I spent a week with the Samsung Galaxy S25, here is how I found it

There is a distinct, understated joy in holding a piece of technology that fits comfortably in your hand. In an era where mobile phones have steadily expanded to the size of small tablets, the standard Samsung Galaxy S25 feels like a refreshing, elegant return to form. Having spent the last week carrying it around in my jacket pocket, I have found myself thoroughly charmed by its quiet sophistication.

At a featherweight 162 grams and measuring a mere 7.2 millimetres in thickness, it sits beautifully in the hand. Samsung has opted for a wonderfully tactile, flat-edged design with slightly rounded corners.

Wrapped in a premium Armour Aluminium frame and shielded by sturdy Gorilla Glass Victus 2, the phone possesses a reassuringly robust build. It is the sort of device that feels genuinely premium without shouting about it, finished in a selection of soft, pastel-infused colours like Icy Blue and Mint that catch the light delightfully.

The 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED display is quite simply a triumph of engineering. It offers a smooth 120Hz refresh rate that makes scrolling through your morning news feed feel like gliding on ice.

Underneath the glass lies the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor, paired with a generous 12GB of RAM. In practice, this translates to sheer, effortless speed. Whether you are jumping between work spreadsheets, editing a quick video clip, or relaxing with a visually demanding game, the handset hums along without the slightest hint of hesitation.

For many of us, the camera is where a phone truly proves its worth, and this setup is remarkably versatile. The triple-lens system features a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 10-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens. It is an incredibly reliable setup for capturing everyday moments.

Photos taken during a brisk afternoon walk in the park reveal crisp details, natural colour reproduction, and superb handling of tricky shadows. The low-light capability is equally impressive, pulling light out of dim evening settings with impressive clarity.

What makes the S25 experience feel truly modern, however, is the thoughtful integration of artificial intelligence. These features quickly weave themselves into your daily routine.

Take the helpful Circle to Search feature, for example. With a simple, intuitive gesture, you can circle anything on your screen, from a vintage jacket in a video to an unusual plant in a photo and instantly find out more about it without ever leaving the app you are in.

The Transcript Assist tool is another quiet triumph, allowing you to record a voice memo or discussion and easily convert it into a neat, beautifully organised text summary.

Supporting all of this is a reliable 4,000mAh battery that easily carries you through a full day of active use. When you do need to top up, the fast-charging capability gets you back on the move swiftly.

Ultimately, the Samsung Galaxy S25 is a brilliant testament to the art of refinement. It improves the daily experience of using a smartphone. It is fast, beautifully built, incredibly capable and an absolute pleasure to carry around.