Samsung Galaxy S25: A Letdown for Loyalists (869 User Reviews Analyzed)

We analyzed 869 verified user reviews for the Samsung Galaxy S25 to understand what real owners think. Our team read these experiences to identify comments about key aspects of the phone, including its camera, screen, performance, and battery life.

For each aspect, we categorized every mention as positive, negative, or neutral. This process lets us calculate a percentage score, showing you exactly where the phone shines and where it disappoints, based on the collective voice of its users.

💰 Value for Money: Great for new, weak for upgrades

When evaluating the Value for Money of the Samsung Galaxy S25, the story is one of high satisfaction for new buyers clashing with a sense of hesitation from existing users. The core of this phone’s value proposition is heavily anchored in its overall performance, with 90% of users expressing satisfaction relative to its cost—a score that outpaces the category average by 6 percentage points.

For those who invest, the feeling is overwhelmingly positive. They see it not just as a purchase but as a future-proof investment. One user stated:

with its blend of top-tier hardware and intelligent software it makes it a future-proof investment.

This sentiment is echoed by another who, after weighing the features against the price, concluded it is:

a stellar flagship phone that excels in almost every aspect.

Upgrade Justification

However, a notable friction point emerges when considering whether the phone justifies an upgrade. While a 69% positive score on this factor is a full 10 points above the category average, it still means that nearly a third of users who commented on it were unconvinced.

The practical impact is a sense of diminishing returns for owners of recent models. They grapple with the feeling that the changes, while good, are not revolutionary enough to warrant the high price of a new flagship. As one user bluntly put it:

If you have an S24 you really don’t need this phone.

Another expanded on this, noting:

The S25 Ultra is not even that far ahead of the S24 Ultra, many of the difference are ai software based and many will probably come to the S24 in the future.

This creates a clear value-based dilemma for loyal Samsung customers.

Competitive Landscape

This tension is sharpened by the competitive landscape. While the S25’s 90% satisfaction-to-cost score handily beats the Apple iPhone 16 (78%) and its own predecessor, the S23 (79%), it still trails the value-centric OnePlus 12 (94%). This suggests that while Samsung delivers a premium experience that users feel is worth the price, brands positioned explicitly on value still offer a more compelling cost-benefit ratio for some.

For users coming from much older devices, the decision is easier; one declared their upgrade from an S20 a:

HUGE! upgrade

Another who jumped from an S22+ said:

it’s been really worthwhile.

But for those with newer models, the decision is clouded by the feeling that Samsung is delivering:

no innovation. Only moving backwards.

Trade-Off: The Samsung Galaxy S25 delivers exceptional satisfaction for those who take the plunge, but a significant number of existing users feel the incremental improvements don’t justify the cost of upgrading from a recent model.

📸 Camera: Zooming Into Disappointment

Regarding the Samsung Galaxy S25’s camera, the story is one of fundamental brilliance undercut by perplexing regressions. Users are overwhelmingly impressed with core image quality, which scores a robust 88% in our deep analysis, a full 10 points above the category average.

This satisfaction is rooted in tangible, everyday results. One user raved:

The clarity, sharpness, reduced blur, finer detail, and colouring of the image and/or video quality is so noticeable I cannot believe how good the new camera setup is.

Similarly, low-light performance is a standout at 87% positive sentiment, soaring 26 points above the average. For many, this translates into newfound confidence when shooting after dark, as one owner noted:

Low-light photography is impressive, with AI reducing noise and enhancing details effortlessly.

A Step Back in Zoom

However, this glowing praise is tempered by significant user frustration with what feels like a step backward in other areas. The phone’s zoom capabilities, while scoring 76% and far outpacing the category average of 46%, represent a stark 16-point drop from the 92% satisfaction of its predecessor, the Galaxy S23.

This is not just a number on a page; it’s a tangible loss of functionality for loyal users. As one upgrader lamented:

I’m understandably disappointed with losing such amazing zoom features on the camera.

This sentiment is compounded by a feeling that the hardware is stagnating, with some users concluding the cameras are “a couple of generations old now” and that Samsung “didn’t make big changes to the quality of the photos compared to other much cheaper models,” a painful critique for a flagship device.

Competitive Weakness

This internal conflict is magnified when placing the S25 in the competitive landscape. While it holds its own against the Google Pixel 9, it reveals a critical weakness against the Apple iPhone 16 and OnePlus 12, both of which achieve a perfect 100% satisfaction score for zoom capabilities.

This 24-point deficit creates a clear decision point for consumers who value telephoto performance. For them, the S25’s otherwise excellent camera system may feel incomplete.

The feeling is that Samsung has focused on the point-and-shoot experience at the expense of the versatility that made its previous models market leaders, leaving some to feel the device falls behind:

faces stiff competition from rivals with higher-resolution sensors and advanced features and this is where I think the plus falls behind a little.

Trade-Off: Buyers must choose between the S25’s superb core image and low-light performance and the superior zoom capabilities offered by its direct competitors and even its own predecessor.

📱 Screen: Smoothness vs. Dull Colors

The screen on the Samsung Galaxy S25 proves to be a technically brilliant, yet polarising, centerpiece. The user experience is defined by a standout performance in smoothness, achieving a 94% positive sentiment for its refresh rate—a full 19 points above the category average.

This isn’t just a number; it’s a tangible feeling of excellence. This fluidity translates into a premium, responsive feel that underpins the entire user interaction, making day-to-day use feel exceptionally polished. Users describe this feeling clearly:

scrolling and swiping between pages is smooth, with a nice fluid motion

buttery smooth 120hz refresh rate [is] pleasing to the eye.

Color Controversy

However, beneath this fluid surface lies a significant point of contention. While the display’s overall quality and vibrancy scores a solid 88%, a vocal group of users expresses profound disappointment over the color tuning, feeling it’s a notable step back.

They describe the display as having:

washed out and dull colors.

One user found it so jarring they called it:

the biggest (and absolutely heartbreaking) problem

They lamented that this made the phone feel like a downgrade, stating:

the screen looks worse than a phone made in 2021.

For these customers, the move toward more natural tones has resulted in a screen that lacks the punch of previous models, leading to a persistent negative feeling.

every time I look at the screen, I get disappointed.

Winning on Design and Glare

This mixed experience is thrown into sharper relief when compared to its context. Samsung’s decision to embrace a flat-screen design, a departure from the curved edges of past models, has been widely praised, earning a 75% positive score in a category that averages only 42%.

Users feel the change is better for durability, calling it:

more sensible and safer for protecting the screen

One who upgraded from an older model declared:

I love the flat screen. I never enjoyed the edge technology.

Furthermore, the S25 establishes clear dominance over its main rival, the Apple iPhone 16, in crucial usability factors. Its anti-reflection technology scores an impressive 81% positive rating against the iPhone’s 0%, a difference one user called an “absolute game changer” for outdoor viewing.

Trade-Off: While the screen delivers class-leading smoothness, responsiveness, and anti-glare performance, its move toward a more natural color profile alienates a segment of users who find the display disappointingly dull compared to its vibrant predecessors.

✨ Design: Premium Feel, Missing Features

In the realm of design, the Samsung Galaxy S25 tells a story of profound improvement, focusing on the tangible experience of holding and using the phone. The most significant praise from users is reserved for the build quality and materials, which earned a stellar 89% positive sentiment—a full 13 points above the category average. This isn’t just a number; it’s a feeling of confidence users have in their expensive new device.

The shift to a titanium frame is a recurring theme, giving users a sense of security they felt was missing before. As one owner explained:

“having a titanium body-built phone fills me with confidence that, in the worst case I was to drop the phone, the S25U would likely do more damage to the floor than what the phone would receive!”

Others agree, noting it “feels very luxurious and well built” and “rock solid at the same time.”

Feel and Finish

This premium feel is masterfully balanced with exceptional in-hand comfort. The phone’s size and handling scored an impressive 83% positive rating, outpacing the category average by 12 points. Users repeatedly celebrate that the phone feels both comfortable and lightweight, a crucial combination for a device used for hours each day.

This is a particular victory for those who feel overwhelmed by the ever-increasing size of modern flagships. One user shared:

“The main reason I bought an S25 is the size, I have very small hands and I find it hard to find a device these days which isn’t HUGE. The S25 feels great.”

Another simply stated it was “noticeably lighter than the old one,” making it a pleasure to use.

Features Tell a Different Story

However, the narrative is complicated by user sentiment surrounding specific design features and changes. While this factor still scores 16 points above the 40% category average, at 56% it represents the lowest point of satisfaction in the S25’s design story. The praise for a modern, flat screen is often tempered by frustration over what has been removed.

Users repeatedly lament the loss of legacy features, with one stating:

“The lack of a 3.5mm head phone jack is also disappointing. I have so much audio equipment I can’t directly use any more without some dongle.”

The lack of expandable memory is another sore spot, with a user admitting they “miss the ability to have external micro SD card storage.” Even the physical layout has its critics, with one pointing out that the prominent camera housing is “a little annoying as the phone doesn’t sit flat on a table.”

Context and Competition

These design choices become even clearer when viewed against the S25’s predecessor and its rivals. The leap from the Galaxy S23 is dramatic; build quality jumped from a mediocre 65% to today’s 89%, a tangible improvement that users feel justifies the upgrade.

Functionally, ditching the old curved screen was a major win for usability, with one user declaring:

“I’m no longer struggling to find the edge of the curved screen with the S25U to screenshot, use volume controls, use screen record and so on, fantastic!”

Compared to competitors, the S25’s emphasis on comfortable handling gives it a distinct advantage; its 83% score in this area towers over the Apple iPhone 16’s 65%, a difference that directly impacts how comfortable the phone is to hold and operate daily.

Trade-Off: The Galaxy S25 delivers a masterclass in premium, durable materials and comfortable handling, but this modern minimalism comes at the cost of practical features like expandable storage and a headphone jack that many loyal users are not ready to forget.

🚀 Performance: Power, Heat, Repeat

Regarding the Performance of the Samsung Galaxy S25, users are not just satisfied; they are outright astounded by its power.

The foundation of this praise is its elite processing power and multitasking capability, which score an incredible 97% and 98% in positive sentiment, respectively—soaring 14 and 15 points above the category average.

For users, this isn’t just a number; it’s the tangible feeling of a device that never keeps them waiting. Owners describe how “reactions of everything are super fast” and the phone feels “snappy and responsive at all times.” This raw power translates into a seamless experience, where one user noted the “S25+ didn’t lag at all—even with heavy multitasking,” a sentiment so strong that another declared:

My phone is more powerful than my laptop.

Heat Management

However, this immense power generates a significant challenge: heat. While the S25’s thermal management earns a 73% positive score—a remarkable 40 points higher than the category average of 33%—it remains the primary source of user frustration.

This paradoxical finding reveals that while the S25 is one of the coolest-running phones on the market, its sheer processing force can still push it to uncomfortable temperatures during extreme use.

Users report that when pushing the phone hard, “the phone does overheat occasionally.” For mobile gamers, this has a direct impact on their experience, with one user lamenting they:

have had to stop playing and unplug to reduce the temperature.

Competitive Context

This thermal story becomes clearer in a competitive context. The S25’s ability to handle heat is a massive improvement over its predecessor, the S23, which scored a full 25 points lower in positive sentiment for thermal management.

One user upgrading from a previous model celebrated that they can now “play harder and for longer while never feel I must stop due to overheating.”

Furthermore, the S25’s breathtaking gaming performance, scoring 97% positive, utterly crushes competitors like the Apple iPhone 16 (67%) and Google Pixel 9 (58%). This dominance is why users are often willing to forgive the occasional warmth; they get an experience where the “phone is able to run games that have the highest graphics settings with no lag,” a feat its rivals struggle to match.

Trade-Off: The Galaxy S25 delivers exhilarating, class-leading power that transforms gaming and multitasking, but power users must be prepared to manage occasional overheating during the most intense sessions.

🤖 Software & OS: AI Brilliance, Stability Stutters

When examining the Samsung Galaxy S25’s Software & Operating System, the story is one of dazzling innovation paired with persistent, underlying frustrations. The phone’s defining strength is its suite of AI features, which scores a remarkable 79% positive sentiment—a full 10 points above the category average. For users, this isn’t just a minor improvement; it’s a fundamental shift in how they interact with their device.

This is most clear to those upgrading from older models, as the S25’s AI score represents a massive 22-point leap over its S23 predecessor. Owners feel this impact daily, with one explaining:

AI features on this phone, the look and feel is completely transformed.

This sentiment is echoed by another who says:

I particularly enjoy the new AI features, searching internet by selecting area in a photo is so useful… AI translating on the go can be so helpful… I love AI photo editing, it is so much fun!

These aren’t just gimmicks; they are practical, enjoyable tools that redefine the user experience.

Lingering Instability

However, this futuristic polish is tarnished by recurring stability and UI issues. While the 37% positive score for software stability is technically a 10-point improvement on the category average, it still means a majority of users are encountering problems that disrupt their experience. These are not isolated incidents but persistent annoyances that undermine the phone’s premium feel.

One user describes a “very (very) slight stutter while scrolling through almost anything,” a flaw that they say “can break the immersion a bit during use” and is a “big enough annoyance that it would deter me from recommending the device to others currently.”

Another owner expressed deep frustration with security features, stating:

it is not normal that every four hours I have to enter the protection code of the lock screen… your software that you used is not well thought out.

These issues, ranging from minor stutters to frequent crashes, create a sense of unreliability that contrasts sharply with the software’s more advanced features.

Competitive Context

This mixed experience becomes even clearer in a competitive context. The S25’s 79% positive score for AI features absolutely dwarfs the 51% score of the Apple iPhone 16, giving Samsung a powerful and tangible advantage for buyers seeking cutting-edge intelligence. However, the S25’s software stability (37%) noticeably lags behind the Google Pixel 9, which leads the category with a 57% positive score. This creates a distinct choice for potential buyers: opt for the S25’s exciting, class-leading AI capabilities with the risk of some software roughness, or choose the Pixel 9 for a more stable, albeit less feature-rich, experience.

Trade-Off: The Galaxy S25 offers a genuinely impressive and fun AI-driven software experience that is a significant leap forward, but it is held back by nagging stability and UI issues that prevent it from feeling truly seamless.

🔋 Battery: Endurance vs. Replenishment

Regarding the battery performance of the Samsung Galaxy S25, users are telling a tale of two very different experiences. While its endurance is a celebrated highlight, the methods for replenishing that power are a significant source of frustration, creating a divided user base.

Celebrated Endurance

The core of the positive sentiment is driven by outstanding all-day battery life, which earns an 84% positive score from users—a full 10 percentage points above the category average. For many, this translates into a fundamental shift in how they use their phone, freeing them from the constant anxiety of finding an outlet. This relief is palpable in their comments.

One user, who uses their phone constantly for work, reported:

I’ve never had a phone that finishes the day with 40% left in the tank.

Another, upgrading from a previous model, noted a tangible improvement from the S24:

The battery life seems much better in the S25 with 6-7 hours screen on time and still having 30% left, compared to around 5 hours on the S24.

This strong performance is bolstered by excellent optimization, with users praising its battery drain patterns 25 points more than the category average. One person credited this to Samsung’s work:

Samsung has done such a great job with optimisation and efficiency.

Frustrating Charging Speeds

However, this satisfaction dissipates when it’s time to plug in. Charging speed is a significant point of contention, with a satisfaction score of just 61%, trailing 8 points behind the typical phone in this class. While some find it adequate, many feel it’s a step backward, especially compared to rivals.

The frustration is stark, with one user complaining:

Charging from 20% to fully charged takes 6 to 8 times longer than my previous phones with fast charging.

This sentiment is echoed by others who feel Samsung is falling behind, with one asking:

SuperFast Charging still only 25W with 15W wireless charging? Pretty poor show.

Underwhelming Wireless Options

The story doesn’t improve with charging methods, where a barely average score hides deep user disappointment. The S25 supports the new Qi2 wireless standard but crucially omits the built-in magnets, rendering the feature almost useless for many. This technical decision has real-world consequences, as one user lamented:

It’s a shame that there is no built in magnet for the qi2 wireless standard.

Another illustrated the practical impact perfectly:

I can’t stick it on my fridge while I’m cooking dinner like I used to.

This is more than a minor inconvenience; it’s a failure to meet modern user expectations, especially when competitors like the OnePlus 12 score nearly double the S25 in this specific area.

Trade-Off: Users get a phone with the stamina to last all day, but they must accept the frustration of slower charging speeds and poorly implemented wireless options that lag behind key competitors.

Bottom Line

• ✅ Elite performance astonishes users, with gaming and processing power earning a near-perfect 97% satisfaction score.
• ⚠️ Widespread disappointment in the screen’s “washed out and dull colors,” which many users call the phone’s “biggest problem.”
• 🔻 A major regression for upgraders, with camera zoom satisfaction dropping a steep 16 points from the S23.
• 🏁 Falls significantly behind rivals in zoom performance, scoring a full 24 points lower than the iPhone 16 and OnePlus 12.
• 💡 A tough sell for recent Galaxy owners, as nearly one-third of users feel the minor AI changes don’t justify the cost over an S24.
• 💡 The final verdict: A powerful phone for newcomers, but a questionable value for loyal users who will feel the regressions in core features.