Galaxy S24 Ultra • Unlocked vs Galaxy S25+ • Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, released in January 2024, and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus, launched in February 2025, represent two distinct offerings within Samsung's premium smartphone lineup. While both devices deliver a high-end Android experience with advanced features, the S24 Ultra distinguishes itself with an integrated stylus and a more versatile camera system. The S25 Plus, on the other hand, offers a slightly more compact design with generational performance enhancements. Both models benefit from Samsung's commitment to extended software support and integrated AI capabilities, running on the Android operating system.

Both devices are engineered for extended usability, benefiting from Samsung's commitment to long-term software support and robust physical construction.

• Software Longevity: The Galaxy S24 Ultra, launched with Android 14, is expected to receive seven years of major Android operating system upgrades and security updates, extending its support until 2031. The newer Galaxy S25 Plus, which shipped with Android 15, is also promised seven years of updates, continuing support until 2032. This means the S25 Plus will receive software support for one year longer.
• Physical Durability: The Galaxy S24 Ultra features a titanium frame and Gorilla Glass Armor for display protection, contributing to its robust feel and enhanced scratch resistance. The Galaxy S25 Plus utilizes an aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for its display and back, offering strong protection against drops and scratches. Both devices carry an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, providing protection against immersion. The S25 Ultra, with Gorilla Armor 2, offers improved fracture resistance and is noted to be more durable overall.
• Repairability: The Galaxy S24 Plus (similar to the S25 Plus) has received positive remarks for its repairability, particularly for components like easily replaceable batteries. The S25 Ultra (similar to the S24 Ultra) also shows improvements in repairability, especially with its battery design and modular camera components, though screen replacement remains a complex procedure for both devices.

Both the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Galaxy S25 Plus offer powerful performance suitable for demanding applications and multitasking, though the newer model typically features the latest generation of processing technology.

• Processor Capabilities: The Galaxy S24 Ultra is equipped with a current-generation processor, enabling smooth operation for everyday tasks, demanding apps, and gaming. The Galaxy S25 Plus features a newer generation processor, providing further enhancements in processing power and efficiency, which translates to even smoother multitasking and faster app loading. The S25 Plus's processor is a 3nm chip, offering improvements in CPU, GPU, and NPU performance, and includes a larger vapor chamber for better thermal management.
• Memory and Storage: The S24 Ultra typically comes with 12GB of RAM, ensuring efficient multitasking and app management. The S25 Plus offers 12GB of RAM, with some configurations of the S25 Ultra (similar to the S25 Plus in this context) providing 16GB of RAM for additional headroom during intensive use. For storage, the S24 Ultra offers options up to 1TB, while the S25 Plus is available with up to 512GB.
• Battery Behavior: The S24 Ultra houses a 5000 mAh battery, which users generally report as providing good battery life, often lasting over a full day with moderate usage. The S25 Plus features a 4900 mAh battery. The S25 Ultra (similar to the S24 Ultra) with its 5000 mAh battery is reported to be more efficient due to the newer chipset, offering approximately 10-15% better battery life compared to the S24 Ultra. Both devices support 45W wired fast charging.

Both devices offer high-quality displays, but there are subtle differences in size, design, and peak brightness that can influence the viewing experience.

• Display Technology and Clarity: Both the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Galaxy S25 Plus feature Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays, known for their vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast. They both offer QHD+ resolution, resulting in sharp and detailed visuals for text, images, and videos.
• Size and Brightness: The S24 Ultra has a larger 6.8-inch display, providing an expansive canvas for content consumption and productivity. The S25 Plus features a 6.7-inch display, offering a slightly more manageable size while still providing a generous viewing area. Both devices boast a peak brightness of 2600 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in bright outdoor conditions.
• Refresh Rate and Design: Both phones incorporate an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz, which provides smooth scrolling and fluid animations. The S24 Ultra notably features a flat display, a departure from previous Ultra models, which some users find preferable for stylus interaction and reduced accidental touches. The S25 Ultra (similar to the S24 Ultra) features Gorilla Armor 2 with an improved anti-reflective coating, enhancing screen durability and viewing experience.

The camera systems on both smartphones are highly capable, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra offers a more advanced and versatile setup, particularly in terms of zoom capabilities.

• Main and Ultrawide Cameras: The Galaxy S24 Ultra features a 200MP main sensor, capable of capturing highly detailed images, alongside a 12MP ultrawide camera for expansive shots. The Galaxy S25 Plus comes with a 50MP main camera and a 12MP ultrawide camera, delivering clear and vibrant photos in various lighting conditions. The S25 Ultra (similar to the S24 Ultra) features a 50MP ultrawide camera, which is an improvement over the S24 Plus's 12MP.
• Telephoto Capabilities: The S24 Ultra stands out with a quad-camera system that includes two telephoto lenses: a 10MP sensor with 3x optical zoom and a 50MP periscope lens offering 5x optical zoom, which can also achieve optical quality 10x zoom by cropping. This provides exceptional flexibility for capturing distant subjects. The S25 Plus features a triple camera setup with a 10MP telephoto lens providing 3x optical zoom, suitable for most everyday zoom needs.
• Photography and Video Performance: The S24 Ultra's 200MP sensor delivers clarity and dynamic range, with a capable night mode. In low-light conditions, the S24 Ultra often produces brighter images with less noise and more detail. Both phones are capable of recording 8K video. The S25 Ultra (similar to the S24 Ultra) further enhances video capabilities with 10-bit HDR recording. Both devices feature stereo speakers for media consumption, and the S25 Ultra includes 32-bit/384kHz audio tuned by AKG.