When I’m reviewing a phone, the part that’s most fun is testing out the camera, and that’s been the case with the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus.
I’ve spent a few days snapping pictures of friends, gardens, mansions and teacups (born to live in the world of Downton Abbey, forced to live in the modern day), and I’ve picked out a few of my favorite shots so far. These images showcase some of the best qualities of the cameras on the S25 and S25 Plus: namely, their capacity to render subjects crisply, and to capture vibrant colors and sweeping scenery.
The S25 and S25 Plus feature the same cameras as each other — and as last year’s S24 and S24 Plus: a 50-megapixel wide camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 10-megapixel 3x telephoto camera. They also both share a 12-megapixel front-facing camera. This year’s lineup gets some added boosts to AI tools like Generative Edit, which lets you remove anything from your image and seamlessly fill in that now-empty space. (I was impressed with how well it handled this task, over and over.) Samsung also says its AI can do a better job of reducing noise in nighttime videos, and I admired the vividness of various nighttime shots.
The biggest difference between the S25 and S25 Plus is the larger display on the S25 Plus (6.7 inches, versus the S25’s 6.2 inches), as well as the higher battery capacity (4,900mAh, versus the S25’s 4,000mAh). So, when it comes to cameras, shots taken on the S25 and S25 Plus are interchangeable — you’ll get the same kind of image on both devices.
Without further ado, then, let’s jump into a few of my favorite pictures taken on both phones, and what makes them stand out.
Doesn’t this just scream springtime? (Galaxy S25)
I adore how vibrant the pink and red petals are here, making this colorful setting pop in a very true-to-life fashion. The details in the water ripples and the texture around the birdbath are also impressive, and the greenery in the background is vivid without stealing the spotlight.
If you know me, you’ll know a teacup picture is mandatory here. (Galaxy S25 Plus)
This Portrait mode shot is all about drama: the fallen petals (impressively almost all in focus); the crisp silhouette of the teacup, saucer and plate; and the subtle blurred effect on the background and vase. This was taken just before sunset, in my living room, and I like how the softness of the image doesn’t temper the cheeriness of the pink china and petals.
What are friends for? Being your impromptu model, of course! (Galaxy S25)
I brought the Galaxy S25 along as I grabbed hot chocolate with a friend, and took this Portrait mode shot that became one of my favorites. Over and over again, the S25 and S25 Plus demonstrated how good they are at knowing what to blur and what to keep in focus, which is seen clearly in this image. I also appreciated the general crispness, given that this was taken at night, with some bright twinkling lights in the background. But what about those obnoxious barricades to the left?
AI to the rescue to clear up the background. (Galaxy S25)
Poof; like magic! This is where Generative Edit comes in handy: to remove any eyesores or photobombers. I was consistently impressed with how well Generative Edit used AI to fill in backgrounds, so you’d never know something was there IRL (unless you look at the disclaimer in the corner that this is “AI-generated content.”)
San Francisco’s Palace Hotel dazzles. (Galaxy S25)
The Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus have three different optical zoom levels: .6x, 1x and 3x (as well as 2x sensor crop on the main camera and 10x, 20x and 30x digital zoom on the telephoto). This was taken at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco using 2x optical zoom, and I love how the details of the chandeliers and glass ceiling are well preserved. I also appreciate the warm tones.
Selfie time! (Galaxy S25)
I’ve always been a big fan of the (very flattering) smoothing effect in selfies taken with Galaxy phones, and the S25 upholds that legacy. Vibrancy and crispness are never compromised, though, as can be seen by the sharp-looking palm leaves in the background and the vivid colors on my floral dress.
I’d like to make this a postcard. (Galaxy S25 Plus)
This wide-angle portrait shot feels so immersive, and beautifully depicts the different hues of the surrounding greenery. The lighting is once again true-to-life for that partly cloudy day, offering a more subdued yet still impactful snapshot of one of my favorite places, Filoli mansion and gardens in Woodside, California.
So cozy. (Galaxy S25)
Compared with many other phones that have similar ultrawide lenses, the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus do a great job of not dramatically warping images at .6x zoom. Instead, they serve up sweeping landscapes and settings while largely maintaining their authenticity. This living room shot at Filoli is a great example.
Watch this: First Look at Samsung’s Surprise Galaxy S25 Edge
See also: Hands On: Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus Are More of the Same, With AI Hogging the Spotlight
