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Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
I review Samsung phones for a living — and the company's Galaxy lineup is starting to look a little crowded
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. I don't know what reaction you had when a report claiming to reveal the camera specs of the Galaxy S25 FE dropped this past week. But I certainly remember what crossed my mind as I read that Samsung would equip this year's FE model with the exact same camera setup as last year's Galaxy S24 FE. "Wait, Samsung's still doing this?" I said to myself. "Didn't they just release a phone?" Indeed, it's been about two weeks since Samsung announced the Galaxy S25 Edge, with that ultra-thin phone going on sale in the U.S. this coming Friday (May 30). It's a good phone, as you can read in our Galaxy S25 Edge review, delivering an incredibly thin design, even if it is at the expense of battery life. Adding the Edge to the Galaxy S25 models released in January, Samsung now has four different Galaxy S flagships to choose from. The Galaxy S25 FE will bring that number to five whenever it comes out. (The rumors say sometime in the fall.) But wait, there's more. In the U.S., Samsung has already released the Galaxy A26 and Galaxy A36, and we're awaiting the U.S. release of the Galaxy A56 that's shipped in other parts of the world. On top of that, this summer figures to bring new versions of Samsung's foldables — at least, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 and possibly a lower-cost version of the flip phone. All told, that's 11 different phones when you add up the flagships, foldables and midrange models, with prices ranging from $299 for the Galaxy A26 all the way up to whatever four-figure price tag Samsung slaps on the new Fold. (The current model starts at $1,899.) I typically applaud companies that offer consumers a lot of choices, particularly if those choices accommodate a wide range of budgets, so it pains me to say this. I think Samsung needs to consider that it's making too many phones. This is no knock on the FE series, which Samsung positions as a lower-cost way of getting the flagship Galaxy S experience, including a full complement of Galaxy AI features. Indeed, my colleague John Velasco actually recommended the Galaxy S24 FE over some of Samsung's other S24 models, arguing that its lower price and Galaxy AI support made up for the lesser camera specs and shorter battery life compared to Samsung's entry-level flagship. The Galaxy A phones serve their purpose, too, offering solid phones for $500 or less. The phones even have some of the AI capabilities you'll find on the more expensive Samsung flagships, though those features get peeled off as you descend down the Galaxy A lineup. I think the issue is forced by the arrival of the Galaxy S25 Edge, which brings a thin design to the mix, but not much else that you can't get from the rest of the Galaxy S25 offerings. And you could even argue that it's a more compromised experience than even the Galaxy S24 FE delivers. After all, there's no telephoto lens on the Edge like you'll find on the other Galaxy S models, including the FE. Our battery tests had the Galaxy S25 Edge lasting three hours less than the entry-level Galaxy S25. And yet, Samsung charges more for the $1,099 Edge than either the $799 Galaxy S25 and the $999 Galaxy S25 Plus. Presumably, when it comes along in the fall, the Galaxy S25 FE will cost even less. And that presents a dilemma for people trying to find the best Samsung phone for their needs. Do you pay up for the Edge's thin design, or get the standard model or the Plus, which seem more fully featured? And is it worth holding out for the FE or opting for one of the Galaxy A models to save even more? We can probably excuse the foldable phones from this exercise, as these remain niche devices with a self-selecting audience. You could even argue that the addition of a lower-cost Samsung flip phone would help the phone maker take on Motorola, which now offers three different Razr models to choose from for 2025. (And two of those are cheaper than the Galaxy Z Flip 6.) That puts the focus squarely on the increasingly crowded Galaxy S lineup, where Samsung is either going to have to figure out a way to distinguish some of its models or cull the herd. Samsung could be solving this issue on its own, if rumors about next year's lineup are accurate. A report out of Korea suggests that Samsung is considering dropping the Plus from the Galaxy S26 lineup next year, with the Edge taking its place. The move would certainly solve a lot of problems, as the Plus has always been the odd phone out in Samsung's flagship lineup. It's more expensive than the standard model, but really just offers a bigger screen, longer battery life and faster charging speeds. Everything else — including the camera setup — is the same. The Edge would not only offer that bigger screen than the standard Galaxy S phone, but a thinner design, too. Yes, Samsung would have to figure out a way to improve battery life, and it should seriously consider bumping up the charging speed on future Edge models to 45W, matching the Plus and Ultra. Do that, and the Edge slots in very nicely as a Galaxy S Plus replacement. Samsung's bigger question is whether there's enough difference between its high-end Galaxy A model and the FE version of its Galaxy S phone to satisfy the different audiences for those phones. With the Galaxy A56 offering a more limited array of AI features, I think there is. Budget-minded shoppers can opt for the Galaxy A and not feel like they're getting short-changed, while people who want Galaxy AI can pay a little bit more for the Galaxy S25 FE, should it arrive this year. I'm not as convinced that the Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A26 are doing enough to justify their place in Samsung's midrange lineup. Certainly, our Galaxy A36 review found that there wasn't much to recommend the phone beyond a solid design and low price. Unless you were wed to the Samsung brand, you'd be better off turning to the Pixel 9a or Nothing Phone 3a for a more fully featured design. And if you were insistent upon a midrange Samsung phone, why not just pay a little more for the superior Galaxy A56? So if I were making the decisions at Samsung, I'd make a decision between the Edge and the Plus models for next year's lineup — I might lean toward keeping the former, given that its design seems ot have people excited. And I'd probably pare down my Galaxy A lineup to one $499 and a $299 offering to appeal to people who value a low price over everything else. Of course, Samsung has done pretty well for itself without my advice, so we'll see what shape the company's phone lineup takes very soon. Best Samsung phones How the ultra-thin Galaxy S25 Edge compares to other flagships The Galaxy S25 Edge's thinness is wasted — this other Samsung phone deserves it more
Tom's Guide
19 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
Samsung Galaxy S25 FE: All the rumors so far
If you thought the Galaxy S25 Edge put a cap on all the Galaxy S phones Samsung planned on releasing this year, it looks like you're very mistaken. Rumors of a Galaxy S25 FE model are picking up steam, as the phone maker looks to extend its flagship lineup with a lower-cost model to appeal to shoppers who demand premium features. This isn't Samsung's first stab at an FE model, as it's released that kind of phone four times since 2020. (Among Samsung's recent flagships, only the Galaxy S22 went without an FE version.) In fact, my colleague John Velasco argued last year that among the best Samsung phones, the Galaxy S24 FE was the better buy than the regular Galaxy S24, as it offered most of the same features at a lower price. Can Samsung repeat the magic with a Galaxy S25 FE? Based on the rumors that have emerged so far about the new model, it certainly seems eager to try, with early reports painting a picture of a phone that shares a lot in common with its predecessor. Here's what we know about the Galaxy S25 FE ahead of its rumored launch later this year. Samsung's FE release schedule can charitably be called "haphazard." Who can forget the Galaxy S21 FE's 2022 release, happening just a month before the Galaxy S22 rollout? I'm sure Samsung certainly would like to. Since then, though, a more regular cadence for FE releases has emerged. The Galaxy S24 FE arrived in October last year, about nine months after the rest of the Galaxy S24 lineup's debut. Clearly, Samsung likes to keep some distance between when its regular flagships come out and when it releases the FE model as a follow-up. To that end, a lot of the Galaxy S25 FE release date rumors point to an October launch for the phone. It's hard to tell if that's a release window based on concrete evidence or if people are just expecting history to repeat itself. But fall 2025 seems like a respectful enough distance from the Galaxy S25 launch for the S25 FE to make its appearance. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. As for price, there's no firm rumor about what Samsung intends to charge for this phone, though you wouldn't expect details to emerge until we get closer to the launch window. That said, the Galaxy S24 FE sells for $649 — $150 less than Samsung's entry-level flagship phone. That marked a $50 increase over the Galaxy S23 FE. You'd imagine Samsung might try to replicate the S24 FE's price with the new version. Certainly, we'd welcome a return to the $599 price tag of the S23 FE, but with the Galaxy A56 set to cost $499 when it ships in the U.S. later this year, you'd expect Samsung to want to keep some distance between the FE and its midrange Galaxy A devices. Early on, a report about the Galaxy S25 FE claimed that Samsung was looking to make this year's model thinner than the 8mm thick Galaxy S24 FE. That could mean bringing the phone more in line with the Galaxy S25, which measures 7.2mm at its thinnest point; a thinner S25 FE likely wouldn't approach the 5.8mm thin Galaxy S25 Edge, though, as a slender design is that latter phone's calling card. It's worth noting that the report about a thinner FE surfaced in October, back when rumors about the Galaxy S25 Edge — or the S25 Slim as it was known then — were still taking shape. In other words, it's possible that report is actually about Samsung's ultra-thin model, since at one point, it looked the Edge might be Samsung's new take on the FE model. Regardless of how thin the phone winds up being, most people seem to expect the Galaxy S25 FE to keep its predecessor's larger display. The Galaxy S24 FE got a boost in screen size to 6.7 inches, compared to the 6.4-inch panel on the S23 FE. The current FE also features a 120Hz refresh rate, another feature you'd think that the S25 FE's screen would replicate. Don't look for many changes to the camera setup on the Galaxy S25 FE, as a report claims the new model will adopt the Galaxy S24 FE's camera setup. That means a 50MP main lens, supported by 12MP ultrawide and 8MP telephoto cameras. The zoom lens on the FE uses a lower resolution sensor than the main Galaxy S flagships, but its 3x optical zoom matches what the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus offer. It's also worth noting that should the Galaxy S25 FE feature a telephoto camera like its predecessor, it would offer something the Galaxy S25 Edge does not. Samsung's ultra-thin phone is so slender, there's no room for a dedicated telephoto camera. At least the report forecasting an unchanged rear camera array sees a modest bump to the Galaxy S25 FE's front camera. The current FE features a 10MP selfie cam, but that could get bumped to 12MP for the Galaxy S25 FE. At the moment, it's hard to make heads or tails out of what kind of system on a chip the Galaxy S25 FE would use, but I'll do my level best to keep you informed about the leading contenders. Early reports claimed that Samsung would simply re-use the Exynos 2400e chipset featured in the Galaxy S24 FE. That's not necessarily an encouraging rumor since the Exynos 2400e had a hard time keeping pace with 2024's leading silicon, like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, in performance benchmarks. And Android phones have only gotten faster since then thanks to the arrival of the Snapdragon 8 Elite system on a chip that powers devices like the rest of the Galaxy S25 lineup. A subsequent rumor claimed that Samsung might turn to the Mediatek Dimensity 9400 for the Galaxy S25 FE — but only if it couldn't produce enough Exynos chips to meet the S25 FE demand. In May, though, leaked benchmarks show a Galaxy S25 FE running on an Exynos 2400. That's a modest step up from the 2400e that powered last year's phone, so you'd see some improvement to performance even if the S25 FE would still lag behind flagship phones. Still, that's the trade-off you would make to get a lower-cost device that still offers a telephoto lens and full Galaxy AI support. (More on that below.) Battery life could be another area where the Galaxy S25 FE makes compromises, particularly if that rumor of a thinner design pans out. The Galaxy S24 FE featured a 4,700 mAh battery, and if Samsung shrinks the size of this year's model, the size of the battery could drop as a result. When we tested the Galaxy S24 FE last year, it held out for just under 11.5 hours on our Tom's Guide battery test. That's more than an hour better than the average smartphone, but it's well off the pace set by other Galaxy S models. Without a more power efficient processor and potentially smaller battery, the Galaxy S25 FE may be hard-pressed to even match the Galaxy S25 Edge's battery life, which is several hours shy of the other S25 models. By the time the Galaxy S25 FE is released in the fall, Android 16 will be out. We're also expecting Samsung's One UI 8 interface to ship in the summer, so the S25 FE would be in line to run on the latest version of both Android and Samsung's skin. A chief selling point for the Galaxy S24 FE last year was the fact that it didn't skimp on Galaxy AI features — the same AI-powered tools found on the more expensive Samsung flagships also worked here. Given the lack of rumored improvements to the cameras and chipset in the new phone, you'd hope that the Galaxy S25 FE would pick up the Galaxy AI features Samsung introduced with the S25 launch in January. In other words, the reason to get this particular model is the chance to experience Galaxy AI capabilities for less. Like Samsung's other flagships, the Galaxy S24 FE comes with seven years of software and security updates. There's no reason to expect the Galaxy S25 FE to offer anything less. There are many months to go before a Galaxy S25 FE model sees the light of day. And that means more opportunity for rumors to emerge that give us a more definitive idea of the changes Samsung plans to make. However, a pattern seems to be emerging from what we've heard so far. Samsung isn't looking to reinvent the wheel with the Galaxy S25 FE — rather, it seems to be making the Galaxy AI features and low starting price the draw for this model, leaving the rest of the S25 lineup to wow you with superior specs.
Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
I review Samsung phones for a living — and the company's Galaxy lineup is starting to look a little crowded
I don't know what reaction you had when a report claiming to reveal the camera specs of the Galaxy S25 FE dropped this past week. But I certainly remember what crossed my mind as I read that Samsung would equip this year's FE model with the exact same camera setup as last year's Galaxy S24 FE. "Wait, Samsung's still doing this?" I said to myself. "Didn't they just release a phone?" Indeed, it's been about two weeks since Samsung announced the Galaxy S25 Edge, with that ultra-thin phone going on sale in the U.S. this coming Friday (May 30). It's a good phone, as you can read in our Galaxy S25 Edge review, delivering an incredibly thin design, even if it is at the expense of battery life. Adding the Edge to the Galaxy S25 models released in January, Samsung now has four different Galaxy S flagships to choose from. The Galaxy S25 FE will bring that number to five whenever it comes out. (The rumors say sometime in the fall.) But wait, there's more. In the U.S., Samsung has already released the Galaxy A26 and Galaxy A36, and we're awaiting the U.S. release of the Galaxy A56 that's shipped in other parts of the world. On top of that, this summer figures to bring new versions of Samsung's foldables — at least, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 and possibly a lower-cost version of the flip phone. All told, that's 11 different phones when you add up the flagships, foldables and midrange models, with prices ranging from $299 for the Galaxy A26 all the way up to whatever four-figure price tag Samsung slaps on the new Fold. (The current model starts at $1,899.) I typically applaud companies that offer consumers a lot of choices, particularly if those choices accommodate a wide range of budgets, so it pains me to say this. I think Samsung needs to consider that it's making too many phones. This is no knock on the FE series, which Samsung positions as a lower-cost way of getting the flagship Galaxy S experience, including a full complement of Galaxy AI features. Indeed, my colleague John Velasco actually recommended the Galaxy S24 FE over some of Samsung's other S24 models, arguing that its lower price and Galaxy AI support made up for the lesser camera specs and shorter battery life compared to Samsung's entry-level flagship. The Galaxy A phones serve their purpose, too, offering solid phones for $500 or less. The phones even have some of the AI capabilities you'll find on the more expensive Samsung flagships, though those features get peeled off as you descend down the Galaxy A lineup. I think the issue is forced by the arrival of the Galaxy S25 Edge, which brings a thin design to the mix, but not much else that you can't get from the rest of the Galaxy S25 offerings. And you could even argue that it's a more compromised experience than even the Galaxy S24 FE delivers. After all, there's no telephoto lens on the Edge like you'll find on the other Galaxy S models, including the FE. Our battery tests had the Galaxy S25 Edge lasting three hours less than the entry-level Galaxy S25. And yet, Samsung charges more for the $1,099 Edge than either the $799 Galaxy S25 and the $999 Galaxy S25 Plus. Presumably, when it comes along in the fall, the Galaxy S25 FE will cost even less. And that presents a dilemma for people trying to find the best Samsung phone for their needs. Do you pay up for the Edge's thin design, or get the standard model or the Plus, which seem more fully featured? And is it worth holding out for the FE or opting for one of the Galaxy A models to save even more? We can probably excuse the foldable phones from this exercise, as these remain niche devices with a self-selecting audience. You could even argue that the addition of a lower-cost Samsung flip phone would help the phone maker take on Motorola, which now offers three different Razr models to choose from for 2025. (And two of those are cheaper than the Galaxy Z Flip 6.) That puts the focus squarely on the increasingly crowded Galaxy S lineup, where Samsung is either going to have to figure out a way to distinguish some of its models or cull the herd. Samsung could be solving this issue on its own, if rumors about next year's lineup are accurate. A report out of Korea suggests that Samsung is considering dropping the Plus from the Galaxy S26 lineup next year, with the Edge taking its place. The move would certainly solve a lot of problems, as the Plus has always been the odd phone out in Samsung's flagship lineup. It's more expensive than the standard model, but really just offers a bigger screen, longer battery life and faster charging speeds. Everything else — including the camera setup — is the same. The Edge would not only offer that bigger screen than the standard Galaxy S phone, but a thinner design, too. Yes, Samsung would have to figure out a way to improve battery life, and it should seriously consider bumping up the charging speed on future Edge models to 45W, matching the Plus and Ultra. Do that, and the Edge slots in very nicely as a Galaxy S Plus replacement. Samsung's bigger question is whether there's enough difference between its high-end Galaxy A model and the FE version of its Galaxy S phone to satisfy the different audiences for those phones. With the Galaxy A56 offering a more limited array of AI features, I think there is. Budget-minded shoppers can opt for the Galaxy A and not feel like they're getting short-changed, while people who want Galaxy AI can pay a little bit more for the Galaxy S25 FE, should it arrive this year. I'm not as convinced that the Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A26 are doing enough to justify their place in Samsung's midrange lineup. Certainly, our Galaxy A36 review found that there wasn't much to recommend the phone beyond a solid design and low price. Unless you were wed to the Samsung brand, you'd be better off turning to the Pixel 9a or Nothing Phone 3a for a more fully featured design. And if you were insistent upon a midrange Samsung phone, why not just pay a little more for the superior Galaxy A56? So if I were making the decisions at Samsung, I'd make a decision between the Edge and the Plus models for next year's lineup — I might lean toward keeping the former, given that its design seems ot have people excited. And I'd probably pare down my Galaxy A lineup to one $499 and a $299 offering to appeal to people who value a low price over everything else. Of course, Samsung has done pretty well for itself without my advice, so we'll see what shape the company's phone lineup takes very soon.
Hans India
21-05-2025
- Hans India
Samsung One UI 7 Rolls Out: Full List of Galaxy Devices Updated
Samsung Electronics on Wednesday began rolling out One UI 7, based on Android 15, to its Galaxy smartphones, foldables and tablets in several regions. Select Galaxy A models have also started receiving the update. One UI 7 replaces the previous interface for Quick Settings and the Notification Panel, reorganizing tiles and notifications into a single view. Icons adapt to user-selected theme colors, and interface elements follow a consistent design across device types. The update introduces the Now Bar, a persistent control strip, across all supported Galaxy devices. Placement of the in-screen fingerprint sensor on the lock screen varies: it aligns centrally on non-flagship phones and shifts lower on premium models to match hardware specifications. Devices confirmed to have received One UI 7 include: * Galaxy S Series: S24, S24 FE, S23, S23 FE, S22, S21, S21 FE * Galaxy Z Series: Flip6, Fold6, Flip5, Fold5, Flip4, Fold4, Flip3, Fold3, Fold Special Edition * Galaxy Tab S Series: Tab S10 Plus, S10 Ultra, S9, S9 Plus, S9 Ultra, S9 FE, S9 FE Plus, S8, S8 Plus, S8 Ultra * Galaxy Tab A Series: A9, A9 Plus * Galaxy A Series: A55, A54, A35, A16, A15 Rollout timing varies by region and carrier. Users can manually check for the update by navigating to Settings > Software update > Download and install.
Tom's Guide
20-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
Galaxy S25 FE camera specs leak — and it looks pretty disappointing
Another leak, more disappointment for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S25 FE. Over on X, regular tipster Yogesh Brar posted a simple tweet revealing some specs for the cameras that should feature on Samsung's next budget S-series phone. For those looking for an upgrade, don't expect one. Brar's specs for the rear cameras are the exact same as last year's Samsung Galaxy S24 FE which featured a 50MP primary camera, a 12MP ultra wide and an 8MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom. The only update the S25 FE cameras might get is on the front-facing lens which bumps up to 12MP from 10MP. It's unfortunate news coupled with an earlier leak from April that claimed the S25 FE would featuring the same Exynos 2400e as last year's phone. In general, Samsung's FE phones are budget-friendly handsets released a few months after the mainline Galaxy S-series devices. Usually, they offer lower power for a lower price. Last year's S24 FE model though was nearly on a par with the Samsung Galaxy S24 while costing $200 less. So far, the rumor mill is painting a picture of a phone that shares some key components with a phone that already exists. Hopefully, there will be some bigger differences when the phone is expected to launch in October. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
