Samsung Galaxy A25 5G review

Its flagship Galaxy S24 sequence may get many 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 akin to a big and vivid 120Hz AMOLED display screen, 50Mp important digicam, claims of two-day battery life and, after all, 5G connectivity.

Earlier Galaxy A sequence telephones have provided 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 in regards to the design of the Galaxy A25 5G, because it very a lot follows on from earlier telephones within the sequence.  

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 sort, and that’s maybe no shock, given it picked up a number of gentle scratches inside two weeks. Be aware that they’re solely seen when the display screen is off and when reflecting gentle. 

General, it’s acquired the distinctive look of a Samsung handset, significantly the trio of rear cameras in what I prefer to name a port-hole fashion 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, trying like a close-up view of a tv’s LEDs and harking back 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 may also cowl up the rear sample in the event you’re not so eager.

I might suggest this not solely to cowl up the sample on the again, but in addition to enhance grip, because the Galaxy A25 is on the slippery aspect.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

A small design factor I like is that the body is barely raised the place the amount and energy buttons are. The latter is the place you’ll discover the fingerprint scanner, which works properly, 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 an identical to the iPhone 15 Plus (which I had in for evaluate on the similar), so it’s a giant and heavy telephone, however nothing uncommon. Simply bear this in thoughts in the event you’re searching 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 form of official mud or waterproofing. 

We don’t usually point out it in a non-flagship telephone evaluate 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 fee 
• Stereo audio system 

Other than barely smaller diagonal dimensions, the show on the Galaxy A25 5G is similar as final yr’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 fee. It’s punchy, vibrant, detailed and vivid, which means it’s among the finest screens you’ll discover on a telephone within the funds market. 

I measured it at 405 nits with automated brightness off and at ‘full’, however Samsung says it may attain a whopping 1000 nits. It’s definitely a lot simpler to see outside in vivid gentle than many rivals. 

You can even change on the Eye Consolation Protect mode, which goals to cut back blue gentle. I can’t vouch for its scientific effectiveness, but it surely’s there if you wish to use it. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

That 120Hz refresh fee (double the usual fee) makes for a clean total expertise, and you’ll change it right down to 60Hz in the event you like, which is able to lengthen battery life a bit. It’s a disgrace there’s no dynamic mode, the place the telephone can robotically change between the 2 relying on what you’re doing. 

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

Dolby Atmos is supported on the telephone, however you’ll need to 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 usually make the sound worse. Nonetheless, it would assist when you might 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 

Underneath 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 state of affairs right here. Whereas comparatively previous, that is nonetheless an octo-core processor constructed on a 5nm course of. 

If which means nothing to you don’t fear – the principle takeaway it’s highly effective sufficient to run the telephone properly sufficient for each day use. Simply don’t anticipate to do any superior gaming on it or difficult duties like intense video modifying – it’s a funds telephone, in spite of everything. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

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

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

Samsung Galaxy A25 5G benchmarks 

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

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

Cameras 

• 50Mp important digicam 
• 8Mp ultrawide 
• 2Mp macro 
• 13Mp selfie 

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

It’s a well-recognized story the place the principle digicam 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 largely pointless macro lens. 

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

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Efficiency is an identical story as properly, so that you’ll get some affordable and first rate leads to good, primarily out of doors, lighting situations. Simply don’t anticipate the A25 to give you usable photographs irrespective of the place you’re or time of day. 

You’ll take most of your photographs with the principle digicam, 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 photographs that have been underexposed. It’s additionally not the form 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 digicam caught my consideration, but it surely’s easy a collection of Snapchat filters and wishes an web connection to work.  

The ultrawide digicam 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 basically 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 isn’t any totally different.

It’s kind of enjoyable to mess around with occasionally, however the mounted focus makes it tough to get the topic sharp and the decision is so low that it’s not likely well worth the effort anyway.  

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

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

I might personally persist with Full HD/60fps however high quality is sweet. So long as you might have sufficient gentle, it’s among the finest funds telephones for taking pictures 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 prone to as properly, supplied you’re not utilizing the handset for many 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 standard 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) won’t sound spectacular, but it surely truly matches the flagship Galaxy S24. That may appear spectacular on the floor, particularly when Samsung claims that is “Tremendous Quick Charging”, but it surely’s not likely.  

Samsung doesn’t provide an adapter within the field both. That’s good for the atmosphere, however you might must think about shopping for one. Utilizing one I had it dwelling, it reached simply 32% in half-hour.

Software program & Apps 

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

It’s refreshing to see a funds 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 each day. Right here, you’ll be able to hold 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 akin to Good Change (for transferring every little thing 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 manage one other, and drag recordsdata between them).

Issues aren’t nice all over the place, although, with lots of pre-installed apps, often known as bloatware. I’m positive some apps appeared regardless of me opting towards 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’ll be able to uninstall the overwhelming majority. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Samsung additionally supplies wonderful software program assist. The place rivals could solely replace the Android model two or 3 times, your Galaxy A25 will rise 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 high, 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 might be to get it outright and pair with a SIM-only deal.

There are many nice funds telephone rivals round this worth, although, together with the Motorola Moto G84 5G and Xiaomi Redmi Be aware 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 at present no choice for greater than 128GB of storage, although you’ll be able to broaden utilizing a Micro-SD card. Charging may be sooner.

Nonetheless, the Galaxy A25 ticks the packing containers the place it issues, with a superb 120Hz AMOLED display screen, first rate efficiency and strong battery life. Digicam efficiency can be fairly good, supplied you’re not taking photographs indoors or in low gentle.

Samsung additionally has a lot better software program assist than many funds 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 simple to suggest. It’s undoubtedly among the finest funds 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 important digicam
  • 8Mp ultrawide
  • 2Mp macro
  • 13Mp selfie digicam
• 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