Samsung Galaxy S S25 Silver Shadow 256GB

The Samsung Galaxy S25 is a compact flagship phone with a stunning 6.2-inch AMOLED display and top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite performance. It nails the basics with a great camera and clever AI features, though battery life is just average. If you want a small Android phone that doesn't compromise on power, this is the one to get.

With a performance score sitting in the 95th percentile, this thing flies. The Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy is clocked at 4.47GHz, and in our database, it chews through everything from heavy multitasking to demanding games without breaking a sweat. The 120Hz display makes scrolling feel buttery, and the vapor chamber cooling keeps things from getting toasty during longer gaming sessions. For a phone this small, the sustained performance is genuinely impressive.

Gaming is where the S25 really flexes. The upgraded processor and that bright, color-accurate screen make titles like Genshin Impact look fantastic, with realistic shadows and reflections that pop. It's not a dedicated gaming phone, but it scored a 79.9 out of 100 in our gaming tests, which puts it ahead of most mainstream flagships. The only real bottleneck is the battery, which we'll get to in a bit.

Stacked against the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, the S25 feels like a different species. The iPhone is a big, heavy slab with a more mature ecosystem, while the S25 is the lightweight you actually want to carry. The Snapdragon 8 Elite trades blows with Apple's A18 Pro in single-core tasks, but Samsung's AI features feel more integrated into the daily experience right now. The Motorola razr ultra 2025 is the wildcard here. It folds in half and offers a completely different kind of pocketability, but its camera and raw performance can't quite keep up with the S25.

The Google Pixel 10a is the value king with a cleaner Android build and arguably smarter photo processing, but its processor is a tier below. If you're torn between the S25 and the OnePlus 15, it really comes down to size. The OnePlus is faster to charge and lasts longer, but it's a much bigger phone. The S25 is for people who prioritize one-handed use above all else.

At $1019, the Galaxy S25 is a tough sell if you're just looking at raw specs. The OnePlus 15 gives you faster charging and a bigger battery for less money, and the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro offers a quirky, clean software experience at a much lower price. But you're paying for the combination of that pocketable size and the top-tier Snapdragon chip, which nobody else really nails. If you want a small Android phone that doesn't feel like a compromise, the premium is easier to swallow. For everyone else, it's worth waiting for a sale or checking out the Pixel 10a if camera software is your main priority.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 is the kind of phone that doesn't need to scream for attention. It's compact, it's light at 162g, and it packs a 6.2-inch AMOLED display that gets eye-searingly bright at 2600 nits. If you've been hunting for a small flagship phone that doesn't compromise on power, this is basically the poster child. Samsung stuffed the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip inside, paired it with 12GB of RAM, and called it a day. And honestly, that's plenty.

What's interesting this year is how much of the experience revolves around Galaxy AI. It's not just a spec bump. The phone can actually do things like search for a restaurant and text it to a friend with one voice command, or remind you to grab an umbrella if rain is in the forecast. It's the kind of proactive assistance that either feels like magic or a little creepy, depending on your vibe. But it works.

At around $1019, you're paying a premium for that compact form factor and the AI smarts. The camera system is a familiar triple-lens setup with a 50MP main sensor and a 3x telephoto, and it's tuned to handle tricky lighting and portraits better than last year. It's not a revolutionary redesign, but it's a confident refinement of a formula that already worked.

Skip the Galaxy S25 if battery life is your number one concern. The 4000mAh cell is fine, but it's not going to impress anyone coming from a phone with a 5000mAh battery. Power users who live on their phone all day and can't always reach a charger will be happier with the OnePlus 15 or the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Also, if you're not interested in AI features and just want a clean, bloat-free Android experience, the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro or the Google Pixel 10a will save you a chunk of cash and feel less cluttered.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 is the best small Android phone you can buy right now, full stop. It's not perfect. The battery life is a weak spot, and the 25W charging feels dated when budget phones are shipping with 65W bricks. But the combination of that gorgeous 6.2-inch display, the blistering Snapdragon chip, and the genuinely helpful AI features makes it a joy to use daily.

Should you buy it? If you hate big phones and refuse to give up flagship performance, yes. This is your phone. If you're a power user who needs all-day battery and doesn't mind a bigger screen, the OnePlus 15 or the iPhone 16 Pro Max will serve you better. But for everyone else who just wants a phone that disappears into your pocket and handles everything you throw at it, the S25 is an easy recommendation.