Overview
While the Galaxy S24 series is dominating the market, we present to you our Galaxy A25 review. It may not be the most opportune timing, given the absence of S24 review units from Samsung, but the Galaxy A25 plays a crucial role for both Samsung and budget-conscious consumers. Flagship devices may grab the headlines, but mid-range and budget phones are the real moneymakers for the industry, and can ultimately determine a company’s success.
The Galaxy A25 is available globally and has already hit the markets in several countries such as the US, UK, Europe, and India. Therefore, it is competing in the mid-range segment on a global scale. Samsung has made sure to equip it accordingly.
The Galaxy A25 stays relatively close to the established Galaxy A-series formula in terms of design, with minimal changes, but there are significant updates under the hood.
Samsung Galaxy A25 specifications:
- Body: 161.0×76.5×8.3mm, 197g; plastic back and frame, glass front.
- Display: 6.50″ Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 1000 nits (HBM), 1080x2340px resolution, 19.5:9 aspect ratio, 396ppi.
- Chipset: Exynos 1280 (5 nm): Octa-core (2×2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55); Mali-G68.
- Memory: 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM; microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot).
- OS/Software: Android 14, One UI 6.
- Rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f/1.8, PDAF, OIS; Ultra wide angle: 8 MP, f/2.2, 120-degree; Macro: 2 MP, f/2.4.
- Front camera: 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide).
- Video capture: Rear camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS; Front camera: 1080p@30fps.
- Battery: 5000mAh; 25W wired.
- Connectivity: 5G; Hybrid Dual SIM; Wi-Fi 5; BT 5.3; NFC; 3.5mm jack.
- Misc: Fingerprint reader (side-mounted); stereo speakers; Virtual proximity sensing.
The A25 boasts notable hardware upgrades over its predecessor, including 5G capabilities, a 120Hz Super AMOLED display, and more powerful camera features, among others. These enhancements bring it into direct competition with the A3X series and the highly acclaimed Galaxy A34. However, certain design elements, such as its larger display bezels and the absence of a formal IP rating, reveal its budget nature.
Despite these improvements, it remains to be seen how the Galaxy A25 fares against its competitors in the highly competitive budget smartphone market. We invite you to explore the following pages for the answer.
Unboxing
The Galaxy A25 arrives in a simple slide-out cardboard box. While the packaging isn’t anything extravagant, the phone is adequately protected, albeit with our reservations about the thinness of the sleeve. The accessory package includes only a white USB Type-C to Type-C cable and a SIM ejector tool, which may be minimalistic, but aligns with the comparable S series devices. However, it leaves room for improvement.
