Comparison
Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: What Changed?
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is lighter, slightly bigger, faster and has a sharper 50MP ultra wide. The S24 Ultra is still a strong pick, and its S Pen still has Bluetooth Air Actions that the S25 Ultra dropped.
Buy the Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want a lighter, thinner Ultra with a 6.9-inch screen, the Snapdragon 8 Elite and a 50MP ultra wide. Buy the Galaxy S24 Ultra if you want the same 200MP main camera, 5x zoom and S Pen, plus Bluetooth S Pen remote controls.
You want a lighter, thinner Ultra
You want the bigger 6.9-inch screen
You shoot a lot of wide and macro photos
You want the longest software support of the two
You want a 200MP Ultra with 5x zoom
You use the S Pen as a Bluetooth remote
You don't mind a heavier phone
Daylight photos matter more than wide shots
Skip both if: you don't need an S Pen or 5x zoom. The Galaxy S25 is far smaller.
The short version
The S25 Ultra is a refinement of the S24 Ultra. Both have a QHD+ 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen with Corning Gorilla Armor glass and an anti-reflective coating, a 200MP main camera, a 10MP 3x telephoto, a 50MP 5x telephoto, a 5000 mAh battery with 45W charging, a built-in S Pen and seven major Android updates.
The S25 Ultra gets a bigger 6.9-inch screen in a lighter, thinner body, the faster Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy and a 50MP ultra wide in place of 12MP. The S24 Ultra keeps one feature the S25 Ultra lost: Bluetooth in the S Pen for remote shutter and Air Actions.
What's different
See every spec side by side
| Galaxy S24 Ultra | Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | January 2024 | February 2025 |
| Screen | 6.8" QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X | 6.9" QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Refresh rate | 1 to 120Hz | 1 to 120Hz |
| Peak brightness | 2600 nits | 2600 nits |
| Front glass | Gorilla Armor, anti-reflective | Gorilla Armor 2, anti-reflective |
| Chip | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy | Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Main camera | 200MP | 200MP |
| Ultra wide | 12MP | 50MP |
| Telephoto | 10MP 3x + 50MP 5x | 10MP 3x + 50MP 5x |
| Front camera | 12MP | 12MP |
| Battery | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 45W wired, 15W wireless | 45W wired, 15W wireless |
| S Pen | Built in, with Bluetooth | Built in, no Bluetooth |
| Frame | Titanium | Titanium |
| Thickness | 8.6 mm | 8.2 mm |
| Weight | 232 g | 218 g |
| Launched with | Android 14 | Android 15 |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Refurbished price | From $879.99 | From $1,199.99 |
Design and size
The S25 Ultra feels like a different phone in the hand.
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It weighs 218 g against 232 g and is 8.2 mm thick against 8.6 mm. It is also narrower, 77.6 mm against 79 mm, even though the screen grows from 6.8 to 6.9 inches. If the S24 Ultra felt heavy to you, the S25 Ultra is easier to live with.
Both have titanium frames and IP68. The S25 Ultra front glass is Gorilla Armor 2, the S24 Ultra uses Gorilla Armor. Both have an anti-reflective coating, which makes them easier to read outdoors than most phones.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy in the S25 Ultra is a big jump over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy in the S24 Ultra, especially in CPU speed.
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Both have 12GB of RAM.
In daily use, both feel fast. Apps open quickly and games run smoothly on both. The newer chip helps most with heavy gaming, long video recording and on-device Galaxy AI tasks. Both phones get Galaxy AI features like Circle to Search and Live Translate.
Cameras
The main camera, 3x telephoto and 5x telephoto are the same on paper.
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Daylight photos at 1x, 3x and 5x will look very similar.
The ultra wide is the upgrade. The S25 Ultra has a 50MP ultra wide against 12MP on the S24 Ultra. Wide shots of buildings, rooms and landscapes keep more detail, and close-up macro shots look sharper. Both record 8K video at up to 30 fps and 4K at up to 120 fps.
S Pen: one thing the S24 Ultra does better
Both phones have an S Pen built into the body for notes, sketches and precise editing.
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The S24 Ultra S Pen also has Bluetooth, so you can use it as a remote camera shutter or wave it for Air Actions. The S25 Ultra S Pen does not have Bluetooth, so those remote features are gone.
If you use the S Pen as a camera remote for group photos or presentations, that is a reason to pick the S24 Ultra. If you only write and draw, you won't notice a difference.
Battery and software support
Both have a 5000 mAh battery, 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging, so battery life and charging times are close.
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In GSMArena's active use battery test, the S25 Ultra scored about an hour more, so it has a small edge.
Samsung promises up to seven major Android updates on both. The S24 Ultra launched on Android 14 and the S25 Ultra on Android 15, so the S25 Ultra gets about one more year of support.
Price range
Refurbished, the Galaxy S24 Ultra starts at $879.99 and the Galaxy S25 Ultra starts at $1,199.99. Higher storage and better grades cost more. Prices on this page update live from our store.
Want the newest Ultra? See the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Browse the Galaxy S24 series and Galaxy S25 series, or sell or trade in your current phone.
Should you buy new or refurbished?
With seven years of Android updates, a refurbished S24 Ultra or S25 Ultra still has years of support ahead.
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Every phone we sell is inspected and tested, unlocked, and backed by up to a 1-year warranty and 14-day returns. Grades describe looks only. Read new vs used vs refurbished to learn more.
Still choosing? Our buying guides: best phones in Canada, best camera phones, best battery life and best phones for seniors.
FAQ
Is the Galaxy S25 Ultra worth it over the S24 Ultra?
If you want a lighter phone, a faster chip and a better ultra wide, yes. If you are happy with the weight and use the S Pen as a Bluetooth remote, the S24 Ultra is the better fit.
Does the S25 Ultra S Pen have Bluetooth?
No. The S25 Ultra S Pen has no Bluetooth, so Air Actions and the remote camera shutter are not available. The S24 Ultra S Pen has Bluetooth.
Do the S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra have the same camera?
The 200MP main, 10MP 3x and 50MP 5x cameras are the same on paper. The S25 Ultra upgrades the ultra wide from 12MP to 50MP.
Which is lighter, S24 Ultra or S25 Ultra?
The S25 Ultra, at 218 g against 232 g for the S24 Ultra. It is also thinner at 8.2 mm against 8.6 mm.
How long will the S24 Ultra get updates?
Samsung promises up to seven major Android updates for both phones. The S24 Ultra launched on Android 14 in January 2024, a year before the S25 Ultra.
Still choosing? Read our guide to which Samsung Galaxy to buy.
Skip the new-phone price
Get the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra pre-owned from $1,199.99, tested by real technicians with up to a 1-year warranty and 14-day returns.
