While you yell “Are you able to simply Google it?” at your AI assistant, it’s honest to mention that the AI assistant isn’t doing its activity.I used to be browning some pork at the range and seeking to resolve when my husband’s flight was once touchdown. I didn’t have the flight quantity, yet there are most effective such a lot of direct flights between Detroit and Seattle in an afternoon. So I long-pressed the ability button at the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely and requested Google’s Gemini assistant to seek out the guidelines for me. It mentioned it couldn’t. So I insisted — loudly — to simply Google it, plus or minus an expletive. It couldn’t even do this, so I went to Google myself and had the solution in seconds. AI, everyone.
$1299The GoodExcellent screenImproved ultrawide cameraRounded corners are comfierThe BadExpensiveBulkyAI is (nonetheless) hit or missThis wouldn’t subject except for AI smarts are meant to be the large take care of this cellphone. The Galaxy S25 Extremely is a slightly warmed-over model of final yr’s software, with some flippantly bumped specifications and ever-so-slight design adjustments. That’s tremendous! The S24 Extremely was once an ideal piece of {hardware}, and the S23 Extremely was once, too. Samsung didn’t wish to reinvent the wheel. But it surely method the corporate is depending on those “Galaxy AI” options — plus some assist from Gemini — to present the S25 Extremely that new-phone zhuzh. And in spite of all its sparkle, Galaxy AI isn’t as much as the duty.Greater than the rest, Samsung has misplaced the plot on what makes this “Extremely” cellphone extremely. The Extremely used to — and roughly nonetheless is — the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink cellphone. It has the stylus, the large display screen, the entire cameras, and with regards to each different souped-up spec you need to recall to mind. However during the last few years, Samsung simply hasn’t discovered a option to make this cellphone any further particular. In truth, it’s gotten just a bit bit much less particular, if the rest. The S24 Extremely downgraded the 10x zoom to a 5x, which is solely k at 10x, in spite of Samsung’s claims it’s simply as just right. The S25 Extremely downgrades the good stylus right into a dumb one with out Bluetooth connectivity and air regulate options. I wouldn’t have an issue with that if the ones issues have been sacrificed for any other compelling characteristic. However I will’t see what’s been added, and at $1,299, this is among the costliest telephones you’ll purchase that doesn’t fold in part. Don’t get me flawed, it’s a rattling just right cellphone. However I feel at that value, it’s honest to invite for just a bit extra.Samsung presented us to the idea that of Galaxy AI final yr, which contains some proprietary options like writing gear, observe summarization, name translation, and wacky photograph modifying gear. This yr, it puts a brand new assistant entrance and middle: Google’s Gemini. Bixby continues to be round in a supporting position, yet Gemini is the default helper you’ll get whilst you long-press the wake button. With the S25 collection, Gemini can take motion throughout more than one apps for you together with in Gmail and Calendar and a number of Samsung’s local apps. This was once the serve as I used to be maximum excited to check out at the S25 Extremely, however it’s an Android characteristic coming to many different telephones, too.
RIP, Bixby.The consequences have been blended. I requested it to position an match on my calendar in keeping with what was once on my cellphone display screen, and it did it. Date, time, location have been all right kind. It felt roughly magical, which I notice is an overly low bar for magic. Different effects have been much less spectacular. If I requested it to generate an inventory of 5 movies to observe on a selected subject and upload them to a observe, it most effective added the headline textual content — even if I brought about it so as to add them as links. The opposite drawback is, AI makes shit up so much. I requested it to discover a particular recipe for an coffee martini on YouTube and upload the components to a observe. It seemed to observe instructions by means of pulling up the video I referenced, and the components gave the impression of they may well be in an coffee martini. However they have been utterly other from what was once featured within the video. I attempted to invite it about main points of a flight leaving from San Francisco, and despite the fact that I had it reference my affirmation e-mail, it stored insisting that my flight was once leaving from San Jose. It makes you consider carefully about depending on AI for the rest however the lowest of low-stakes duties!Samsung has additionally built-in AI options right here and there around the OS. A distinguished AI characteristic referred to as Now Transient gives summaries of your actions during the day and supposedly surfaces related data in keeping with your calendar and placement. It’s at the homescreen by means of default and pops up at the lockscreen when a brand new one is to be had. I to find it to be most commonly pointless. It stored appearing political information headlines that I don’t wish to be bombarded with in the course of the day, so I became the ones off. Gemini stored insisting that my flight was once leaving from San JoseNone of that is exotic to the Galaxy S25 Extremely and even the S25 collection. Those AI options — which occupied maximum of Samsung’s Unpacked presentation introducing those telephones — will very most likely come to earlier Galaxy telephones later this yr. I like to peer older telephones get new options. But it surely additionally makes it very arduous to peer what units the S25 Extremely except the remainder of the S25 collection and even the opposite Android festival. There’s additionally a powerful chance that Samsung will get started charging for those options on the finish of 2025; Samsung’s tremendous print most effective promises that they’ll be unfastened throughout the finish of 2025. Don’t be stunned in case your AI cellphone comes with an AI subscription charge.The S25 collection ships with One UI 7.0, an important replace to Samsung’s Android pores and skin. It’s additionally a specifically iOS-y replace, maximum significantly with break up fast settings and notification sun shades and a Dynamic Island-like Now Bar with time-sensitive data. I don’t assume it’s a specifically unhealthy affect, and you’ll undo or tweak many of those adjustments. I recognize the power to position all my apps on one web page within the app tray so I don’t must scroll between more than one pages, like on different Android telephones. There’s a time to do your individual factor and there’s a time to simply observe the group.Samsung took any other just right cue from Apple with the S25 Extremely’s new form. The previous few Extremely telephones had a boxy form that paid tribute to the Observe collection. However the ones pointed corners have been sharp and made the telephone uncomfortable to carry. This yr, Samsung ditched what was once left of the Observe styling and followed curved corners like the remainder of the S collection.
The S25 Extremely is much less Observe-like, however it’s additionally much less painful to carry.The Extremely additionally loses what was once left of its curved edges in desire of heterosexual aspects that make it more uncomplicated to pick out up. They’re delicate adjustments, yet they do make the S25 Extremely extra relaxed to carry and use, on the expense of shopping like each different trendy smartphone from the entrance. I feel it’s a web certain. I’d reasonably have a relaxed cellphone than a unique-looking one who digs into my palm. The Extremely makes use of an up to date Gorilla Armor 2 protecting layer on its display screen. It’s intended to resist drops onto concrete higher than the former model, which I didn’t take a look at in my time with the telephone. However I will say its scratch-resistance has held up neatly to per week of abuse, and the display screen’s antireflective coating makes it one of the crucial very best telephones to make use of in direct daylight. However that was once additionally true of the S24 Extremely. The S25 Extremely, just like the S25 and S25 Plus, makes use of a model of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset that’s specifically tuned for Galaxy telephones. I used the 8 Elite within the OnePlus 13 and couldn’t inform you any notable distinction in efficiency between the 2. On a regular basis duties ran easily at the 8 Elite. The telephone crashed and restarted itself in a single example, which was once a bit of ordinary, yet I haven’t noticed anything like that within the week I’ve been the use of it. 
This yr’s S Pen loses its Bluetooth capability.Battery lifestyles is ready par for a flagship smartphone in 2025. I in most cases were given via a median day with 60 p.c or so left over. Excellent, yet no longer wonderful. The S25 collection is Qi2 Able, which means that it helps the newest wi-fi charging same old yet most effective with a different magnetic case — it doesn’t have magnets constructed into the telephone. It’s an even compromise since most of the people will put their cellphone in a case and not take it off, however it’s a bummer for the case-averse like me.The S25 Extremely nonetheless has an S Pen, yet Samsung got rid of Bluetooth options that allowed you to make use of the stylus like a magic wand. Samsung says few other people used the ones options, and on stability, it’s no nice loss. But it surely’s the primary greater than the rest that stings.
Samsung’s portrait mode continues to be one of the crucial very best in the market.The cameras at the S25 Extremely are unchanged with one exception: a brand new 50-megapixel ultrawide. Samsung’s declare that it plays higher in low gentle turns out to carry up — I will see extra tremendous element in pictures from the brand new digicam in comparison to the ultrawide at the S24 Extremely. Likewise, the brand new ultrawide — almost definitely helped by means of a much broader f/1.9 aperture — lets in the device to make use of decrease ISOs to get the similar degree of brightness in a shot, which is helping stay noise down, too. It’s certainly an improve; is it one who Extremely house owners have been clamoring for? I’m much less certain about that.
A video nonetheless from the S24 Extremely displays much less tremendous element.
This nonetheless from the S25 Extremely displays significantly better element within the topic’s sweatshirt and face.Samsung’s different notable declare is that its low-light video processing has been progressed to higher distinguish between transferring and static topics, in principle taking into consideration smarter utility of noise relief. I will’t say that is the rest I’ve had a selected criticism about on previous Galaxy telephones, yet low-light video continues to be a problem for any cell digicam.And it seems that to be operating: in side-by-side video clips with the S24 Extremely, I will obviously see extra tremendous element from the S25 Extremely, specifically in dim indoor lights. It isn’t a paradigm shift, yet development is development. Another way, the S25 Extremely’s photographs glance very just like what I’ve come to be expecting from Samsung. This digicam loves its colourful reds and blues, and portrait mode segmentation continues to be probably the most very best within the recreation. 
Nonetheless one thing particular — for now.The Galaxy S25 Extremely stays one of the crucial very best telephones you’ll purchase. The display screen is superb, the cameras are probably the most very best within the recreation, and also you’ll have a difficult time discovering any workload tricky sufficient to problem it. That’s all been true of the previous couple of Extremely telephones, and it’s true of this one. However I feel there’s one thing intangible that the Extremely has been dropping during the last couple of generations. You’ll be able to purchase the Galaxy S25 Plus or the Pixel 9 Professional when you simply need a just right Android cellphone. The rationale to shop for a Galaxy S-series Extremely is since you don’t need one thing that’s simply just right; you wish to have one thing that’s particular. This cellphone feels rather less particular than the S24 Extremely did, which felt rather less particular than the S23 Extremely. Complaining concerning the “specialness” of a cellphone could be foolish for another cellphone. However that is the Extremely! Doesn’t that imply one thing? It used to return with a 10x telephoto digicam and a stylus that labored like a magic wand. It used to seem strikingly other from the remainder of the S collection, or another cellphone, for that subject. A few of these adjustments were for the easier, yet Samsung hasn’t made up for what it’s reducing. For now, the S25 Extremely nonetheless seems like one thing particular. But when the fad continues, then the Extremely may develop into simply any other giant cellphone.Images by means of Allison Johnson / The VergeAgree to Proceed: Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraEvery good software now calls for you to comply with a sequence of phrases and stipulations earlier than you’ll use it — contracts that no person if truth be told reads. It’s unimaginable for us to learn and analyze each unmarried this sort of agreements. However we began counting precisely how repeatedly it’s important to hit “agree” to make use of units once we evaluate them since those are agreements most of the people don’t learn and certainly can’t negotiate.To make use of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely, you will have to comply with:Samsung’s Phrases and ConditionsSamsung’s Privateness PolicyGoogle’s Phrases of Provider (together with Privateness Coverage)Google Play’s Phrases of ServiceAutomatic installs (together with from Google, Samsung, and your service)There are lots of non-compulsory agreements. In case you use a carrier-specific model, there shall be extra of them. Listed here are only some:Sending diagnostic information to SamsungSamsung products and services, together with auto blocker, customization provider, continuity provider, within reach software scanning, non-public information intelligence, and good suggestionsGoogle Force backup, location products and services, Wi-Fi scanning, diagnostic dataBixby privateness coverage (required to make use of Bixby), plus non-compulsory for Bixby choices like personalised content material, information get right of entry to, and audio recording reviewThere is also extra. For instance, Samsung’s Climate app additionally has its personal privateness coverage that can come with sharing data with Climate.com.Ultimate tally: there are 5 obligatory agreements and no less than 10 non-compulsory ones.
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