Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra is here and it's a pretty impressive piece of hardware. As the peak of Samsung's range there's a lot resting on the phone's shoulders, especially when compared to the prior peak Samsung device.
When a new phone releases, there are usually two major focuses, those who want to upgrade their device and those who want to change their brand. So the question is which of these two models is best for you in those areas.
On the surface, the differences between the two Ultra models appear pretty minimal, and this can make it difficult to decide which is the ideal option. However, we have built up this guide based on our own knowledge and experience to help make the changes easier to digest and understand.
So, let's look at everything we know about these two phones that have both sat at the top of our best Android phones list and see which is best for you.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Galaxy S24 Ultra: Specs
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Galaxy S24 Ultra: Price and availability
One of the big concerns about the Galaxy S25 range was that they would see a noticeable price increase over the older models. However, when the phones were released, it was clear this wasn't the case.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra launched with the same $1,299 price tag as the Galaxy S24 Ultra, although that's still a pretty hefty price tag and it only gets higher as you increase storage options.
The biggest issue when it comes to picking up a Galaxy S24 Ultra is that Samsung appears to be slowly removing the models from stores. However, there are still some deals for the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and you can also pick up some second-hand models for a discount.
We have a full guide of what to look out for when buying second hand to help you get the most for your money.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Galaxy S24 Ultra: Design and Display
Physically the Galaxy S25 Ultra is only slightly larger than the older model, measuring 6.41 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches compared to the S24 Ultra's 6.40 x 3.11 x 0.34 inches. However, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has removed some of the hard edges that we saw in the older model.
Many have complained that the Galaxy S25 Ultra looks too much like the iPhone, but during our review we stated that we would have preferred Samsung to take a few more cues from Apple. Now I know that might make it seem like we're Apple fanboying, but let me explain.
The issue is that the left and right sides of the device are slightly too sharp, making it a bit uncomfortable to hold. However, some of the best Galaxy S25 Ultra cases mitigate this issue to a degree. However, it's still a noticeable upgrade from the Galaxy S24 Ultra which was still finding it's footing after dropping the curved screens of prior models.
When we look at the displays, the differences are minimal, but noticeable at the same time. The Galaxy S25 Ultra's screen is brighter, with a higher color saturation compared to the prior model. However, the colors are slightly more accurate on the older model, although not noticeably.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Galaxy S24 Ultra: Cameras
The Galaxy S24 Ultra used to rank high on our list of the best camera phones, packing a main 200MP main, a 12MP ultrawide camera, a 10MP telephoto lens with a 3X optical zoom, and a new 50MP telephoto camera with a 5X optical zoom.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the new top camera phone and features much the same setup with a 200MP main camera, a 50MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom and a 10MP telephoto with 3x zoom. However, the Ultrawide camera on the S25 Ultra has been upgraded to 50MP.
We compared the two in a 200 photo shoot out to see how they compare and the results were interesting. Now, in the long run the Galaxy S25 Ultra did come out on top, but we noted that the difference wasn't as wide as we would have liked.
Overall, the Galaxy S25 Ultra offers crisper images, especially in low light and the upgraded ultrawide lens is certainly a massive improvement. The real kicker is the new AI-assisted ProVisual Engine that appears to enhance the telephoto cameras and night shooting performance.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Galaxy S24 Ultra: Performance
When it comes to overall performance, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has the clear advantage thanks to the overclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and 12GBof RAM.
The Geekbench score gives us a good idea of what kind of numbers we are dealing with. The difference in single-core benchmarking scores is the more modest of the two, with the S25 Ultra coming with a score of 3,031 — compared to the S24 Ultra's 2,300.
The multi-core testing saw a massive leap in the S25 Ultra's performance. The 9,829 score is 35% higher than the S24 Ultra's 7,249 and shows just how much of an improvement the new hardware has to offer.
It's a pretty similar story in the graphics department. The results of a 3DMark Solar Bay Unlimited test left the S25 Ultra with a score of 11,140 and an average frame rate of 42.4 fps. The S24 Ultra only managed to muster 8,872, with an average frame rate of 33.74 fps. Certainly not bad scores, but it's no contest with the Snapdragon 8 Elite is involved.
On to the video transcoding test with Adobe Premier Rush, which involves timing how long it takes to export the same 4K video clip in 1080p resolution. Sadly thew Galaxy S25 Ultra falters in this test, with the whole process taking 52 seconds — 10 seconds longer than it took the S24 Ultra.
However, Geekbench and 3DMark scores only really tell half of the story. What matters the most is actual, real world performance.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra can handle games like “Diabolo Immortal” with not noticeable drop, regardless of how many enemies were on screen. Not only that, we could swap between apps, videos and more without noticing a noticeable drop in performance.
Now it's worth noting that the Galaxy S24 Ultra is by no means a slouch, and it can handle many of the same programs with almost as much fluidity. However, it falls just short of the more modern machine.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Galaxy S24 Ultra: Software and AI
One of the biggest advantages that the Galaxy S25 Ultra holds is that it features One UI 7, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra will likely have to wait until April to see the feature. This will give you access to the improved home screen and camera layout, as well as the new Now Bar. None of these will likely be pivotal selling points, but it's worth being aware of what you have access to.
What might be pivotal is the improved AI features on the Galaxy S25 series, mainly the improved Gemini capability. For one thing, Gemini is designed to be that much more helpful, including Cross-App actions. I tried them out and, while there were some hiccups, more than a few worked as intended. We have a detailed list of the Gemini pros and cons that helps to detials what we think are noteworthy on the new device.
That isn't to say that the Galaxy S24 Ultra won't gain access to these features, in fact, a few are already on the device. However, there's little doubt that they're designed to function at their best on the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Galaxy S24 Ultra: Battery
Next we need to look at how long the phones will last, with both models featuring a 5,000 mAh battery. However, capacity isn't everything as it also depends on how well the chip in the phone can handle power management.
Considering the two phones both feature the same battery it's surprising to see the different scores during our tests. However, it's worth noting that the difference is less pronounced than when we compared the Galaxy S24 Ultra vs the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Now, 29 minutes of extra power might not be massive, but it could be the difference between travelling home to music or having to listen to sounds of nature as you walk. However, both phones used their 45W charging speed to roughly the same result, hitting about 71% after 30 mins.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Galaxy S24 Ultra: Verdict
So with all that said, what is the result and should you be looking to update? Honestly, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is hard to call a full improvement, instead it's a phone with a bunch of small upgrades. Using it compared to the Galaxy S24 Ultra won't feel quite as big a jump as going from something like the Nokia 3210 to the iPhone 3GS.
However, if you're looking to move to Samsung for a new phone, then yes, I would recommend going to the newer phone. But that's partially due to the difficulty in finding a new Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Although, if you're looking at the second-hand market, it entirely depends on what you really want from a phone. If you're looking for a powerful all-rounder then the Galaxy S24 Ultra does everything you need. However, if your looking for a phone that does everything a little bit better, then the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the prime choice.
