Galaxy S25 upcoming battery and charging changes explained
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Samsung's Galaxy S25 lineup is eagerly anticipated to arrive in January 2025, and one of the key areas of interest is the battery life and charging capabilities. While the exact battery capacities might remain the same as their predecessors, some improvements are expected thanks to new hardware and the aid of AI.
The upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chipset, rumored to power the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Ultra, is said to have superior power efficiency compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 found in the S24 series.
Additionally, Samsung is reportedly working on a new Battery AI feature that can optimize power consumption by limiting the processor and 5G modem when possible.
There are no rumored improvements to the charging speeds just yet, so we expect to see similar if not the same charging experience for all three models. That said, there is a possibility we will see upgrades for the wireless charging.
Additionally, Samsung is reportedly working on a new Battery AI feature that can optimize power consumption by limiting the processor and 5G modem when possible.
There are no rumored improvements to the charging speeds just yet, so we expect to see similar if not the same charging experience for all three models. That said, there is a possibility we will see upgrades for the wireless charging.
Galaxy S25 battery upgrades
Snapdragon 8 Elite efficiency
Despite the rumors claiming that there will be no increase in battery capacity, we still expect to see increased battery life with the Galaxy S25 lineup. The Snapdragon 8 Elite chip said to power the whole lineup is rumored comes with higher power efficiency compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 that's in the S24 series.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite has a 40% more power efficient GPU, which we assume would result in less battery drain during gaming sessions or when editing video content. This should also mean less heat, which would help preserve the battery's health for longer.
Samsung's Battery AI feature
Another rumor hints at a new Battery AI functionality that can help extend the battery life by limiting the processor and the 5G modem. We suppose that this will be a way for Samsung to be more aggressive with limiting background app and system activities.
Given that AI usually learns from user input, it also wouldn't be surprising if Galaxy AI learned your specific way of using and charging the Galaxy S25 to prolong its battery life. For example, it could limit the phone's processing power for the morning if, during those hours, you usually only read the news. Then, the AI can unlock the full processing power in the evening when you like to play games.
Relying on the phone's AI to optimize your battery sounds like it could have major benefits, but it could also be a double-edged sword. That said, Samsung is known for allowing higher levels of control and customization over its phone's AI features, so we expect there to be some kind of adjustable setting for the rumored Battery AI feature on the S25 series.
Battery longevity
Samsung is a bit notorious when it comes to battery degradation, with many examples of batteries inside Samsung phones inflating. Hopefully, either through Battery AI or some other improvement, the company takes care of this problem once and for all.
How much battery capacity will the Galaxy S25 have?
For now, the rumors are all pointing to one answer — the Galaxy S25 series will have the same battery capacity as the Galaxy S24 lineup. Here's what that means:
*Expected/rumored
| Samsung Galaxy phone | Battery capacity |
|---|---|
| Galaxy S25 Ultra | 5,000 mAh* |
| Galaxy S25 Plus | 4,900 mAh* |
| Galaxy S25 | 4,000 mAh* |
How fast will the Galaxy S25 charge?
Just like the battery capacity, the charging speeds are alse expected to remain the same. That means 45W of wired charging for the Galaxy S24 Plus and Galaxy S24 Ultra, and 25W for the standard Galaxy S25.
As long as the battery sizes don't change, we can expect the same charging times for all three models. Here's how long it took us to charge the S24 lineup from 0-100% during our testing:
| Phone Model | 30 MINS (%) | FULL CHARGE (hours) |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S24 | 56% | 1h 12 min |
| Galaxy S24 Plus | 61% | 1h 9 min |
| Galaxy S24 Ultra | 68% | 1h 9 min |
A little peculiarity about the Galaxy S Plus and Ultra is that they need a 45W - 45W TA + 5A cable (E-marked) in order to charge at maximum speeds. We suspect this will be the same for the Galaxy S25 series.
Will the Galaxy S25 have wireless charging?
Yes, all Galaxy S25 models will have wireless charging, just like more recent previous generations. Whether it will be the same 15W wireless charging remains to be seen, but for now there hasn't been any information indicating otherwise.
What we are hoping to see is Qi2 magnetic wireless charging, which would allow for more precise alignment of the wireless charger and the phone, resulting in less wasted energy during the process.
Magnetic wireless charging would also open up a whole world for Galaxy accessories such as wallets, special cases, LED lights, and all kinds of other apparatus.
Will the Galaxy S25 have reverse-wireless charging?
Yes, we expect to see the same 4.5W reverse-wireless charging that the latest Samsung flagships have. That said, other manufacturers have produced handsets with higher wireless reverse-charging speeds, so there is room for Samsung to improve on this end.
What charger will the Galaxy S25 use?
This is a dumb question, but it's part of the template, so:
1. Mention the charger that the manufacturer has used when measuring the phone's charging speed.
2. Make sure to also mention if other chargers work too and if we expect it to come with a charger.
Samsung does not include a charger in the box anymore, so you will need to buy one yourself. To make the most out of the 45W on the Plus and Ultra, the best charger would be Samsung's own 45W PD Power Adapter with 5A USB C Cable. For the S25 the most appropriate would be the company's 25W PD Power Adapter.
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