Got my phone on February 3rd. Here's what I liked about it:
The phone is well-balanced and feels good in hand. And the exclusive Jet Black color is chef's kiss.
I upgraded from the S23, so the added periscope camera is excellent. The portrait quality is like some mid-range digital camera setups with a 50mm lens, which is excellent. Also, the camera app is fast, it processes the images quickly and the LOG mode is brilliant (I have a Nikon Z6III so I love this new change)
The phone is fast and snappy, thanks to One UI 7, which feels lighter, and the improved UI is just the cherry on top.
The AI features are miles ahead of any other phone. I have used Apple's intelligence side-by-side, and it just can't compare. Specifically, generative image creation made my jaw drop, Galaxy AI cooked this time.
We all know Samsung provides unique features through Good Lock, which is also a pro for every lineup.
The display is, as usual, flagship-grade, so no complaints there.*
RAM management and background app activity management are good; no stutter, and I can keep working on two to three apps simultaneously. I don't play games on my phone, so I can't comment on that.
There is no heating issue after the first 10 days or so. At that time, there was a slight heating issue here and there while using the phone. Battery backup is now good; I get 7 hours of screen-on time easily while keeping some charge left.
And, here is what I didn't like.
Added bloatware, like Microsoft SwiftKey, which cannot be uninstalled, is simply unacceptable at this price.
Apart from AI, there is not much change. The camera rings look nice, but you can somewhat move them with your finger, which is a design flaw. They should be affixed to the camera housing like on older models.
*If I'm nitpicking, then I wish the display were brighter. If you are wearing sunglasses while using it on a bright day, it feels a bit dim, but the anti-reflective coating compensates somewhat.
Verdict: Overall, a great and probably the best bar-type flagship for 2025.
