Galaxy S24 • Unlocked vs Galaxy S25 Ultra • Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy S24, released in January 2024, and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, launched in February 2025, represent different tiers within Samsung's flagship smartphone offerings. While both operate on the Android platform, the S25 Ultra distinguishes itself with a larger form factor, a more advanced camera system, and integrated stylus functionality, catering to users with distinct priorities for their mobile device.

Evaluating the practical lifespan of these devices involves considering their release timelines, software support, and physical resilience.

• Release Timeline and Software Support: The Galaxy S24, launched in early 2024, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra, released in early 2025, both benefit from Samsung's commitment to seven years of Android OS and security updates. This means the S24 is expected to receive updates through Android 21 (ending 2031), while the S25 Ultra will extend support through Android 22 (ending 2032), offering a slightly longer software lifespan due to its later release.
• Physical Durability: The Galaxy S24 features Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for screen protection and an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. The Galaxy S25 Ultra elevates this with Gorilla Glass Armor 2, which also incorporates an anti-glare finish, and maintains the IP68 rating. Both devices are built with robust materials, including titanium frames for the Ultra model, contributing to their overall resilience against daily wear.
• Repairability: The Galaxy S24 received a high repairability score of 9 out of 10 from PBKreviews, noting easy battery removal with pull tabs and accessible components. The Galaxy S25 Ultra, while showing improvements in battery access with pull tabs and a modular camera setup, received a provisional iFixit score of 5 out of 10, with screen repair noted as a more complex process.

Both smartphones deliver robust performance, though the newer S25 Ultra incorporates a more advanced processing unit and increased memory options.

• Processing Power: The Galaxy S24 is equipped with a powerful octa-core processor, providing smooth operation for everyday tasks, app loading, and moderate gaming. The Galaxy S25 Ultra features a next-generation octa-core processor, offering enhanced capabilities for demanding applications, intensive multitasking, and more complex on-device artificial intelligence features. Users engaging in heavy mobile gaming or extensive video editing may notice the S25 Ultra's additional processing headroom.
• Memory and Storage: The Galaxy S24 typically comes with 8GB of RAM and storage options starting from 128GB. The Galaxy S25 Ultra offers a base of 12GB of RAM, with some configurations extending to 16GB, and storage options ranging from 256GB up to 1TB. The increased RAM in the S25 Ultra supports more seamless app switching and keeps more applications active in the background without performance degradation.
• Overall Responsiveness: Both devices offer a highly responsive user experience. The S24 provides consistent performance for a wide range of activities. The S25 Ultra, with its newer processor and greater RAM, delivers slightly quicker app launches and maintains smoother frame rates in graphically intensive scenarios.

The visual experience on both devices is vibrant, but the S25 Ultra offers a larger, higher-resolution display with enhanced outdoor visibility.

• Display Technology and Resolution: The Galaxy S24 features a 6.2-inch FHD+ AMOLED display, providing clear visuals and vibrant colors. The Galaxy S25 Ultra boasts a larger 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, offering a higher resolution for sharper details and a more expansive viewing area.
• Brightness and Refresh Rate: Both phones feature adaptive refresh rates that can scale from 1Hz to 120Hz, ensuring smooth scrolling and efficient power usage. The S25 Ultra's display reaches a peak brightness of 2600 nits and includes an anti-glare finish, significantly improving visibility in bright outdoor conditions. While the S24's display is bright, the S25 Ultra offers a noticeable advantage in direct sunlight.
• Viewing Experience: The S24 provides a compact and comfortable viewing experience for one-handed use. The S25 Ultra's larger screen is well-suited for media consumption, productivity tasks, and immersive gaming, though its size may require two-handed operation for some users.

Both devices offer capable camera systems, but the S25 Ultra provides a more versatile setup with higher resolution sensors and advanced features.

• Rear Camera System: The Galaxy S24 features a triple-camera setup with a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The Galaxy S25 Ultra steps up with a quad-camera array, including a 200MP main sensor, a 50MP ultrawide, a 50MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom, and an additional 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom. The S25 Ultra's higher resolution ultrawide and 5x optical zoom offer greater flexibility and detail capture.
• Photography Performance: The S24 delivers good image quality with natural colors and versatile shooting modes. Its low-light performance is adequate but may not match top-tier competitors. The S25 Ultra offers sharper ultrawide shots and improved low-light photography, with its telephoto lenses excelling in close-up photography. Both devices feature autofocus on their 12MP front-facing cameras, ensuring clear selfies.
• Video Recording: The S24 supports 4K 120fps slow-motion video, and generally produces good quality footage in optimal conditions. The S25 Ultra enhances video capabilities with 8K recording available on its ultrawide lens, providing more detailed and expansive video capture. The S25 Ultra also introduces LOG video capture, beneficial for creators seeking more control in post-production.