Galaxy S24 • Locked T-Mobile vs Galaxy S25 Ultra • Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy S24, released in early 2024, represents the standard model of its generation, offering a balanced smartphone experience. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, launched in early 2025, is the top-tier flagship of the subsequent generation, designed for users seeking advanced features and capabilities. While both devices operate on the Android platform with Samsung's One UI, the S25 Ultra introduces significant upgrades in processing power, camera technology, and display quality, reflecting its position as a premium offering.

When considering the longevity of these devices, both the Galaxy S24 and the Galaxy S25 Ultra benefit from Samsung's extended software support policy.

• Release Timeline and Software Support: The Galaxy S24 was released in January 2024, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra followed in February 2025. Both devices are promised seven years of Android OS upgrades and security updates. This means the Galaxy S24 will receive updates through Android 21 until 2031, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra will receive updates through Android 22 until 2032, offering a slightly longer support window for the newer model.
• Durability and Build: The Galaxy S24 features Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on its display and an aluminum frame, providing robust protection against everyday wear. The Galaxy S25 Ultra enhances this with Corning Gorilla Armor 2 on both its front and back glass, coupled with a titanium frame, suggesting improved resistance to scratches and drops. Both models carry an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, indicating they can withstand submersion in fresh water.
• Repairability: The Galaxy S24 has demonstrated a high repairability score, with some assessments giving it a 9 out of 10, partly due to features like easily removable batteries with pull tabs. While specific scores for the S25 Ultra are less widely available, its predecessor, the S24 Ultra, received a 7 out of 10, suggesting a generally moderate to good level of repairability for Samsung's Ultra line.

The performance capabilities of these two smartphones show a clear generational and tier-based distinction, impacting how they handle demanding applications and multitasking.

• Processing Power: The Galaxy S24 is powered by a current-generation processor (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy in some regions, Exynos 2400 in others), enabling smooth operation for daily tasks and most applications. The Galaxy S25 Ultra, being a newer and higher-tier device, features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, which offers enhanced CPU, GPU, and AI performance, resulting in faster app loading, more fluid multitasking, and superior handling of graphics-intensive games and advanced AI features.
• Memory and Storage: The Galaxy S24 typically comes with 8GB of RAM, which is sufficient for most users' multitasking needs. The Galaxy S25 Ultra generally offers 12GB of RAM, with some regional variants providing 16GB, allowing for more applications to run simultaneously without slowdowns and providing more headroom for future software. Both devices offer various internal storage options, with the S25 Ultra starting at a higher base storage.
• Battery Endurance: The Galaxy S24 is equipped with a 4000 mAh battery, providing sufficient power for a full day of moderate use. The Galaxy S25 Ultra features a larger 5000 mAh battery, which, combined with its more efficient processor, generally translates to longer usage times, often extending beyond a full day even with heavy use.

The visual experience on both devices is vibrant, though the Galaxy S25 Ultra offers a more expansive and detailed display.

• Display Technology and Size: The Galaxy S24 features a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a Full HD+ resolution (2340 x 1080 pixels). The Galaxy S25 Ultra boasts a larger 6.9-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display with a Quad HD+ resolution (1440 x 3120 pixels), providing a more immersive viewing area and sharper image clarity.
• Brightness and Refresh Rate: Both phones offer a smooth 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, ensuring fluid scrolling and responsiveness. They also share a high peak brightness of 2600 nits, which contributes to excellent outdoor visibility and vibrant HDR content playback.
• Display Protection: The Galaxy S24 uses Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for screen protection. The Galaxy S25 Ultra upgrades to Corning Gorilla Armor 2, which is designed to offer enhanced durability and reduced glare.

The camera systems on these devices cater to different levels of photographic ambition, with the Galaxy S25 Ultra providing a more versatile and advanced setup.

• Rear Camera System: The Galaxy S24 is equipped with a triple-camera system featuring a 50 MP main sensor, a 12 MP ultrawide lens, and a 10 MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The Galaxy S25 Ultra significantly upgrades this with a quad-camera array, including a 200 MP main sensor, a 50 MP ultrawide sensor (a notable improvement over the S24 Ultra's 12MP ultrawide), a 10 MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 50 MP periscope telephoto lens offering 5x optical zoom.
• Photography Features: The S25 Ultra's higher megapixel counts and additional telephoto lens provide greater flexibility for capturing detailed images across various focal lengths, including enhanced zoom capabilities and improved low-light performance due to larger sensors and advanced processing. Both devices support 8K video recording. The S25 Ultra also introduces features like Galaxy Log video recording for professional color grading and an improved Expert RAW mode for 200MP RAW images.
• Front Camera and Audio: Both phones feature a 12 MP front-facing camera for selfies and video calls. For audio, the S25 Ultra includes stereo speakers and is tuned by AKG, offering a rich media consumption experience.