Carrier deals aren’t always bad. Sure, you’re locked into a longer-term commitment than you would be with an MVNO, but if you’re used to staying with one company for years, there are benefits. Carrier discounts are a fantastic way to score a premium flagship smartphone for less, and if you catch one at the right time, you could even pay nothing. The Samsung Galaxy S25+ is an excellent device, and given its position in the company’s lineup this year, I think it’s the sensible choice for most people.
AT&T wants you to pick up a Samsung Galaxy S25+ for free. You need to trade in an eligible phone and stay on an AT&T unlimited plan for 36 months, but if you were going to do that anyway, it’s an excellent chance to save money on one of this year’s best.
Read our review
Why you should buy a Samsung Galaxy S25+
I know the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is getting all the attention for being thin, but the Galaxy S25+ isn’t exactly a thick smartphone. It’s only 7.3mm thick and weighs only 190g — it’s a joy to hold in your hand. It’s also durable, with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back, and an aluminum frame. The Galaxy S25+ features a gorgeous (and manageable) 6.7-inch AMOLED screen that refreshes at 120Hz. Samsung nailed the displays on this year’s crop of Galaxy phones, and if you enjoy the saturated Samsung displays of old, you’re going to love what you see on the Galaxy S25+.
You won’t be lacking in horsepower with the Galaxy S25+. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset is precisely as advertised, with snappy performance and better power efficiency than I expected. I can get a full day of use and then some on a single charge from the phone’s 4,900mAh battery. Camera performance is excellent, with sharp, crisp images and deep contrast from the phone’s triple sensor setup. I wish the phone had the new 50MP ultrawide lens that the Galaxy S25 Ultra enjoys, but I can’t complain.
Of course, software is the centerpiece of this year’s Galaxy S25+. I still don’t understand the functions of Now Brief, but the Now Bar on One UI 7 is proving useful. I love using it to get sports scores and help with turn-by-turn navigation on Google Maps. In addition, it’s hard to beat 7 years of software support and updates, meaning your Galaxy S25+ will get new features for years. All told, it’s an excellent smartphone, and even better if you can pick one up for free.
Samsung Galaxy S25+
- SoC
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
- RAM
- 12GB
- Storage
- 256GB/512GB
- Battery
- 4,900mAh
The Samsung Galaxy S25+ is the middle offering in the company’s lineup. It features a 6.7-inch AMOLED QHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset powers it, and it has 12GB of RAM, and either 256 or 512GB of storage. Samsung didn’t increase the battery size for 2025, leaving it at 4,900mAh, although a more efficient chipset has resulted in better battery life. It’s thin and lightweight, at just 7.3mm and 190g, respectively.
