Galaxy S25 Ultra or S24 Ultra: which is the better choice?
Verdict in brief
If you have an S24 Ultra, you don't need an upgrade unless you want to use AI heavily, play graphically demanding games or get the better macro shots. Everyone else saves the money, goes for the S24 Ultra or waits for the S25 Edge.
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Pros
- Modern, slim design with rounder corners, sits better in the hand
- 15 g lighter, display made of Corning Gorilla Armor 2 (29% more break-resistant)
- 50 megapixel wide-angle camera instead of 12 megapixels, very good macro shots
- New Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, more deeply integrated Galaxy AI
Cons
- Only 0.4 mm thinner, no visible difference from the S24 Ultra
- Battery at 5,000 mAh is exactly as big as its predecessor's
- Charging still at a maximum of 45 watts
- Galaxy AI features will probably come to the S24 Ultra soon, too
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is here, and as every year the question is whether an upgrade to the new flagship is worth it or whether last year’s model is actually the better choice price-wise. My answer: it depends.
Design, weight and display
The S25 Ultra is the only one of the three new S25 models with a redesign. It now has completely flat edges and slightly rounder corners. Visually I like it outstandingly well, it looks modern and slim and sits much better in the hand than the S24 Ultra.
| S25 Ultra compared with S24 Ultra | |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 15% thinner according to Samsung, in reality only 0.4 mm |
| Weight | 15 g lighter, now 218 g |
| Display | Corning Gorilla Armor 2, 29% more break-resistant according to Samsung |
| Wide-angle camera | 50 instead of 12 megapixels |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh, unchanged |
| Charging | maximum 45 watts, unchanged |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, more power, better cooling |
Laid side by side, you see no difference in thickness, and there’s no real wow effect. The cameras on the back now have black instead of silver rings, which I like. The more break-resistant display saves costs in the end.
Camera
On the hardware side, Samsung turned one small dial: the wide-angle camera now has 50 instead of 12 megapixels. That lets you take outstandingly good macro shots, which is very impressive.
Battery and processor
I had hoped for a bit more from the battery. The new processor does bring a solid performance boost, though, and thanks to better cooling it is easier on the battery. How long the battery actually lasts, I still have to show in everyday use. Even with the S24 Ultra, I got through two full days.
Galaxy AI
The new processor is mainly meant to run the new Galaxy AI features smoothly. According to Samsung, it becomes more intuitive, more deeply integrated and more individual:
- Now Brief: Summaries several times a day, also suggestions for when to leave for an appointment given the traffic situation.
- Search by voice command in Settings and in the Photos app.
- Gemini like an assistant: Several tasks in a row, for example finding a concert, entering the date in the calendar and asking your best friend via WhatsApp. In the demo at the press event, that worked impressively well.
- Music recognition via Gemini, I no longer need Shazam.
These aren’t groundbreaking developments, but important and necessary steps to bring the benefits of AI into everyday life. I think it’s great how Samsung is leading the way here. Whether the features are really that useful and work well, I’m testing intensively and will show in a separate video.
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Prices
The S25 Ultra comes in the color Titanium Silver Blue, which I ordered, and in these variants:
| Storage | Recommended retail price (RRP) |
|---|---|
| 256 GB, 12 GB RAM | €1,449 |
| 512 GB | €1,569 |
| 1 TB | €1,809 |
Prices have stayed the same compared with last year.
Verdict: who should upgrade?
So far, an upgrade from the S24 Ultra to the S25 Ultra isn’t worth it, because the Galaxy AI features will soon come to at least the S24 series as well. It’s definitely worth it in these cases:
- You want to use the new AI features heavily.
- You play graphically demanding games.
- You want the greatly improved macro shots.
If none of these apply to you, I’d say, being sensible: save the money and go for the S24 Ultra if you have an older smartphone and need something new, or wait for the S25 Edge, which is supposed to become the thinnest non-foldable smartphone. But not everything is rational. If you want the S25 Ultra because it has a seriously strong new design and you feel like it, I won’t judge you, I ordered it myself after all.
Questions and answers
- Is it worth upgrading from the Galaxy S24 Ultra to the S25 Ultra?
- Only if you use AI heavily, play demanding games or want the much improved macro shots. Otherwise no, because the Galaxy AI features are expected to come to the S24 Ultra soon, too.
- How much does the Galaxy S25 Ultra cost?
- With 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage it is €1,449, with 512 GB it is €1,569 and with 1 TB it is €1,809 RRP. Prices have stayed the same compared with last year.
- What are the differences between the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the S24 Ultra?
- The S25 Ultra has flat edges and rounder corners, is 15 g lighter and has a display made of Gorilla Armor 2, a 50 megapixel wide-angle camera and the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy. Battery and charging power are the same.
- When is the Galaxy S25 Ultra worth it anyway?
- If you absolutely want the new design. Jen says not everything is rational and objective.
