Samsung Galaxy S25 rumours and leaks: Everything we know so far about next Android smartphone
THE next lineup of Samsung’s flagship phones is rumoured to be the most powerful device the smartphone maker has ever put on shelves.
Here’s everything we know about the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, and Galaxy S25 Ultra so far.
Processing power
Each device in the Galaxy S25 lineup is expected to house the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor, according to a report from Hankyung.
The new processor, the latest computer chip from Qualcomm, is anticipated to be strongest on the market when it comes out.
And with more processing power comes faster performance, more efficient battery life, and more advanced features – like ones that rely on artificial intelligence (AI).
The graphics processing unit inside the chip is said to be 43% faster than its predecessor – aka, the chip that was used in the Galaxy S24 lineup.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon launch event takes place in late October, so more will be revealed in a matter of weeks.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra, Samsung’s most powerful and expensive device in its lineups, is tipped to get universal flash storage (UFS) 4.1, according to tipster named Sawyer Galox on X.
Most Galaxy S24 models use UFS 4.0, and while that is only an incremental improvement in speed, it is expected to bring performance gains for AI features.
AI features
Now all this anticipated processing power will go to waste without any new AI features.
Given the string of Galaxy AI features that accompanied the Galaxy S24, it’s safe to assume Samsung has something up its sleeve with the Galaxy S25.
That being said, there haven’t yet been any leaks on what new Galaxy AI features we could see next year.
Although Won-joon Choi, executive vice president of Samsung’s mobile business in an interview with CNBC in April, hinted at the possibility of infusing the Bixby personal assistant with generative AI capabilities.
Battery boost
All three models of the Galaxy S24 boast a significantly better battery life than their predecessors.
And with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, the Galaxy S25 lineup could hold even more juice.
Rumours that Samsung is adopting stacked batteries have swirled for some time, but there doesn’t appear to be any convincing evidence of that just yet.
And several leaks claim that Samsung will go with a 5,000 mAh battery for the S25 Ultra – the same size as the S24 Ultra.
Samsung charging tip – how to charge best
Here's Samsung's official advice...
To get the most out of your smartphone’s battery, you’ll need to charge it properly.
Most Smartphones have a lithium-ion battery that lives longer when charged regularly.
Unlike the nickel batteries used in older phones, lithium-ion batteries do best when kept above a 50 percent charge.
Repeatedly allowing the battery to drain fully may shorten its life and decrease its overall capacity.
If this happens, you’ll need to charge the battery more frequently and it may last only a few hours before needing a charge, for example.
Leaving the phone connected to the charger (when the phone is completely charged) while you are using it may lower battery life if you do it repeatedly.
Camera upgrade
Everybody loves a camera upgrade, so it’s unlikely that Samsung will ignore this department.
Early rumours suggest the main camera will get better, the 12MP ultra-wide angle lens will be upgraded to 50MP, and there may even be a new telephoto camera.
A telephoto lens increases focal length, and is commonly used to snap crisp objects that are far away.
The lens was rumoured to be added to the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
However, since it was notably missing, the S25 Ultra now seems like the more likely candidate.
Samsung has announced new camera sensors which are expected to be shown off in the Galaxy S25.
The sensors have an anti-refractive layer and pixel isolation, which should improve light capture, reduce reflections, deliver more accurate shadows and improve colour reproduction.
Design
The Galaxy S25 is expected to follow the traditional path of a new smartphone in that it will grow a little larger than its predecessor, according to leaks.
Known leaker Yeux1122, on Korean blog Naver, claimed the Galaxy S25’s screen will go from the Galaxy S24’s 6.2 inches to a slightly larger 6.36 inches.
This matches the rumored increased display size of the iPhone 16 Pro.
Release date
Samsung usually unveils its new lineup of phones in January or February – however, no exact date has yet been revealed.
The Galaxy S24 was announced during the tech giant’s Galaxy Unpacked event on January 17, 2024.
The company then officially released the devices on January 31, 2024.
Price tag
The Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra launched earlier this year for £799/$799, £999/$999, and £1249/$1,299 respectively.
The S24 Ultra was the only device to see its price increase from the prior year.
While experts hope the current pricing structure remains the same for the Galaxy S25, several tipsters reckon the prices are going to jump significantly with this next batch of phones.
According Android Authority, a post by digital chat station on the Chinese social media platform Weibo claimed the cost of Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chips will drive up the price tag of Galaxy S25 models.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a good track record of accurate smartphone predictions, agreed, noting that the jump to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 will be a costly one.
Samsung – a brief history
Here's what you need to know...
- Samsung is a major South Korean company made up of many businesses that operate globally
- It’s known locally as a “chaebol”, which means “business conglomerate”
- It was founded by Lee Byung-chul in 1938 as a trading company
- But over several decades, it branched out into food processing, insurance, textiles and retail
- It wasn’t until the late 1960s when Samsung entered the electronics industry – for which it’s best known in the West today
- It also launched businesses in construction and shipbuilding in the 1970s
- Today, Samsung’s most important sources of income are its smartphones and computer chips
- The firm accounts for around a fifth of South Korea’s total exports, and roughly 17% of the country’s GDP
- More than 270,000 staff are employed by Samsung globally
- And in 2023, Samsung Electronics turned over the equivalent of $194 billion in revenue