It’s been the same old story over the past few years, with tech enthusiasts claiming that smartphone designs have gotten boring. Samsung is most likely the biggest “offender” when it comes to iterative designs, but the reality is that there’s nothing wrong with a phone that’s been refined to a point that makes it extremely reliable.

For most people, the Galaxy S25 series is going to be one of the best options if you’re looking to buy a new phone.

The design is sleek, the hardware and performance are solid, and the software experience and support are impressive. Plus, there are different models to choose from, making it easier to find one that fits your budget.

The right choice for most people

Although the Galaxy S25 Ultra might be the phone that gets the most attention, the Galaxy S25 is going to be the one that’s good for most people. You get all the high-end features you’re looking for in a flagship-level phone, in a design that’s still quite pocketable.

Samsung’s software just keeps getting better and better with each new version of One UI. Plus, the brand has promised seven years of updates, which means this phone will stay fresh for years to come.

As far as some of the highlights, we loved the 6.2-inch AMOLED display, along with the performance from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip paired with 12GB of RAM. The storage starts at 128GB, but there are options for 256GB and 512GB if needed.

You’ll want to think long and hard here, as the storage cannot be expanded later using a microSD card. The 4,000mAh battery is going to last most people all day, but we wish Samsung would have stuck a slightly larger battery in this model, or at least upped the charging speed beyond 25W.

Plenty of cameras

The Galaxy S25 might be compact, but it definitely doesn’t lack any cameras. You get a triple camera setup on the rear, with a 50MP main shooter, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP 3x telephoto. You’re going to get the best results the light you have, so daytime shots are going to be where you’ll see the cameras really shine.

That doesn’t mean you can’t shoot at night, but the results are going to just be okay, which is what you can pretty much expect from most smartphones. While we weren’t impressed with the cameras, I think most people are going to find that they are just fine. Naturally, there’s always the chance that things will get better in the future, especially with software updates that enhance the shooting experience.

It’s good at MSRP, but even better with a discount

As stated before, the Galaxy S25 is a solid phone. We praised it in our review, and thought it would be a great option for anyone looking for something new.

Sure, there are other options available, like a Google Pixel, but it’s all just really going to come down to what you’re looking for. Samsung has delivered dozens of reliable handsets over the past few years, and the Galaxy S25 is no different.

And while it isn’t the most exciting entry in the lineup, you’re getting something that just works, which is probably the most important aspect of any phone you purchase. With that said, the Galaxy S25 is now seeing a $125 discount ahead of Black Friday, making it an absolute steal. It’s the lowest price we’ve seen, so grab it while you can if you’re looking for something new.

SoC

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy

RAM

12GB

Storage

128GB, 256GB, 512GB

Battery

4,000mAh

Ports

USB-C

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 keeps things small without sacrificing power. With a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, 12GB of RAM, and all sorts of tools courtesy of Galaxy AI, this is everything you expect from a modern flagship squeezed into a relatively svelte chassis.