Samsung Galaxy S25: Compact, Fast, and Still Ahead in 2026

Samsung had a lot to prove after the Galaxy S24. Across Europe, the Exynos chip in most Galaxy S24 units drew complaints: thermal throttling crept in under sustained load, and battery life disappointed compared to the Snapdragon version available in the US. The S25 changed that. For the first time globally, Samsung shipped the Snapdragon 8 Elite, and the difference is measurable.

At 162g and 7.2mm thin, the S25 remains one of the few compact phones that pairs top-tier performance with a pocketable form factor, a combination that grows harder to find in 2026. With the Galaxy S26 now at launch pricing, the S25 has dropped considerably: available refurbished for a fraction of its launch price, with 6 Android updates still to come.

Compact when compact matters. At 162g and 7.2mm, the Galaxy S25 fits in a front trouser pocket without a second thought. Multiple reviewers across 2025 and 2026 called this increasingly rare: a phone easy to use one-handed in a market moving toward wider, heavier slabs. If that matters to you, the S25 delivers.

Fingerprint sensor that works every time. The ultrasonic under-display fingerprint sensor reads fast from standby and stays consistent, even through a thick tempered glass screen protector. Multiple long-term reviewers flagged it as one of the best implementations on any phone available now.

Call AI that earns its place. The S25 records calls, transcribes them, summarises them, and translates in real time: voice to text to voice, within the same call. Users on long-term daily-driver reviews confirmed it as a practical tool, and the capability is ahead of what iOS offers natively.

One UI depth without the trade-off. Good Lock, Samsung’s free customisation layer, enables custom icon packs, grid size adjustments, and gesture animation tuning, all without installing a third-party launcher or losing the phone’s native fluidity. Pixel forces a Google bar on the home screen. iOS does not allow icon packs. On the S25, both constraints are gone.

Battery that lasts the day. The Snapdragon 8 Elite’s efficiency makes the 4,000 mAh battery go further than the number suggests. Normal use returns 3 to 5 hours of screen-on time. Under a sustained stress test, used as a 5G mobile hotspot for nearly 5 hours during a live video upload, the phone still made it to 19:00 before running out.

25W charging: the S25’s least impressive spec. At a price point where 35W or 45W is now common, 25W wired charging feels below par. Thirty minutes takes you from empty to roughly 50%, useful but not the fast top-up the competition now delivers. If charging speed matters more than compact size, the Galaxy S25+ steps up to 45W.

Camera sensors that trace back to the S22 era. In good light, the main camera delivers natural, accurate photos, and colour processing is noticeably better than on the Galaxy S24 and earlier models. But the hardware goes back further than the marketing suggests: the ultrawide has no autofocus (no macro shots), the telephoto is 10MP (fine for social sharing, limited for large prints), and low-light stills show digital noise. For serious camera work, the S25 Ultra is the Samsung answer.

‘Qi2 Ready’ is not the same as Qi2. Samsung labels the S25 as ‘Qi2 Ready’ rather than Qi2. The practical difference: the phone has no built-in magnets, so a magnetic case is required to unlock full Qi2 wireless accessory compatibility. Phones like the Google Pixel 10 include those magnets natively. The S25 does not.

The official Samsung case disappoints. At around £30, the manufacturer’s clear case has a poor reputation: reviewers describe it as cheap-feeling, slippery, and offering no screen protection. Skip it. The community recommendation is the Spigen Ultra Hybrid S, which adds grip, drop protection, built-in magnets, and a kickstand.

Is the Samsung Galaxy S25 still worth buying in 2026?

Yes. Performance, software, and display are virtually unchanged compared to the S26. All three are also a step forward from the Galaxy S24. GSMArena’s lab verdict after head-to-head testing: ‘if you can live without the incremental upgrades, better go with the S25 and save cash.’ Refurbished pricing makes that case even stronger.

Should I buy the S25 or wait for the Galaxy S26?

Buy the S25 if you shoot 3x telephoto at night, want to save money, or the compact size matters to you. Buy the S26 if the extra 2 hours of battery life is essential or the improved selfie camera is important for your workflow. The performance gap in daily use is undetectable.

Will Galaxy AI features stay free?

Yes, confirmed still free in 2026. Call recording, transcription, and real-time translation are all active with no subscription. Samsung has indicated it may introduce pricing in future, but has not done so.

How does a refurbished S25 battery hold up?

After a full year of real-world use, independent reviews found the S25 battery still delivers a full day. On refurbed, battery health is checked and graded: the grade on your listing reflects actual capacity. A grade A or B unit performs like a new device.