Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs S24 Ultra: Skip the Upgrade?
Two phones with three Phone of the Year-level placements at MKBHD's Smartphone Awards: the S24 Ultra won Phone of the Year in 2024; the S25 Ultra was runner-up in 2025. Same camera array, same S Pen, same body, same 7-year update commitment. Is the upgrade actually worth it?
Updated · Verdict based on MKBHD Smartphone Awards results and spec analysis.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung · 2025 · From $1299
Round wins
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: 3 · Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: 1 ·Ties: 4
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz LTPO | 6.8-inch QHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB |
| Camera | 200MP main + 50MP ultrawide + 10MP 3x + 50MP 5x telephoto | 200MP main + 12MP ultrawide + 10MP 3x + 50MP 5x telephoto |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| OS | Android 15 (One UI 7) | Android 14 (One UI 6.1) |
| Starting price | $1299 | $1299 |
| Released | 2025 | 2024 |
Round-by-round breakdown
Display
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraS25 Ultra adds anti-reflective coating that genuinely improves outdoor legibility. Brightness is also bumped roughly 15%. Both are 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X.
Performance
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraSnapdragon 8 Elite is meaningfully faster than the 8 Gen 3 in the S24 Ultra — particularly under sustained loads. For typical use the gap is invisible; for gaming and AI it matters.
Camera
TieSame fundamental hardware: 200MP main + 5x periscope + 3x telephoto + ultrawide. S25 Ultra adds Galaxy AI photo features but the underlying sensor pipeline is identical.
Galaxy AI
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraS25 Ultra ships with newer Galaxy AI feature set (improved photo editing, broader Live Translate). Some of these will roll back to the S24 Ultra via OS updates.
Battery
TieSame 5,000 mAh battery, same 45W wired, same 15W wireless. S25 Ultra wins marginally on real-world endurance due to the more efficient chip.
S Pen
TieIdentical S Pen — Samsung notably did NOT include Bluetooth on either generation's S Pen. Functionally the same.
Software updates
TieBoth ship 7 years of major Android updates. Both will receive Android updates well into the 2030s.
Price
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S24 UltraS25 Ultra: $1,299. S24 Ultra: now $899–$999. The S24 Ultra is the value pick — no question.
Final verdict
Skip the upgrade if you own the S24 Ultra — the S25 Ultra is a refinement, not a reinvention. The Snapdragon 8 Elite is faster, Galaxy AI features are broader, and the display is brighter, but none of these are reasons to spend $1,299 again. For new buyers, the S24 Ultra (now $300+ off) is the smarter buy — same camera array and same 7-year update commitment for several hundred dollars less.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra worth the upgrade from S24 Ultra?
No, for most owners. The S24 Ultra was MKBHD's 2024 Phone of the Year and shares the same camera array, S Pen, and 7-year update commitment. Save your money.
Which has the better camera, Galaxy S25 Ultra or S24 Ultra?
Same fundamental hardware. The S25 Ultra has marginally improved processing and Galaxy AI features, but stills and video output is functionally identical.
Should I buy the S24 Ultra or the S25 Ultra in 2026?
S24 Ultra at $899–$999 — winner of MKBHD's 2024 Phone of the Year. Same camera, same S Pen, same update commitment as the $1,299 S25 Ultra.