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Samsung Galaxy S25 Unpacked: Everything Announced At The Event
The S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra were unveiled at the event, along with plenty of new AI features and a teaser for the incoming S25 Edge.
Samsung has kicked off 2025 with its first Unpacked event debuting the Galaxy S25 series. While this year’s lineup doesn’t boast groundbreaking hardware upgrades, the company doubled down on integrating smarter AI features into its devices, promising a more personalized experience.
Here’s a breakdown of everything announced by the Korean tech giant:
Galaxy S25 Ultra
The Galaxy S25 Ultra — Samsung’s flagship powerhouse — sports a 6.9-inch display and a frame with more rounded edges for improved comfort and grip. Samsung also claims it’s their “slimmest, lightest, and most durable Ultra device yet,” thanks to a titanium frame and Corning’s Gorilla Armor 2.
The most notable hardware change is a new ultrawide camera, upgraded from 12MP to 50MP. Like the rest of the lineup, the S25 Ultra is powered by a customized Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, enabling more efficient on-device AI processing.
Interestingly, Samsung has removed Air Commands from the S Pen, citing low usage rates. This change reduced the device’s weight while making the stylus sturdier.
The Ultra comes with 12GB of RAM and storage options of 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. Prices start at $1,300.
Galaxy S25 And S25+
The Galaxy S25 and S25+ retain much of their predecessors’ design and specs, including 6.2-inch and 6.7-inch displays, respectively. However, like the Ultra, both models now pack 12GB of RAM, up from 8GB in last year’s versions. The Snapdragon 8 Elite processor also powers these devices, ensuring smoother handling of Samsung’s AI-driven features.
One of these new tools, ProScaler AI, promises to improve image quality in real-time, potentially compensating for the unchanged display hardware.
Like its predecessor, the S25 offers 128GB or 256GB storage, while the S25+ comes in 256GB or 512GB configurations. Pricing starts at $800 for the S25 and $1,000 for the S25+.
AI Takes Center Stage
Since the S25 lineup sees only modest hardware upgrades this year, Samsung showed off its software, branding its One UI 7 on Android 15 as a new AI-integrated OS.
AI enhancements improve low-light photography and video by reducing noise. A new feature, Audio Eraser, can eliminate background sounds like wind or chatter from your videos. Samsung has also bundled its AI tools into the Personal Data Engine, which powers features like AI Select.
A new “Now Bar” — similar to Apple’s Dynamic Island — has been added to the bottom of the lock screen, and will serve up context-driven reminders and summaries, while the revamped Drawing Assist tool offers better precision and lets users incorporate their own images.
Galaxy S25 Edge Teaser
Samsung teased the Galaxy S25 Edge, which is rumored to be a slimmer alternative to the Ultra. While details were sparse, the event teaser highlighted the upcoming device’s vapor chamber, camera modules, and metallic design.
Samsung Wallet Updates
Samsung introduced new features to its Wallet app, including Instant Installment, a buy-now-pay-later service that manages offline payment plans for Visa and Mastercard purchases. Another addition, Tap to Transfer, is a peer-to-peer payment system allowing users to transfer money by simply bumping phones.
Galaxy Watch For Kids
Finally, Samsung announced a child-friendly mode for the Galaxy Watch 7, comparable to the Apple Watch feature. Parents can set up a child’s watch with an eSIM, manage apps, and enable location tracking. The system also includes kid-focused apps and customizable watch faces, adding a layer of fun for younger users.
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Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE
The payment service provider’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind investment and could reshape digital transactions across the region.
Checkout.com is laying the groundwork to become the first global payments platform to introduce card issuing in the United Arab Emirates — a move that could reshape how businesses in the region manage financial transactions.
The company plans to roll out its domestic card issuance offering in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The launch would give businesses the tools to issue both physical and virtual branded cards. This, in turn, opens up new ways to reward customers, streamline expense processes, and handle B2B payouts efficiently.
Checkout.com’s CEO and Founder, Guillaume Pousaz, revealed the plans during Thrive Abu Dhabi, the firm’s debut conference in the Emirates. Joined on stage by Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA, Pousaz presented to an audience of over 150 partners and merchants at Saadiyat Island. Also in attendance was H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Abbondandolo highlighted the strategic importance of the announcement: “As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy. The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it”.
One early adopter of Checkout.com’s UAE acquiring services is Headout, a travel experiences marketplace, which recently named the payment provider as its main partner in Europe. The company has already begun card issuing there and is keen to expand that offering into MENA once approval is granted.
The expansion of services in the UAE and beyond builds on Checkout.com’s track record in the region. It was the first global payments firm to secure a Retail Payment Services license from the UAE’s Central Bank and was instrumental in rolling out Mada and Apple Pay in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Also Read: Protecting Your WhatsApp Account From Hackers: Kaspersky Expert Tips
The firm has also been rolling out new products: One of the latest is Flow Remember Me, currently in beta testing. It allows shoppers to store their card information once and access it across Checkout.com’s entire network, potentially cutting checkout times by up to 70%.
Earlier this year, Checkout.com also introduced Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and international payouts. Its collaboration with Mastercard has grown as well, making it easier for businesses to send funds directly to third-party cards securely and quickly.
With regional tech ambitions on the rise — spurred by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda — Checkout.com sees its role as one of a key enabler. “Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments, so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity,” said Abbondandolo. “In MENA, performance is personal. It’s local. It’s built on trust. And when payments perform, businesses thrive”.
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