Samsung Galaxy A25

Samsung released the Galaxy A25 5G alongside the Galaxy A15 as the first wave of its 2024 A-series, but it is clearly the more capable of the pair. It combines a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED screen that runs at 120Hz with a Samsung-made Exynos 1280 processor and a 50MP camera that has optical image stabilisation, and it keeps the 5,000 mAh battery and the long software promise that define the family. It is sold as a 5G phone, positioned just above the entry tier. This review draws on the published specifications and Samsung's own announcements and keeps official claims apart from what a buyer should verify.

Why the A25 exists

Samsung's A line is built in tiers, and the A25 is the model for people who find the cheapest tier too limited. Compared with the Galaxy A15, it raises the display refresh rate from 90 to 120Hz, lifts peak brightness from 800 to 1,000 nits, replaces the MediaTek processor with Samsung's own Exynos chip, adds optical stabilisation to the main camera and lists 4K video recording and NFC where the A15's specification page shows neither. Higher up, the Galaxy A35 and the Galaxy A55 add more premium materials and cameras, and the Galaxy A26 later took over its spot in the range. The Galaxy A25 vs Galaxy A26 page shows how far the successor moved on.

The dates come from Samsung newsrooms. The pair was announced in Vietnam on 11 December 2023, India followed at the end of that month with sales from 1 January 2024, and Singapore and the Philippines had it in early 2024. Local pricing is only an indication: in the Philippines Samsung listed the A25 5G at 15,990 pesos for the 6GB and 128GB model and 18,990 pesos for the 8GB and 256GB one. No official United States price was found, so none is given here.

Look and feel

The A25 measures 161.0 x 76.5 x 8.3 mm and weighs 197 g, a little shorter and lighter than the A15. Samsung's India newsroom describes a glossy prism-pattern back panel and the same key-island side design and flat linear camera housing as the A15. Three colours are named: Blue Black, Blue and Yellow, the last being an online-exclusive option in the Philippines. Samsung's renders show a gently textured, almost checkered shimmer on the back, a vertical stack of three lenses and a waterdrop-style notch in the screen.

The display is where the A25 pulls ahead. The 6.5-inch Super AMOLED panel is Full HD+ at 1080 x 2340 and refreshes at up to 120Hz, which Samsung says gives very smooth scrolling and gaming. Samsung states a brightness of up to 1,000 nits and adds Vision Booster for sun legibility and an Eye Comfort Shield that reduces blue light. Dolby-engineered stereo speakers are mentioned in Samsung's Singapore announcement, a feature the A15 lacks. These are manufacturer claims, but the spec page confirms the 120Hz figure.

Chip, memory and software

The Exynos 1280 is built on a 5nm process and has an octa-core CPU, with two cores at 2.4GHz and six at 2GHz in the spec listing. Samsung's India newsroom says it offers more power and speed for seamless multitasking, without any benchmark numbers. Memory is 6GB or 8GB depending on the country, with 128GB or 256GB of storage; Samsung India lists only 8GB, while the Philippines offers both. A microSD card up to 1TB is supported.

The A25 launched with One UI 6 based on Android 14 and carries the same promise of up to four OS upgrades and five years of security updates as the A15. Samsung includes Knox Vault, the Auto Blocker, Secure Folder and Samsung Wallet. In day-to-day use the Exynos 1280 is aimed at smooth handling of social apps, video and navigation and at casual to moderate gaming; it will not match upper-midrange chips in demanding titles.

Camera

The rear camera system comprises a 50MP main sensor at f/1.8 with optical image stabilisation and autofocus, an 8MP ultrawide at f/2.2 and a 2MP macro at f/2.4. The 13MP front camera has an f/2.2 lens. Samsung lists video up to 4K at 30 frames per second, with slow motion at 480 and 240 frames per second at HD, and its newsroom highlights both optical and video digital stabilisation for steadier footage. The India launch release also names software tools such as Single Take, Remaster, Object Eraser and Image Clipper, aimed at editing and creative shots.

The stabilised main camera is the single biggest practical upgrade over the A15, since it helps in dim light and with video. The ultrawide is a sensible 8MP, up from 5MP, and the macro is again minor. Digital zoom goes to 10x, but without a telephoto lens it is a crop, so details fade quickly. For social-media photography, family snaps and travel, this set-up is adequate rather than special.

Battery, charging and connections

Like the A15, the A25 holds a 5,000 mAh (typical) battery and charges at 25W. Samsung quotes up to 19 hours of internet use, up to 21 hours of video, up to 124 hours of audio and up to 38 hours of talk time, and calls it a battery that lasts up to two days. These figures come from laboratory tests, and the 120Hz setting will reduce them in real use. Wireless charging is not offered.

Connectivity covers 5G sub-6 plus the older networks, dual nano-SIM, NFC for contactless payment, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.3, a USB Type-C port at USB 2.0 speed, a 3.5mm headphone jack and the main satellite systems, GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo and QZSS. A side-mounted fingerprint sensor handles unlocking. No official ingress protection rating was found on the pages consulted, so do not assume water or dust resistance.

Who should buy it

The A25 is for people who want a pleasant screen and steady everyday performance without stepping up to premium money: students, commuters who stream a lot of video, and parents who want a phone that will keep getting updates for years. It is also a good pick if mobile payments matter, since NFC is included. Photography enthusiasts and heavy gamers will outgrow it quickly and should look at the A35 or A55.

Where it falls short

• The Exynos 1280 is a mid-range chip and is not suited to the most demanding games.
• Plastic construction and no listed water resistance rating.
• USB 2.0 speed and no wireless charging.
• No telephoto lens, and the 2MP macro adds little.
• RAM and storage vary by country, so check the exact version being sold.

As a balanced everyday phone with a strong display and long support, the Galaxy A25 holds up well in its class. To see where it stands against other models, open the rankings.