For the past three weeks, I’ve been testing the Samsung Galaxy S25 — not in a lab, but in the real world: streaming videos while out and about, wirelessly charging it in my car, editing photos on the go, and syncing it with my Galaxy Buds and Watch. This isn’t a specs-only rundown — this is what it’s like to live with Samsung’s most compact flagship.
Design: Smaller, Simpler, Still Premium
The first thing I noticed about the S25 is how effortlessly it disappears into my pocket. Weighing just 162g and measuring 7.2mm in thickness, it’s noticeably lighter and slimmer than larger flagships. Samsung didn’t skimp on build quality — you still get Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both sides and a reinforced Armor Aluminum 2 frame.
Display: Small in Size, Big in Brightness
The 6.2-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display surprised me. It’s vivid, fluid with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and reaches up to 2600 nits peak brightness — making it one of the brightest on any Samsung phone to date. Streaming content outdoors was a breeze, with no visibility issues even under direct sunlight.
Performance & Battery: All the Power You Actually Need
Equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy and 12GB of RAM, the S25 feels every bit like a flagship. It handled multitasking, photo editing, and AI tools smoothly — no stutter, no slowdowns.
The 4000mAh battery comfortably lasted through a full day of moderate to heavy use. When needed, 25W wired charging brought it up to 50% in just over 30 minutes, and 15W wireless charging added convenience. Additionally, 4.5W reverse wireless charging allowed me to top up my Galaxy Buds in a pinch.
Camera: Familiar, Functional, and Now Smarter
Samsung’s AI-infused camera software elevates a capable camera system. The 50MP main, 10MP telephoto (3x optical zoom), and 12MP ultrawide lenses consistently delivered balanced, social-ready shots.
Features like Object Eraser and Photo Assist turned cluttered shots into polished posts in seconds.
 
 
Galaxy AI: Quietly Useful
I didn’t expect to use AI tools this much, but here we are. Circle to Search helped me identify items online. Now Brief made the lock screen feel smarter without being intrusive. And Gemini handled cross-app tasks with surprising ease.
These features feel practical, not gimmicky.
A Note on the Ultra Dilemma
Let me back up. I skipped the Galaxy S24 Ultra entirely. At the time, I wasn’t sold on Galaxy AI — it felt like a trend, more marketing than meaningful. The S24 launch came and went, and I stayed put on my S23 Ultra. Why? Because it still delivered — the S Pen, the 200MP main camera, and the 10x optical zoom gave me power, flexibility, and reliability I didn’t feel like giving up just yet.
The S23 Ultra is still a top-tier device. I use the S Pen to sign documents, take quick notes, and even sketch interface mockups. The large display is perfect for reviewing presentations or editing photos on the go. And when I travel or shoot content, the camera system still holds its own against newer releases.
But after a few weeks with the Galaxy S25, something shifted. I didn’t expect to enjoy a smaller phone this much. The compact size felt refreshing. It fit on my car’s wireless charger — something the Ultra never managed. It didn’t dig into my pocket. I could actually use it one-handed without readjusting every two seconds.
And even though it doesn’t match the Ultra spec-for-spec, I didn’t feel like I was losing much. The performance was just as fast. The photos looked great. And Galaxy AI? It turned out to be more useful than I expected. Tools like Object Eraser, Circle to Search, and Now Brief became part of my routine.
That’s the dilemma I’ve been sitting with. I haven’t retired the Ultra — far from it. But the S25 is making a strong case for what a flagship can be when it’s not trying to do everything. It doesn’t just work — it fits. And some days, that matters more.
Conclusion
The Galaxy S25 isn’t trying to be the most powerful Samsung phone. It’s aiming to be the most practical — and it largely succeeds. It’s compact, well-built, and smart in all the right ways. With Galaxy AI proving its worth, the S25 doesn’t feel like a step down from the Ultra. It feels like a shift in what a flagship can be.
If you value portability, clean software, and a camera-smartphone combo that just works, this is the one to consider — even if you come from the top end.
Maglazana Rating: 9/10 Full Specs : https://www.samsung.com/za/smartphones/galaxy-s25/specs/
