You need not purchase the most recent Galaxy Ultra telephone, plus it can save you cash. I’ll clarify.The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has a few of the greatest specs of any smartphone at this time, but it surely additionally comes with an enormous $1,300 price ticket. The 2024 mannequin, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, additionally has wonderful specs, and though it is just one technology previous, you possibly can choose it up new for $950 or used for $544. That’s lower than half the worth of the present mannequin on the used market. Seriously. Watch this: Don’t Buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Save Money With a Used S24 Ultra Instead
07:54 Sure, when you’re attempting to promote your S24 sequence telephone, that quantity of depreciation actually sucks. But when you’re trying to improve from an older telephone, then you definately’ve bought your self a discount on a high-end machine. So what distinction does one technology make? Can a 2-year-old mannequin nonetheless carry out like the present flagship? Let’s put these telephones aspect by aspect and see what we get. Which one’s which? It’s troublesome to inform. Andrew Lanxon/CNETOn paper, the specs are very related. They each have huge shows with equivalent resolutions and refresh charges. They each have potent Qualcomm processors, 12GB of RAM, 200-megapixel cameras, titanium frames, and an IP68 ranking for mud and water resistance. And sure, each have the S Pen stylus stuffed inside if you wish to doodle footage whereas pretending to be working. The S24 Ultra’s S Pen even has a number of nifty methods that have been eliminated on the S25 Ultra’s stylus.The upcoming Galaxy S26 lineup — together with the S26 Ultra — is anticipated to reach quickly. Sure, it might need a whole overhaul that justifies paying its top-end value over the cheaper earlier technology. But present rumors counsel that the brand new telephone might obtain solely modest upgrades. Given you could anticipate to see a pointy lower within the value of the S25 Ultra, the identical precept might apply: Save some huge cash by shopping for the earlier technology on the used market.From a purely numbers perspective, there’s little to decide on between the S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra — actually nothing that warrants such a steep value distinction. So what are they like to make use of in particular person? Let’s begin with the cameras. Galaxy S24 Ultra vs. S25 Ultra: camerasCamera efficiency is a central means phone-makers attempt to improve their telephones annually, with the most recent fashions usually boasting higher imaging abilities than earlier generations. While there are some upgrades on paper — just like the S25 Ultra’s higher-resolution 50-megapixel ultrawide digital camera — Samsung hasn’t actually altered its format that a lot for its previous few Ultra fashions. I’ve taken many pictures on each telephones since they launched, and for probably the most half, I believe you’d wrestle to inform a lot distinction, not to mention choose a winner. They’re each able to taking pretty photographs with huge dynamic vary, correct colours and loads of element. The zooms on each telephones are wonderful, and the night time modes are excellent. The improve in ultrawide decision does offer you a bit extra element, however would you actually discover that by yourself? It’s unlikely exterior of side-by-side comparisons.Galaxy S24 Ultra vs. S25 Ultra: processorOne of the main upgrades within the S25 Ultra over its predecessor is its processor. The S25 Ultra packs a customized model of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, versus the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip on the S24 Ultra. On our benchmark assessments, there is a noticeable distinction in scores — about 25% greater within the newer chip, the truth is — however I’m unsure it is a distinction you are prone to discover in on a regular basis use. Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra processor efficiency Galaxy S25 Ultra 3,173 10,047Galaxy S24 Ultra 2,294 7,293
Geekbench 6 (single core)
Geekbench 6 (multi-core)
Note: Longer bars equal higher efficiency
I discovered each telephones have been completely able to taking part in demanding 3D video games like Genshin Impact and PUBG at max settings whereas nonetheless giving easy body charges. Editing pictures in Adobe Lightroom was responsive, and navigating across the Android 16 interface felt nippy and easy. So positive, the most recent mannequin might need extra energy. But do you really want it? A Ferrari might need extra energy than a Mercedes, however the Mercedes continues to be going to be exceptionally good for 98% of the driving you do on a weekly foundation. Galaxy S24 Ultra vs. S25 Ultra: software programSoftware-wise, each telephones run Android 16 with Samsung’s newest One UI 8 pores and skin excessive. You’ll discover the identical options throughout each fashions, together with Samsung’s numerous AI instruments like reside translation, audio eraser and drawing help, which turns your doodles into actual footage. Then you’ve got bought Google’s AI instruments like Gemini Live and Circle to go looking, which once more you may discover on each fashions. There aren’t any new software program options you are lacking out on by going with the final technology. But it is all the time vital to maintain the software program assist interval in thoughts, particularly when shopping for used. As the more moderen telephone, the S25 Ultra may have an additional 12 months of assured assist. At the identical time, Samsung dedicated to seven years of assist for the S24 line, so the older telephone will nonetheless obtain software program and safety updates till at the least 2031. Basically, it is nonetheless bought an ideal life forward of it. Both telephones are greater than highly effective sufficient to play video games like Genshin Impact at max settings. Andrew Lanxon/CNETGalaxy S24 Ultra vs. S25 Ultra: battery lifeBoth Ultras pack 5,000-mAh batteries, and, maybe unsurprisingly, real-world battery life is just about the identical on each telephones. You can anticipate to simply get by means of a full day on a single cost and perhaps even have sufficient energy left to start out a second day. In our CNET Labs 3-hour video streaming take a look at, the place we cost the telephones to 100% and play a YouTube video over Wi-Fi, the Galaxy S24 Ultra truly carried out noticeably higher.If you are shopping for a used S24 Ultra, the battery might have aged barely, however I would not anticipate it to have degraded a lot in only one 12 months of use. Both telephones provide 45-watt wired charging and reverse wi-fi charging to energy one other machine. When I began penning this piece, I truly assumed that there can be extra variations between the S25 Ultra and the S24 Ultra. But there’s hardly something. They even look mainly the identical besides the newer one has flat edges, which I do not truly like as a lot. With battery life and digital camera efficiency being just about on par, and Samsung bringing all of its new AI abilities to earlier generations, there’s little or no to decide on between them. It actually comes all the way down to the newer processor, however I truthfully do not suppose the overwhelming majority of individuals would discover the distinction. The chip within the S24 is already a powerhouse. The related digital camera setup on each telephones means there’s not a lot to realize from the more moderen mannequin. Andrew Lanxon/CNETGalaxy S24 Ultra vs. S25 Ultra: Final ideasThese telephones are equivalent in so some ways, apart from value. Sure, how a lot you truly spend on a used machine will rely upon the standard — cheaper ones might have the odd scuff right here and there, whereas pristine variations will demand barely greater costs. All in all, choosing final 12 months’s mannequin on the used market is a great solution to save some huge cash on a succesful machine that will in any other case be too costly. And, with the Galaxy S26 Ultra doubtlessly simply across the nook, this complete article will nonetheless be related as we transfer into the following technology. The logic right here is not restricted to Samsung’s telephones. With virtually all corporations, together with Google, Apple, OnePlus and others providing vastly highly effective gadgets with lengthy software program assist durations, it is potential you might by no means want to purchase a brand-new telephone ever once more. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra specs vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraSamsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Display measurement, tech, decision, refresh charge 6.8-inch AMOLED; 3,120×1,440 pixels; 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate6.8-inch AMOLED; 3,120×1,440 pixels; 1-120Hz adaptive refresh ratePixel density 501 ppi501 ppiDimensions (inches) 6.41 x 3.06 x 0.32 in.6.40 x 3.11 x 0.34 in.Dimensions (millimeters) 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm163 x 79 x 8.6 mmWeight (grams, ounces) 218 g (7.69 oz.)233g (8.22 oz.) Mobile software program Android 15Android 14Digicam 200-megapixel (huge), 50-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (3x telephoto), 50-megapixel (5x telephoto)200-megapixel (huge), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (3x telephoto), 50-megapixel (5x telephoto)Front-facing digital camera 12-megapixel 12-megapixelVideo seize 8K8KProcessor Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for GalaxyQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3RAM + storage 12GB RAM + 256GB, 512GB, 1TB12GB RAM + 256GB, 512GB, 1TBExpandable storage NoneNoneBattery 5,000 mAh5,000 mAhFingerprint sensor Under showUnder displayConnector USB-CUSB-CHeadphone jack NoneNoneSpecial options Titanium body, 2,600-nit peak brightness; 7 years of OS and safety updates; 5G (mmWave); IP68 water and mud resistance; wi-fi PowerShare to cost different gadgets; built-in S Pen; UWB for locating different gadgets; 45W wired charging (charger not included); Galaxy AI; Wi-Fi 7; Gorilla Glass Armor cowl glass; ultrawidebandTitanium body, 2,600-nit peak brightness; 7 years of OS and safety updates; 5G (mmWave); IP68 water and mud resistance; wi-fi PowerShare to cost different gadgets; built-in S Pen; UWB for locating different gadgets; 45W wired charging (charger not included); Galaxy AI; Wi-Fi 7; Gorilla Glass Armor cowl glass