Google pays Samsung an 'enormous sum' for preinstalling Gemini

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The Google Gemini push on the Samsung Galaxy S25 series you've seen comes with a significant payday for the South Korean smartphone maker. Testimony from Google's ongoing antitrust trial in the US revealed that the search giant is paying an "enormous sum" as fixed monthly payments as part of a two-year deal between Google and Samsung. The latter also gets a share of Gemini subscription revenue.

For this unspecified amount, Samsung has sidelined its Bixby assistant to make Gemini the default artificial intelligence assistant in its flagship series. Internal documents from Google also revealed that it was considering more restrictive agreements with its partners, requiring them to preinstall Gemini alongside Search and Chrome.

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Samsung Galaxy S25 and S25+ launch with focus on software and performance

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Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+, the latest additions to its flagship smartphone lineup. The phones boast some new features, with a particular focus on software and performance.  

One UI 7 is the new software that powers the Galaxy S25 series. It promises several improvements, including a new Personal Data Engine allowing on-device artificial intelligence features. The Personal Data Engine can be used for things like a plain-spoken request to find an old photo from your gallery. (You can check more of the new AI features here.)

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Samsung unveils Galaxy S25 Ultra

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Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S25 Ultra at its Unpacked event, showcasing a refined design with rounded corners, a larger 6.9-inch display, and a more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. The device is thinner and lighter than its predecessor, featuring bolder camera rings and a 15% thinner bezel.  

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Samsung teases Galaxy S25 Edge

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Samsung surprised attendees at its Galaxy Unpacked event by briefly showcasing the Galaxy S25 Edge. This ultra-slim flagship, with a boxy design and minimal bezels, hints at a return to the era of incredibly thin, potentially fragile smartphones.

While specifications remain scarce, a Samsung South Africa representative supposedly confirmed a limited initial rollout in select markets, including the US and South Korea.

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