S25 Ultra Vs S24 Ultra: Who Wins The Battle?

S25 Ultra vs S24 Ultra: Who Wins the Battle?

Every year Samsung asks the same question: is the new Ultra worth upgrading from last year's? The Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy S24 Ultra are closely related, sharing dimensions, cameras, and much of the design language. Yet the newer model brings a faster chip, a flatter frame, and a larger display. Here is a clear breakdown of what changed and whether you should upgrade.

Key Differences

Design and Build

The S24 Ultra had a slightly curved frame and a heavier 233 g body, with Gorilla Armor glass and IP68 protection. It felt substantial and premium, with a smooth in-hand feel from the curved edges.

The S25 Ultra goes fully flat, with an upgraded titanium frame and a lighter 218 g build. It looks sleeker and more modern, but the flat edges and pointy corners can feel less comfortable to grip. If you loved the curved, ergonomic feel of the S24 Ultra, the new design may take adjustment. If you prefer flat, boxy phones, the S25 Ultra is a clear improvement.

Display

The S24 Ultra's 6.8-inch AMOLED panel offered 120 Hz refresh, HDR10+, and a screen-to-body ratio around 88.5 percent. The S25 Ultra stretches to 6.9 inches with the same core technology but raises screen-to-body ratio to roughly 92.5 percent, thanks to slimmer bezels and improved corners.

Both use Gorilla Armor glass with anti-reflective properties, so outdoor visibility is excellent on either. The difference is incremental: slightly more screen, slightly less bezel, and a marginally larger canvas for content.

Camera

The S24 Ultra already had a strong setup: 200 MP main, 10 MP telephoto, 50 MP periscope telephoto, and 12 MP ultrawide. The S25 Ultra keeps the main and telephoto lenses largely the same but upgrades the ultrawide to 50 MP with a wider aperture and adds 8K recording to that lens.

In practice photos are slightly improved on the S25 Ultra thanks to the newer processor's better image processing, but the jump is modest. If camera quality is your main concern, the S24 Ultra remains highly capable, and the S25 Ultra's advantage is in the ultrawide lens and video recording.

Performance

This is where the S25 Ultra pulls decisively ahead. The Snapdragon 8 Elite is a 3 nm chip reaching around 4.48 GHz, compared to the S24 Ultra's 4 nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 at up to 3.39 GHz. That is a significant leap in processing power, efficiency, and AI capabilities.

Both phones ship with up to 12 GB of RAM and similar storage options, so multitasking capacity is unchanged. But the newer chip handles demanding games like Genshin Impact and Fortnite with higher frame rates and smoother sustained performance. If you keep phones for several years, the S25 Ultra's faster chip offers more headroom.

S Pen Changes

The S24 Ultra's S Pen included Bluetooth, enabling remote camera shutter and presentation controls. The S25 Ultra's S Pen drops Bluetooth, removing those remote features. For users who relied on the S Pen as a remote control, this is a real downgrade. For note-takers and sketchers, the core experience is unchanged.

Battery and Charging

Both use 5000 mAh batteries with 45 W wired charging. The S25 Ultra's more efficient chip may yield slightly better endurance, but the difference is small. Neither generation is a battery champion, but both comfortably last a full day for most users.

Verdict

If you already own an S24 Ultra, the S25 Ultra is an incremental upgrade: faster chip, flatter design, slightly bigger display, and an improved ultrawide camera. It is not a must-buy unless you want the latest performance or plan to keep your phone for many years. If you are choosing between the two new, the S25 Ultra is the better long-term investment, while the S24 Ultra, often discounted, offers excellent value.

FAQ

Is the S25 Ultra worth upgrading from the S24 Ultra?

Only if you want the latest chip, a flatter design, or longer software support. The camera and battery improvements are modest.

Did the S Pen lose features?

Yes. The S25 Ultra's S Pen no longer supports Bluetooth, so remote shutter and presentation controls are gone.

Which is faster?

The S25 Ultra, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite's higher clock speeds and more efficient 3 nm process.

Is the display much better?

It is slightly larger with slimmer bezels, but core technology and quality are nearly identical.

Which has better cameras?

The S25 Ultra's ultrawide camera is upgraded to 50 MP with 8K recording, but other lenses are largely the same.

Which offers better value?

The S24 Ultra, often discounted, delivers most of the experience for less money. The S25 Ultra is the better long-term buy.