Use Samsung Smart Switch on the Galaxy S25 to receive data from your old Android phone. You can transfer wirelessly or with a compatible cable, but “everything” is not guaranteed: what moves depends on the source phone, software, account syncing and app restrictions. Make a separate WhatsApp backup and check important content on the S25 before erasing or trading in the old phone.
Before you start
Prepare both phones before beginning the transfer:
- Charge both devices and keep them nearby. Follow any connection or permission prompts that appear.
- Make sure there is enough free internal storage. Samsung UK specifies at least 500 MB free on each device for the transfer flow described in its support guidance; this is a Samsung UK requirement, not a universal Android standard. A wired transfer also requires support for USB MTP media transfer. Samsung UK’s transfer guidance
- If the old phone is not a Galaxy, install or update Samsung Smart Switch on it if prompted. Use the app prompts for the version available on your devices; labels can vary by software version.
- If you use WhatsApp, create or update its backup on the old phone before moving. WhatsApp chats and data are restored from cloud backup after you sign in on the new Android phone and open WhatsApp; this is separate from the Smart Switch transfer. Google’s Android setup guidance
Transfer wirelessly with Smart Switch
- On the Galaxy S25, open Smart Switch, choose Receive data, then choose Galaxy/Android.
- Choose Wireless on the S25 and follow the instructions to connect the phones.
- On the old phone, open Smart Switch, choose Send data, and complete the prompts to establish the connection.
- Choose the content to transfer when prompted, start the transfer, and keep both phones close until Smart Switch reports completion.
Samsung Australia says this wireless connection uses Wi-Fi Direct and does not require internet access or access to a local Wi-Fi network. That detail comes from Samsung Australia’s support guidance; device labels and availability may vary by region. Samsung Australia Smart Switch FAQ
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Transfer with a cable
- Connect the phones using a compatible data cable. Depending on their ports, you may need a USB adapter; a particular cable is not required for every Android-to-S25 combination.
- On the S25, open Smart Switch, choose Receive data, then Galaxy/Android, and select the wired connection option.
- On the old phone, choose Send data in Smart Switch and approve any prompts to connect or grant access.
- Select the content to move and begin the transfer. Keep the phones connected until the transfer finishes.
Check both phones’ ports and confirm the cable supports data transfer, not just charging. Samsung documents both cable and wireless options; it does not establish that one method is always faster or more complete. If you prefer an intermediate backup, Samsung also documents Smart Switch transfers using a PC or Mac. Samsung Australia’s phone-to-phone guide · Samsung UK’s transfer guidance
What transfers—and what may not
Smart Switch can move a broad range of personal content, including contacts, calendar entries, messages, notes, call logs, media, documents, apps and some settings. The exact items available depend on the connected phone. Samsung’s transferable-content list also notes that some private app storage and DRM-protected content are excluded.
#1 Best Overall
- MULTIPLE TASKS WITH ONE ASK: Streamline your day with an assistant that gets you. Ask it to Google search for a pet-friendly vegan restaurant nearby and text it to your friend— your Galaxy S25+ handles multiple tasks with a single ask.¹
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- Account-synced data: Items synced to accounts are not transferred by Smart Switch itself. Sign in to the relevant accounts on the S25 and allow their data to sync.
- WhatsApp: Use WhatsApp’s own cloud-backup and restore process. Confirm the backup is enabled on the old phone, then follow WhatsApp’s prompts on the S25; do not assume Smart Switch copies every chat.
- Downloads and hidden-folder media: Google’s Android setup-copy instructions identify downloads such as PDFs and media in hidden folders as items that may not copy through that setup process. This is a limitation of Google’s setup-copy flow, not a blanket statement about every Smart Switch transfer. Check such files directly on the old phone.
- Apps and protected content: An app may transfer or reinstall without bringing its private data, sign-in state or protected media. Open important apps on the S25 and use their own account or restore process where needed.
Samsung Australia’s phone-to-phone instructions apply to Australian variant devices and direct owners of international variants to their local Samsung subsidiary. Check the regional Samsung guide for your device.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Verify the S25 before wiping the old phone
Do not erase or hand over the old phone just because Smart Switch says the transfer is complete. On the S25, check that your contacts, recent messages, photos and videos, important documents and key apps are present and usable. Confirm account syncing has finished, and open WhatsApp to complete its restore if you use it. If something is missing, keep the old phone intact and copy or restore that item using its account or app-specific method.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 3G bands HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 4G bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 5G bands 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
- Dimensions 146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2 mm (5.78 x 2.78 x 0.28 in) Weight 162 g (5.71 oz) Build Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame SIM Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
- Display Type Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, 480Hz PWM, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak) Size 6.2 inches, 94.4 cm2 (~91.1% screen-to-body ratio) Resolution 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~416 ppi density) Protection Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
- OS Android 15, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 Chipset Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) CPU Octa-core (2x4.47 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) GPU Adreno 830
- Main Camera Triple 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video Features Best Face, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama Video 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Rank #4
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist¹ with Galaxy AI.² Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more³
- FAST. POWERFUL. AI-READY: Power through your day with AI-accelerated performance from our fastest, smoothest and most powerful Galaxy processor yet, built to keep up with everything you do
- IMMENSELY IMMERSIVE: No matter where you are or what you’re watching, your favorite videos and more come to life with the vibrant display on Galaxy S26
- FIT EVERYONE IN THE SHOT: Group selfies are easier on your Samsung phone with a wider front camera⁴ that captures more of the scene, so no one gets left out of the moment
Rank #3
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist¹ with Galaxy AI.² Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more³
- FAST. POWERFUL. AI-READY: Power through your day with AI-accelerated performance from our fastest, smoothest and most powerful Galaxy processor yet, built to keep up with everything you do
- IMMENSELY IMMERSIVE: No matter where you are or what you’re watching, your favorite videos and more come to life with the vibrant display on Galaxy S26
- FIT EVERYONE IN THE SHOT: Group selfies are easier on your Samsung phone with a wider front camera⁴ that captures more of the scene, so no one gets left out of the moment
Rank #2
- 6.2" Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X QHD+, 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate, HDR10+, 1080x2340px, Android 15, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 7
- 128GB, 12GB RAM, No SD Card Slot, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm), Octa-Core, Adreno 830 GPU, 4000mAh Battery
- Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.8, wide + 10MP, f/2.4, telephoto + 12MP, f/2.2, ultrawide, Front Camera: 12MP, f/2.2, wide
- 2G: 850/900/1800/1900, 3G: UMTS 1(2100)/2(1900)/4(AWS)/5(850)/8(900), 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/48/66/71, 5G: N1/2/5/7/25/28/41/66/71/77/78/257/258/260/261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
- US Model - Compatible with Most GSM Carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Straight Talk.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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