Samsung Galaxy A25 5G review: Nearly Nailed It

At a look

Knowledgeable’s Ranking

Professionals

• Glorious display
• Lengthy software program help
• Stable battery life
• Respectable digital camera efficiency

Cons

• Not probably the most sturdy
• Solely 128GB storage
• Divisive rear design

Our Verdict

At just below £250/$300, the Galaxy A25 5G ticks quite a lot of containers for those who’re on the lookout for a dependable finances smartphone. In addition to 5G help, you get a wonderful 120Hz AMOLED display, good all-round efficiency, some good cameras and (maybe most significantly) higher software program help than rivals.

Value When Reviewed

$299.99

Finest Costs Right this moment: Samsung Galaxy A25 5G

Its flagship Galaxy S24 collection may get a lot of the fanfare, however Samsung continues to quietly pump out inexpensive smartphones. One in every of its new fashions for 2024 is the Galaxy A25 5G. 

This handset is yours for simply £249/$299, and brings options corresponding to a big and brilliant 120Hz AMOLED display, 50Mp major digital camera, claims of two-day battery life and, after all, 5G connectivity.

Earlier Galaxy A collection telephones have supplied superb worth for cash, and with the Galaxy A25 5G catching up with 2023’s Galaxy A34 in some ways for a lower cost, it appears to be like like being extra of the identical right here.

Design & Construct 

• Plastic and glass combo 
• Three colourways 
• No waterproofing 

There’s not an enormous quantity to say concerning the design of the Galaxy A25 5G, because it very a lot follows on from earlier telephones within the collection.  

That’s to say that it echoes the styling of Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S24 vary, simply with just a few small tweaks right here and there. 

One of many massive ones is the selection of supplies, with a plastic again and body right here. The entrance is glass, however Samsung doesn’t specify what kind, and that’s maybe no shock, given it picked up a number of mild scratches inside two weeks. Observe that they’re solely seen when the display is off and when reflecting mild. 

Total, it’s acquired the distinctive look of a Samsung handset, significantly the trio of rear cameras in what I wish to name a port-hole model and association.  

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

It’s the sample on the again that makes the Galaxy A25 stand out, for higher or worse. The shiny grid made up of tiny squares is to not my style, wanting like a close-up view of a tv’s LEDs and paying homage to these opaque privateness home windows you get dotted round in faculties. 

I’m testing the ‘Blue’ model right here, which appears to point out up the sample greater than the opposite colourways of ‘Blue Black’ and ‘Yellow’.  

Though the machine feels sturdy and has survived a drop from the arm of my couch to a laminate flooring with no points, you may need to put a case on. After all, this can even cowl up the rear sample for those who’re not so eager.

I’d advocate this not solely to cowl up the sample on the again, but additionally to enhance grip, because the Galaxy A25 is on the slippery facet.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

A small design factor I like is that the body is barely raised the place the quantity and energy buttons are. The latter is the place you’ll discover the fingerprint scanner, which works nicely, however the energy button has a really loud and annoying click on once you press it. 

In dimension and weight, the Galaxy A25 is nearly similar to the iPhone 15 Plus (which I had in for evaluation on the identical), so it’s an enormous and heavy telephone, however nothing uncommon. Simply bear this in thoughts for those who’re on the lookout for one thing compact and straightforward to deal with. 

I’m glad to to see a 3.5mm headphone jack, however the Galaxy A25 5G doesn’t have any sort of official mud or waterproofing. 

We don’t usually point out it in a non-flagship telephone evaluation however the vibration motor for haptic suggestions is especially weak right here, offering a buzzy and low cost really feel. 

Display screen & Audio system 

• 6.5-inch AMOLED 
• 120Hz refresh price 
• Stereo audio system 

Aside from barely smaller diagonal dimensions, the show on the Galaxy A25 5G is identical as final 12 months’s Galaxy A34. 

The hand-me-down impact means you get a 6.5-inch AMOLED panel with a Full HD+ (2340 x 1080) decision and 120Hz refresh price. It’s punchy, vibrant, detailed and brilliant, that means it’s among the best screens you’ll discover on a telephone within the finances market. 

I measured it at 405 nits with computerized brightness off and at ‘full’, however Samsung says it may possibly attain a whopping 1000 nits. It’s definitely a lot simpler to see open air in brilliant mild than many rivals. 

You too can swap on the Eye Consolation Protect mode, which goals to scale back blue mild. I can’t vouch for its scientific effectiveness, however it’s there if you wish to use it. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

That 120Hz refresh price (double the usual price) makes for a easy general expertise, and you’ll swap it right down to 60Hz for those who like, which is able to prolong battery life a bit of. It’s a disgrace there’s no dynamic mode, the place the telephone can routinely swap between the 2 relying on what you’re doing. 

Like most smartphones (even finances ones), the Galaxy A25 has stereo audio system. They sound first rate and there’s a great quantity of quantity accessible too. 

Dolby Atmos is supported on the telephone, however you’ll must dive into the settings menu to modify it on. I personally don’t discover it provides something when listening from the in-built audio system, and might typically make the sound worse. Nevertheless, it’d assist when you could have headphones plugged in (there’s a 3.5mm jack right here), relying on how good they’re.

Specs & Efficiency 

• Exynos 1280 chipset
• 6GB RAM 
• 128GB storage 
• Micro-SD card slot 

Below the hood right here is Samsung’s personal Exynos 1280. It’s 2022 mid-range chipset that’s additionally present in earlier units such because the Galaxy A33 and A53 so it’s a trickledown scenario right here. Whereas comparatively previous, that is nonetheless an octo-core processor constructed on a 5nm course of. 

If meaning nothing to you don’t fear – the primary takeaway it’s highly effective sufficient to run the telephone nicely sufficient for day by day use. Simply don’t count on to do any superior gaming on it or difficult duties like intense video modifying – it’s a finances telephone, in any case. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

There’s an inexpensive however not spectacular 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, although in contrast to quite a lot of rivals there’s a Micro-SD card slot for including extra space (as much as 1TB) if wanted.

Samsung’s web site mentions an 8/256GB mannequin, however I can’t see this on sale wherever on the time of writing.

Samsung Galaxy A25 5G benchmarks 

By way of different specs, there’s nothing out of the unusual. Because the title suggests, this can be a 5G succesful telephone, however that is pretty frequent in 2024 particularly on the prime finish of the finances market. 

In any other case, you get the standard array of Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS and NFC.  

Cameras 

• 50Mp major digital camera 
• 8Mp ultrawide 
• 2Mp macro 
• 13Mp selfie 

The Galaxy A25 has a typical lineup of cameras for a finances smartphone in 2024.  

It’s a well-known story the place the primary digital camera is excessive decision 50Mp sensor, however pixel-bins right down to a smaller megapixel rely (12.5Mp on this case). Then there’s a decrease decision ultrawide shooter and a principally pointless macro lens. 

On the entrance, in a teardrop notch, is the middling decision selfie digital camera – right here it’s a 13Mp sensor.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Efficiency is the same story as nicely, so that you’ll get some affordable and first rate ends in good, primarily out of doors, lighting situations. Simply don’t count on the A25 to give you usable pictures irrespective of the place you’re or time of day. 

You’ll take most of your pictures with the primary digital camera, which is sweet, however nothing particular. I discovered it effective to make use of in point-and-shoot conditions, although was shocked by the quantity of pictures that had been underexposed. It’s additionally not the sort of telephone that finds it straightforward to maintain up with my always-on-the-move daughter.

A mode merely referred to as ‘Enjoyable’ within the digital camera caught my consideration, however it’s easy a choice of Snapchat filters and desires an web connection to work.  

The ultrawide digital camera suits extra in, after all, however on the sacrifice of high quality and you can also’t escape the fish-eye distortion on the edges.

A 2Mp macro lens is absolutely there to bump up the variety of cameras so the telephone sounds extra spectacular. We’ve seen it numerous occasions from nearly each producer and this one is not any completely different.

It’s form of enjoyable to mess around with now and again, however the mounted focus makes it troublesome to get the topic sharp and the decision is so low that it’s not likely definitely worth the effort anyway.  

The selfie digital camera is spectacular, and the portrait mode does an inexpensive job too, once more when you could have good lighting. It would seem to have an ultrawide digital camera alongside it, however that’s an phantasm – it’s merely cropped in to start with.

At a attainable 4K/30fps, video recording is extra spectacular than you may count on and there’s even OIS (optical picture stabilisation) on board to maintain issues as regular as attainable.

I’d personally stick with Full HD/60fps however high quality is sweet. So long as you could have sufficient mild, it’s among the best finances telephones for capturing video. 

Battery Life & Charging 

• 5000mAh capability
• 25W charging 
• No charging in field 

Although a 5000mAh battery is about common dimension for a contemporary smartphone, Samsung says the Galaxy A25 5G can final two days. 

I’ve personally discovered that to be true and you’re more likely to as nicely, offered you’re not utilizing the handset for plenty of gaming or different demanding duties. After all, heavy utilization with issues like private hotspot and excessive brightness will take its toll, however that is an all-day telephone on the very least.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

In our regular PCMark for Android battery check, the Galaxy A25 lasted an inexpensive however not particular 10 hours and 34 minutes. 

Wired charging at 25W (there’s no wi-fi charging, after all) may not sound spectacular, however it truly matches the flagship Galaxy S24. Which may appear spectacular on the floor, particularly when Samsung claims that is “Tremendous Quick Charging”, however it’s not likely.  

Samsung doesn’t provide an adapter within the field both. That’s good for the atmosphere, however it’s possible you’ll have to consider shopping for one. Utilizing one I had it residence, it reached simply 32% in half-hour.

Software program & Apps 

• Android 14 
• One UI 6 
• Lengthy software program help 

It’s refreshing to see a finances telephone include the newest model of Android on the time of writing. That’s Android 14, albeit with Samsung’s One UI 6 pores and skin excessive.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Samsung’s interface appears to be like good and is, most significantly, straightforward to make use of. Plus, there are options just like the sidebar that you simply may discover helpful day by day. Right here, you may preserve favorite apps and contacts so they’re solely a fast swipe away. 

In addition to options like Hyperlink to Home windows (for fast sharing with a Home windows PC), the corporate additionally provides lots of its personal corresponding to Good Change (for transferring the whole lot out of your previous telephone), Fast Share (for fast sharing with different Samsung units) and Multi management (use mouse and keyboard of 1 machine to regulate one other, and drag information between them).

Issues aren’t nice all over the place, although, with quite a lot of pre-installed apps, often known as bloatware. I’m positive some apps appeared regardless of me opting in opposition to them throughout setup.

You get the likes of Temu, CrossWord Jam and TikTok for starters, to not point out others from Microsoft and Fb. Fortunately, you may uninstall the overwhelming majority. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Samsung additionally gives glorious software program help. The place rivals could solely replace the Android model two or thrice, your Galaxy A25 will stand up to 4, together with as much as 5 years of safety patches. It’s not fairly Galaxy S24 ranges, however not far off.

Value & Availability 

As talked about on the prime, the Galaxy A25 5G will set you again £249 within the UK. This will get you 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.  

Samsung’s web site additionally mentions prospects of 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, however there’s just one mannequin to select from when you hit ‘purchase’. 

You should purchase it direct from Samsung, or through Amazon or Currys.  

These within the US should fork out $299.99 from Samsung, Amazon and BestBuy, the place it’s additionally simply the 128GB mannequin on supply, however with solely the Blue Black colourway.

With no choices to purchase the telephone on contract in both nation, your greatest wager shall be to get it outright and pair with a SIM-only deal.

There are many nice finances telephone rivals round this value, although, together with the Motorola Moto G84 5G and Xiaomi Redmi Observe 12 5G.

Must you purchase the Samsung Galaxy A25 5G?

For probably the most half, the Galaxy A25 is actually 2023’s Galaxy A34 for a lot much less. In some methods, the A25 is even higher, such because the fingerprint scanner being constructed into the facility button.

You don’t get IP67 or any waterproofing, which is a disgrace, and there’s presently no choice for greater than 128GB of storage, although you may develop utilizing a Micro-SD card. Charging is also sooner.

Nevertheless, the Galaxy A25 ticks the containers the place it issues, with a wonderful 120Hz AMOLED display, first rate efficiency and strong battery life. Digital camera efficiency can be fairly good, offered you’re not taking pictures indoors or in low mild.

Samsung additionally has significantly better software program help than many finances telephone rivals, so the telephone ought to final you longer and change into a greater funding.

Offered the drawbacks right here aren’t dealbreakers for you, the Galaxy A25 is straightforward to advocate. It’s undoubtedly among the best finances telephones of 2024.

Specs

• Android 14 with One UI 6
• 6.5in AMOLED, 2340 x 1080, 120Hz, 19.5:9 side ratio
• Exynos 1280
• 6GB RAM
• 128GB of storage (expandable through microSDXC)
• Cameras:
  • 50Mp OIS major digital camera
  • 8Mp ultrawide
  • 2Mp macro
  • 13Mp selfie digital camera
• Twin-SIM (microSDXC shares second slot)
• Stereo audio system
• NFC
• GPS
• Bluetooth 5.3
• Wi-Fi 5
• Fingerprint sensor (in energy button)
• 5000mAh battery
• 25W wired charging
• USB-C charging port
• 161 x 76.5 x 8.3 mm
• 197g