Samsung’s Galaxy S Ultra devices have always been known for their top-tier performance, stunning displays, and powerful cameras, making them a go-to choice for those wanting some of the best of what the smartphone market has to offer.
With the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Samsung has introduced subtle refinements rather than sweeping changes. Its latest flagship has improved AI capabilities, durability, and ultra-wide photography but for the most part, the core experience is the same as the S24 Ultra.
This comparison breaks down how the S25 Ultra differs from its predecessor, covering design, display, performance, camera, battery, AI features, and the S Pen, to help you determine whether the upgrades make a real difference, or if it's simply more of the same.
Design
If you were to put the S24 Ultra and the S25 Ultra side by side, at first glance, you’d barely be able to tell the difference. However there are a few subtle refinements that have been introduced to the design.
The S25 Ultra has slightly rounded corners and the dimensions are a little different:
- S25 Ultra: 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2mm
- S24 Ultra: 162.3 x 79 x 8.6mm
It utilises a Grade 5 Titanium frame, which improves the durability of the device compared to the standard titanium frame of the S24 Ultra. At 218g it’s also a bit lighter than its 233g predecessor.
Both the back and front of the device are Glass, but it now boasts Corning Gorilla Armor 2, over the standard Corning Gorilla Armor in the S24 Ultra, which also makes it more sturdy and durable.
And of course, there’s a lot that's the same, the S-Pen still has a compartment in the bottom of the device, there’s a USB-C charging port, and a five-lens camera array on the back.
Display
There is almost no difference between the two displays. They’re both Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, HDR10+ screens, with a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz and peak brightness levels of 2600 nits.
The S25 Ultra’s display is slightly bigger at 6.9 inches, over the 6.8 inch S24 Ultra, and as mentioned, it utilises Corning Gorilla Armor 2 for improved durability.
Both displays are vibrant and smooth. They both look great.
Performance
The S25 Ultra boasts a new chip, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite. This is slightly more powerful than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset found in the S24 Ultra. This improves performance for demanding tasks like video editing and gaming, and it's designed to be more efficient at handling AI processes. However, the real-world differences are minimal and are barely noticeable.
In New Zealand, both phones came in three variants, each offering different combinations of internal storage and RAM to suit varying needs.
- 256GB internal storage with 12GB RAM
- 512GB internal storage with 12GB RAM
- 1TB internal storage with 12GB RAM
Camera
The S25 Ultra features a nearly identical camera setup to its predecessor, with the key upgrade being the ultra-wide lens, which jumps from 12MP to 50MP for enhanced detail and clarity.
This improvement means the S25 Ultra can capture more detail, 50 million pixels with the ultra-wide, over the S24 Ultra’s 12 million pixels. This should allow for sharper images, better cropping flexibility, and better low-light performance.
|
Feature |
S25 Ultra |
S24 Ultra |
|
Main Camera |
200MP (f/1.7, OIS) |
200MP (f/1.7, OIS) |
|
Ultra-Wide |
50MP (f/2.2) |
12MP (f/2.2) |
|
3x Telephoto |
10MP (f/2.4, OIS) |
10MP (f/2.4, OIS) |
|
5x Periscope |
50MP (f/3.4, OIS) |
50MP (f/3.4, OIS) |
AI Features
With 'artificial intelligence' remaining the industry’s hottest buzzword, Samsung has focused most of its upgrades in this area. The S25 Ultra introduces several AI-driven features that are exclusive to this model.
Now Brief: This provides you with personalised updates like weather reports, traffic conditions, reminders, and it even summarises what you did in your day. The feature uses AI to adapt to the user over time, providing them with specific information based on their routines.
Audio Eraser: This allows users to reduce unwanted noises in videos while increasing desired sounds.
Cross-app Gemini Integration: This enables seamless integration of Google Gemini across apps. For example, you can ask Gemini to open Google Maps for directions to a restaurant, and then send a picture of the menu to a relative via the messaging app, all executed with a single voice command.
ProScaler: This is an AI-driven tool that aims to enhance image quality across applications. It does this by analysing the image on screen, filling in the missing details like textures and materials, and then enhancing and smoothing the image making it sharper and a higher resolution.
Battery
The battery capabilities are exactly the same other than a slight change to the wireless charging in the S25 Ultra:
- S25 Ultra: 5,000mAh battery, 45W wired charging, 15W wireless charging (Qi2 compatibility added)
- S24 Ultra: 5,000mAh battery, 45W wired charging, 15W wireless charging
S Pen
The S Pen in the S25 Ultra has fewer features than its predecessor, as Samsung has removed Bluetooth functionality. This means it now functions purely as a stylus, without any additional capabilities.
In contrast, the S24 Ultra’s S Pen offered Bluetooth-enabled features like remote camera shutter control, media playback management, and slide navigation during presentations.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra refines what was already a top-tier smartphone, offering small but meaningful improvements in durability, ultra-wide photography, and AI-powered features. However, for those coming from the S24 Ultra, the experience remains largely the same, with no major overhauls in design, performance, battery life, or core camera capabilities.
The biggest differentiator is Samsung’s push into AI, with features like Now Brief, Audio Eraser, and ProScaler aiming to make the phone smarter and more efficient in day-to-day tasks. But beyond these software enhancements, the hardware upgrades are minimal, and the removal of Bluetooth functionality in the S Pen may even feel like a step backward for some users.
For S24 Ultra owners, upgrading to the S25 Ultra may not be worth it unless AI-driven features are a priority. However, for those coming from older models like the S22 Ultra or earlier, the S25 Ultra delivers an excellent all-around package with the latest advancements in display, durability, and processing power.
