Galaxy S25 Ultra vs S24 Ultra: Is It Time to Upgrade to Samsung’s Latest Flagship?

Samsung's latest flagship, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, has been unveiled as a game-changer, bringing significant improvements to both design and performance. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, this device is touted as one of the most powerful Android phones of 2025. With new upgrades and features, it’s sure to capture the spotlight. But the big question on everyone’s mind: is it worth upgrading from the Galaxy S24 Ultra?

In this comparison, we’ll explore all the changes Samsung has made, from design tweaks to enhanced camera capabilities, to help you decide if it's time to make the switch.

Design Evolution: A Fresh Look and Feel

Samsung has taken a bold step with the Galaxy S25 Ultra's design, stepping away from the curved edges of the S24 Ultra in favor of flat frames and a flatter display with rounded corners. While the S24 Ultra was known for its sleek, curved design, the S25 Ultra is more angular, offering a more modern aesthetic that feels fresh and futuristic.

A Bigger, But Lighter Display

One of the key design upgrades is the display. The Galaxy S25 Ultra boasts a 6.9-inch QHD+ screen, making it slightly larger than the S24 Ultra's display. Despite the larger size, Samsung has managed to reduce the weight by 15g, making it more comfortable to hold for extended periods. The screen still retains the 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth scrolling and seamless animations.

Moreover, the S25 Ultra now features the more durable Gorilla Glass Armor 2, an improvement over the S24 Ultra’s Gorilla Glass Armor, providing better protection against drops and scratches.

Performance: Powering Through Tasks with Snapdragon 8 Elite

Under the hood, the S25 Ultra has received a substantial performance boost. The latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chip promises 37% more CPU performance and 30% more graphics capabilities compared to its predecessor. This chip also comes with a faster NPU, improving AI-related tasks by up to 40%.

These enhancements make the S25 Ultra an absolute powerhouse, ready to tackle even the most demanding apps, multitasking, and mobile gaming with ease. While the RAM and storage options remain the same (12GB RAM, with options of 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage), the new chip ensures the phone runs faster and smoother than ever before.

The New S-Pen: A Mixed Bag

For fans of the S-Pen, the new Galaxy S25 Ultra introduces a controversial change. The S-Pen now loses Bluetooth functionality, meaning it can no longer be used for air actions or as a camera trigger button. This might disappoint users who relied on these advanced features. However, Samsung has improved the S-Pen’s note-taking capabilities, thanks to a finer tip, which should appeal to those who primarily use the stylus for writing and sketching.

If you’re someone who values the advanced features of the S-Pen, sticking with the Galaxy S24 Ultra might be the better choice. But for those who mainly use it for jotting down quick notes, the S25 Ultra's upgraded S-Pen could still be a worthwhile improvement.

Camera Improvements: A Major Upgrade

The camera setup on the Galaxy S25 Ultra is another area where Samsung has made some exciting upgrades. The most notable change is the switch from the 12 MP ultra-wide-angle sensor in the S24 Ultra to a 50 MP sensor in the S25 Ultra. This new 50 MP ultra-wide camera is designed to capture more detail, especially in challenging lighting conditions.

While the main camera setup remains largely unchanged, featuring a 200 MP main sensor, 10 MP 3x telephoto, and 50 MP 6x telephoto lens, the software optimization has been improved. This allows the S25 Ultra to deliver better overall photo and video quality, enhancing the user experience for both casual shooters and mobile photography enthusiasts alike.

Software and AI Enhancements: One UI 7

The Galaxy S25 Ultra runs on OneUI 7, built on Android 15, bringing several new AI features. These include the upgraded Gemini assistant, which promises a more personalized experience, as well as improvements to features like the circle-to-search and audio eraser functionalities. While many of these features will eventually be rolled out to the Galaxy S24 Ultra via an update, upgrading to the S25 Ultra allows you to enjoy them right out of the box.

This version of OneUI brings a smoother, more intuitive user interface, with Samsung continuing to refine the software experience. If you're someone who loves the latest and greatest software features, the S25 Ultra will surely appeal to you.

Battery and Charging: No Major Changes

Samsung has kept the battery and charging capabilities identical between the two models. Both the Galaxy S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra come with a 5,000 mAh battery and support up to 45W fast charging. While the S25 Ultra does offer Qi2 wireless charging support (which requires a magnetic ring case), the wireless charging speed is still capped at 15W, much like the S24 Ultra.

While there’s no groundbreaking change in the battery department, the existing fast-charging features should be sufficient for most users.

Should You Upgrade to the Galaxy S25 Ultra?

When it comes down to it, the decision to upgrade depends on what you value most in a smartphone. The Galaxy S25 Ultra brings substantial improvements in design and performance, making it a standout choice for those seeking cutting-edge features. The new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip ensures faster performance, and the enhanced camera setup will undoubtedly delight mobile photographers.

However, if you're a heavy S-Pen user who relied on its Bluetooth functionality or if you’re satisfied with the performance of your Galaxy S24 Ultra, it might not be worth upgrading just yet. That said, for users eager to experience the latest in mobile technology, the S25 Ultra offers enough new features to make it a compelling choice.

 while the Galaxy S25 Ultra is undeniably a superior device in many ways, the S24 Ultra still holds its ground as one of the best Android phones on the market. The decision to upgrade should come down to whether the new design, performance improvements, and camera upgrades are worth the investment for you.

Whether you're a fan of Samsung’s flagship lineup or simply looking for the latest and greatest, the Galaxy S25 Ultra certainly deserves your attention.