The Galaxy S25 would be the hottest Android flagship and it will be undeserved

Samsung’s Galaxy S units are often the most well-liked high-end Android telephones globally every year. In reality, the usual Galaxy S24 reportedly cracked the record of prime ten best-selling telephones in Q3 2024. That was the primary time since 2018 {that a} Galaxy flagship made this record in Q3.

The corporate has simply launched the Galaxy S25 sequence, and I’ve little doubt that the bottom Galaxy S25 would be the hottest Android flagship cellphone as soon as once more. However it would nonetheless be a best-seller regardless of Samsung’s lackadaisical efforts.

The most important purpose why the usual Galaxy S25 received’t have earned its presumptive best-seller standing is straightforward. Excluding the chipset, Samsung has supplied few main {hardware} upgrades since 2022’s Galaxy S22. The place do I really begin?

Maybe nowhere is Samsung’s penny-pinching extra obvious than with the digicam expertise. Samsung is claiming higher low-light video and some different camera-focused additions, however we’ve now had 4 generations of the identical digicam {hardware} on the bottom mannequin. Meaning a 50MP 1/1.56-inch most important digicam whereas rivals supply bigger major cameras, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and the identical growing older 10MP 3x telephoto digicam. I’m particularly disillusioned as rivals just like the Xiaomi 14T Professional and the marginally pricier OnePlus 13 supply superior {hardware}.

Samsung’s lazy method to {hardware} can be mirrored within the Galaxy S25’s battery specs. The cellphone provides a 4,000mAh battery that’s an identical to the Galaxy S24’s battery. I suppose we’re alleged to be grateful that it’s a 300mAh increase from the Galaxy S22’s small 3,700mAh battery. Sure, the chipset and different enhancements have a significant bearing on battery life too, nevertheless it’s nonetheless disappointing to see no adjustments on this entrance.

The unchanged battery measurement is very disappointing when the remainder of the business is embracing silicon-carbon batteries that enable for way more capability in the identical bodily measurement. Living proof: The vivo X200 Professional Mini is barely bigger and thicker than the S25 however has a 5,700mAh battery.

The usual Galaxy S25 additionally continues to supply 25W wired charging speeds when rivals and even stablemates supply a lot increased wattages. Samsung hasn’t considerably upgraded wired speeds within the base mannequin since 2020’s Galaxy S20. There’s clearly extra to charging speeds than peak wattage, nevertheless it says so much when even the Google Pixel 9 has marginally increased speeds. Then there are the rumors that the Galaxy A56 may undertake 45W charging speeds, beating the Galaxy S25 if confirmed.

Samsung’s base flagship has additionally did not sustain with the occasions relating to storage. Sure, now you can purchase a 512GB mannequin in some areas, however the least expensive variant nonetheless begins with a meager 128GB of area. The final time Samsung elevated the bottom storage was with 2020’s Galaxy S20. The Korean model isn’t alone in providing 128GB of storage in its least expensive fashions, as Apple and Google are responsible of this, too. Nonetheless, there may be extra proof that Samsung’s “conservative” method to upgrades wants to alter.

I’m not saying that any main success for the Galaxy S25 could be utterly unwarranted. Samsung continues to steer the pack (together with Google) by providing seven years of OS and safety updates. That’s an enormous credit score to the Korean model, guaranteeing that your Galaxy flagship will obtain fixes and new options lengthy after most rival manufacturers have deserted their handsets. Samsung has additionally delivered class-leading AI options as soon as once more. However, to be honest, final yr’s Galaxy S24 telephones have the identical replace coverage and can undoubtedly obtain most of those new AI options.

One more reason why the Galaxy S25’s success wouldn’t be utterly with out benefit is as a result of Samsung continues to supply unparalleled availability throughout markets. Manufacturers like Xiaomi, OPPO, vivo, and others can be found in world markets however all skip the US. OPPO and vivo additionally skipped Europe for a few years as a result of authorized points, irritating customers who need their merchandise and stymying makes an attempt to construct loyalty. In the meantime, Samsung telephones can be found in each area, from Africa and North America to Europe and Asia-Pacific nations.

You could possibly argue that Samsung was compelled to decide on between no upgrades and a better value as a result of its Snapdragon 8 Elite chip is reportedly dearer than final yr’s processor. Nonetheless, this excuse doesn’t justify the earlier years of extraordinarily minor upgrades.

Both method, Samsung has delivered lower than minimal effort with the bottom Galaxy flagship for a number of years now. This received’t cease the Galaxy S25 from changing into the most well-liked Android flagship cellphone of 2025. Nevertheless it actually ought to.