Samsung Galaxy A25 Review: A Budget Phone That Feels Surprisingly Premium

Introduction

While the tech world is busy obsessing over Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S24 lineup, we’ve turned our attention to something far more accessible — the Galaxy A25. Sure, it’s not the star of the show, but this mid-range device is crucial for Samsung’s success. After all, affordable smartphones like this are what keep the brand thriving globally.

The Galaxy A25 is already available in key markets including the US, UK, Europe, and India — competing directly in the ever-crowded midrange space. Samsung hasn’t reinvented the wheel here, but it has fine-tuned several aspects to make the A25 a better all-rounder.

Design: Familiar but Better in Hand

At first glance, the Galaxy A25 looks similar to its predecessor, the A24, but subtle refinements make a difference. The new sculpted middle frame gives it a more premium feel and improved grip.

You still get the familiar triple vertical camera layout on the back, with no camera island, and a flat rear panel. The front is also flat, featuring a teardrop notch for the selfie camera — a design cue that reminds you this is still a budget Samsung.

The bezels are slightly on the thicker side, but that’s expected at this price. The phone comes in four color options — Personality Yellow, Brave Black, Fantasy Blue, and Optimistic Blue — with Yellow easily being the most eye-catching.

Display: Smooth 120Hz AMOLED Brilliance

Samsung’s display game remains strong, even in the budget segment. The 6.5-inch Super AMOLED panel offers a Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2340 pixels) and a crisp 396 ppi density — perfectly sharp in everyday use.

This time, Samsung has upgraded the refresh rate to 120Hz, up from 90Hz on the Galaxy A24, bringing it closer to premium A-series devices like the A34.

Brightness is impressive too — the screen can hit 1000 nits peak brightness, and in testing, it reached around 1030 nits in auto mode. Whether you’re outdoors or scrolling through social media indoors, visibility remains excellent.

Battery Life: Dependable as Ever

Equipped with a 5,000mAh battery, the Galaxy A25 delivers reliable endurance. It logged an active use score of over 10 hours, which is solid for daily tasks like browsing and streaming. However, gaming and web performance could’ve been slightly better.

Charging: Fast Enough, But Bring Your Own Charger

Samsung’s 25W Super Fast Charging returns here. Using Samsung’s official charger, the A25 hits 27% in 15 minutes, 49% in 30 minutes, and a full charge in 84 minutes.

Unfortunately, there’s no charger in the box, so you’ll need to buy one separately to unlock these speeds.

Software: Android 14 with Full One UI 6 Goodness

The Galaxy A25 runs Android 14 with One UI 6, and the good news is — this isn’t the watered-down “Core” version. You get the full Samsung experience, including most of the same features found on flagship models.

Samsung promises four years of major OS updates and five years of security patches, making this a long-term option for users who prefer stability over constant upgrades.

Visually, One UI 6.0 remains familiar, but there are small refinements like customizable lock screen clocks, a redesigned quick panel, and improved notifications.

Performance: Exynos 1280 Holds Up Well

Under the hood, the Galaxy A25 packs the Exynos 1280 chipset — the same processor used in the Galaxy A33 and A53. Built on a 5nm process, it offers decent efficiency and performance.

The base model includes 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, while a higher variant offers 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. Performance in everyday use is smooth, and benchmarking even shows a small improvement over older Exynos-powered A-series phones.

Cameras: Familiar Setup, Small Improvements

Samsung hasn’t drastically changed the camera setup from the A24, but there are subtle upgrades. The 50MP main camera with OIS is joined by an 8MP ultrawide lens (up from 5MP last year) and a 2MP macro sensor. On the front, there’s a 13MP selfie shooter.

New this year is SuperSteady mode for video recording, making handheld clips look smoother. Daylight photos come out sharp and colorful, but low-light shots could still use some work.

Verdict: Small Upgrades, Big Impact

The Galaxy A25 5G might not be revolutionary, but it fixes the biggest issue with last year’s model — lack of 5G. Add to that the faster 120Hz display, stereo speakers, and refined design, and you get a midrange phone that feels far more premium than its price tag suggests.

It’s dependable, long-lasting, and feature-packed — ticking most boxes for anyone who wants a trustworthy Samsung experience without breaking the bank.

If Samsung gave it official IP water resistance, it would have been near-perfect for its class. Still, as it stands, the Galaxy A25 is one of the most well-balanced midrange phones of 2025.