A year ago, Samsung tried AI mobile phones for the first time with the Galaxy S24 series. Circle search, real-time translation call, generative photo editing... These functions compress cumbersome operations into buttons and stuff them into the corners of the screen. This is Samsung's initial understanding of AI. After a year of polishing, Samsung has some new ideas about how to combine AI with mobile phones. Now, Samsung has officially launched the Galaxy S25 series, and at the end of the press conference, there is another One more thing.
More AI
The highlight of the Galaxy S25 series is its significant AI upgrades. Samsung describes it as: “Setting a new standard for a true AI companion with the most natural and context-aware mobile experience we’ve ever created.”
As this description implies, AI is embedded throughout the device, touching every aspect of functionality. From typical photo editing and generation to more advanced personalized features like custom agents and large language models (LLMs), these advancements are designed to optimize how users interact with their phones daily.
- AI Select: Similar to Google’s “Circle to Search” feature but more integrated, AI Select provides actionable suggestions within the phone instead of simply searching the web. For instance, selecting a date on your screen will prompt your phone to suggest adding it to your calendar and even execute the action upon your confirmation.
- Circle to Search Updates: While this isn’t a new feature, Circle to Search has been enhanced for greater efficiency. It now identifies phone numbers, email addresses, and URLs on your screen, allowing you to click and dial, send an email, or open a webpage. It also supports multimodal searches, such as identifying the name of a song you’re listening to.
-
AI Photo Search: Searching your photo gallery has never been easier. With natural language prompts, you can quickly locate specific images without scrolling through your collection.
-
Cross-App Operations: Using natural language, you can now ask the AI assistant Gemini to perform tasks across multiple apps. For example, a simple command like “Search for the upcoming Warriors game and add it to the calendar” will seamlessly execute these actions.
-
Settings Search: Similar to photo search, you can now use natural language to find specific settings on your phone. For example, a command like “Help me enlarge text” will guide you directly to the relevant setting.
-
Now Brief: Accessible via the Now Bar on the lock screen, Now Brief predicts your needs and offers proactive suggestions. For instance, it might recommend activating driving mode or navigation based on your routine activities.
-
Audio Eraser: This feature gives users advanced control over video audio elements, allowing them to adjust sound levels. You can reduce background noise or amplify specific foreground sounds to create the desired audio balance in your videos.
-
Personal Data Engine: The Personal Data Engine acts as your custom-designed LLM, learning from your daily usage patterns to deliver a highly personalized experience. Unlike cloud-based systems, this data is securely stored on your device. If you lose your phone, the information is lost as well, enhancing privacy. This engine powers features like the Now Brief, which offers tailored suggestions based on your habits.
- Improved Generative Editing: This updated editing feature not only removes unwanted elements from photos but can now eliminate shadows, ensuring a more seamless and polished result.
Galaxy S25 Ultra: A New Standard in Design and Performance
- A Sleeker Design with Rounded Edges
The Galaxy S25 Ultra takes a bold step forward in design. Moving away from its traditional boxy aesthetic reminiscent of the Galaxy Note series, the S25 Ultra now features rounded edges. This subtle change not only modernizes its look but also makes it resemble a larger version of the standard S25 and S25 Plus. Coupled with slimmer bezels, the Ultra now boasts a slightly larger 6.9-inch AMOLED display, offering an immersive viewing experience. - Lightweight Yet Durable
Weighing just 218 grams (compared to the S24 Ultra’s 232 grams) and measuring 8.2mm in thickness, the Galaxy S25 Ultra feels more comfortable to hold without compromising on durability. Thanks to the new Corning Gorilla Armor 2, the device offers improved drop protection and scratch resistance, ensuring it can withstand daily wear and tear.
- Enhanced Camera System
One of the standout upgrades is the 50MP ultrawide camera, which replaces the S24 Ultra’s 12MP sensor. This enhancement captures more details, making it ideal for landscape and macro photography. The other camera specs remain impressive, including a 200MP main lens, a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, a 50MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom, and a 12MP selfie camera.
- Same Battery, Better Cooling
The Galaxy S25 Ultra retains the 5,000mAh battery capacity of its predecessor. While the charging speeds remain unchanged at 45W wired charging, Samsung has introduced a 40% larger vapor chamber for heat dissipation. This improvement, combined with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, enhances power efficiency and ensures a smoother experience during intensive tasks like gaming. - Performance Powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite
The entire S25 series is powered by a customized Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, clocked higher than standard versions for faster performance. This chip not only boosts speed but also improves energy efficiency, offering a better balance between performance and battery life.
If you’re looking to protect your new Galaxy S25 Ultra, check out our exclusive Galaxy S25 Ultra Case!
One more thing: The ultra-thin Galaxy S25 Edge
Samsung's Unpacked event just wrapped up, and while we didn't see new smart glasses or rings at the end of this year's show, the company did reveal a new product - one that may be even more important.
The company has named it the Galaxy S25 Edge, and it has one obvious twist: it's incredibly thin. The phone is so thin that it only has two cameras, instead of three like the rest of the Galaxy S25 family.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the S25 Edge will launch in the first half of this year and is expected to be priced lower than the S25 Ultra's $1,299.
