Summary
- A rumor is circulating that Samsung may skip the Plus model in its upcoming Galaxy S25 series.
- The report is based on an internal database that was found to be lacking an IMEI for the S25+, but this should be taken with a pinch of salt since the phone could appear at a later time.
- Previous leaks had already revealed information about a Galaxy S25+ in development, and the Galaxy S24+ accounted for 21% of Samsung’s early-year flagship sales, so there are several reasons to believe the Plus model will continue to exist.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 series is at least six months away from launch. Yet, rumors about the phone have picked up pace in recent weeks. Most of them have focused on the Ultra model and its rounded design. An outlandish rumor now claims that Samsung will ax the Plus model from its 2025 flagship smartphone lineup next year.
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Android Headlines says Samsung will not launch the Galaxy S25+ next year. The report is based on Galaxy S25 and S25 Ultra’s alleged model numbers appearing in an IMEI database, with the Plus variant notably missing.
Since the report is based on an IMEI database that could simply be incomplete at this time, we’re taking it with a pinch of salt. Samsung is unlikely to launch the Galaxy S25 series before mid-January 2025, so there’s a lot of time for things to change, and the S25+ could pop up in the same internal IMEI database in the next few weeks.
Notably, similar reports of Samsung canceling the Galaxy S24+ popped up in late 2023 but were inaccurate. And as Dutch-language site GalaxyClub points out, previous spec leaks have included the Galaxy S25+, directly contradicting today’s report (via SamMobile). Combine that with early sales figures reported in March revealing that the Galaxy S24+ accounted for a healthy 21% of Samsung’s early-year flagship sales, and we’re inclined to believe Samsung will maintain the status quo with its Galaxy S25 series.
To be fair, the Korean giant has been focusing heavily on the Ultra model since its introduction in 2020, fitting it with all the bells and whistles possible. The Plus and regular variants have received relatively minor upgrades since then by comparison. And in that same March 2024 report, sales of the Ultra variant were revealed to have increased in recent years, indicating greater consumer preference towards the biggest model in Samsung’s flagship Galaxy lineup. But none of this signals the demise of the Plus variant, as it has always been positioned as a more premium alternative to the base model for customers who think the Ultra is a bit outside their price range.
A lot about the Galaxy S25 remains a mystery for now
With Google and Apple both rumored to make display size changes across their Pixel and iPhone lineup this year, Samsung could also take a similar step with the Galaxy S25 series next year. The Korean company might bump the Galaxy S25’s screen size and turn the S25+ into the S25 Pro, packing similar specs as its Ultra sibling.
Currently, the Plus model in Samsung’s lineup packs almost the same internals as the Ultra variant with inferior camera hardware. We should hear more about Samsung’s plans for its Galaxy S25 lineup for next year in the coming months.
