Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs S24 Ultra: Is it worth the upgrade?

Why you can trust this Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. S24 Ultra review

At Back Market, we have only one goal: to make tech reliable, affordable, and better than new. Our network includes top refurbishers, tech experts, and engineers with years of industry experience. With a background in tech journalism and engineering, our team brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to our reviews, providing accurate and reliable information. Our analysis is based on thorough research, real-world testing, and industry benchmarks, ensuring an unbiased look at the phones' features and overall value. As a leader in refurbished devices, we focus on what truly matters — helping you make smart, sustainable, and informed choices.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. S24 Ultra: Specifications

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is Samsung's most advanced smartphone. It is a hardware powerhouse, featuring some of the best specs you'll find on any smartphone, such as the class-leading Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and the iconic Samsung quad-camera system. The Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset delivers powerful performance, smooth graphics, and improved energy efficiency, enhancing speed, gaming, and overall device responsiveness. The S25 Ultra also comes with a full suite of inventive and handy AI features. On the other hand, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is still a solid smartphone — one of the best Samsung has ever produced. It is smaller than the S25 Ultra and doesn't feature the 50MP ultra-wide camera, but it still provides excellent performance. For instance, it offers Bluetooth S-Pen capabilities that the S25 Ultra lacks. Here's how the two generations compare on specs:

1. Resolution is the number of pixels on a screen; higher resolution means sharper, clearer images and text. 

2. The refresh rate is how many times per second the screen updates its image, and a higher refresh rate like 120Hz makes scrolling, animations, and games look smoother. 

3. RAM (Random Access Memory) temporarily stores dates so apps and tasks can run smoothly. More RAM helps with faster performance and better multitasking.

S-Pen: It isn't as good as it used to be

This is one of the features where the S24 Ultra outshines the S25 Ultra. The S-Pen stylus on the S24 Ultra allows you to write, draw, navigate apps, take quick notes, use air gestures for hands-free control, and even function as a remote shutter for the camera. However, the new S-Pen doesn't feature Bluetooth connectivity, meaning you can no longer use it as a remote shutter to capture photos. Air actions are also missing in the S25 Ultra. Samsung claims that most Ultra users weren't utilizing the Bluetooth-based features of the S-Pen, which is why they are missing in the S25 Ultra. You can still use the S-Pen more traditionally for taking notes, using the Circle to Search feature, and drawing on the Galaxy S25 Ultra's screen.

AI: The S25 Ultra goes all in on AI

The Galaxy S25 Ultra comes with the One UI 7 operating system. Its most prominent upgrade is the more intelligent Gemini-based AI. The new AI understands text better and can process speech, photos, and videos. It is also more intuitive — better at understanding what you are asking and why — and finds the best solutions to your queries. It can now perform more functions, like sending a photo to a contact, adjusting phone settings such as brightness and font, and many other tasks without any intervention. All these features will also be available on the Galaxy S24 Ultra with a One UI 7 update.

Pros and cons 

With Samsung's announcement of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, many are debating whether to upgrade their smartphones or to save some money by sticking with the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The S25 Ultra boasts a stunning display, the latest Snapdragon processor, and an impressive spec sheet. However, the S24 Ultra holds its own in most areas and even includes features missing in the newer model. Here's a breakdown of the pros and cons of both smartphones. 

*Qi2 magnets are part of the Qi2 wireless charging standard, designed to improve efficiency and alignment for wireless charging. These magnets help align your phone perfectly on the charging pad, preventing misalignment issues that can slow down charging. 

Spend less, get the best 

Buying a refurbished Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra or S24 Ultra is an excellent way of spending less and getting the best. Here is what one of our customers had to say about their Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra after giving us a 5/5 rating for his purchase:

"I had been looking to upgrade from my Galaxy S21 and found the perfect phone with the S24 Ultra. I received it fairly quickly, and although I bought it in "good" condition, I couldn't find any imperfections on the phone. I have used Back Market for many of my tech needs and highly recommend this company for getting a discount on tech without sacrificing quality. I'm incredibly satisfied with my choice."

Harold Y. - Purchased on February 18, 2025

At Back Market, we deal in Verified Refurbished devices. Our tech offers premium performance at only a fraction of the price. In addition to our low prices, every purchase gets free standard shipping, a 1-year warranty, and a 30-day return period. Get the best of both quality and affordability — choose Back Market.

Refurbished devices are great because they offer excellent quality without the premium price tag. Back Market products meet the highest industry-quality standards: tried, tested, and approved by industry professionals. Still not convinced? Hear it from this Reddit user who had a great shopping experience with us:

"I've bought 3 phones and a laptop off Back Market. All great. They have 3 grades - Fair, Good, Excellent, or something like that. My laptop and recent phone were "Fair" and supposed to have light cosmetic damage. I've had a good look but can't see anything wrong with them."

Reddit User

Before any is listed on Back Market product pages, it goes through a meticulous refurbishing process. The process begins with a 25-point check for any obvious defects. After that, an internal check is conducted, and all defective parts are repaired or replaced. Tests are then performed to ensure everything functions properly before cleaning, sanitizing, and polishing the product. All smartphones have a minimum of 80% battery health and a 100% charging capacity. A final round of tests is conducted before the product is repackaged and sold as Verified Refurbished. Aside from being very affordable, refurbished tech positively impacts the environment, making them a smart and sustainable choice.

Trade in your old tech for cash

Use Back Market's trade-in program and earn money from your old devices. The process is simple and guarantees a fair price while extending your gadgets' life through refurbishment. It involves only three simple steps. Start with an online assessment of your device to get a quote from one of our professional refurbishers. Then, ship your device to us for free, and once your device is verified, you get paid. Here are the latest trade-in values for the Samsung Galaxy S24: 

*Trade-in value taken at the date of publication - these are subject to change.

Price and availability 

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra was made available for purchase in February 2025. The S24 Ultra has been available for a year now, and both phones offer 256GB, 512 GB, and 1TB versions. Prices for the S24 Ultra start from $1,300 for the 256GB version, $1,400 for the 512 GB version, and $1,600 for the 1TB version from retailers.  Both of the phones are available in a variety of color options. You can buy the same devices at reduced prices by buying refurbished ones at Back Market. Here are some of our prices for the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: 

Final thoughts: The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is still good for another year

The Galaxy S25 Ultra and S24 Ultra are both impressive smartphones with only minor differences. Typically, newer models take the crown simply by being the latest release — but with these two, the gap isn't so obvious. Yes, there are ways in which the S25 Ultra is better than the S24 Ultra. It offers a slightly better battery life, an improved design, a larger display, enhanced performance, and a somewhat better camera. However, the S24 Ultra is just as good as its counterpart in most ways. It also retains the S-Pen Bluetooth functionality, which the newer model lacks. In addition, with its price at an all-time low, the S24 Ultra offers excellent value — meaning you don't necessarily need to upgrade to the S25 Ultra.