Samsung Galaxy S25+ Teardown Review: Slightly Easier Repair, Still a 9/10

Samsung Galaxy S25+ Teardown Review: Slightly Easier Repair, Still a 9/10On February 3rd, the Samsung Galaxy S25 series officially launched. Following the release, renowned tech YouTuber PBKReviews published a complete teardown video of the Galaxy S25+, showcasing its internal structure and repairability

Samsung Galaxy S25+ Teardown Review: Slightly Easier Repair, Still a 9/10

On February 3rd, the Samsung Galaxy S25 series officially launched. Following the release, renowned tech YouTuber PBKReviews published a complete teardown video of the Galaxy S25+, showcasing its internal structure and repairability. Overall, the Galaxy S25+ is slightly easier to repair than its predecessor, the Galaxy S24+, but PBKReviews still gave it a 9/10 repairability score, the same as the S24+.

The video shows a relatively standard disassembly process, similar to previous Samsung models. It begins with removing the SIM tray, a common first step in many phone repairs. Due to the Galaxy S25+'s IP68 water and dust resistance, the SIM tray has a rubber seal, slightly increasing disassembly difficulty but ensuring the phone's protective capabilities.

Next, the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 back panel requires heating to soften the adhesive holding it to the frame. This is a crucial step in many phone repairs, requiring skill and experience to avoid damaging the glass. After heating, a suction cup and pry tools are used to separate the back panel. This process demands caution to prevent cracking the back panel or damaging other components.

The rear camera's protective lens and ring also require heating before removal. This demonstrates Samsung's commitment to camera protection but adds complexity to repairs. The teardown clearly shows the rear camera module's structure and component connections.

Above the battery, a black wireless charging coil is secured by 21 Phillips screws. This number increases repair time and requires careful handling to avoid losing or damaging the screws.

Under the wireless charging coil cover are three flex cables connecting the mainboard and daughterboard, along with the battery connector. These cables are delicate and easily damaged, requiring specialized tools and experience for safe removal.

After removing the bottom back panel, the speaker and linear vibration motor are revealed. Again, due to the IP68 rating, the speaker has a rubber seal, adding to disassembly difficulty but maintaining water and dust protection.

The Galaxy S25+'s most significant improvement lies in battery removal. PBKReviews notes an improved battery pull tab design, making battery replacement more convenient. This enhances repairability and reduces replacement costs. The battery features detailed specifications printed on its back for easy identification and replacement.

The top earpiece assembly integrates the earpiece speaker and antenna. After disconnecting two mainboard connectors, the mainboard can be removed. It houses the three rear cameras (two with optical image stabilization), the LED flash, and a microphone, highlighting Samsung's investment in imaging technology while increasing the board's complexity.

Flipping the mainboard reveals the ambient light sensor, another microphone, and the proximity sensor. These are crucial for phone operation and require careful handling during removal and replacement. A graphite heatsink covers the back of the mainboard, beneath which is a thermal pad, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, RAM, and storage modules.

Samsung claims the Galaxy S25+'s copper vapor chamber is slightly larger than the S24+'s, extending its coverage from the chipset to the battery area. This indicates improved thermal management for better performance and stability.

Removing the daughterboard requires two Phillips screws. This board integrates the main microphone, USB Type-C port, and SIM card slot. Some regional variants of the Galaxy S25+ may also include a mmWave antenna, further enhancing network connectivity but increasing internal complexity.

Overall, the Galaxy S25+'s assembly is similar to previous models, maintaining high precision. While battery replacement is easier, this doesn't significantly improve the overall repair score. PBKReviews final 9/10 repairability score, the same as the S24+, indicates that while Samsung has made improvements, the overall repair difficulty hasn't significantly decreased. This is likely due to the complexity of other internal components, requiring professional tools and expertise for repair. A 9/10 still represents good repairability, beneficial for users, especially for tasks like battery replacement. However, more complex repairs still require professional assistance. The unchanged score compared to the predecessor reflects Samsung's balancing act between design, manufacturing, and repairability.