressed with it outside of this test piece, and you can see more examples of the photos it takesin our review.

It’s no surprise the two main cameras are equally matched as the hardware is unchanged, but I remain concerned about the introduction of blur and a lack of sharpness. I don’t think this should happen on a camera attached to a $1,300 smartphone, and look forward to Samsung addressing it in future software updates.

While the Galaxy S25 Ultra has won this test, it’s hard to say it provides a compelling reason to upgrade if you own the Galaxy S24 Ultra, unless you use the telephoto cameras a great deal. It’s not like the S24 Ultra has a bad camera, as it still managed tobeat the iPhone 16 Pro Maxat the end of 2024. We’ve got some other interesting tests if you’re still considering the S25 Ultra, as we’ve also put itagainst the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and we’ve got an in-depth look at how thetelephoto capabilities compare to its rivalshere.

The year was 2020, the month was February and Samsung had just kicked off yet another smartphone generation. The Galaxy S20 Ultra brought a lot of new features to the market, but crucially, Samsung’s marketing also made long zoom features and Ultra branding extremely desirable.

One of the key reasons to buy the Galaxy S20 Ultra — and subsequent Ultra phones from Samsung — was the camera. It featured a 108MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide camera, and a 48MP periscope telephoto camera that offered 4x optical zoom and 10x hybrid zoom. The latter also enabled the new 100X Space Zoom feature, which Samsung still promotes on its Ultra phones today.

Fast forward five years, and while the lineup has changed, the premise is still the same. The Galaxy S25 Ultra offers a 200MP main sensor, a 50MP ultrawide sensor, and two periscope lenses, one at 10MP with 3x optical zoom and the other at 50MP with 5x optical zoom. Yet, Samsung faces a problem: its Ultra phones face huge competition from the competition and it may no longer have the best zoom camera in the US.

To find out if it’s still the best, I tested it against the main competition and it’s very close: here’s what happened and which phone wins.

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How Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra camera has evolved

For a few years, Samsung faced no real competition in the US or most Western countries. As a result, the company was mostly able to refine its lineup at its own pace, without the added pressure of intense competition.

The Galaxy S20 Ultra introduced the Zoom race, whilst the Galaxy S21 Ultra saw Samsung adopt the quad-camera approach that it still uses today. It featured the same 108MP main camera, but introduced a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom — still in use today — and a secondary 10MP periscope lens with 10x optical zoom.

The Galaxy S22 Ultra featured the same camera as the S21 Ultra, but with the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung introduced a new 200MP main camera. This is the same one that’s found on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Last year’sGalaxy S24 Ultrathen saw Samsung tweak its approach to the zoom camera, by dropping the 10MP periscope lens with 10x optical zoom in favor of a 50MP periscope lens offering 5x optical zoom.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra keeps the same camera array as the Galaxy S24 Ultra but introduces a new 50MP ultrawide lens. However, the 3x and 5x telephoto lenses have proven to be fairly capable at low zoom lengths, but struggle to match another phone at the same 100x zoom length. The kicker for Samsung is that the other phone only has a single telephoto lens that only offers a 3x optical zoom.

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How the competition has evolved

Galaxy S25 Ultra next to the Galaxy S24 Ultra

As Samsung has proven there is global demand for phones with strong zoom capabilities, the competition has taken notice. Apple, Google, and OnePlus have all considered Samsung’s success and sought out different approaches to the camera to achieve similar, or better, results than Samsung’s best phone.

Here’s how the Galaxy S25 Ultra camera compares to the key flagship from each phone:

	Galaxy S25 Ultra	OnePlus 13	Pixel 9 Pro	Apple iPhone 16 Pro
Main Camera	200MP, f/1.7, 24mm 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS	50MP, f/1.6, 23mm 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS	50MP, f/1.7, 25mm 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS	48MP, f/1.8, 24mm 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS
Ultrawide Camera	50MP, f/1.9, 120° 0.7µm, Super steady Video, dual pixel PDAF	50MP, f/2.0, 15mm, 120° 0.64µm, PDAF	48MP, f/2.8, 123°, dual pixel PDAF	48MP, f/2.2, 13mm 0.7mm, PDAF
Telephoto Camera	10MP, f/2.4, 67mm Telephoto, 3x optical zoom 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS	50MP, f/2.6, 73mm Periscope telephoto, 3x optical zoom 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS	48MP, f/2.8, 113mm Periscope telephoto, 5x optical zoom dual pixel PDAF, OIS	12MP, f/2.8, 120mm Periscope telephoto, 5x optical zoom dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS
Telephoto Camera 2	50MP, f/3.4, 111mm Periscope telephoto, 5x optical zoom 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS	–	–	–
Selfie Camera	10MP, f/2.4, 67mm Telephoto, 3x optical zoom 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS	50MP, f/2.6, 73mm Periscope telephoto, 3x optical zoom 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS	42MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide), PDAF	12MP, f/1.9, 23mm PDAF, OIS

Samsung remains the only company in the US to adopt two telephoto lenses, with the 3x telephoto matching the one on the OnePlus 13, while the 5x matches the same zoom capabilities found on the iPhone 16 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro.

However, as we’ll see, the adage continues to ring true: it’s not just the hardware that matters, but how each camera and ISP uses the hardware. Further complicating this is the use of AI in post-processing and how each company uses it to further enhance the final photo.

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Testing the Galaxy S25 Ultra Zoom vs the US competition

On paper, the Galaxy S25 Ultra should be the most capable zoom camera in the US, but as the headline suggests, this is no longer the case. I’ve been traveling with Samsung’s latest flagship for several weeks and have tested it against the key competition in the US during both day and night.

For each zoom length, I’ve picked two sets of daytime photos to evaluate the zoom. One of these focuses on the ability to zoom into text and finer details, while the other points to its ability to zoom into landscapes and other subjects. Each phone has plenty of zoom lengths, but for this comparison, I’ve focused on the key ones: 1x, 3x/5x depending on which each phone has, 10x and 25x or 30x.

What about the competition? First, let’s consider thePixel 9 Pro. Google’s flagship offers a 5x zoom and a maximum of 30x zoom, so let’s look at each comparison. Here’s the first sample set.

• 1.Galaxy S25 Ultra 1x
• 2.Galaxy S25 Ultra 5x
• 3.Galaxy S25 Ultra 30x
• 4.Pixel 9 Pro 1x
• 5.Pixel 9 Pro 5x
• 6.Pixel 9 Pro 30x

Next, let’s look at the performance in the second scene.

• 1.Galaxy S25 Ultra 1x
• 2.Galaxy S25 Ultra 5x
• 3.Galaxy S25 Ultra 30x
• 4.Galaxy S25 Ultra 30x
• 5.Pixel 9 Pro 1x
• 6.Pixel 9 Pro 5x
• 7.Pixel 9 Pro 30x
• 8.Pixel 9 Pro 30x

The Pixel 9 Pro is fairly impressive in these two scenes, and I prefer it for the first two images in the first scene. However, once you get into the details, the Galaxy S25 Ultra beats it thanks to extra detail in the balcony railings, the cruise ship deck, and the sign on the cruise ship. It’s quite close, but the Galaxy S25 Ultra still wins this comparison.

Next, let’s look at theiPhone 16 Pro. Samsung’s flagship is billed as a competitor to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which features the same camera as its smaller sibling. The iPhone 16 Pro also features the same 5x found on the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which was previously exclusive just to the Max lineup.

Here’s how the two compare.

• 1.Galaxy S25 Ultra 1x
• 2.Galaxy S25 Ultra 5x
• 3.Galaxy S25 Ultra 30x
• 4.iPhone 16 Pro 1x
• 5.iPhone 16 Pro 5x
• 6.iPhone 16 Pro 25x

Next, let’s look at the performance in the second scene.

• 1.Galaxy S25 Ultra 1x
• 2.Galaxy S25 Ultra 5x
• 3.Galaxy S25 Ultra 30x
• 4.Galaxy S25 Ultra 30x
• 5.iPhone 16 Pro 1x
• 6.iPhone 16 Pro 5x
• 7.iPhone 16 Pro 25x
• 8.iPhone 16 Pro 25x

The iPhone 16 Pro is limited to just 25x maximum zoom and these images show why Apple limits the maximum zoom on its phones. The Galaxy S25 Ultra wins, but like the Pixel 9 Pro, I think both phones are quite similar at the lowest zoom lengths.

If we were to stop this comparison right now, Samsung would probably still rein supreme, but there’s one device remaining. On paper, theOnePlus 13shouldn’t be able to compete with the Galaxy S25 Ultra given its telephoto lens only has a 3x optical zoom and it lacks the 6x found on its non-US sibling, the Find X8 Pro. It does still feature a 6x option that’s billed as a hybrid between digital and optical zoom, so I’ve included this in the test as a comparison against the 5x on the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

• 1.Galaxy S25 Ultra 1x
• 2.Galaxy S25 Ultra 3x
• 3.Galaxy S25 Ultra 5x
• 4.Galaxy S25 Ultra 30x
• 5.OnePlus 13 1x
• 6.OnePlus 13 3x
• 7.OnePlus 13 6x
• 8.OnePlus 13 30x

Next, let’s look at the performance in the second scene.

• 1.Galaxy S25 Ultra 1x
• 2.Galaxy S25 Ultra 3x
• 3.Galaxy S25 Ultra 5x
• 4.Galaxy S25 Ultra 30x
• 5.OnePlus 13 1x
• 6.OnePlus 13 3x
• 7.OnePlus 13 6x
• 8.OnePlus 13 30x

Both phones are evenly matched throughout these comparisons, and it’s quite surprising that the OnePlus 13 can match the Galaxy S25 Ultra despite the lack of a fourth camera, and the smaller 3x optical zoom. At 30x zoom, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is just slightly better, but overall, they feel equally matched.

Unlike the iPhone 16 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro, the OnePlus 13 also goes further than 30x and this is where I’ve been blown away. From the same sets above, here are the same shots at 100x on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and the maximum 120x on the OnePlus 13.

• 1.Galaxy S25 Ultra 100x
• 2.OnePlus 13 120x
• 3.Galaxy S25 Ultra 100x
• 4.OnePlus 13 120x

As you can see, the OnePlus 13 picks up where Google left off and proves that you don’t necessarily need the best hardware to capture the best photos. Despite inferior zoom capabilities — on paper, at least — it has the best zoom of any of these phones I’ve tested. In particular, the AI does an excellent job of filling in missing details and throughout all my testing, it’s consistently proven to be better than the Galaxy S25 Ultra at the higher zoom lengths.

Here’s what you get with each Galaxy S25 model

Samsung’s newGalaxy S25 lineuparrives in stores February 7, giving you the chance to get your hands on one of the new models (assuming you didn’t already preorder your Galaxy S25, that is.) And with Samsung’s latest flagships officially on sale, would-be shoppers have an important question to answer: which of the three Galaxy S25 models are you going to buy?

For some people, that’s a question they’ve already answered, whether their choice of Galaxy S25 models boils to down to price, screen size or some other features. Still, others might be weighing the relative merits of the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus and Galaxy S25 Ultra, trying to figure which one best fits their needs. And it’s those folks that I’m here to help.

 We’ve already had a chance to post ourGalaxy S25 reviewas well as ourGalaxy S25 Ultra review. We’re finishing up testing on the Galaxy S25 Plus, and that review will be arriving shortly. Suffice it to say, though, we’ve spent some time with all three models and can provide all the details about how each one differs from the others.

Here’s a breakdown of Samsung’s Galaxy S25 lineup, looking at what the standard S25, S25 Plus and S25 Ultra have in common as well as what distinguishes each different model. Armed with our Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra comparison, you’ll be better equipped to decide on which version of Samsung’s flagship you should grab.

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Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Specs

	Galaxy S25	Galaxy S25 Plus	Galaxy S25 Ultra
Starting price	$799	$899	$1,299
Screen size	6.2 inches (2340 x 1080)	6.7 inches (3120 x 144)	6.9 inches (3120 x 1440)
Refresh rate	120Hz adaptive	120Hz adaptive	120Hz adaptive
Chipset	Snapdragon 8 Elite	Snapdragon 8 Elite	Snapdragon 8 Elite
RAM	12GB	12GB	12GB
Storage	128GB, 256GB	256GB, 512GB	256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Rear cameras	50MP main (f/1.8), 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 10MP 3x telephoto (f/2.4)	50MP main (f/1.8), 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 10MP 3x telephoto (f/2.4)	200MP main (f/1.7), 50MP ultrawide (f/1.9), 50MP 5x telephoto (f/3.4), 10MP 3x telephoto (f/2.4),
Front camera	12MP (f/2.2)	12MP (f/2.2)	12MP (f/2.2)
Battery size	4,000 mAh	4,900 mAh	5,000 mAh
Charging speed	25W wired, 15W wireless	45W wired, 15W wireless	45W wired, 15W wireless
Battery life (Hrs:Mins)	15:22	Not yet tested	17:14
Size	5.78 x 2.77 x 0.28 inches	6.24 x 2.98 x 0.29 inches	6.41 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches
Weight	5.7 ounces	6.7 ounces	7.7 ounces
Colors	Navy, Icyblue, Mint, Silver Shadow, Blueblack, Coralred, and Pinkgold	Navy, Icyblue, Mint, Silver Shadow, Blueblack, Coralred, and Pinkgold	Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Whitesilver, Titanium Jadegreen, Titanium Jetblack, Titanium Pinkgold

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Price

If you remember the starting prices for last year’sGalaxy S24 lineup, you already know what the S25 models will cost. Samsung is keeping the prices the same this time around.

The Galaxy S25 starts at $799 for the 128GB version of the entry level phone. You can upgrade to the 256GB model for an additional $60.

The Galaxy S25 Plus already starts at 256GB, with that base model costing $999. Doubling the storage to 512GB brings your price to $1,199.

At $1,299 for its 256GB version, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the most expensive of Samsung’s new phones. An extra $120 increases the storage to 512GB, while the 1TB version of the phone sells for $1,659

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Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Design

Samsung gives its Galaxy S lineup a common look, with flat sides and a row of camera lenses descending vertically down the back of the phone. In the case of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, its two rows of lenses to account for that phone’s extra cameras. As before, the models come in different sizes to accommodate their different-sized screens, though if you compare these latest phones to theirGalaxy S24counterparts, they’re thinner and lighter.

If you drill down to the details, the Galaxy S25 Ultra uses the fanciest materials of the new models, featuring a titanium frame and Corning Gorilla Armor 2, which is supposed to be more durable than the glass on last year’sGalaxy S24 Ultra. The Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus are no slouches when it comes to materials, using Armor Aluminum 2 and Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra remains the only model to come with an S Pen, though there’s a change with this year’s version. To make the phone lighter, Samsung removed theBluetoothradio from the stylus, so the S Pen can no longer double as a remote control or support Air Gestures.

Color options are a little more varied for the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus, as you can pick from Navy, Mint, Icyblue and Silver Shadow. Order your phone from Samsung, and you get three more color choices exclusive to the phone maker — Blueblack, Coralred and Pinkgold.

With a titanium sheen on each color option, the Galaxy S25 Ultra tries to take on a more sober air, with black, gray, whitesilver and silverblue options. Samsung exclusive colors add Jadegreen, Jetblack and Pinkgold to the mix, but with the same Titanium sheen.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Display

Galaxy S25 Ultra

We mentioned the different sizes of the Galaxy S25 phones reflecting the three display size options. The Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus will look very familiar, with both phones sporting the same 6.2- and 6.7-inch panels of their respective predecessors.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra, in contrast, offers a larger display than before, as the phone now sports a 6.9-inch screen. Samsung managed to increase the screen size by shrinking down the bezels and not really adding on to the size of the new Ultra model. The S25 Ultra is only fractionally taller but not as wide as the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

	Samsung Galaxy S25	Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Peak brightness (nits)	1,789	1,860
DCI-P3 color gamut coverage (%)	108.2 Vivid / 91.7 Natural	107.3 Vivid / 90.8 Natural
Delta-E color accuracy (lower is better)	0.25 Vivid / 0.31 Natural	0.25 Vivid / 0.24 Natural

Regardless of whether you prefer the compact form of the Galaxy S25 or the expansive screen space of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, you can expect a bright panel on your new phone. We measured the Galaxy S25 at 1,789 nites and the Galaxy S25 Ultra at 1,860 nits. Both of those light meter readers were higher than what we recorded testing last year’s phones.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Cameras

Galaxy S25

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is the model to get if you want thebest camera phoneSamsung has to offer. As before, it has the most lenses of any of the Galaxy S models and uses a 200MP main camera along with a pair of telephoto lenses that offer 5x and 3x zooms, respectively.

The ultrawide camera on the Galaxy S25 Ultra has gotten an upgrade to a 50MP sensor, up from 12MP on the S24 Ultra. That helps the new phone take much sharper, more detailed macro photos.

The Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus share the same camera setup — 50MP main shooter joined by 12MP ultrawide and 10MP telephoto lenses. If that sounds familiar, it’s because the cameras have gone unchanged since the Galaxy S23 series.

But that’s not to say that you won’t see improved images from either the Galaxy S25 or the Galaxy S25 Plus. All three new models benefit from improvements to the ProVisual Engine that handles photo-processing. The biggest impact from this change that we’ve noticed in our testing involves color reproduction. Past Samsung camera phones tended to oversaturate some colors, but images look a lot more realistic when shot by Samsung’s new phones. We also think low-light photography has improved with Samsung’s software tweaks, too.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Performance

Galaxy S25 Ultra

Samsung made a big change from recent Galaxy S releases when it came to the silicon that powers its new models — it’s no longer using different chipsets on phones released in different parts of the world. Rather than splitting the difference between Snapdragon and Exynos silicon depending on the model, every Galaxy S25 phone features a Snapdragon 8 Elite system-on-chip.

	Galaxy S25	Galaxy S25 Ultra	iPhone 16 Pro	OnePlus 13
Chipset	Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy	Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy	Apple A18 Pro	Snapdragon 8 Elite
Geekbench 6 (single-core/multi-core)	2,916 / 9,886	3.031 / 9,829	3,400 / 8,391	2,893 / 9,058
3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited (score/fps)	5,841 / 33.9	5,912 / 35.4	3,840 / 23.03	5,727 / 34.3
3DMark Steel Nomad Light Unlimited (score/fps)	2,304 / 17.1	2,116 / 16.2	1,582 / 11.7	2,206 / 16.4
Adobe Premiere Rush time to transcode (mins:secs)	0:53	0:52	0:21	1:01

That’s turned out to be a winning move for Samsung, as the Snapdragon 8 Elite provides a noticeable performance boost over last year’s models. (And, as we’ll discover in just a bit, it’s better at delivering that power while consuming less battery.) Even better, Samsung is going with an optimized version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite that’s fine-tuned for performance. As a result, Samsung’s phones outperform theOnePlus 13on some benchmarks, even though that Android phone is using the same chipset.

All three Galaxy S25 models come with 12GB of RAM in their base configurations. The memory is on hand to help the new phones run more AI-powered features on the device itself.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Battery life and charging

Galaxy S25 Plus

Apart from the screen size and Ultra camera setup, here’s where you’ll find the biggest disparity between the different Galaxy S models. Again, it’s a function of size — the larger models have more space to fit in big batteries and, as a consequence, tend to last longer on a charge.

Indeed, history repeats itself with the Galaxy S25 lineup — quite literally, too, as the new phones have the same battery sizes as their S24 counterparts. That means a 4,000 mAh power pack inside the Galaxy S25, while the S25 Plus and S25 Ultra use 4,900 mAh and 5,000 mAh cells, respectively.

It will not surprise you to know that the Galaxy S25 Ultra with its giant battery posted the best time of any Samsung phone ever, pending the result of Galaxy S25 Plus testing results. Samsung’s premium phone lasted 17 hours and 14 minutes on our test, holding out for 7-plus hours longer than the average smartphone.

But don’t discount the Galaxy S25 either, which also cracked into thebest phone battery lifelist despite its compact size. This phone posted an an average time just shy of 15.5 hours, besting the Galaxy S24 result by more than 2 hours.

Nothing’s changed with charging speeds, with the S25 Plus and S25 Ultra continuing to support 45W wired charging while the Galaxy S25 gets by with 25W speeds. The new phones support Qi2 wireless charging, but without the magnets embedded in the back of the phones to secure a correct fit with MagSafe charging pads. You’ll need to buy a separate case that supports Qi2 if you want to take advantage of that capability.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Software and Galaxy AI

My favorite thing about the Galaxy S25 series is that same Galaxy AI features that work on one device work on all of them. So if you wanted to take advantage of cross app actions or the newNow Brief featureor upgraded capabilities like Circle to Search, they’ll work just as well on the $799 Galaxy S25 as they do on the $1,299 Galaxy S25 Ultra. That brings tremendous value to Samsung’s less expensive models, while also eliminating your feelings of FOMO if you don’t want to pay up for the S25 Ultra.

The Galaxy S25 models also receive the same level of support from Samsung. Running Android 15 via the One UI 7 interface, these new phones can expect 7 more years of software and security updates.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Outlook

Deciding among the three Galaxy S25 models essentially comes down to screen size, battery life and price, though you could also argue that the Galaxy S25 Ultra offers the most premium photo experience with its more powerful zoom lens and upgraded ultrawide camera sensor. Otherwise, you can expect similar levels of performance from any Galaxy S25 phone right down to the Galaxy AI features that are the focus of the release.

So if you want a big screen phone with multiday battery life, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the obvious choice, with the Galaxy S25 Plus offering a fine big-screen alternative if you can’t or won’t pay $1,2999 for a phone. (Not that a $999 purchase is easy to swing, but it is $300 cheaper than the Ultra.) Fans of compact phones should turn to the Galaxy S25, confident that this phone lasts a pretty long time on a charge, too. And even if your budget only allows for an S25 purchase rather than one of the big-screen models, you can take comfort in the fact that AI features are exactly the same.

Samsung’s latest flagship Android smartphone has attracted some criticism since its launch, mostly due to apparent hardware and feature downgrades compared to its predecessor. Now, popular channels such as JerryRigEverything have verified that the most obvious work-around for these problems do not work. On the other hand, the S25 Ultra might also be the most reparable member of its series thus far.

The S24 Ultra (left) vs. the S25 Ultra. (Image source: PhoneRepairGuru via YouTube)

TheGalaxy S25 Ultrahas been hyped as the best-designed iteration of its line to date since its launch; however, it has also became apparent that it is in fact less capable than the thicker, heavier and longer S24 Ultrain certain areas.

The new flagship has lost the ability to supportOne UI’sAir Actions, as they require anS Penwith Bluetooth functionality. It was oncethought thatthey might be restored to the S25 Ultra with a simple stylus upgrade – however, Samsung hasdeclaredit will not be selling those. Nevertheless, it now seems that the OEM was indeed considering it during the smartphone’s development.

The S25 Ultra’s internals do in fact include the inductive coil necessary to charge an S Pen in its silo, as found by popular YouTubersJerryRigEverythingandPhoneRepairGuruduring their respective teardowns of the device. 

Unfortunately, that does not really matter, as the S25 Ultra’s S Pen is devoid of the inbuilt battery normally found within the accessory, as demonstrated by JerryRigEverything’s host Zach Nelson by the simple expedient of snapping it in half.

In addition, the YouTuber observed that the S24 Ultra’sS Pen refuses to “click into place” properly when inserted into the S25 Ultra instead in any case.

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On the other hand, the device-design enthusiasts also found it markedly easy toremovethe rear panel (in the presence of a good heat-gun and suction tool, that is) – not to mention the battery, which has a new and improved pull-pouch that is also re-usable.

The potentially commendable feature is also present in the vanilla Galaxy S25 (currently available for$799.99on Amazon), asPBKReviewscould attest during a teardown of that device. 

The S25 also has the same new cosmetic stick-oncamera ringsas its Ultra sibling – which, despite their increased dust-magnet potential, might actually make it easier to replace the devices’ rear-facing lenses if necessary.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Teardown Disassembly Phone Repair Video Review

They Didn’t Mention This… S25 Ultra Teardown

Updates for the Galaxy S21 series are slowing down

What you need to know

• Samsung subtly indicated that it will not be providing monthly updates to its Galaxy S21 series.
• Since the series was destined for 4 years of full software updates, it means One UI 7 is its last.
• Samsung Galaxy S21 FE still makes the cut for monthly updates, given its later release.

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Samsung’sGalaxy S25 seriesrecently launched with seven years worth of updates, which should begin with monthly security updates. However, anyone with the Galaxy S21 series will start noticing a slowdown in update cadence just four years after the phone’s launch.

In asecurity updates post, Samsung lays out the devices that will get monthly, quarterly, and bi-annual updates. As recently spotted by9to5Google, the S21 series will now be downgraded to quarterly updates.

Monthly, quarterly, and biannual firmware security updates include patches for Android OS-related security issues released by Google, as well as patches for Samsung-specific security issues.

This change in update cadence will impact the standard Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, and Ultra models since they were. However, owners should note that the phones are still expected to receive the massive One UI 7 update, as they were promised four years of OS upgrades after launching with Android 11. This will bring a revamped UI and perhaps additional Galaxy AI features in tandem with the latest flagship models. So, the S21 owners still have something to be excited about.

That said, theGalaxy S21 FEwas launched later in 2021, so it will continue to receive monthly updates for now, along with all subsequent S series models, starting from S22 until the most recentGalaxy S25 series.

Some of the other devices still eligible for monthly security updates include the following models: Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G, Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G, Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, Galaxy Z Fold 6, Galaxy Z Flip 6, W23, W23 Flip, W24, W24 Flip, W25, W25 Flip, Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition and Enterprise Models starting with the Galaxy A53 5G.

Along with these phone-related updates, Samsung is releasing a security patch for its wearables as well, listed below:

• Galaxy Watch 4, Galaxy Watch 4 Classic
• Galaxy Watch 5, Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
• Galaxy Watch 6, Galaxy Watch 6 Classic
• Galaxy Watch FE
• Galaxy Watch 7
• Galaxy Watch Ultra

As for the Galaxy S21, owners should continue to see updates last until sometime in early 2026, although it’s unlikely it’ll receive the next major Android release.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra just doesn’t cut it

We’re just under a week away from the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra release day, and with that comes a choice many Android phonemakers will have to make: Will you buy the phone, or skip it and choose something else instead?

Frankly, for me at least, it’s a pretty easy decision to make.

The answer is a resounding no, and it’s all down to the fact that the Galaxy S25 Ultra is one of the blandest upgrades I’ve seen over the past couple of years. Beaten only by theiPhone 14, which was essentially aniPhone 13with some very minor upgrades.

It’s getting to the point where I’m wondering whether my money would be better spent buying aGalaxy S24 Ultrainstead.

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Galaxy S25 Ultra doesn’t feel like much of an upgrade

Here’s a quick design comparison between the new Galaxy S25 Ultra (left) and last year’s Galaxy S24 Ultra (right). Notice the smaller bezels and more rounded corners on the S25U.

When you look at the Galaxy S25 Ultra specs, and compare them to last year’s model, there isn’t a whole lot of what I’d consider “new” stuff. The screen is marginally bigger at 6.9-inches, and the chipset has been upgraded to a newer and faster model. There’s alsoa version of Qi2, though it relies on a specialist case if you want the magnetic benefits.

Really the only major hardware upgrade is the 50MP ultrawide camera. That’s a useful upgrade, even if it is long overdue, and it’s going to help the Galaxy S25 Ultra claim a position on our best camera phones page. But it’s not the kind of upgrade that makes buying a whole new phone worthwhile.

	Galaxy S25 Ultra	Galaxy S24 Ultra
Starting price	$1,299	$1,299
Screen size	6.9″ QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display	6.8″ QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display
Refresh rate	120Hz	120Hz
Processor	Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy	Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy
OS	Android 15 / One UI 7	Android 14 / One UI 6
RAM	12GB	12GB
Storage	256GB, 512GB, 1TB	256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Rear cameras	200MP Wide, 50MP Ultrawide, 50MP 5x telephoto, 10MP 3x telephoto	200MP Wide, 12MP Ultrawide, 50MP 5x telephoto, 10MP 3x telephoto
Front camera	12MP	12MP
Battery	5,000 mAh	5,000 mAh
Dimensions	3.05 x 6.40 x 0.32 inches	6.39 x 3.11 x 0.34 in
Weight	7.68 ounces	8.18 oz
Dust/water resistance	IP68	IP68
Colors	Titan Black, Titan Gray, Titan Silverblue, Titan Whitesilver	Titan Black, Titan Gray, Titan Violet, Titan Blue

In fact there are a couple of places where the Galaxy S25 Ultra is either a downgrade compared to last year or still not on par with some of its main rivals.

The S Pen is proving to be the most infamous of these, withSamsung stripping out the Bluetooth functionalityand related features from the stylus — claiming they weren’t popular enough to keep around. Samsung claims that aBluetooth enabled pen will go on sale as a standalone product, but that feels like a price hike with extra steps.

Aria also pointed outthat the loss of Air Gestures meant that the Galaxy S25’s desktop mode (DeX) isn’t nearly as useful this time around. So it’s no surprise that it hasn’t stopped apetition trying to return the decisionfrom appearing.

Other notable omissions include any meaningful rise in wireless charging speeds, which is still stuck at 15W. The maximum amount of RAM available in the U.S. is also 12GB, despite rumors that a 16GB model could make an appearance. RAM is very important for on-device AI, and we’re seeing other Android flagships like thePixel 9 Proboost its memory up to 16GB. Given how much Samsung has emphasized AI in theGalaxy S25series, it’s a massive surprise that the Ultra model now has the same amount of RAM as the standard and Plus models.

There’s more to a phone than mere hardware, and software does play a big part in what the device can do. Unfortunately it’s unclear whether the Galaxy S25 offers much that won’t also come to older phones.

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How much of this software is exclusive?

Samsung has spent a great deal of time discussing how the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s software can benefit the phone and its users. AI in particular has been at the forefront of Samsung’s marketing, offering up a bunch of waysGalaxy AI is improving this year.

A big part of how Galaxy AI has changed involves the addition of AI agents, and multimodal capabilities that allow Galaxy AI to see and understand multiple kinds of input — including speech, text, images and video. All with the aim of making the process of communicating with AI more natural. It’s a big change for Samsung, even if these aren’t particularly unique capabilities.

For all the benefits Samsung has been lauding, it’s unclear whether these improvements are general upgrades to Galaxy AI — or features kept exclusively for the Galaxy S25 series. Samsung hasn’t been particularly clear on this point, and the last thing anyone wants is to pick up a new $1,300 phone only to find that all its best features are also available on the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

On the one hand Samsung does have theSnapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which promises to offer greater performance and helps power more advanced on-device AI processing. But on the other hand, we’ve already seen that some features, like theNow Bar, are already available as part of theOne UI 7 beta— meaning it’s available (in some form) on the year-old Galaxy S24 Ultra as well. Likewise improvements to Circle to Search and otherGoogle-made AI features are likely to make their way to Pixels and other Android phones in the coming weeks and months.

Not knowing what the future holds for Galaxy AI, and other software flourishes, makes me even more hesitant to take the plunge and pick up a Galaxy S25 Ultra. We don’t know what One UI 7 has in store for older Galaxy phones, and if last year is anything to go by we could see a bunch of new AI features and upgrades make their way to older phones.

Heck, even theSamsung Galaxy A35supportssome Galaxy AI features— and that’s $900 cheaper than the S25 Ultra. And bearing all that in mind, it has me seriously doubting whether the Galaxy S25 Ultra is worth it.

Bottom line

If you have an older phone, or maybe even a mid-range model then perhaps the S25 Ultra will be a worthwhile upgrade. There’s a lot on offer here, and while it does cost a lot, I have no doubt that the S25 Ultra will be one of the best phones you can buy. But that doesn’t change the fact that this is a very disappointing upgrade, and it feels like Samsung hasn’t tried that hard to give us a substantial upgrade.

Whether its downgrades to the S Pen, minimal extra hardware, or software that could easily come to older phones in the near future, the Galaxy S25 Ultra doesn’t really seem to have a unique selling point. Worse still the rounded design means that it’s lost its visual distinctiveness compared to other phones.

If you’re spending $1,300 on a brand new phone, the last thing you need is either the same thing as last year, or something that doesn’t stand out against the competition. Unfortunately the Galaxy S25 Ultra seems to hit both those boxes.

I think this is as close as we’ve gotten to smartphones being able to replace digital cameras.

 I spent some time in Slovenia this week with Honor, and captured some stunning landscape shots of Lake Bled (one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen) using nothing but one of thebest camera phones– the new Honor Magic 7 Pro.

It’s not a secret that I have always considered theSamsung GalaxyS24 Ultra as the ultimate camera phone, especially thanks to the latest advancements in AI imaging tools. But more recently I’ve been questioning the quality of this camera the more that I’ve gotten to use alternatives from competitors, including some of thebest iPhones for photography.

I decided to putHonor’s new Magic 7 Proto the test during my time in Slovenia, with a camera phone shootout against my current smartphone, the S24 Ultra. To keep things fair, I used the same aspect ratio when shooting these images and the same resolution wherever possible. Take a look at the 100% unedited image sliders (move the slider to see the full image) and galleries below for the results of this ultimate camera phone shootout.

The Honor Magic 7 Pro only has a 50MP main camera, compared with the 200MP main camera on my Samsung S24 Ultra. However, the Honor Magic 7 Pro benefits from a larger aperture at f/1.4, compared with Samsung’s f/1.7, meaning it can take in much more light.

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Honor also seems to have the upper hand against Samsung when it comes to the telephoto camera, with a 200MP f/2.6 72mm periscope lens with the intelligent AI Super Zoom, compared with the S4 Ultra’s 50 MP f/3.4 111mm periscope lens. Both phone cameras offer 100x zoom, and I was eager to put this to the challenge.

Photos from the Honor Magic 7 Pro

Photos from my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

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As you can see from the image galleries above, both of these are exceptional camera phones (though the beautiful Slovenian landscapes certainly help). I found that my Samsung S24 Ultra produced the sharpest unedited results in most cases, though only by a fraction, whereas the Honor Magic 7 Pro produced the best final image with AI enhancements made for more vibrant colours and hues.

The Super Zoom on the Honor Magic 7 has amazing potential, but I don’t think it’s quite there yet. You can blatantly tell that AI has been used to fill in the gaps, and I think the result looks more like an abstract painting for now than a real image.

The verdict:I think if you’re someone who likes to edit and tweak images yourself for the best result then the S24 Ultra offers the best starting point with RAW capabilities. But if you’re looking for a shot that’sInstagram-ready from the get-go then Honor’s Magic 7 Pro takes the crown.

There’s some good news here for those eyeing the Galaxy S25 series, too.

What you need to know

• Samsung has now rolled out support for unlimited, free cracked screen and glass back repairs through its Care Plus Theft & Loss package.
• Consumers with an eligible devices can walk-in or mail-in their device and receive a free display repair.
• Samsung states its Galaxy S25 series is included with this, which is good news as it prepares to arrive on January 22.
• The company rolled out unlimited battery repairs for its Care Plus subscribers in May 2024.

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Samsung is expanding its Care Plus subscription for your Galaxy devices with another type of unlimited repair.

As highlighted by9to5Google, the Samsung Care Plus with Theft & Loss package has now rolled out support for “unlimited screen repairs.” Per the company’s website, the “unlimited protection” plan now includes “same-day $0 cracked screen and back glass repairs.” Samsung adds that users will have access to these repairs at over 700 of its authorized locations. Consumers have the option of mailing-in their devices, as well, per the publication.

Things aren’t as cut and dry as Samsung states the same-day portion of this plan “may be available for eligible devices inselectareas.” While this plan supports its Galaxy devices like yourGalaxy S24 series, it reportedly does not service the brand’s foldable phones.

The folks at 9to5 were also given a quick note about this Theft & Loss addition, which states Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S25 is eligible for its unlimited screen repairs.

Samsung’s debut of cracked screen repairs applies to Care Plus subscribers without Theft & Loss attached, too. For this, the company states users will have to chuck up a $29 fee at any of its locations for device service. Those with Samsung Care Plus Essentials are left out of this screen repair service.

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Expanding the reach of coverage occurred early last year as Samsung announcedits unlimited battery supportfor Care Plus subscribers. There was a catch to this as the company stated users will receive repairs so long as there is no “additional damage”andyour device is still covered. The battery repair service only applies to users with devices that have a total battery charge capacity under 79%.

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Following the announcement last March, Samsung brought it to its Care Plus subscribers that May. However, it came with an extra $2 charge on their typical monthly bill, per an email.

The addition lets users walk into several of Samsung’s stores for battery repairs. The addition seemed to make sense, especially after the companypartnered with Batteries Plus. In 2023, Samsung and Batteries Plus got together to convert 35 stores across the U.S. into Samsung Authorization Service Centers. The work done there enables consumers to get a device fixed in two hours or less.

In other news, it’s nice to see Samsung granting its Galaxy S25 series some support — even though it’snot here until January 22. 

Samsung wants to buy your old smartphone, but unlike its usual trade-in programs, its newly launchedGalaxy Easy Rewardprogram doesn’t require you to buy a new phone at all. With it, Samsung is taking on the various phone recycling and used device centers that purchase your old phone, saving you the effort of selling it privately.

Galaxy Easy Reward goes online in Korea on January 14, and the range of phones Samsung will buy is extensive. Starting out with the Galaxy S20 series, Samsung will also buy back the S21, S22, and S23 series, along with the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Z Fold 4, and Galaxy Z Fold 5. It closes out the list with the Galaxy Z Flip 3, Galaxy Z Flip 4, and Galaxy Z Flip 5. The latestGalaxy S24series,Galaxy Z Fold 6, andGalaxy Z Flip 6aren’t included.

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How much the phone is worth depends on the condition, and it appears the Galaxy Easy Reward system will initially provide an estimate, and will finalize the price once the device has been returned. It will grade phones in an unusual way too, with either “Excellent” or “Good” presumably meaning the phone can be resold, and the final “Recycle” grade meaning the phone will be broken down for parts.

It also seems Samsung will buy non-Samsung devices, but the wording isn’t clear in the translated Korean press release. Why has Samsung launched the Galaxy Easy Reward program? A quote from Samsung Electronics’ Vice President Jung Ho-jin explains:

“We expect this program to increase the long-term value of Galaxy products and contribute to the circular economy,” he said.

The Apple iPhone is well-known for retaining its value on the used market compared to most other smartphones, and it appears Samsung wants to give its phones a boost. A top-spec, mint conditioniPhone 16 Plustrades for up to $763 according to used device buyerSellCell, while aSamsung Galaxy S24 Plusfetchesup to $613. By increasing the phone’s used value, Samsung likely hopes to tempt more buyers to its brand-new phones.

The Galaxy Easy Reward program will first launch in Korea, but the press release states it will expand to other regions in the future.