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Samsung introduced its new high-end smartphones earlier this month, the Galaxy S25 series. The ‘Ultra’ model is the most powerful one, and in this article, we’ll compare it to its predecessor. We’ll be comparing the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. The design did change a bit. It may look very similar, but you may be surprised, so that’s something we’ll definitely be talking about.
In addition to that, we’ll be comparing their displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio output. Before all that, however, the specifications of both smartphones will be laid out below. There is a lot to talk about, as this is a very odd upgrade. It did change a bit, but… it’s not a huge change. In any case, let’s get down to it.
Specs
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, respectively
– Screen size:
6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X (flat, adaptive 120Hz, HDR10+, 2,600 nits max brightness)
6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X (flat, adaptive 120Hz, HDR10+, 2,600 nits max brightness)
– Display resolution:
3120 x 1440
3120 x 1440
– SoC:
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy
– RAM:
12GB (LPDDR5X)
12GB (LPDDR5X)
– Storage:
256GB/512GB/1TB (UFS 4.0)
256GB/512GB/1TB (UFS 4.0)
– Rear cameras:
200MP (wide, f/1.7 aperture, OIS, multi-directional PDAF, 1/1.3-inch sensor, 0.6um pixel size), 50MP (ultrawide, 120-degree FoV, f/1.9 aperture, Dual Pixel PDAF 0.7um pixel size), 10MP (telephoto, f/2.4 aperture, OIS, 1/3.52-inch sensor size, Dual Pixel PDAF, 1.12um pixel size, 3x optical zoom), 50MP (periscope telephoto, OIS, 1/2.52-inch sensor size, PDAF, 5x optical zoom)
200MP (wide, f/1.7 aperture, OIS, multi-directional PDAF, 0.6um pixel size), 12MP (ultrawide, 120-degree FoV, f/2.2 aperture, Dual Pixel PDAF 1.4um pixel size), 10MP (telephoto, f/2.4 aperture, OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF, 1.12um pixel size, 3x optical zoom), 50MP (periscope telephoto, OIS, PDAF, 5x optical zoom)
– Front cameras:
12MP (wide, f/2.2 aperture, Dual Pixel PDAF, 1/3.2-inch sensor size, 22mm lens)
12MP (wide, f/2.2 aperture, Dual Pixel PDAF, 22mm lens)
– Battery:
5,000mAh
5,000mAh
– Charging:
45W wired, 15W wireless (Qi2 Ready), 4.5W reverse wireless (charger not included)
45W wired, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless (charger not included)
– Dimensions:
162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm
162.3 x 79 x 8.6mm
– Weight:
218 grams
232/233 grams
– Connectivity:
5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.4/5.3
– Security:
In-display fingerprint scanner (ultrasonic), facial scanning
Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner & facial scanning
– OS:
Android 15 with One UI 7
Android 14 with One UI 6.1
– Price:
$1,299+
$1,299+
– Buy:
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (Samsung.com)
Galaxy S24 Ultra (Best Buy)
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Design
When you see these two phones side-by-side, you’ll see a lot of similarities. When you actually grab them, you’ll notice that things changed quite a bit. The rounded sides of the Galaxy S24 Ultra are gone. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is now more in line with its siblings, as it has a flat frame all around, not just at the top and bottom. That does create a different-in-hand feel all by itself.
You’ll also notice that Samsung trimmed down the bezels a bit further. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is actually a more compact device despite the fact it has a bigger display. That’s especially noticeable in the width department, and the new phone is also slightly thinner, and noticeably lighter. It weighs 218 grams compared to 232 grams of its predecessor. That’s a difference you’ll definitely be able to feel in the hand.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra also has slightly rounded corners, compared to the sharp corners of the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Both phones include a centered display camera hole up top and flat displays. The power/lock and volume up and down buttons sit on the right-hand side of both phones. The S Pen stylus is docked inside both of them and accessible from the bottom.
You’ll notice a similar camera layout on the back, though the design is different. Those small protrusions on the back of the Galaxy S25 Ultra are larger compared to the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Out of five of them on each phone, four are reserved for cameras. Both phones are quite slippery in the hand, so using a case is definitely recommended. Both devices come with IP68 certification for water and dust resistance.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Display
There is a 6.9-inch 3120 x 1440 Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display included on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. That display is flat, and it supports an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz. HDR10+ content is also supported, and the peak brightness here is 2,600 nits. The screen-to-body ratio here is around 92%, while the display aspect ratio is 19.5:9. The Gorilla Armor 2 protection from Corning is used on the front.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra, on the flip side, includes a 6.8-inch 3120 x 1440 Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display. That display is also flat, and it has an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz. HDR10+ content is supported here too, and the maximum brightness is the same, 2,600 nits. The screen-to-body ratio is at around 88%. The display aspect ratio is 19.5:9, and the display is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Armor.
Both of these displays are outstanding, and very similar, actually. They’re both vivid, sharp, and offer great viewing angles. The touch response is good, and both displays offer good brightness, even though they’re not the brightest out there. Both Gorilla Armor and Gorilla Armor 2 battle glare with ease, but the second-gen protection does an even better job at it. Neither display offers high-frequency PWM dimming, though.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, Qualcomm’s most powerful chip. That is a 3nm processor, and it’s a slightly overclocked variant of the Snapdragon 8 Elite. That chip is paired with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, even though a 16GB model exists, but only in a couple of markets. UFS 4.0 flash storage is also used here, by the way.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra, on the flip side, is fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy. That chip is also an overclocked version of the regular model, a 4nm processor. It is also paired with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 flash storage is used. That storage is not expandable on either of these two smartphones, in case you were wondering.
Now, the new model does ship with Android 15 and One UI 7 on top. That update should land on the Galaxy S24 Ultra very soon, though. Both devices offer blazing-fast performance in every way, basically. That goes for day-to-day use and gaming as well. You can easily jump from one app to the other, use your phone for browsing, multimedia consumption, image and video processing, and so on, without a problem. They both offer great performance, even though the Galaxy S25 Ultra does feel a tad bit smoother in a direct comparison.
When it comes to gaming, both are excellent at it. We did notice that the Galaxy S25 Ultra did stay a bit cooler, though. That is noticeable during the most demanding games that we’ve tried, but we’ve only started testing gaming, so you’ll get more information about that in the full review that is coming.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Battery
Both of these smartphones ship with a 5,000mAh battery. Samsung opted not to increase battery capacity nor use a silicon-carbon battery like many of its competitors. That would allow the company to increase the capacity without increasing the physical size of the battery. Still, 5,000mAh should be enough for the device, as it served the Galaxy S24 Ultra really well. Granted, some updates did lower the endurance on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but let’s hope that won’t happen on the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
We’ve been getting very high screen-on times with the Galaxy S25 Ultra thus far. We’ve been able to get over 9 hours of screen-on-time a couple of times, and even cross the 10-hour screen-on-time mark once. If the phone continues offering such battery life, you won’t have any problems with it. Do note that gaming was not a part of those days, but we certainly did not spare the device. The Galaxy S24 Ultra cannot match it at the moment, not even close, but it still offers good battery life. Your mileage may, of course, vary.
When it comes to charging, both smartphones support 45W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. Do note that the new model is ‘Qi2 Ready’, though. That means that you can get Qi2 charging, but you’ll need a compatible case in order to make it happen. Neither of the two phones ships with a charger, though, so you’ll need to get one separately.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Cameras
These two smartphones actually have very similar camera setups. Hardware-wise, only the ultrawide camera has been changed, everything else is the same. Both phones have four cameras on the back and one on the front. Let’s talk about the ultrawide unit first, though. A 50-megapixel unit replaced a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera that was used on the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Both of them do offer a 120-degree FoV, though.
You’ll find a 200-megapixel main camera (1/1.3-inch sensor) on both smartphones, and the same goes for a 10-megapixel telephoto unit (1/3.52-inch sensor, 3x optical zoom). The last camera on both smartphones is a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto unit (1/2.52-inch sensor, 5x optical zoom). On the front, both smartphones include a 12-megapixel snapper (1/3.2-inch sensor).
We are still working on the Galaxy S25 Ultra review, so we don’t yet have our final thoughts about its cameras. However, it does seem that the phone does provide images with more fine detail than its predecessor, despite the fact most of its hardware remains unchanged. Samsung also seems to have balanced the colors a bit more, and the camera does seem to be more reliable, at least for now. We will share more information in our full review, of course. We can only say that there seem to be improvements here despite the hardware.
Audio
Both phones are equipped with stereo speakers. Those speakers have a rather similar output in terms of loudness. The color profile also doesn’t seem to be that much different in the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and that’s not a bad thing. The Galaxy S24 Ultra did a great job in that regard, so…
When it comes to the audio jack, neither phone has it. You can utilize their Type-C ports in order to connect wired headphones, though. Alternatively, the Galaxy S25 Ultra comes with Bluetooth 5.4, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra offers Bluetooth 5.3 support.