Updated

Updated · CNET · Aug 8

Samsung Galaxy S25 Discounts Reach $1,100 as Carriers Clear Inventory for New Foldables

Updated

Updated · CNET · Aug 8

Samsung Galaxy S25 Discounts Reach $1,100 as Carriers Clear Inventory for New Foldables

Q: Does the Snapdragon 8 Elite drain the Galaxy S25's 4,000mAh battery too fast to make this discounted flagship worth buying?

No. The Snapdragon 8 Elite does not automatically make the Galaxy S25’s 4,000mAh battery a deal-breaker, though battery life is the main compromise of this compact flagship. The chip is a very powerful processor, but it is also built on an advanced 3nm process, which helps efficiency. In practice, that usually means strong performance without the kind of runaway power draw older flagship chips were known for. The bigger issue is the battery size itself: 4,000mAh is modest by 2026 flagship standards, especially in a phone with a 120Hz AMOLED display, 5G, Wi‑Fi 7 and camera features like 8K recording. That means usage matters. For typical mixed use—calls, messaging, social apps, browsing, photos—the S25 should still get through most of a day for many users. Heavy gaming, long camera sessions, weak-signal 5G use or always-on features will drain it faster. Samsung’s own settings can help: Light performance mode, limiting background apps, reducing Always-On Display use, and switching to LTE in poor 5G areas can materially improve endurance. At Rs 62,999, the discounted price makes the S25 more attractive if you want a compact premium phone with top-end speed, long software relevance and solid cameras. But if battery life is your top priority, this is not the safest buy; larger rivals with 4,500mAh to 5,000mAh batteries will be more reassuring. At the current discount, it is worth buying for buyers who value size and flagship performance more than maximum endurance.

2 articles · Updated · CNET · Aug 8

$1,100 carrier promotions are now available across Samsung’s Galaxy S25 lineup, with some T-Mobile offers making the S25 Ultra or S25 Edge effectively free.
The markdowns are being driven by carriers and retailers clearing room for Samsung’s latest foldables, while the year-old S25 still offers flagship performance and Galaxy AI features.
T-Mobile leads the biggest incentives, Xfinity Mobile offers up to $900 off with trade-in, and AT&T prices the S25 FE at $14 a month and the S25 Edge at $16 a month on qualifying plans.
Unlocked deals are thinner: Samsung offers up to $540 in trade-in credit, while one retailer lists the unlocked S25 Ultra at $900, a $400 discount, with several other S25 models already sold out.
The broad discounting comes as reviewers say the base Galaxy S26 is hard to recommend over the S25 after limited hardware changes and a $100 price increase.