The Galaxy S Plus model has always been the awkward middle child— stuck between the baby that everyone adores and the overachieving eldest who hogs the spotlight. Honestly, you can’t help but root for it to get the attention it deserves. This year, Samsung seems to have given it a proper glow-up. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus comes armed with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC for Galaxy, breaking free from the Exynos shackles, a hefty 4,900mAh battery, and all the fancy AI tricks you’d expect.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus
Rs 99,999
What Is Good?
- Minimal and good looking design
- Display quality is great
- Good camera performance
- Everyday tasks work smoothly
- Galaxy AI features are awesome
- Software is snappy, fluid
- 7 years of update cycle
What Is Bad?
- Uncomfortable to hold after a while
- Room for improvement in thermals
- Slow charging speed
- Almost similar specs as the S25
- Same cameras as last year
It’s not pocket-sized like the Galaxy S25, nor is it a handbag-filler like the Ultra— it’s just the right fit for most hands. Plus, it packs nearly all the necessary Ultra’s bells and whistles. But is that enough to carve out its own identity? After using the Galaxy S25 Plus for a while, here’s my review.
Pricing and Availability in India
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus is available in two variants on Samsung’s official website, Amazon and Flipkart.
| Variant | Price |
| 12GB RAM + 256GB Storage | Rs 99,999 |
| 12GB RAM + 512GB Storage | Rs 1,11,999 |
Design and Display
I got my hands on the Navy-coloured Galaxy S25 Plus, and it looks pretty sleek. But here’s the thing: the boxy design this year feels like holding a hardcover book by its spine—while the edges are curved, the frames really dig in if you dare to go caseless. A gentle curve on the back would’ve been a game-changer for comfort.
Design-wise, it’s basically a doppelgänger of last year’s Galaxy S24 Plus, except for the camera rings, which follow the Galaxy Z Fold 6‘s appearance.
On the bright side, the matte finish prevents it from slipping out of your hand like a bar of soap. Since my hands are big enough, one-handed use was manageable. However, it might be challenging for someone with racoon-like hands.
| Design | Specifications |
| Weight | 190 grams |
| Thickness | 7.3mm |
| Colours | Navy, IcyBlue, Silver Shadow, Mint |
| IP Rating | IP68 dust and water resistance |
| Port and Button Placements | Bottom: Primary microphone, USB port, Speaker grille, SIM tray Top: Secondary microphone Right Side: Power and volume buttons |
It comes with an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. So, you should be good against accidental drops in the swimming pool.
This phone’s display is flat, with super-thin, perfectly uniform bezels. Thanks to the smooth animation, unlocking it with the fingerprint scanner is oddly satisfying. Plus, the 120Hz refresh rate makes everything from scrolling on Instagram to app-hopping feel effortless.
| Display | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Size | 6.7-inch |
| Type | Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3120 pixels |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz |
| Peak Brightness | Claimed: 2600 nits Tested: 1840 nits |
| Minimum Brightness | 02 nits |
During my binge-fest of Dubai Bling on Netflix, the display handled all the glitz and glamour like a pro. The support for Widevine L1 and HDR10 capabilities adds to the overall visual experience. The screen delivers vibrant hues, sharp details, and striking depth. In short, the display was consistently sharp and bright throughout my usage.
The stereo setup speaker on the Galaxy S25 Plus delivers crisp, clear sound. Whether it’s mellow tunes or bass-heavy workout jams, this phone can handle it all without breaking a sweat.
Performance and Software
Unlike last year, the entirety of the Galaxy S25 series gets the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy. On the Antutu v10 benchmark, it scored 2.2 million points, falling just slightly behind its elder sibling, the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Despite that, the Plus model delivers impressive performance that closely matches the Ultra.
The Antutu score graph below provides a clear comparison against other phones. With the same chipset, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus lagged behind the Realme GT 7 Pro, iQOO 13, and OnePlus 13 in scores.
In daily use, everything ran like clockwork—calls, messages, streaming music, YouTube videos, and even posting Instagram Reels. Plus, I played heavy games like Call of Duty: Mobile for a good hour, and the experience was smooth without any stutters or lag. That said, after about 36 minutes, the upper portion of the phone got noticeably warm.
While the phone manages heat in the initial stages, extended usage can cause it to throttle in some situations. This is more evident with the CPU throttling test. While the iQOO 13 achieved 60 per cent of its peak performance and the Realme GT 7 Pro reached 70 per cent, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus trailed behind at just 54 per cent.
| Hardware | Specifications |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC for Galaxy |
| RAM | Up to 12GB |
| Storage | Up to 512GB |
| Storage Test | 2261332 |
| CPU Throttling Test | 54 per cent of its max performance |
| Software Version | OneUI 7, based on Android 15 |
| Connectivity Details | Tri-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.4 |
This year, the Galaxy S25 series is all about flaunting its AI smarts. Samsung is on a mission to change how we use smartphones, and honestly, it’s doing a pretty impressive job.
The Object Eraser feature is pure magic. Whether it’s photobombers or random background clutter, this tool clears it all with terrifying precision. The results are almost creepy in how flawless they look.
The AI Audio Eraser is a lifesaver when shooting videos in noisy environments. It clears up background noise like a pro sound engineer on speed dial. And the Circle to Search feature is a total game-changer for impulse Googling—like tracking down that gorgeous dress I spotted in an Instagram ad. It hasn’t changed from last year but seems to be slightly more accurate in some cases.
Honestly, this is the first time I’ve taken AI features on a phone seriously, and they’ve genuinely earned a permanent spot in my routine. The AI Select feature stands out by intelligently recommending options tailored to what’s displayed on the screen. I’m working on a dedicated article covering my experience with the AI features, so stay tuned on MySmartPrice for all the details.
On the software side, One UI 7, based on Android 15, delivers a clean, interactive experience and does a fantastic job of preventing spammy notifications.
This phone’s home screen now features a compact widget called Now Brief, which conveniently displays weather updates, live notifications, music controls, and various modes—all in one place. Plus, the ability to customise its content enhances its usefulness.
The Galaxy S25 Plus truly shines when it comes to offering a polished software experience. With seven years of software support, this phone is a solid choice for those who prefer to stick with their devices for the long haul.
Cameras
The Galaxy S25 Plus continues with its triple-camera setup on the back. There have been no changes to the rear cameras since last year, and the selfie camera remains identical as well. It seems Samsung believes in the philosophy of consistency—or perhaps just convenience.
In bright daylight, the phone produces images with rich colours and a well-balanced dynamic range. However, some background noise occasionally creeps in, particularly when capturing a subject.
Ultra-wide shots maintain excellent quality, with no noticeable grain around the edges. The images come out sharp and detailed.
Night mode does an admirable job of preserving details and delivering clear and bright images even in dim situations. However, when a strong light source is in the frame, the image sometimes develops a slight flare, giving the impression that some details are being washed out.
| Camera | Specifications |
| Primary Camera | 50-megapixel wide camera f/1.8 aperture |
| Secondary Camera | 10-megapixel telephoto f/2.4 aperture, 3x optical zoom |
| Tertiary Camera | 12-megapixel ultra-wide, f/2.2 aperture 120-degree Field of View |
| Selfie Camera | 12-megapixel selfie, f/2.2 aperture |
| Video Recording Capabilities | Up to 4K at 60fps |
Portrait shots look excellent, with natural skin tones, smooth background blur, and precise edge detection. The camera enhances the subject, making them stand out beautifully. Even stray hair strands are captured with impressive accuracy.
The 3x optical zoom performs well in daylight and low-light conditions. It effectively captures details without requiring movement, making telephoto shots effortless while maintaining quality. I found more use of the 3x camera when trying to shoot portrait shots.
Selfies taken in daylight accurately represent skin tones and textures. However, in certain night mode shots, skin tones appear slightly whitened, resulting in an artificial look.
Battery and Charging
The Galaxy S25 Plus packs a 4,900mAh battery, just 100mAh less than the Ultra. During my usage, it comfortably made it through a full day and more. But then I turned on Always-On Display, and the battery started draining faster than usual. I personally enjoy the AOD and don’t mind frequent charging, but if battery life is a priority, turning it off would be wise.
In the PCMark battery test, the Galaxy S25 Plus lasted a minute longer than its elder sibling. So, despite the Ultra having a slightly larger battery, the difference in battery life is negligible.
| Battery | Specifications |
| Battery | 4,900mAh |
| Charging Adapter | 45W charging, no charger in the box |
| Charging Time | 1 hour and 4 minutes |
| PCMark Battery Test | 14 hours and 48 minutes |
As for charging, the 45W fast charging support is decent but falls short compared to competitors. To make matters worse, Samsung doesn’t include a charging adapter in the box, which means you will need to shell out extra cash to get one.
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus has always been stuck in an awkward position—too fancy to be the regular S model, yet not quite as over-the-top as the Ultra. This year, though, Samsung has finally given it an identity of its own, breaking the middle-child curse. It now stands toe-to-toe with the standard S25 while inching dangerously close to the Ultra’s territory.
This is a seriously polished device. It has a sleek design, bulky camera rings on the back and is impressively lightweight. The slim bezels create the illusion of an even larger display, and the quality is nothing short of spectacular.
Samsung’s Galaxy AI features add an extra layer of fun. Removing unwanted people and objects from photos was surprisingly easy—if only it worked in real life, too…but that might be a feature for next year.
Performance holds up well, though it could use a bit of fine-tuning in thermal management. The camera hardware may be the same as last year, but they have certainly levelled up in output. There are still a few inconsistencies, but a software update should be able to iron those out.
The Galaxy S25 Plus is an excellent choice for those who want a premium experience without splurging on the Ultra. However, if gaming is the priority, the Realme GT 7 Pro, iQOO 13, or OnePlus 13 would be better suited for the job.
