Samsung’s Galaxy S25 represents a significant shift towards artificial intelligence while falling short on essential hardware improvements. With limited charging capabilities, inadequate storage options, and stagnant battery technology, the device raises concerns about its competitiveness. The integration of AI, largely sourced from Google, risks diminishing Samsung’s unique advantages. Overall, while the S25 showcases advanced software features, it reveals a troubling trend of hardware complacency, prioritizing future innovations over current consumer needs.
Unpacking the Samsung Galaxy S25: A Daring AI Gamble
The Samsung Galaxy S25 exemplifies a compelling paradox in the tech landscape of 2025. Samsung is making a bold leap into the realms of artificial intelligence and software, yet it simultaneously holds back on crucial hardware enhancements that could easily be rectified. This scenario raises vital questions about our increasing reliance on Google’s ecosystem.
While the allure of artificial intelligence captures attention, several of Samsung’s strategic choices leave me pondering. The decisions made by the Korean tech giant appear to diverge from what consumers in the premium market truly expect.
Charging Capabilities: A Step Backward?
Let’s address the most glaring issue: charging technology. In an era defined by rapid advancements, Samsung’s decision to limit wireless charging to a mere 10W in 2025 feels almost like a deliberate provocation. Even Apple, known for its cautious approach, has surpassed this benchmark.
The absence of Qi2 compatibility adds to the confusion: this widely adopted standard is available, yet Samsung seems to overlook it.
When it comes to wired charging, with the S25 maxing out at 25W and its larger counterparts at 45W, we find ourselves far behind the competition, particularly the Chinese brands that often exceed 100W. This outdated approach raises eyebrows.
Storage and Distinction: Where’s the Value?
Offering only a 128GB version for a smartphone priced at €899 in 2025? This is hard to justify, Samsung. With apps, photos, and videos becoming increasingly demanding, such storage is already feeling inadequate. A minimum of 256GB should be the norm in this price tier.
This choice appears more driven by a marketing strategy aimed at upselling rather than a genuine understanding of consumer needs. Interestingly, similar criticisms were directed at the iPhone 15 Pro for its storage limitations.
Moreover, the S25 Ultra now raises concerns about its unique identity. While it proudly features a high-quality 200 MP sensor and a revamped telephoto lens, the distinctions between it and its smaller counterparts are evaporating. The once clear technological advantages that justified the premium price seem to be fading.
Questions loom about the stylus, which has lost its Bluetooth functionalities—a puzzling regression that does not sit well with fans of the brand.
Batteries and AI: A Double-Edged Sword
Even after the Note 7 debacle, Samsung appears to be treading cautiously in battery technology. While competitors push boundaries with batteries as large as 7,000 mAh, the Galaxy S25 remains capped at 5,000 mAh. Although energy efficiency is enhanced thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite, this deliberate restriction raises eyebrows.
On the AI front, Samsung’s ambitious integration is undeniably impressive, yet it raises a significant concern: much of this prowess is sourced from Google Gemini. Should Google choose to roll out these features on its own Pixel devices or other brands, Samsung’s competitive edge could quickly diminish, risking a repeat of its historical over-reliance on Android.
The Galaxy S25 is emblematic of a deeper issue: while it shines brilliantly on paper, its hardware evolution feels stagnant. The improvements are minimal—just a slightly enhanced processor or a better ultra-wide camera. Samsung appears to be banking heavily on AI, potentially at the expense of the fundamentals that premium users expect.
While the Galaxy S25 is not a bad smartphone, it represents a worrying trend of hardware complacency masked by the excitement surrounding AI. This generation could have been an opportunity for Samsung to address longstanding shortcomings such as slow charging, limited base storage, and modest battery capacities. Instead, the company seems to have placed all its bets on software innovations that are, to a large extent, reliant on Google.
This strategy may prove to be a gamble. Despite AI being a crucial part of the future, the foundational aspects of hardware remain vital for a satisfactory user experience. In 2025, the compromises seen in the Galaxy S25 may already feel outdated, reflecting a focus on future trends rather than addressing the immediate needs of today’s consumers.