Small, medium or large smartphone: is it comfortable to switch to the Galaxy S25 and S25+ after the S25 Ultra?

Users often complain that companies have stopped producing compact smartphones. However, sales statistics for popular models still indicate the greater popularity of "large" flagships. In particular, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is selling better than the more compact younger versions of the Galaxy S25 and S25+. I am no exception, because I would also choose the older model. However, I became interested in whether smaller versions of flagships can perform everyday tasks at the same level as the "ultra". So after a few weeks of using the S25 Ultra, I decided to change it to the basic Galaxy S25, and later to the S25+, and I want to share my impressions.

Dimensions and comfort of use

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is the largest smartphone in the series, weighing in at 218 grams and measuring 77.6 mm wide. And although it's a bit more compact than its predecessor, it's still a fairly large model, which is especially noticeable in the summer when you're wearing lighter clothes and the smartphone can literally pull on your pockets.

In turn, the basic Galaxy S25 has a 6.2-inch screen and weighs only 162 grams, which makes it very convenient to use with one hand, the device is quite comfortable to carry around. Even though modern "compact" smartphones often have diagonals of over 6 inches, thanks to thinner frames and less weight, they are quite comfortable to use.

The S25+ model with its 6.7″ and 190 grams of weight was supposed to be a "golden mean" for those users who want a more compact and lighter smartphone, but are not ready to give up a larger screen. However, the dimensions of the S25+ are closer to the "ultra" version, so it is not surprising that when choosing a smartphone with a large screen, buyers still pay more attention to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and for several years now there have been rumors about Samsung's plans to abandon this model altogether. However, in my opinion, the Galaxy S25+ complements the manufacturer's lineup well and creates an opportunity to save a little, but still get a large screen and flagship functionality.

In terms of usability, you’ll immediately notice the improved ergonomics when you move from the Ultra to a smaller smartphone. The smaller body is easier to grip with your palm, making it easier to reach the top of the screen and the corners – especially on the S25 with its compact 70.5mm width. This means less strain on your wrist when holding the smartphone in one hand for long periods of time, and more comfortable to use on the go.

Conclusion on sizes: Of the three, the Galaxy S25 is indeed the most convenient for everyday use, but the model has its compromises, in particular the screen size, which we will talk about later.

Display and content viewing

Screens are the strong point of the entire S25 line. All three models are equipped with bright Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels with HDR10+ support and high resolution. The Galaxy S25 Ultra has the largest display with a diagonal of 6.9 inches and a Quad HD+ resolution (3120x1440 pixels), which provides high image clarity. The S25+ received the same Quad HD+ screen with a slightly smaller diagonal of 6.7 inches, while the basic S25 has a 6.2-inch display with a Full HD+ resolution (2340x1080 pixels). In practice, the difference in resolution is almost imperceptible to the eye thanks to ProScaler technology, which even on the S25 Ultra allows you to get clearer fonts if you select a lower resolution in the settings. It is also important that all displays support an adaptive refresh rate from 1 to 120 Hz, so the smoothness of scrolling and animations will be equally high on any model.

However, for watching videos, social networks and web content, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has no equal, the smartphone screen is as immersive as possible and allows you to fit more information. It is convenient to watch videos and generally consume content. At the same time, thanks to the anti-glare coating, the display "catches" reflections noticeably less, which also increases comfort.

The Galaxy S25+ doesn't have a similar coating, but the screen situation is generally similar, its 6.7-inch display is still large enough for comfortable viewing and has a peak brightness of 2600 nits, but the device is slightly smaller and lighter, which adds comfort when holding it in your hand for a long time.

The 6.2-inch screen of the Galaxy S25 is also quite comfortable to consume content, especially if you are used to compact smartphones. The image quality is just as good as in older models: the colors are as saturated, the contrast is high, and the brightness of up to 2600 nits provides excellent visibility even outdoors on a sunny day. However, the immersion on such a display is, of course, less - there is simply less space for the details of the video or text. When switching from the S25 Ultra, this is felt especially acutely, the "wow effect" of the large screen is really missing a bit when watching the news feed or YouTube.

Screen Conclusion: All S25 models provide flagship image quality. Choosing the S25 or S25+, you will not lose in clarity or brightness, but you will still get a sufficiently large display. For most everyday scenarios, such as social networks or the web, 6.2-6.7 inches is more than enough. However, in terms of characteristics such as diagonal, resolution, color reproduction and brightness, it is still difficult for smaller models to bypass the Galaxy S25 Ultra, especially considering the presence of an anti-glare coating. After using such a display, it is quite difficult to return to regular screens, at first it seems that they catch too many reflections.

Productivity and gaming

In terms of performance, there is practically no difference between the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the smaller S25/S25+ - they are equipped with the same flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. All models have 12 GB of RAM, so there will be no limitations in multitasking or heavy applications. The new processor provides a 30 to 40% increase in CPU/GPU performance compared to the previous generation. In practice, this means that any Android software or games will run on these smartphones without any problems, and the performance will be enough with a good margin. When switching from the Ultra to the smaller S25 or S25+, there is no "slowdown" felt, they just as instantly respond to all commands.

Mobile gaming capabilities are also equally excellent across the lineup. The Snapdragon 8 Elite has an upgraded Adreno 830 graphics processor with a frequency of 1200 MHz. The devices pull "heavy" projects at maximum settings. But in general, there are nuances. After all, although the entire S25 series received an enlarged evaporation chamber for cooling the processor, which should allow smartphones to maintain high performance longer during long gaming sessions, the different sizes of cases and different thicknesses affect heat dissipation. So, although the compact S25 does not suffer from overheating, as sometimes happened with small flagships in the past, under load it shows the lowest performance of the three models and heats up a little more. The best results in the stress test are shown by the Galaxy S25 Ultra, so in real "heavy" tasks it will have a higher speed at the same, or lower, level of heating.

In addition, the large Ultra screen gives advantages precisely in the gaming experience. On a 6.9-inch display, it is easier to see small interface elements, enemies in shooters, textures - immersion in the gameplay is generally deeper. On the S25+, the picture is slightly smaller, but still comfortable for most games. The S25 with its 6.2-inch screen is more "squeezed" – control is still convenient, especially considering the 120 Hz and instant sensor response, but if you play strategies or RPGs with small objects, you want a slightly larger screen.

In terms of sound and multimedia, all models are equal – the stereo speakers are loud, Dolby Atmos is supported. The only difference may be in the position of the hands during the game: on the smaller case it is easier to accidentally cover the speaker grilles with your palms, while on the large Ultra the hands are spread wider. But this is a trifle that you can get used to.

So, switching from Ultra to S25/S25+ has almost no impact on the experience in games and heavy applications. You will get the same power and speed, just on a slightly smaller screen. If a large diagonal for mobile gaming is critical for you, then the larger screen of the Ultra may matter. In addition, the smartphone has higher performance than smaller models, but this is not a critical advantage, given that most Android games are casual and do not require too high performance. So the Galaxy S25 and S25+ will provide the same smooth and comfortable gameplay, but the larger display of the S25 Ultra, of course, provides advantages in some game genres.

Cameras and mobile photography

One of the main reasons to choose the Ultra version is the advanced camera system. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is equipped with a 200-megapixel main sensor, a new 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto for 5x zoom, and another 10-megapixel telephoto for medium zoom of 3x. In total, the Ultra allows you to get a high-quality zoom of about 10x without losing sharpness, thanks to optical + hybrid zoom.

For comparison, the Galaxy S25 and S25+ have a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, and a single 10-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. That is, if you like to take long, close-up shots, the Ultra is a real champion in this, and when you switch to a smaller model, you immediately notice a loss in zoom capabilities. The maximum optical zoom of the S25/S25+ remains at 3x, then only digital zoom, and although it has become better than previous generations thanks to the use of AI algorithms, the S25 Ultra cannot be bypassed in this regard.

Given the number of cameras and their resolution, it is difficult for younger models to compete with the Ultra, and it is difficult to switch from it for those who are fond of mobile photography and want more photo opportunities. However, do the Galaxy S25 and S25+ take much worse photos? Not at all, if we talk about normal use, when the user takes a photo and then views it only on the smartphone screen itself. Only in a side-by-side comparison is it noticeable that the Ultra produces better detail from the main camera and photos with less noise with zoom in low light. For mobile photographer enthusiasts, these nuances may be important, but for most users, the S25/S25+ camera set is more than sufficient and can also take quality photos, it just has fewer shooting options.

It is worth mentioning photo editing on a smartphone separately. If you often process photos, apply filters, work in mobile Photoshop or Lightroom, then the large screen of the S25 Ultra gives a certain advantage. On the 6.9-inch display, small details of the photo and the editor interface are better visible, it is easier to make subtle edits. On the smaller screen of the S25/S25+, you will have to enlarge the image more often to retouch small details, the tools are located closer to each other. However, the hardware platform is the same for all models, so the speed of photo editors and application of filters is equally high on the S25, S25+ and Ultra. It does not feel that the smaller phone "does not pull" the processing, the Snapdragon 8 Elite easily copes with both AI functions and photo rendering.

To sum up the photography part: switching to the smaller S25/S25+ will have almost no impact on the quality of your photos for social networks or family albums. All three models take great pictures. The Ultra is still ahead in most scenarios, especially with zoom, but not everyone needs such extensive shooting capabilities. If these moments are critical for you, then you will have to put up with the dimensions of the Ultra. But if you are a "regular" mobile photographer, the cameras in the S25/S25+ will not disappoint.

Do I need an S Pen?

The S Pen was inherited by the Galaxy S25 Ultra from the Galaxy Note line, and although Samsung has somewhat simplified its functionality, as it has lost Bluetooth support and the ability to control remotely, it is still a very convenient manipulator that allows you to write, draw, or control the smartphone interface. I can’t say that I use it very often, but when you need to edit a photo or mark something on a screenshot, the S Pen is nice to have at hand. So I definitely wouldn’t want the pen to disappear from the Ultra models, but using the more compact S25/S25+ you quickly get used to doing the same thing, but with your fingers. Of course, writing or drawing arrows on the screen is much more convenient with a pen, but you can do without it.

Battery and battery life

There is a common belief that a smaller smartphone will necessarily hold a charge worse. In the case of the Galaxy S25, this is not entirely true. Yes, the battery capacity of the S25/S25+ is slightly lower than that of the Ultra: 4000 mAh in the base model, 4900 mAh in the Plus versus 5000 mAh in the Ultra. However, other factors – screen size and resolution, processor efficiency – also affect battery life. According to Samsung's official data, the difference in video playback time between the models is minimal: approximately 29 hours on the S25, 30 hours on the S25+ and 31 hours on the S25 Ultra.

In real-world use, I got 6-7 hours of screen-on time on the Galaxy S25+, which is excellent and roughly on par with the Ultra. The base S25, due to its smaller battery, showed a slightly more modest autonomy, 5-6 hours of active display in normal use, but again, it depends on the scenarios. If you actively play or shoot videos, the S25 Ultra will last longer due to its larger battery capacity. But for the average user who uses the browser every day, takes photos, watches videos, and writes in instant messengers, all three models confidently last a full day without recharging. The autonomy of the smallest Galaxy S25 was a revelation for me, because I expected some discomfort after using the Ultra, but the smartphone confidently holds its charge throughout the day.

Regarding charging speed, there is an important point here: the Galaxy S25 only supports 25W fast charging, while the S25+ and Ultra support 45W. This means that the S25 charges noticeably slower. For example, the Galaxy S25+ can be charged to 50% in about 30 minutes, while the S25 will charge less in that time. If you are used to the Ultra's super-fast charging (about 1 hour to 100%), then with the basic S25 you will have to wait about 1.5 hours for a full charge. On the other hand, the S25+ has retained the same 45W power, so you will not feel the difference from the Ultra - both charge equally quickly. All models also support wireless charging (Qi2 standard), so there is parity here.

Bottom line: Switching to the smaller Galaxy S25 or S25+ doesn't mean a dramatic drop in battery life. The S25+ is almost as good as the Ultra in terms of battery life, and the base S25, despite having the smallest battery, still delivers solid battery life for a compact flagship. The only thing to consider is that the S25's charging speed is slower, so if you're looking for a quick charge in a short amount of time, that could be a downside.

In the end

In practice, switching from the large Galaxy S25 Ultra to the more compact Galaxy S25 or S25+ turns out to be quite comfortable, if you don't need additional features. At the same time, you gain in ergonomics and weight, because the more compact smartphones are more comfortable in the hand and easier to carry with you. And you lose almost nothing in performance: all three models are equipped with the same chip and have a similar set of features.

Of course, there are nuances to consider when planning such a change. The Galaxy S25 Ultra remains unbeatable if you need top-of-the-line cameras with maximum zoom, or if you actively use the S Pen - these things are missing or simplified in the younger models. The Ultra also holds a charge a little longer and has a larger screen, which may be more convenient in some usage scenarios.

So, a small, medium or large smartphone is your choice. If you are looking for comfort and portability, the Galaxy S25 or S25+ will not disappoint: they are really convenient to use after the S25 Ultra, and you will quickly get used to the more modest size. The use of smaller Samsung flagships made me think that the company's lineup still lacks a more compact model, with a diagonal of 6.3-6.5 inches, which would have the main "chips" of the Ultra, especially the top cameras, but, for example, was deprived of the S Pen. This way, the manufacturer could avoid additional competition within the flagship line. I hope Samsung will consider this possibility and someday we will see a compact model in the Ultra series.