Samsung Unveils Three New Galaxy S Models with Subtle but Meaningful Upgrades
Design and Colors
Like past January Unpacked events, Samsung released three new Galaxy S models, with the base models getting some subtle but meaningful upgrades, including a thinner and lighter design. Additionally, the company introduced new colors, including Icyblue, Navy, Mint, Silver Shadow, as well as online-only exclusive colors like Blueblack, Coralred, and Pinkgold. The vibrance of the Coralred colorway stands out amongst the rest of the lineup’s more muted finishes, and made a splash among reporters at Unpacked.
Performance and AI Features
At the heart of the devices is the newly launched Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy. According to Samsung, the chipset will be dramatically different than the variants found on competing Android phones. For example, Samsung claims it delivers a performance boost of 40% in NPU, 37% in CPU, and 30% in GPU compared to the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Beyond AI, the chipset will help provide a smoother experience when gaming, equipped with Vulkan Engine, a high-performing graphics platform, and improved Ray Tracing.
Camera and Software Upgrades
Other specs remain the same as last year’s model, such as its 6.2-inch and 6.7-inch display, 4,000mAh and 4,900mAh batteries, 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate, 50 MP main lens, a 12MP ultrawide, a 10 MP telephoto, and a 12MP selfie camera. Despite the camera hardware remaining the same, the software upgrades should significantly improve the experience. For example, 10-bit HDR recording is now applied by default, allowing users to capture better detail, and a new Galaxy Virtual Aperture, integrated into the Expert RAW app, gives users better depth-of-field control, similar to when using a DSLR.
Pricing and Availability
Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus feature advanced AI image processing with ProScaler, which, like Samsung TVs, uses AI to digitally enhance the resolution of videos. Just know that the phones need to be set to QHD+ resolution to take advantage of the feature.
Pricing for the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus starts at $799 and $999, respectively. That’s the same as past years’ retail price, which is good to see, provided you’re getting improvements – some in hardware and more in software.
Conclusion
Samsung’s new Galaxy S models offer a range of subtle but meaningful upgrades, including a thinner and lighter design, new colors, and improved performance and camera capabilities. With the same pricing as previous years, these new devices are a great option for those looking for a high-end Android experience.
FAQs
Q: What are the main upgrades in the new Galaxy S models?
A: The new Galaxy S models feature a thinner and lighter design, new colors, improved performance with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, and software upgrades to the camera.
Q: Are the camera specs the same as last year’s model?
A: Yes, the camera hardware remains the same, but software upgrades should significantly improve the camera experience.
Q: What is the price of the new Galaxy S models?
A: The Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus start at $799 and $999, respectively.
Q: What is ProScaler, and how does it work?
A: ProScaler is a feature that uses AI to digitally enhance the resolution of videos, similar to Samsung TVs. It requires the phone to be set to QHD+ resolution to take advantage of the feature.
