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Samsung Galaxy S25: New Features? Worth Upgrading?

Rob

Galaxy S20 Ultra
News Moderator
Administrator
Who else is considering upgrading to the Galaxy S25? I've got a Google Pixel 8 Pro and have grown really tired of it. The performance has wavered, it's gotten buggier over time, and I miss the Galaxy camera experience. I've been holding out for a new phone because I don't feel like I *need* many bells and whistles these days, but after watching the Galaxy Unpacked event, I'm intrigued.

Some of the Galaxy S25 features that are enticing me:
  • AI Call recording/notes (seems like it may be a legal issue in some jurisdictions?)
  • AI writing/formatting options built into the UI (One UI 7)
  • AI photo feature to select faces that aren't blinking/smiling
  • AI video feature to isolate and adjust background noise of different types
I could probably go another year (or maybe even two) without getting a new phone, but I'm pretty tempted!

Galaxy S25, S25+, or S25 Ultra? Hmm.
 
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I don't like that the S25 Ultra is very AI-intensive and that Samsung removed Bluetooth connectivity from the S Pen (so no more Air Commands). I would advise you, though, to get the S24 Ultra starting Feb 8th, which is the day after the S25 hits stores and the S24 prices drop further. By then, One UI 7 will be final and rolling out.
 
I was seriously tempted since I skipped my usual new every 2 last year but the deal isn't all that. I agree about the downgraded S-pen. I use that pen for nearly everything. Very disappointed about the downgrade. And I don't see me using AI all that much now that I have retired. Productivity is just not important now. The S22 Ultra trade-in is just $ 600. I get it. It's a 3 year old phone. Then there are the parks. $150? And I must assume that includes the $50 reservation. Upgrading memory to 512 gb took $20 off of that. And I don't need another smartwatch or earbuds. I don't use the ones I already have! Finally, veteran's discount is 5% AFTER trade-in. So I think I will just keep an eye out for the S24 price drops.

Good to "see" you again Cheif!
 
Hi Koki - happy retirement! Now you can do anything you want, when you want... as long as it doesn't cost anything!

There are two things I really use Air Command for: scroll capture and remote camera and media control. Yes, I can do the former without Air Command; and the watch can do the others.

So I lose the Bluetooth S Pen but gain a bunch of AI features that, like @kokiangel and so many others, I won't use much... and the best of those disappear after 6 months unless we subscribe to them.

Nope, the S25 Ultra will be a hard pass for me. Hopefully Samsung will learn its lesson and put a Bluetooth S Pen in the S26 Ultra... but I doubt it.
 
The next gen of Samsung for singing with TOS one must supply offspring for a sacrifice, by doing so you will unlock your phone and it will dial the cops, so you better run.
 
Hi Koki - happy retirement! Now you can do anything you want, when you want... as long as it doesn't cost anything!

There are two things I really use Air Command for: scroll capture and remote camera and media control. Yes, I can do the former without Air Command; and the watch can do the others.

So I lose the Bluetooth S Pen but gain a bunch of AI features that, like @kokiangel and so many others, I won't use much... and the best of those disappear after 6 months unless we subscribe to them.

Nope, the S25 Ultra will be a hard pass for me. Hopefully Samsung will learn its lesson and put a Bluetooth S Pen in the S26 Ultra... but I doubt it.


People are not happy about losing the Bluetooth on the S pen and are demanding it comes back with an update or continue it on the S26 like @The_Chief said.
 
Right now the Samsung Members app is on fire with that very topic. Either Samsung was way wrong with its estimate that less than 1% of users even use the Bluetooth functions... or they simply lied to reduce production costs. Users in the Members app are letting them have it: but until they get it from all directions (social media, blog posts, messages to customer service), it's just a quick flash of rage and Samsung will press on. That company is very good about removing popular features by insisting they aren't popular (headphone jack, microSD card, now this) - and once Samsung removes a feature, it doesn't come back.

So whether you use the Bluetooth functions of the S Pen or have never even used the S Pen, NOW is the time for you to contact Samsung and demand they restore it in the S26 Ultra. If they don't hear from enough users to scare them, there's no telling what's next on the chopping block.
 
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There's a petition online, compelling Samsung to restore the S Pen's Bluetooth functions to the S26 Ultra and learn from its mistake. I have been using the Samsung ecosystem for years, and only because I can't get S Pen functionality anywhere else. If Samsung's going to eliminate the S Pen functionality, it frees me to look at other better, cheaper phones.
 
This article absolutely nails it. The Samsung of 10 years ago would have looked at only 1% of users using the S Pen Bluetooth features and found a way to educate & inspire users to discover how really useful they are. The Samsung of today looks at the 1% and decides that it's low-hanging fruit that can be eliminated to cut production costs.

Samsung's lame excuses of "less than 1% of owners use these features" is either flawed research data or flat-out fabricated. Their argument that not having the Bluetooth S Pen will improve battery life is laughable: the S Pen doesn't have a battery, it has a capacitor that charges wirelessly in the silo! I estimate the battery power used in that would be in the micro-amps and insignificant. Waking the screen to check a notification takes more battery power.

 
The Samsung Members Beta Community is lit up like a Christmas tree with users wondering why we've been on the 3rd beta for over a month with no update or end in sight. A lot of us are confident that it's because S25 Ultra sales are so dismal that there's an effort to delay the One UI 7(Android 15 rollout to older devices, hoping a few people will trade up to access the latest features (and lose other great features in doing so).

Most users are particularly boycotting the S25 Ultra over the loss of S Pen Bluetooth functionality: which has to have someone at Samsung in a panic because that person signed off on that removal.

One UI 7 is a nice upgrade from 6.1 - but it's not THAT nice. I'll just keep the S24 Ultra... and if it remains on Beta 3 indefinitely, so be it.
 
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