Exclusive: Samsung makes radical change with Galaxy S25 series, no more Plus model

Samsung’s plans for its upcoming Galaxy S25 series are starting to take shape. It appears the company might be ditching the “Plus” model for 2025. We know Samsung is actively developing the S25 series, with work already underway for the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Our database has revealed details on Samsung’s upcoming devices, revealing the existence of regular Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Ultra, but the S25+ model is notably missing, suggesting Samsung actually ditched the S25+.

The Galaxy S25 series will include two models: Galaxy S25 and S25 Ultra

The Galaxy S25 series is now surfacing. Galaxy S25 is available with the model number SM-S931B/DS in our IMEI database. Galaxy S25 Ultra appears under SM-S938B, SM-S938U, SM-S938N, and SM-S9380 model numbers—where “B” stands for Global, “U” for USA, and “N” for South Korea. Samsung has been usually releasing three models within its Galaxy S lineup since 2021: the regular model, the Plus model, and the Ultra model.

However, our findings on our database reveal 2025 will mark a departure from this tradition. In July 2023, the leaks revealed that Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra were already known to be part of the lineup. Following the leaks, the Galaxy S24 series was indeed officially introduced in January 2024 with three models. We have only two devices among the Galaxy S25 series in our database. We expect that Samsung will launch the Galaxy S25 series in January 2025.

Why did Samsung abandon the Galaxy S25+?

Samsung’s decision to move away from the Plus model isn’t actually a major concern, as previous Plus models have struggled to meet sales expectations. So people are not a fan of the Plus model. In 2020, Samsung introduced the Galaxy S20 and S20+ alongside the Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra. That’s actually following a similar strategy in 2019 with the Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+, Galaxy Note10, and Galaxy Note10+. Samsung used to unveil 4 models in each year. In 2021, Samsung streamlined its lineup to just three models— Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Plus, and Galaxy S21 Ultra. They kept the beloved S Pen exclusively for the Ultra model.

Eliminating the Plus model could also simplify Samsung’s lineup and reduce redundancy. In recent years, the difference between Plus and regular models have narrowed. The main differences being battery capacity and screen resolution. For instance, Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ share the same camera specs, making the Plus model less appealing for the price difference. Dropping the Plus model could also be a strategic move to push more consumers towards higher-end Ultra variant. Samsung actually might be hoping that by eliminating the Plus option, they can entice more buyers to invest in the feature-packed Ultra model.

Expected Features & Launch Date

While Galaxy S25 hasn’t launched yet, numerous details have already surfaced online. Regular Galaxy S25 won’t feature a major camera upgrade. S25 is expected to come with a 50 MP main camera and a 12 MP selfie shooter. The selfie camera on Galaxy S25 remains the same as Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S24. If you need a better camera, you might consider buying S25 Ultra. S25 Ultra will feature a 200 MP main camera, a 50 MP ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 50 MP 3x telephoto camera, along with an additional 50 MP 5x telephoto camera.

Earlier details shared by The Financial News suggested that Samsung plans to offer MediaTek chipsets in the Galaxy S series. This means the Galaxy S25 series could come with Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, Exynos 2500, and possibly a MediaTek chipset. Galaxy S25 Ultra will likely come with batteries bearing model numbers EB-BS938ABE and EB-BS938ABY, possibly featuring a 5000 mAh battery capacity. We expect Galaxy S25 to have a 4000 mAh battery. Lastly, Samsung will officially launch the new Galaxy S25 series in January.