The Galaxy S25 Ultra is the stronger pick if you want Samsung’s newer hardware, a 50MP ultra-wide camera, a slightly larger display and a lighter phone. The Galaxy S24 Ultra makes sense if you can find it substantially cheaper in the same storage and condition, and its 12MP ultra-wide camera meets your needs. Their core Ultra features are similar; the choice comes down to those upgrades and the price you can actually get.
What changes between the S25 Ultra and S24 Ultra?
Samsung’s specifications show the clearest camera hardware change in the ultra-wide: 50MP on the S25 Ultra versus 12MP on the S24 Ultra. Both list a 200MP main camera, 50MP 5x optical telephoto, 10MP 3x optical telephoto and 12MP selfie camera. A higher resolution is a hardware difference, not proof by itself that photos will look better in every situation.
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| Specification | Galaxy S25 Ultra | Galaxy S24 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.9 inches measured diagonally across the full rectangle; 6.8 inches accounting for rounded corners (Samsung, 2025) | 6.8 inches (Samsung, 2024) |
| Listed weight | 218g (Samsung, 2025) | 232g Sub6 / 233g mmWave in Samsung’s 2024 launch specifications |
| Ultra-wide camera | 50MP (Samsung, 2025) | 12MP (Samsung, 2024) |
| Main camera | 200MP (Samsung, 2025) | 200MP (Samsung, 2024) |
| Telephoto cameras | 50MP 5x optical; 10MP 3x optical (Samsung, 2025) | 50MP 5x optical; 10MP 3x optical (Samsung, 2024) |
| Rated battery capacity | 5,000mAh (Samsung, 2025) | 5,000mAh (Samsung, 2024) |
| Built-in S Pen | Yes (Samsung product specifications) | Yes (Samsung product specifications) |
Both are QHD+ phones with 120Hz-class displays, and both retain the S Pen. The screen measurements are diagonal; rounded corners and the camera opening reduce the usable viewable area.
Which phone is better for photos and video?
Choose the S25 Ultra for ultra-wide detail
The 50MP ultra-wide is the S25 Ultra’s distinct camera hardware upgrade. It may matter if you often photograph landscapes, architecture or larger groups with the ultra-wide lens. Samsung Global Newsroom described it as the series’ first 50MP ultra-wide camera, intended to provide a wide field of view for scenes such as landscapes and group shots (Samsung Global Newsroom, Galaxy Unpacked 2025).
#1 Best Overall
- Stunning 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with adaptive 1–120 Hz refresh rate, ultra‑bright up to ~2600 nits, HDR support, “Vision Booster,” and adaptive color tone — giving vivid colours, great outdoor visibility, and super‑smooth scrolling.
- Powerful internals: it runs on the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3 nm) chip, with 12 GB (or in some markets up to 16 GB) RAM and up to 1 TB UFS 4.0 storage — offering significantly improved CPU/GPU/NPU performance, especially for AI tasks, gaming, and heavy multitasking.
- Advanced quad‑camera system: 200 MP wide main sensor, plus a 50 MP ultrawide, a 50 MP periscope telephoto (5× optical zoom), and a 10 MP telephoto (3× optical zoom) — giving flexibility from ultra‑wide through detailed telephoto shots, and strong performance in varied lighting.
- 5,000 mAh battery with 45 W fast wired charging, wireless charging (Qi2) and reverse wireless charging — balancing long battery life with flexible charging options.
- Durable, premium build: Titanium‑frame body, protected by Corning Gorilla Armor 2 glass, with IP68 dust/water resistance, ultrasonic in‑display fingerprint sensor, modern connectivity (5G, Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth, UWB, USB‑C), and long‑term software support (Android 15 / One UI 7, promised 7 major OS/security updates).
The main and telephoto specifications are largely carried over
The headline resolution and optical zoom figures for the main and two telephoto cameras match between generations in Samsung’s specifications. Samsung also promotes newer image processing and low-light video features for the S25 generation. Those are manufacturer descriptions, not an independent head-to-head image-quality test, so they do not establish that every S25 photo or video will outperform an S24 result.
How different are the display and handling?
The S25 Ultra is listed at 218g and has a 6.9-inch full-rectangle display. The S24 Ultra is listed at 232g for Sub6 and 233g for mmWave configurations, with a 6.8-inch display. In other words, the newer phone is slightly larger on paper while weighing less. The listed weight difference between the S25 and S24 Sub6 versions is 14g; the S24 mmWave version is 15g heavier than the S25 listing.
Rank #2
- Stunning 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with adaptive 1–120 Hz refresh rate, ultra‑bright up to ~2600 nits, HDR support, “Vision Booster,” and adaptive color tone — giving vivid colours, great outdoor visibility, and super‑smooth scrolling.
- Powerful internals: it runs on the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3 nm) chip, with 12 GB (or in some markets up to 16 GB) RAM and up to 1 TB UFS 4.0 storage — offering significantly improved CPU/GPU/NPU performance, especially for AI tasks, gaming, and heavy multitasking.
- Advanced quad‑camera system: 200 MP wide main sensor, plus a 50 MP ultrawide, a 50 MP periscope telephoto (5× optical zoom), and a 10 MP telephoto (3× optical zoom) — giving flexibility from ultra‑wide through detailed telephoto shots, and strong performance in varied lighting.
- 5,000 mAh battery with 45 W fast wired charging, wireless charging (Qi2) and reverse wireless charging — balancing long battery life with flexible charging options.
- Durable, premium build: Titanium‑frame body, protected by Corning Gorilla Armor 2 glass, with IP68 dust/water resistance, ultrasonic in‑display fingerprint sensor, modern connectivity (5G, Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth, UWB, USB‑C), and long‑term software support (Android 15 / One UI 7, promised 7 major OS/security updates).
Does the S25 Ultra perform faster or last longer?
Samsung’s S25 launch-era specifications identify Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy and Android 15 with One UI 7.0. That is a newer platform generation than the S24 Ultra, but the available figures here do not establish a measured speed advantage. Samsung also reported a 40% ray-tracing performance boost and a vapor chamber roughly 40% larger than before at the Galaxy Unpacked 2025 launch; these are Samsung’s series-level claims, not independent S25 Ultra versus S24 Ultra test results.
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Both phones have a rated 5,000mAh battery. Samsung says the S25 series offers longer battery life, but no controlled comparison here establishes how many additional hours the S25 Ultra lasts in a given use pattern. Samsung also announced 25W wireless charging for the S25 series, up from 15W; check the local product specification and accessory setup rather than assuming every regional or charging configuration is identical.
Rank #3
- Stunning 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with adaptive 1–120 Hz refresh rate, ultra‑bright up to ~2600 nits, HDR support, “Vision Booster,” and adaptive color tone — giving vivid colours, great outdoor visibility, and super‑smooth scrolling.
- Powerful internals: it runs on the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3 nm) chip, with 12 GB (or in some markets up to 16 GB) RAM and up to 1 TB UFS 4.0 storage — offering significantly improved CPU/GPU/NPU performance, especially for AI tasks, gaming, and heavy multitasking.
- Advanced quad‑camera system: 200 MP wide main sensor, plus a 50 MP ultrawide, a 50 MP periscope telephoto (5× optical zoom), and a 10 MP telephoto (3× optical zoom) — giving flexibility from ultra‑wide through detailed telephoto shots, and strong performance in varied lighting.
- 5,000 mAh battery with 45 W fast wired charging, wireless charging (Qi2) and reverse wireless charging — balancing long battery life with flexible charging options.
- Durable, premium build: Titanium‑frame body, protected by Corning Gorilla Armor 2 glass, with IP68 dust/water resistance, ultrasonic in‑display fingerprint sensor, modern connectivity (5G, Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth, UWB, USB‑C), and long‑term software support (Android 15 / One UI 7, promised 7 major OS/security updates).
How long will each phone receive software updates?
Samsung’s S25 specification sheet states seven years of OS and security updates. Samsung made the same launch commitment for the S24 series: seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates. These are launch promises; the software version currently installed on either phone depends on rollout timing and when the device was released or activated.
The S25 is not Samsung’s newest Ultra generation as of Samsung’s 2026 corporate report, which records the subsequent S26 generation. That does not alter the stated S25 support commitment, but it matters if buying the newest available generation is your priority.
Rank #4
- Stunning 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with adaptive 1–120 Hz refresh rate, ultra‑bright up to ~2600 nits, HDR support, “Vision Booster,” and adaptive color tone — giving vivid colours, great outdoor visibility, and super‑smooth scrolling.
- Powerful internals: it runs on the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3 nm) chip, with 12 GB (or in some markets up to 16 GB) RAM and up to 1 TB UFS 4.0 storage — offering significantly improved CPU/GPU/NPU performance, especially for AI tasks, gaming, and heavy multitasking.
- Advanced quad‑camera system: 200 MP wide main sensor, plus a 50 MP ultrawide, a 50 MP periscope telephoto (5× optical zoom), and a 10 MP telephoto (3× optical zoom) — giving flexibility from ultra‑wide through detailed telephoto shots, and strong performance in varied lighting.
- 5,000 mAh battery with 45 W fast wired charging, wireless charging (Qi2) and reverse wireless charging — balancing long battery life with flexible charging options.
- Durable, premium build: Titanium‑frame body, protected by Corning Gorilla Armor 2 glass, with IP68 dust/water resistance, ultrasonic in‑display fingerprint sensor, modern connectivity (5G, Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth, UWB, USB‑C), and long‑term software support (Android 15 / One UI 7, promised 7 major OS/security updates).
Which one is the better buy at today’s price?
There is no universal value winner without a matched local price comparison. In the United States, Samsung’s product page showed the unlocked 256GB Galaxy S25 Ultra at $1,299.99 when checked on October 7, 2026 (Samsung US listing). This is a time-sensitive manufacturer listing, not a guaranteed street price. A comparable current S24 Ultra price was not established, so do not treat that S25 figure as a direct price comparison.
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Compare the phones in the same market and for the same storage, condition and warranty. Include trade-in terms in the calculation, and check whether a refurbished or used S24 Ultra has the coverage and return policy you want. The S24 becomes the value choice only if its actual savings are large enough to justify giving up the S25’s ultra-wide upgrade and newer platform.
Best Value
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
Who should buy each Galaxy Ultra?
Buy the Galaxy S25 Ultra if
- You want the newer Samsung Ultra generation and its newer platform.
- You would use the higher-resolution ultra-wide camera.
- You prefer the lighter listed weight and slightly larger display.
- The current price difference in your market is small enough that the upgrades are worth paying for.
Buy the Galaxy S24 Ultra if
- You find it substantially cheaper than a comparable S25 Ultra in the same market, storage and condition.
- You are satisfied with a 12MP ultra-wide camera.
- You want the shared core features, including the 200MP main camera, two telephoto cameras, 5,000mAh rated battery, high-refresh QHD+ display and built-in S Pen.
Samsung’s official specifications and announcements are available for the Galaxy S25 series, the Galaxy S24 series and Samsung’s S25 launch announcement.
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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.
