Samsung Galaxy S25+ Navy 256GB

The S25+ is the Goldilocks phone: fast, bright, and long-lasting without the Ultra price. Skip the camera nerds and buy this instead.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy at 4.47GHz is no joke. This thing chews through AI tasks, gaming, and app switching like it's bored. Our database puts it in the 93rd percentile for performance, which means it's trading blows with the absolute best phones on the market. The 12GB of RAM keeps things smooth, and the 4900mAh battery lands in the 91st percentile, so you're not hunting for a charger by 3pm. The 45W wired charging is fine, not class-leading, but it'll get you back up and running quick enough. Honestly, the only surprise is how well this mid-tier flagship keeps up with phones that cost way more.

The S25+ sits in a weird spot. The Pixel 10 Pro will beat it on camera and software updates, but Samsung's chip is faster. The iPhone 16 Pro Max has better video and ecosystem lock-in, but you'll pay way more. The OnePlus 15 is probably the closest competitor, matching Samsung on performance and undercutting on price, but Samsung's display and build quality edge it out. The Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 is a different beast entirely, folding and all, but it can't touch the S25+ on raw performance. If you want the best all-rounder without spending Ultra money, the S25+ is the sweet spot.

At $600 USD for a refurbished unit, this is a steal. You're getting 93rd percentile performance and a 91st percentile battery for less than half what some flagships cost. The camera isn't the best, but it's still in the 81st percentile, which is well above average. If you can live without the absolute latest camera tech, this is one of the best value plays in phones right now.

The Galaxy S25+ is basically Samsung saying, "Here's everything we know about phones, minus the kitchen sink." It's a big, bright, stupidly fast slab that nails the fundamentals. The one thing to know? This is the phone for people who want flagship power without the Ultra's size or price tag. The Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip is a monster, the 6.7-inch AMOLED is gorgeous, and the battery actually keeps up. It's not reinventing anything, but it's doing almost everything right.

If you're a camera obsessive who pixel-peeps every shot, this isn't your phone. Go get a Pixel 10 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max instead. And if you need the absolute best connectivity features, like the latest Wi-Fi standards or satellite messaging, look elsewhere. The S25+ is a performance and battery champ, not a spec-sheet warrior.

The Galaxy S25+ is the phone most people should buy. It's fast, the screen is beautiful, the battery lasts, and the price is right. The camera isn't going to win any awards, and the connectivity features are just okay, but those are minor gripes. This is a flagship experience without the flagship price tag. Buy it, especially if you can find it refurbished.