Much has already leaked about Samsung’s forthcoming Galaxy S25 series smartphones. However, according to one prominent tipster, Samsung’s next-gen handsets will deliver a range of as-yet-unknown AI features capable of outsmarting even arch-rival Apple.
Jan 07 Update below: Samsung confirms Unpacked event confirmed for Jan 22. More hints at Samsung’s new AI capabilities.
The report comes from the well-known tech insider Ice Universe, who recently claimed, “Samsung Galaxy S25 will tell Apple what leading AI is. Many new AI functions of S25 have not been leaked so far, which is very surprising to me.”
In addition to the rumored free subscription to Google’s Gemini Advanced AI platform, any significant improvements to Samsung’s own Galaxy AI features should bring hope to current Samsung owners looking for a substantial upgrade over last year’s Galaxy S24 series model. This is especially true given current leaks surrounding the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s somewhat modest camera hardware improvements.
“Undisputed Leader In Device AI”
At this stage, no further information is available about what new AI functions Samsung might introduce with the Galaxy S25 series or how the company might hope to outclass Apple’s Apple Intelligence. However, recent comments from Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman and CEO Jong-hee Han and DS Division Head Vice Chairman Young-hyun Jeon point to significant improvements. Documentation from Samsung partner and chip maker Qualcomm also provides clues.
In an internal 2025 New Year’s Address, the two chairmen stated their aim to establish the company as “the undisputed leader in device AI this year through advanced intelligence” (machine-translated from the original Korean). Later, they added, “I hope that this year will be recorded as a year of leap forward and growth in Samsung Electronics’ history.”
The new Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, which offers significant performance gains over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 used in the Galaxy S24 Ultra, is expected to power the entire Galaxy S25 range. Qualcomm says the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s hexagon NPU delivers a “45% AI performance improvement and 45% better performance per watt.”
What New AI Features Might Appear In The Galaxy S25 Series?
Snapdragon 8 Elite also promises several AI-powered camera enhancements that will likely significantly improve the Galaxy S25-series cameras regardless of the level of any new camera hardware upgrades. These include “industry-leading” camera features like “limitless Semantic Segmentation at 4K resolution,” an on-device video object eraser, real-time AI-powered skin and sky adjustments, and ultra-low-light video capture.
Samsung will most likely use these new capabilities to elevate the Galaxy S25 series cameras beyond the capabilities of current models in ways that can’t be achieved through software updates. While some new AI features introduced in One UI 7 will likely find their way into older smartphones, current devices can’t be expected to match the Galaxy S25 series’ AI capabilities regarding performance or features.
We’ll discover all the details when Samsung launches the Galaxy S25 series in its regular Samsung Unpacked event, which is expected later this month.
Jan 07 Update: Samsung confirms Unpacked event confirmed for Jan 22 and hints at Galaxy S25-series AI capabilities
Pre-orders are now live for Samsung’s next-gen devices which will be officially announced at the company’s Galaxy Unpacked event on Jan 22. Accompanying the announcement is a short teaser video that begins with a woman working at a desk, before displaying the words “A true AI companion is coming. Galaxy AI.”
The text then fades from the screen before revealing the official launch date of January 22 and directing viewers to follow along “live on samsung.com.”
This is the clearest indication yet that AI will feature very heavily in the Galaxy S25 series, along with a new “true” AI assistant. We’ll probably have to wait until January 22 to find out exactly what that means, but we can expect something big if Samsung is choosing to lead with that feature at this stage.
Those who reserve their devices before launch will receive “Reservation Gifts” of $50 in Samsung Credit, “ up to $1,250 additional savings,” and entry into a $5,000 Samsung Credit sweepstakes (US residents only).
See the official reservation page for full terms and conditions.
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