It’s a new year and Samsung is gearing up for a slate of new phones. The company’s Unpacked winter event is scheduled for January 22, and we expect the Galaxy S25 reveal as well as Galaxy AI updates.
Samsung sent out invitations to the event in early January, teasing what’s to come. Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming keynote, including how to tune in and how to save on your S25 pre-order.
This story is part of The Samsung eventCNET’s collection of news, tips and advice about Samsung’s most popular products.
How to watch Samsung Unpacked 2025
Samsung Unpacked takes place Wednesday, January 22 at 10:00 a.m. PT (1:00 p.m. ET). It will be held in San Jose, but you can also follow a live stream on Samsung.com, Samsung Newsroom and Samsung’s YouTube channel. CNET will also host a live show, during which you can follow along with our experts.
Samsung usually hosts Unpacked twice a year: once in January or February, during which it reveals the latest Galaxy S line, and again in the summer, when it debuts the next foldable version. Last year, it hosted its July Unpacked event in Paris, just before the Summer Olympics, and unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6. There was also, not surprisingly, a big focus on Galaxy AI.
What can we expect with the Galaxy S25?
We’re expecting three devices: the base Galaxy S25, S25 Plus and S25 Ultra. All three devices could have a more rounded design, similar to Google’s Pixel phones, according to the Ice Universe reporter.
S25, S25+, S25 Ultra pic.twitter.com/x7TupwE1GJ
— UNIVERSE OF ICE (@UniverseIce) October 9, 2024
Korean site Hankyung has also reported that all three Galaxy S25 devices will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor. There is also hope that all the phones will support Qi2 wireless charging. Additionally, analyst Ross Young has shared a list of rumored colors for the latest Galaxy S lineup, which includes silver, blue, and mint.
The S25 Ultra will reportedly have a 6.9-inch display and a new 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera, according to some leaks.
There have been rumors floating around of a slimmer version of the S25, with a tipster showing an entry for the Galaxy S25 Slim on Geekbench. This coincides with rumors of a thinner version of the iPhone that could drop later this year, but it’s not clear if or when either of these devices might actually become available. If the Galaxy S25 Slim IS true, it may be a while before we see it in the real world.
And finally, there have been conflicting rumors as to whether the S25 series will cost the same as last year’s lineup or see a price hike, so we’ll just have to see what’s in store.
What’s next for Galaxy AI?
One of the main focuses of Samsung’s January Unpacked invite is, not surprisingly, AI.
The company notes, “The next evolution of Galaxy AI is coming and will change the way you interact with the world every day. The new Galaxy S series will once again set the bar for mobile AI experiences now and in the future. . “
Samsung says the next iteration of Galaxy AI will be more natural and intuitive, and that the latest Galaxy S series will again rely on mobile AI advancements. This could include an update to the Bixby virtual assistant, especially given that Apple is pushing Siri more to be more conversational and helpful to users.
Artificial intelligence has been a key focus for every major phone maker, from Samsung to Apple to Google, over the past few years. From helping users compose text messages to summarizing emails to simplifying photo editing, these companies have championed mobile AI as a way to make your life easier. So far, advances have met with lukewarm reception, as an August 2024 CNET survey found that a quarter of smartphone owners don’t find AI features useful. That could change as phone makers continue to tweak their offerings to better suit what people want and as consumers get used to the proliferation of AI-powered features in their devices.
Will there be any other gadgets — or surprises?
If there’s one thing about a tech event, it’s that there is usually some kind of surprise or tease for an upcoming departure. After all, last January’s Unpacked event is where we got our first look at the Galaxy Ring, which eventually came out in July. It’s possible we could be getting a look at the next generation of the device, which could feature improvements like more accurate sensors and longer battery life. But given how relatively new the ring is, we’ll likely have to wait a while before the next version becomes available.
Mixed reality can also appear. Samsung unveiled its Project Moohan headphones in December, which the company plans to launch later this year. So it’s possible we might get an update on where things stand there.
How to save on Galaxy S25
Ahead of this year’s January Unpacked event, Samsung is offering customers a $50 credit toward the latest Galaxy device during pre-orders. You can also get up to $900 in additional trade-in credit on an eligible device, the company says, as well as another $300 instant credit by booking and pre-ordering. The offer lasts until January 22 and can be found here.
CNET, as always, will be on the ground covering Unpacked on Wednesday, January 22.
