At a lookProfessional’s Score
Execs
- Wonderful display
- Lengthy software program help
- Stable battery life
- First rate digital camera efficiency
Cons
- Not probably the most sturdy
- Solely 128GB storage
- Divisive rear design
Our Verdict
At slightly below £250/$300, the Galaxy A25 5G ticks quite a lot of containers should you’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.
Its flagship Galaxy S24 collection would possibly get many of the fanfare, however Samsung continues to quietly pump out reasonably priced smartphones. Considered one of its new fashions for 2024 is the Galaxy A25 5G.
This handset is yours for simply £249/$299, and brings options reminiscent of a big and shiny 120Hz AMOLED display, 50Mp primary 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 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 a couple of 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 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 wish to name a port-hole type 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 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 indicate up the sample greater than the opposite colourways of ‘Blue Black’ and ‘Yellow’.
The shiny grid made up of tiny squares is to not my style, trying like a close-up view of a tv’s LEDs
Though the gadget feels sturdy and has survived a drop from the arm of my couch to a laminate ground with no points, you would possibly wish to put a case on. In fact, this may also cowl up the rear sample should you’re not so eager.
I might 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 whenever you press it.
In measurement 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 cellphone, however nothing uncommon. Simply bear this in thoughts should you’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 type of official mud or waterproofing.
We don’t usually point out it in a non-flagship cellphone evaluate however the vibration motor for haptic suggestions is especially weak right here, offering a buzzy and low-cost really feel.
Display & Audio system
- 6.5-inch AMOLED
- 120Hz refresh charge
- Stereo audio system
Other than barely smaller diagonal dimensions, the show on the Galaxy A25 5G is identical 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 charge. It’s punchy, vibrant, detailed and shiny, which means it’s probably the greatest screens you’ll discover on a cellphone within the finances 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 open air in shiny gentle than many rivals.
You can too change on the Eye Consolation Defend mode, which goals to scale back blue gentle. I can’t vouch for its scientific effectiveness, however it’s there if you wish to use it.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
That 120Hz refresh charge (double the usual charge) makes for a easy general expertise, and you may change it right down to 60Hz should you like, which is able to prolong battery life a little bit. It’s a disgrace there’s no dynamic mode, the place the cellphone can mechanically change between the 2 relying on what you’re doing.
It’s probably the greatest screens you’ll discover on a cellphone within the finances market
Like most smartphones (even finances ones), the Galaxy A25 has stereo audio system. They sound first rate and there’s a superb quantity of quantity obtainable too.
Dolby Atmos is supported on the cellphone, however you’ll must dive into the settings menu to change it on. I personally don’t discover it provides something when listening from the in-built audio system, and may usually make the sound worse. Nonetheless, 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 outdated, 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 cellphone nicely sufficient for each day use. Simply don’t anticipate to do any superior gaming on it or sophisticated duties like intense video enhancing – it’s a finances cellphone, in spite of everything.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
There’s an inexpensive however not spectacular 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, although not like quite a lot 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 extraordinary. Because the title suggests, this can be a 5G succesful cellphone, however that is pretty frequent in 2024 particularly on the high 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 primary 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-recognized story the place the principle digital camera is excessive decision 50Mp sensor, however pixel-bins right down to a smaller megapixel depend (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 cheap and first rate leads to good, primarily out of doors, lighting circumstances. Simply don’t anticipate the A25 to provide you with usable pictures irrespective of the place you’re or time of day.
You’ll take most of your pictures with the principle digital camera, which is nice, however nothing particular. I discovered it fantastic to make use of in point-and-shoot conditions, although was stunned by the quantity of pictures that have been underexposed. It’s additionally not the type of cellphone that finds it simple to maintain up with my always-on-the-move daughter.
So long as you could have sufficient gentle, it’s probably the greatest finances telephones for taking pictures video
A mode merely referred to as ‘Enjoyable’ within the digital camera caught my consideration, however it’s easy a number of Snapchat filters and wishes 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 basically there to bump up the variety of cameras so the cellphone sounds extra spectacular. We’ve seen it numerous occasions from nearly each producer and this one is not any completely different.
It’s kind of enjoyable to mess around with every so often, 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 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 would possibly anticipate and there’s even OIS (optical picture stabilisation) on board to maintain issues as regular as attainable.
I might personally persist with Full HD/60fps however high quality is nice. So long as you could have sufficient gentle, it’s probably the greatest finances telephones for taking pictures video.
Battery Life & Charging
- 5000mAh capability
- 25W charging
- No charging in field
Although a 5000mAh battery is about common measurement 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, supplied you’re not utilizing the handset for many gaming or different demanding duties. In fact, heavy utilization with issues like private hotspot and excessive brightness will take its toll, however that is an all-day cellphone on the very least.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
In our ordinary PCMark for Android battery check, the Galaxy A25 lasted an inexpensive however not particular 10 hours and 34 minutes.
That is an all-day cellphone on the very least
Wired charging at 25W (there’s no wi-fi charging, after all) won’t 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 you might have to think about shopping for one. Utilizing one I had it house, 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 cellphone include the most recent 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 good and is, most significantly, simple to make use of. Plus, there are options just like the sidebar that you simply would possibly discover helpful each day. Right here, you’ll be able to maintain 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 a lot of its personal reminiscent of Good Swap (for transferring every thing out of your outdated cellphone), Fast Share (for fast sharing with different Samsung units) and Multi management (use mouse and keyboard of 1 gadget to manage one other, and drag information between them).
Samsung’s interface appears good and is, most significantly, simple to make use of
Issues aren’t nice all over the place, although, with quite a lot of pre-installed apps, also called 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 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 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 potentialities 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 must fork out $299.99 from Samsung, Amazon and BestBuy, the place it’s additionally simply the 128GB mannequin on provide, however with solely the Blue Black colourway.
With no choices to purchase the cellphone on contract in both nation, your greatest guess will probably be to get it outright and pair with a SIM-only deal.
There are many nice finances cellphone rivals round this value, 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 basically 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 the moment no possibility for greater than 128GB of storage, although you’ll be able to broaden utilizing a Micro-SD card. Charging is also quicker.
Nonetheless, the Galaxy A25 ticks the containers the place it issues, with a wonderful 120Hz AMOLED display, first rate efficiency and stable battery life. Digital camera efficiency can also be fairly good, supplied you’re not taking pictures indoors or in low gentle.
Samsung additionally has significantly better software program help than many finances cellphone rivals, so the cellphone ought to final you longer and develop into a greater funding.
Supplied the drawbacks right here aren’t dealbreakers for you, the Galaxy A25 is straightforward to advocate. It’s undoubtedly probably the greatest finances telephones of 2024.
Specs
- Android 14 with One UI 6
- 6.5in AMOLED, 2340 x 1080, 120Hz, 19.5:9 facet ratio
- Exynos 1280
- 6GB RAM
- 128GB of storage (expandable through microSDXC)
- Cameras:
- 50Mp OIS primary 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
