Should I Upgrade from the Galaxy S24 Ultra to the S25 Ultra?

๐Ÿš€ The Galaxy S25 Ultra is now available, and Samsung has made several refinements over the S24 Ultra. If youโ€™re using an S24 Ultra and wondering whether itโ€™s worth upgrading, this guide will help you decide.

โš™๏ธ Whatโ€™s New in the S25 Ultra?

  1. Processor and AI
    The S25 Ultra uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite, a custom version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, offering better performance and AI capabilitiesโ€”supporting features like Now Bar, Audio Eraser, Gemini Live, and more advanced on-device AI. While some AI functions rolled out to the S24 after its launch, the S25 has a more powerful chip to handle complex AI tasks.
  2. Display Enhancements
    It features a slightly larger 6.9โ€ณ LTPO AMOLED 2X display with 2,600 nits peak brightness and Gorilla Armor 2, improving toughness and visibility, marginally bumping up from the S24โ€™s 6.8โ€ณ and 2,750 nits.
  3. Camera Upgrades
    • New 50โ€ฏMP ultra-wide lens (up from 12โ€ฏMP)
    • Refined image processing with better low-light and fine detail using ProVisual Engine improvements.
      Side-by-side tests show modest improvements, especially in ultra-wide shots
  4. Design & Durability
    The S25 Ultra is slightly lighter and thinner, featuring a titanium frame and rounded edges for improved ergonomics. It remains IP68-rated with Gorilla Armor 2 protection
  5. Charging & Battery
    Battery capacity remains at 5,000โ€ฏmAh, with same 45โ€ฏW wired charging. However, the S25 includes Qi2 wireless charging and possibly faster charging efficiency

๐Ÿ” Real-World Differences & User Feedback

  • Feel and Handling: Users report the S25 feels more comfortable and less top-heavy
  • AI Features: While both S24 and S25 benefit from Galaxy AI, the S25โ€™s powerful chip unlocks more advanced AI tasks natively
  • Camera Quality: Professional reviewers note improved ultra-wide clarity and cleaner low-light shots, though overall gains are subtle

โœ… Should You Upgrade?

SituationUpgrade โ†’ Yes?
You need the best mobile AI toolsโœ”๏ธ S25โ€™s chip offers more power for Galaxy AI
You’re a photographer/videographerโœ”๏ธ Improved ultra-wide and processing
Level of spendingโš ๏ธ Weigh cost vs benefits
S24 Ultra still meets your needsโŒ Wait for theโ€ฏS26 or a more dramatic refresh

๐Ÿ“ Final Verdict

The Galaxy S25 Ultra delivers refined enhancements: marginally better display, AI capabilities, camera system, and design. It is a definite upgrade if you want bleeding-edge AI and imaging. If your S24 Ultra still performs well, holding off for the next major overhaul might be wiser.