Choosing the Right Samsung Galaxy S25: Why the S25 Plus is My Top Pick

I’ve had the opportunity to try all three new Samsung Galaxy S25 smartphones. While my time spent with each phone wasn’t extensive, I felt it was sufficient to determine which one I’d choose to buy.

Opting for the Right Size

Surprisingly, I decided on the Galaxy S25 Plus, rather than the more extravagant Galaxy S25 Ultra, even after using the S24 Ultra for the past year. I’m willing to sacrifice the top-tier camera specifications for a more comfortable feel in my hand. Samsung has made notable design changes to the S25 Ultra that I find less appealing compared to the streamlined construction of the S25 and S25 Plus.

During my initial hands-on experience, I noticed that the S25 Ultra’s flat sides make it less comfortable to hold. At the Galaxy Unpacked event, I made it a point to pick up all three models again. The Galaxy S25 Plus stood out with its narrower body, which felt great to hold. Although the S25 Ultra is slightly more compact than the S24 Ultra, I truly miss the curved sides that enhance grip comfort.

Color Choices Matter

Samsung has also chosen to offer the most vibrant colors for the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus. The exclusive Coral Red color is particularly striking, while the Mint option is a close second. In contrast, the color selections for the S25 Ultra are much more subdued, which doesn’t appeal to me. If I were to buy the S25 Ultra, I would likely need a case due to the uncomfortable sharp edges.

Comfort in design and aesthetics are essential factors in my decision for choosing the Galaxy S25 Plus over the others. All three phones come equipped with the same powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor, 12GB of RAM, and the same screen technology. While I tested the performance of One UI 7 on all three, I found the S25 Plus to support faster charging speeds of 45W, compared to the S25’s disappointing 25W. Plus, it offers the option of a spacious 512GB of storage, even if it lacks the Ultra’s 1TB capability.

AI Features Are Key

Crucially, the upgraded Galaxy AI features are included across all models and are promised to work consistently irrespective of which phone you select. I’m excited to explore improvements such as Now Brief and Now Bar, anticipating the personalized experience they promise to deliver. I feel confident that the Galaxy S25 Plus will be comfortable for daily use, providing all the performance I would expect from the S25 Ultra.

The Camera Dilemma

While I expect to miss the advanced camera system that comes with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, I believe the improvements are minimal compared to the S24 Ultra. The S25 Plus still provides a decent 3x optical zoom, which I believe is more useful to me than a new wide-angle camera.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, I recommend handling all three phones before making your decision. Think about how much you would utilize the features exclusive to the Ultra, like the S Pen stylus and its camera capabilities. Battery life is another consideration, but the Snapdragon 8 Elite's efficiency makes me think the S25 Plus’s slightly smaller battery will still deliver strong performance.

Last year, the Galaxy S24 Plus emerged as a surprising favorite, and after using all three Galaxy S25 models, I see the S25 Plus becoming the standout choice this year. Plus, at a price of $999, it's significantly more affordable than the $1,299 Galaxy S25 Ultra. Ultimately, we will have a clearer picture of which model is best after comprehensive reviews, but currently, the Galaxy S25 Plus is my preferred choice.

Samsung, S25, camera