Some Samsung Galaxy S25 pre-orders are arriving early
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Samsung fans who pre-ordered the Galaxy S25 series might be in for a pleasant surprise—some orders are shipping ahead of schedule. While the official release date remains February 7th, reports indicate that customers in the US, UK, and Middle East have already received shipping notifications, with estimated delivery dates as early as January 30th.
Customers who ordered early have spotted shipping notifications from UPS and other couriers, confirming that their Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra units are in transit. Samsung has a history of delivering pre-orders before the official launch, so this isn’t entirely surprising.
Buy at Samsung
Buy at Samsung
Buy at Samsung
For those who haven’t pre-ordered yet, Samsung is still accepting orders, with some of its best trade-in deals and pre-order perks still available. These include:
Despite modest hardware upgrades, early pre-order numbers indicate strong demand for the Galaxy S25 series, particularly the Ultra variant. In South Korea, the Galaxy S25 Ultra reportedly accounts for nearly 60-70% of total pre-orders, vastly outpacing the base and Plus models.
Interestingly, this high demand comes despite a controversial downgrade—Samsung has removed Bluetooth connectivity from the S Pen, stripping away some of its signature features. This has led to backlash from hardcore Galaxy fans, with some launching a petition demanding that Samsung restore the Bluetooth S Pen on the Galaxy S26 Ultra next year.
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra builds on the success of its predecessor, earning the highest camera score we’ve tested so far at 158 points—outpacing the Galaxy S24 Ultra, iPhone 16 Pro Max, and Pixel 9 Pro XL (although not by much).
Here’s how it stacks up in our Camera Score ranking:
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Early shipments and pre-order perks
Customers who ordered early have spotted shipping notifications from UPS and other couriers, confirming that their Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra units are in transit. Samsung has a history of delivering pre-orders before the official launch, so this isn’t entirely surprising.
Save up to $700 on the 512GB Galaxy S25 Ultra!
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$1419
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Get the mighty Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra for up to $700 off with the official Samsung Store. To get the discount, you must provide an eligible trade-in in good condition.
Galaxy S25+: Save up to $480 with a trade-in!
$639
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$1119
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$480 off (43%)
Trade in your old phone to save up to $480 on the exciting Galaxy S25+. If you don't have an eligible trade-in, you can get the device for $100 off with Samsung Instant Savings.
Galaxy S25: now $80 off
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$799
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$80 off (10%)
The Galaxy S25 is also on sale at Samsung.com. Right now, you can get the device for $80 off. Alternatively, you can trade in an eligible device and unlock bigger discounts.
For those who haven’t pre-ordered yet, Samsung is still accepting orders, with some of its best trade-in deals and pre-order perks still available. These include:
- Up to $1,250 off with eligible trade-ins
- Free storage upgrades
- Samsung Credits for accessories like cases and earbuds
Galaxy S25 Ultra is leading pre-orders despite controversies
Despite modest hardware upgrades, early pre-order numbers indicate strong demand for the Galaxy S25 series, particularly the Ultra variant. In South Korea, the Galaxy S25 Ultra reportedly accounts for nearly 60-70% of total pre-orders, vastly outpacing the base and Plus models.
Will S25 Ultra have the best camera system of 2025?
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra builds on the success of its predecessor, earning the highest camera score we’ve tested so far at 158 points—outpacing the Galaxy S24 Ultra, iPhone 16 Pro Max, and Pixel 9 Pro XL (although not by much).
Here’s how it stacks up in our Camera Score ranking:
Photo
Video
Phone | Camera Score |
Photo Score |
Main (wide) |
Ultra Wide |
Selfie | Zoom |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | 158 | 165 | 87 | 23 | 27 | 28 |
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | 156 | 162 | 83 | 24 | 28 | 28 |
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | 154 | 158 | 82 | 24 | 28 | 25 |
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL | 151 | 159 | 84 | 23 | 26 | 27 |
Phone | Camera Score |
Video Score |
Main (wide) |
Ultra Wide |
Selfie | Zoom |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | 158 | 150 | 75 | 21 | 28 | 26 |
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | 156 | 151 | 77 | 21 | 28 | 24 |
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | 154 | 150 | 76 | 23 | 27 | 24 |
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL | 151 | 142 | 76 | 20 | 25 | 21 |
Find out more details about photo and video scores for all phones we have tested on our PhoneArena Camera Score page
The S25 Ultra's lead is rather marginal though, and we have a whole year ahead of us, so there's plenty of chance for upcoming flagships to do even better as far as camera performance.
Check out our Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review.
So should you pre-order a Galaxy S25 series?
If you can overlook the missing Bluetooth S Pen, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra in particular is shaping up to be one of the most well-rounded flagship smartphones of 2025. The camera performance is top-tier, battery life is solid, and AI integration could make daily tasks easier.
Also, the S25 Ultra is probably the smoothest-feeling Galaxy phone we have ever tested so far—that overclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite must be doing OneUI wonders. So, if you have used Galaxy phones before and love the user experience they offer, this year's flagships from Samsung won't disappoint. That said, they won't wow you with anything either, so you might want to hold off and see what the competition has to offer this year.
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Aleksandar is a tech enthusiast with a broad range of interests, from smartphones to space exploration. His curiosity extends to hands-on DIY experiments with his gadgets, and he enjoys switching between different brands to experience the latest innovations. Prior to joining PhoneArena, Aleksandar worked on the Google Art Project, digitizing valuable artworks and gaining diverse perspectives on technology. When he's not immersed in tech, Aleksandar is an outdoorsman who enjoys mountain hikes, wildlife photography, and nature conservation. His interests also extend to martial arts, running, and snowboarding, reflecting his dynamic approach to life and technology.
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