Samsung unveils Galaxy S25 series — South African pricing and launch date revealed

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S25 line-up, comprising three new smartphones, during its Unpacked event on Wednesday, 22 January 2025.
The South Korean tech giant described its latest flagship series as “true AI companions,” highlighting its continued emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) improvements.
Among the new AI-focused capabilities, the S25 series will be the first to boast Google’s Gemini AI on-device.
Speaking on the inclusion of Gemini, Google said it believes “agentic systems”, those that help complete tasks, are the next frontier in AI technology.
Cross-app agentic capabilities will enable Galaxy S25 users to get real-time feedback from Gemini on tasks they are doing, such as trying on clothing or testing a new recipe.
“Just press and hold the side button to activate Gemini and perform seamless interaction across Samsung and Google apps, plus third-party apps such as Spotify,” said Samsung.
“These intuitive interactions are elevated by expansions to Galaxy AI’s popular tools for communication, productivity and creativity.”
Gemini AI on the Galaxy S25 will also be able to take down call transcripts and summaries, assist with writing and drawing and perform enhanced Circle to Search.
In addition, users will be able to activate screen sharing and live video streaming using Gemini.
Gemini AI will be able to understand natural speech or prompts, allowing users to complete tasks by talking with their Galaxy S25 like a human.
Headlining the new flagship Samsung series is the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
The latest top-end option features a 6.9-inch AMOLED display with a 3,120 x 1,440-pixel resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate.
According to Samsung, the Galaxy S25 Ultra introduces Corning Gorilla Armor 2, the industry’s first anti-reflective glass ceramic for mobile devices.
“Corning Gorilla Armor 2 sets a new standard of durability while delivering superior mobile display clarity on Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra,” it said.
Next in the pecking order is the S25+, which features a slightly smaller 6.7-inch display with specifications similar to those of the Ultra.
The final debutant — the base Galaxy S25 — has a 6.2-inch AMOLED display with a 2,340 x 1,080-pixel resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate.

Samsung’s latest Galaxy S devices all pack the same powerful processor — Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip.
In the Ultra, the chip is paired with 12GB RAM for models with 256GB or 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM for the 1TB storage configuration.
The base S25 and the S25+ both pack 12GB RAM. The former is available with storage configurations of either 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB, while the S25+ has no 128GB option.
It is important to note that the configurations shipped to South Africa may be more limited. In the recent past, Samsung’s local entry-level options started with 256GB storage.
Cameras similar to previous years
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has retained a quad rear camera setup it has featured for the past few years.
The latest configuration consists of a 200MP primary shooter, two 50MP sensors, and a 12MP telephoto camera.
One of the 50MP sensors is a periscope telephoto camera, while the second acts as an ultrawide shooter.
The S25 Ultra’s camera setup enables it to record 8K video at 30 frames per second (fps), 4K video at up to 120 fps, and 1080p video at up to 240 fps.
The Galaxy S25 and S25+ feature similar rear camera setups, comprising a 50MP primary shooter, a 12MP ultrawide sensor, and a 10MP telephoto shooter.
Regarding selfie capabilities, the Galaxy S25 Ultra sports a 50MP front camera, while the lower-end devices both have 12MP selfie cameras.

Batteries and prices
Battery life will no doubt be important for users willing to spend big on high-end devices.
The Ultra packs a large, 5,000mAh battery, capable of 45W wired fast charging and 25W wireless fast charging.
The Galaxy S25+’s battery is only slightly smaller at 4,900mAh. It supports 45W fast wired charging and 15W fast wireless charging.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 series is available to pre-order now, with general availability by 7 February 2025.
Pricing for the Samsung Galaxy S25 series starts at R19,999 for the base S25, R23,499 for the S25+, and R29,999 for the S25 Ultra.
The Ultra is available in Titanium Black, Titanium Blue, Titanium Grey, and Titanium Silver, while the S25 and S25+ have Icy Blue, Mint, Navy, and Silver Shadow colour options.
Specifications and images for the Samsung Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra are provided below.
Specification | Samsung Galaxy S25 | Samsung Galaxy S25+ | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra |
---|---|---|---|
OS | Android 15, OneUI 7 | Android 15, OneUI 7 | Android 15, OneUI 7 |
Display | 6.2-inch 2,340 x 1,080-pixel OLED with 120Hz refresh rate | 6.7-inch 3,120 x 1,440-pixel OLED with 120Hz refresh rate | 6.9-inch 3,120 x 1,440-pixel OLED with 120Hz refresh rate |
Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite | Snapdragon 8 Elite | Snapdragon 8 Elite |
Storage | 128GB | 256GB | 512GB | 256GB | 512GB | 256GB | 512GB | 1TB |
RAM | 12GB | 12GB | 12GB | 16GB |
Rear camera | 50MP + 12MP + 10MP | 50MP + 12MP + 10MP | 200MP + 50MP + 50MP + 10MP |
Front camera | 12MP | 12MP | 50MP |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6e, Bluetooth 5.4 | Wi-Fi 6e, Bluetooth 5.4 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 |
Ports | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C |
Biometrics | Under-display fingerprint scanner | Under-display fingerprint scanner | Under-display fingerprint scanner |
Battery and charging | 4,000mAh 25W fast wired charging 15W fast wireless charging | 4,900mAh 45W fast wired charging 15W fast wireless charging | 5,000mAh 45W fast wired charging 25W fast wireless charging |
Price | From R19,999 | From R23,499 | From R29,999 |
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra




Samsung Galaxy S25 and S25+



