Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs S25 Ultra: Which Flagship is Right for You?

Design and Display: Angular Powerhouses

Both smartphones are large, heavy devices—anything but compact. The S25 Ultra gains points for its lighter weight (218g vs 232g) and slightly narrower display bezels, which make the body marginally slimmer (77.6mm vs 79mm) despite the larger screen diagonal. Speaking of displays: both models scored very well in testing with similar strong measurements—very sharp (over 500 ppi), brilliant OLED contrasts and colours, and high brightness around 2,400 candela per square metre.

The key difference: The new Gorilla Armor 2.0 glass makes the S25 Ultra even more reflection-resistant (87% vs 93%, compared to around 98% for standard S24 and S25 models) and, according to the manufacturer, slightly more shatter-resistant. In both aspects, the S24 Ultra also stands out compared to other smartphones. Both are IP68 dust and water-resistant.

Verdict: 1:1 - Draw! Whilst some may applaud the S25 Ultra's angular design and others find it uncomfortable, these differences are largely a matter of taste. In terms of clear facts, the differences between both models are minor, limited to the better anti-reflection of the S25 display.

Speed Comparison: Fast and Faster

The biggest hardware innovation in the S25 series is Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 8 Elite super-processor in the For-Galaxy variant clocked at 4.47GHz. Accordingly, the S25 Ultra outclasses its predecessor in all disciplines. The difference is particularly stark for applications that use all CPU cores in parallel, or when multiple apps are running actively in multitasking on the phone.

In Geekbench 5's multi-core test, the S25 Ultra leads with 7,837 points to 6,377 points; in Geekbench 6, it's 9,248 to 6,922 points. 3D graphics performance and AI performance have also increased significantly.

Benchmark Comparison: S25 Ultra vs S24 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro Max

Verdict: 2:1 for the Galaxy S25 Ultra - it's a genuine rocket.

Camera Comparison: A Matter of Taste

Many people opt for a more expensive smartphone because of the camera. Not without reason, as in the list of smartphones with the best cameras, the top devices from Google, Samsung, and Apple are at the forefront. Nevertheless, little has changed compared to the predecessor S24 Ultra.

The main camera and both telephoto cameras remained identical; only the ultra-wide camera received a 50-megapixel sensor instead of the usual 12-megapixel one. Looking at the details, there are differences mainly in low light: the strictly systematic evaluation of test charts by software registered slightly distorted colours and smoothed edges. In the visual test, however, the human testers preferred the clearer and brighter representation of night shots.

In everyday use, the differences in photo quality are barely noticeable.

Verdict: 3:2 - the S25 Ultra remains ahead, as given comparable photo quality, both receive a point each.

Display Comparison: What Does the New Armor Glass Bring?

On the S25 Ultra, the display has grown cautiously from 6.8 to 6.9 inches. However, the OLED technology of the screen itself is unchanged; both models are similarly sharp (501 ppi for the S25 Ultra vs 505 ppi for the S24 Ultra), similarly bright (2,422 vs 2,395 candela per square metre), and can variably adjust their refresh rate from 1 to 120 Hertz.

Both stand out compared to standard phones, even compared to the top models from Apple and Google, due to reflection-resistant display glass. Whilst a gloss level of around 98% is usual, the S24 Ultra with first-generation Gorilla Armor Glass achieves 93%, and the S25 Ultra achieves 87%. The differences between S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra are only noticeable in the lab, whilst they are clear compared to normal phones.

Verdict: 4:3 - the larger display isn't enough for a win, one point for both candidates.

Battery in Test: Effectiveness Pays Off

The battery and charging specifications are the same for both models. Nevertheless, the S25 Ultra was slightly ahead in the runtime test with 15:50 hours compared to the S24's 15:35 hours. Thus, both deliver excellent battery life.

In terms of charging speed, it has formally remained at a maximum of 45 watts. The S24 Ultra charged minimally faster within the first 15 minutes (reaching 37% instead of 34%), but the S25 Ultra was faster to fully charge overall (in 70 compared to 83 minutes). So there's also a draw here in the end.

Verdict: 5:4 - the S25 Ultra's mini-lead remains unchanged.

Artificial Intelligence On Board

At launch, there's another significant difference between both generations besides the processor: the software. The S25 models are the first Samsung phones with Android 15, with OS updates guaranteed until 2032 (presumably Android 22). The S24 Ultra, on the other hand, still runs Android 14 and only gets updates guaranteed until 2031 (probably Android 21).

At least as important are the extended AI functions that Samsung has given the S25 series. Above all, the Gemini voice assistant enhanced for Samsung is missing from the S24 series, as is the new intelligent photo search in the Gallery app and image generation via the drawing assistant. However, it's quite likely that at least the voice assistant will also find its way to the S24 models.

Final Result: 6:4 - thanks to AI, the S25 Ultra can expand its lead on the home straight.

Conclusion: The S25 Ultra Narrowly Beats Its Predecessor

In many categories, the performance of the two Ultra variants from the 2024 and 2025 generations is identical; in laboratory testing, there was a notable advantage only in processor speed. As long as the update situation for the S24 Ultra remains unclear, the S25 Ultra also benefits from the newest AI functions in combination with OneUI 7.0.

In terms of performance, the S25 Ultra—despite similar measurement results and ultimately identical grades—is the clear test winner. Regarding price, the S24 Ultra only has advantages if you dare to try special offers from individual eBay sellers—or snag a well-maintained used example. At major retailers, the price is at a similar level with around £910 for the S24 Ultra and £950 for the S25 Ultra.

Final Recommendations

Choose the S25 Ultra if:

• You demand absolute peak performance and use demanding apps
• You want the latest AI features immediately
• You prefer the lighter weight and refined design
• You want guaranteed updates until 2032

Choose the S24 Ultra if:

• You value excellent performance at a better price point
• You can find a good deal or used unit
• You don't mind waiting for software updates
• You recognize that its capabilities remain excellent by any standard