Samsung S25/ S25 Ultra

[MaskedCarrot]

On a different note, I had a 149kb update to Google Play Services this morning.

What suprised me, for such a big update, I am still on the April 1 date. Like what the heck, why haven't we gotten the May update already?

 

[Harthag]

Oh yeah, to update my phone call experience, I actually updated my phone settings to default to Wi-Fi calling, and we haven't had any issues. So hopefully that fixed it!

That's great! I always select "prefer wifi" within the wifi calling settings.

 

[jamezr]

I'll believe it when I see it. After all my years playing with phones, the iPhone has always been much better at push notifcations than Android. I am talking Android in general, no specific phone maker.

I have already talked about my experience with this earlier in this thread.

I was talking about the 2 operating system handle notifications. IMHO Android does a better job of managing notifications.

 

[robvalentine]

On a different note, I had a 149kb update to Google Play Services this morning.

What suprised me, for such a big update, I am still on the April 1 date. Like what the heck, why haven't we gotten the May update already?

Same on the pixel. The play store updates always lag by at least 3-4 weeks for me

 

[robvalentine]

I was talking about the 2 operating system handle notifications. IMHO Android does a better job of managing notifications.

Android has better notification management once they arrive, but I've been getting a lot of delayed notifications on my pixel

 

[MaskedCarrot]

Android has better notification management once they arrive, but I've been getting a lot of delayed notifications on my pixel

Ya that is what I meant.

 

[furbzv1]

i already do the ios beta... might as well join the samsung beta too!

 

[super chimp]

It doesn’t surprise me that they are thinking of getting rid of the plus model next year and replacing it with the Edge. Being as the plus model has consistently been the worst selling model. So you’d have the S26, S26 Edge and S26 Ultra.

 

[Technerd108]

It doesn’t surprise me that they are thinking of getting rid of the plus model next year and replacing it with the Edge. Being as the plus model has consistently been the worst selling model. So you’d have the S26, S26 Edge and S26 Ultra.

I hope they don't move in that direction. When I bought my last Samsung phone I bought the Ultra and plus on pre order together. Then I returned the one I didn't want to keep.

That was a very hard choice because in some ways I like the plus better than the Ultra. At the end of the day I got the Ultra because I knew my phone buying budget was crashing for an unforseeable amount of time. Better to have the best if I am going to be stuck with it for a while.

If that weren't the case I may have ended up with the plus and a couple hundred extra dollars.

There is nothing about the edge that is enticing to me. Slim and small is not how I would describe the edge. It is a large phone but they took out good stuff to make it thinner?? Does anyone want a large phone with less battery life and worse cameras to save a couple millimeters of thickness??

No. Make a better plus and be done with it. I honestly don't see who the edge is for. At least the edge would have made more sense to me if it were a 6" screen not 6.7". Then thin and light and compact with best components would be a much bigger market?

Just my 2 cents.

 

[super chimp]

I hope they don't move in that direction. When I bought my last Samsung phone I bought the Ultra and plus on pre order together. Then I returned the one I didn't want to keep.

That was a very hard choice because in some ways I like the plus better than the Ultra. At the end of the day I got the Ultra because I knew my phone buying budget was crashing for an unforseeable amount of time. Better to have the best if I am going to be stuck with it for a while.

If that weren't the case I may have ended up with the plus and a couple hundred extra dollars.

There is nothing about the edge that is enticing to me. Slim and small is not how I would describe the edge. It is a large phone but they took out good stuff to make it thinner?? Does anyone want a large phone with less battery life and worse cameras to save a couple millimeters of thickness??

No. Make a better plus and be done with it. I honestly don't see who the edge is for. At least the edge would have made more sense to me if it were a 6" screen not 6.7". Then thin and light and compact with best components would be a much bigger market?

Just my 2 cents.

I don’t understand why you would think giving the Edge a 6” screen would make more sense. The whole point of the Edge to me is to give people a large screen phone in a more ergonomic package.

 

[Sensamic]

Need some advice, guys.

I'm thinking of changing my S24+ for a regular S25. Main reason is size and weight. I'm kind of getting tired of big phones. S25 Edge is not an option, even though it is very light, but tried it and didn't like the huge size.

There are many factors to consider:

- I have the 512GB model, although I can perfectly live with 256GB of the S25 (model I would buy).
- I would lose battery life, but I recently bought a Samsung powerbank 25W that I can take with me in for those times I might need it.
- Bigger screen makes it easier to read web pages, write, etc.
- I would have to pay 340€ for the change.

On the other hand, I think it would be pretty sweet to have such a lightweight phone that I could use more comfortably and carry on my pockets with ease. Most times I take my S24+ in the pockets it's a pain.

I've looked at other small flagships, but most of them are heavier and thicker, like the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro (200gr) and Xiaomi 15 (I like Samsung much better due to OneUI 7). The Pixel 10 is another option, but don't know its weight or thickness, but probably worst than S25.

iPhone 17 is another choice, but would be much pricier for 256GB (probably 300€ more than S25, which is discounted now).

Would you guys make the change? Or is it better to just keep the S24+ and try to adapt to the size and weight? I have the phone since february 2024.

 

[Sensamic]

So far so good....I haven't noticed any differences..Oh except for the obligatory..."it feels faster and snappier" response!
Android 16 does handle notifications so well over IOS....

Edit: The battery percentage display needs to be bigger....

What are the benefits of Android notifications vs iOS notifications for you?

The thing I like about iOS notifications is that they turn on the screen when they arrive. Otherwise, Android offers much more functionality.

 

[robvalentine]

Toying with the idea of going back to Samsung (from my pixel 9 pro XL), I think I know the answer, but is the ultra really that much better than the S25+? (Bonus points if you talk me out of it lol)

 

[robvalentine]

What are the benefits of Android notifications vs iOS notifications for you?

The thing I like about iOS notifications is that they turn on the screen when they arrive. Otherwise, Android offers much more functionality.

my Pixel screen turns on, from memory on Samsungs there's a setting somewhere to switch the screen on...

 

[Sensamic]

my Pixel screen turns on, from memory on Samsungs there's a setting somewhere to switch the screen on...

There is an option to show the notification with the screen off, but it's not quite the same as iOS. The whole screen stays off and the notification appears in the top, very small and just a few seconds. I like how iOS does it better, turning the whole screen on and it lasts a little bit more, making it easier to see at a glance.

I've tried some third party apps but they're no good.

 

[robvalentine]

There is an option to show the notification with the screen off, but it's not quite the same as iOS. The whole screen stays off and the notification appears in the top, very small and just a few seconds. I like how iOS does it better, turning the whole screen on and it lasts a little bit more, making it easier to see at a glance.

I've tried some third party apps but they're no good.

how about setting up the edge lighting option? That's a bit more colour, but still not full screen from memory

 

[jamezr]

What are the benefits of Android notifications vs iOS notifications for you?

The thing I like about iOS notifications is that they turn on the screen when they arrive. Otherwise, Android offers much more functionality.

It is the whole notification management process. On my 16PM when I get a notification I love the way it displays on the lock screen. But now I have to dismiss that lock screen notification in notification center.....then also dismiss the application notification or I have a red numbered counter.
On my S25U...when I get a notification on my lock screen, i can delete the notification and it also removed the application counter or notification as well.

 

[Harthag]

It is the whole notification management process. On my 16PM when I get a notification I love the way it displays on the lock screen. But now I have to dismiss that lock screen notification in notification center.....then also dismiss the application notification or I have a red numbered counter.
On my S25U...when I get a notification on my lock screen, i can delete the notification and it also removed the application counter or notification as well.

Have you noticed any improvement in battery life? Also, with the lack of Home Up, are you still able to have more icons at the bottom of home screen and the edge panel?

 

[mjschabow]

It is the whole notification management process. On my 16PM when I get a notification I love the way it displays on the lock screen. But now I have to dismiss that lock screen notification in notification center.....then also dismiss the application notification or I have a red numbered counter.
On my S25U...when I get a notification on my lock screen, i can delete the notification and it also removed the application counter or notification as well.

Yep! I think the perfect solution is Edge Lighting. Your screen doesn't turn on, but you can see it light up.

Or....just get a watch haha.

 

[jamezr]

Have you noticed any improvement in battery life? Also, with the lack of Home Up, are you still able to have more icons at the bottom of home screen and the edge panel?

Do you mean battery life on the OneUI 8 beta? I haven't noticed any battery changes at all. But I am not really looking at it to be honest. I can change the home screen grid to 5x6. I don't use the edge panel though....

 

[edubfromktown]

Lol I don't blame you. I'm not updating either but I'm anxious to see others opinions on what's new and improved so I was trying to just coax someone into it

Same here as I depend on my S25u for containerized O365 work apps working reliably (instead of carrying a separate device... gratis from employer and of my choosing).

Also, I am and old professional IT grouch and don't do wish to fritter away my time participating in beta testing anymore (hey! you! get offa my cloud!! )

 

[mjschabow]

Same here as I depend on my S25u for containerized O365 work apps working reliably (instead of carrying a separate device... gratis from employer and of my choosing).

Also, I am and old professional IT grouch and don't do wish to fritter away my time participating in beta testing anymore (hey! you! get offa my cloud!! )

I will agree. Open up a spreadsheet on the Ultra is really wonderful. I'm sure it's even better on a fold but the big screen really comes in handy.

 

[edubfromktown]

Need some advice, guys.

I'm thinking of changing my S24+ for a regular S25. Main reason is size and weight. I'm kind of getting tired of big phones. S25 Edge is not an option, even though it is very light, but tried it and didn't like the huge size.

There are many factors to consider:

- I have the 512GB model, although I can perfectly live with 256GB of the S25 (model I would buy).
- I would lose battery life, but I recently bought a Samsung powerbank 25W that I can take with me in for those times I might need it.
- Bigger screen makes it easier to read web pages, write, etc.
- I would have to pay 340€ for the change.

On the other hand, I think it would be pretty sweet to have such a lightweight phone that I could use more comfortably and carry on my pockets with ease. Most times I take my S24+ in the pockets it's a pain.

I've looked at other small flagships, but most of them are heavier and thicker, like the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro (200gr) and Xiaomi 15 (I like Samsung much better due to OneUI 7). The Pixel 10 is another option, but don't know its weight or thickness, but probably worst than S25.

iPhone 17 is another choice, but would be much pricier for 256GB (probably 300€ more than S25, which is discounted now).

Would you guys make the change? Or is it better to just keep the S24+ and try to adapt to the size and weight? I have the phone since february 2024.

I'd stick with S24+

Great device with awesome battery runtime and plenty of performance under the hood.

I upgraded from S24+ (512 GB) to S25u (512 GB) only because I got a killer trade-in/rebates/other incentives deal.

 

[Harthag]

Do you mean battery life on the OneUI 8 beta? I haven't noticed any battery changes at all. But I am not really looking at it to be honest. I can change the home screen grid to 5x6. I don't use the edge panel though....

Thanks. I have my home screen set to 7 icons per row, only at the very bottom of screen, and it's perfect. I never really took the edge panel seriously on prior Galaxy phones but now I use it daily. It is so convenient, I adjusted it to hold 3 icons per row and have 8 rows so far. Now I can't go without it, haha. Xiaomi's (and OnePlus to some degree, aside from the AI summary- that is a killer feature I wish Samsung would take from OnePlus) ripoff of the edge panel is inferior, as is the rest of the UI experience compared to One UI when I tried their latest. After using the S25U since its launch I've really come to appreciate how great One UI is compared to the competition.

 

[mjschabow]

You never gave the Pixel 9 Pro XL a chance - one day......... come on.

Hiiiiiiiiiii