Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs S25 Ultra
S24 Ultra vs S25 Ultra: Is the upgrade worth it?
If you bought the Galaxy S24 Ultra last year, you probably thought you were set for a decade. And honestly, looking at it today, you aren't wrong. But then Samsung dropped the S25 Ultra, shaved off some weight, and rounded those sharp corners that were effectively trying to punch a hole in your pocket.
Now that we’ve had a full year to live with the S25 Ultra, the dust has settled. Is it a revolutionary leap, or just a very expensive "S24.5"?
The Ergonomics (A.K.A. Your Pinky’s Best Friend)
The biggest change isn't on the spec sheet it’s in your hand. The S24 Ultra was a beautiful, industrial brick. It was sharp, unapologetic, and heavy (232g).
The Galaxy S25 Ultra did something radical: it got lighter (218g) and thinner (8.2mm). Samsung also finally took a sandpaper block to those sharp corners. It’s still a massive phone, but it doesn't feel like you're carrying a piece of slate. If you’ve ever felt "phone fatigue" after a long session of scrolling, the S25 Ultra is a genuine relief.
The "Snapdragon 8 Elite" Factor
Under the hood, we moved from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 to the Snapdragon 8 Elite. In 2026, where AI apps are actually becoming useful rather than just gimmicks, this matters.
- Speed: It’s about 40% faster. Do you notice it while texting? No.
- Efficiency: This is the real winner. The S25 Ultra stays remarkably cool even when you’re multitasking like a maniac.
- Thermal Management: Samsung increased the vapor chamber size by 40% on the S25. My old S24 Ultra used to get a little "toasty" during 4K video editing; the S25 just breezes through it.
Camera: One Big Upgrade
Most of the camera hardware stayed the same the 200MP main sensor and the 5x periscope are identical. However, the S25 Ultra finally ditched the aging 12MP ultra-wide for a 50MP Ultra-Wide lens.
If you take a lot of landscape shots or use Macro mode to take weirdly detailed photos of your cat’s whiskers, you’ll notice a huge jump in clarity. If you mostly use the main lens for "point-and-shoot" grocery lists and family dinners? You probably won't tell them apart. Compare side-by-side.
A Brief Tangential Thought
Can we talk about Corning Gorilla Armor 2? The S24 Ultra introduced the anti-reflective screen that changed my life (no more seeing my own reflection while reading on the beach). The S25 Ultra’s version is supposedly 29% tougher. I haven't drop-tested mine on concrete yet and I don't plan to but the lack of glare is still the best feature nobody talks about enough.
The "7-Year" Dilemma
Both of these phones are on Samsung’s 7-year update plan.
- S24 Ultra: Supported until 2031.
- S25 Ultra: Supported until 2032.
We are so far away from those dates that it almost doesn't matter. You’ll likely want a new phone long before the S24 Ultra stops getting updates.
Final Verdict: The 2026 Choice
- Stick with the S24 Ultra if: You love the industrial, sharp-cornered look and you don't care about the ultra-wide camera. It is still a top-tier powerhouse in 2026.
- Upgrade to the S25 Ultra if: You want the lightest, most comfortable "Big Samsung" ever made, or if you’re a heavy mobile gamer who needs the extra thermal headroom of the Elite chip.
- If you aren't on your budget waiting for upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra won't cost you much. Look at Rumored design of the Galaxy S26 ultra.
