If you’re looking for the ultimate Android flagship, Samsung’s Galaxy S series is usually the first name that comes to mind. The Ultra model, in particular, is the high-end option that packs the most advanced features, the latest and greatest hardware, and a premium design.
With the release of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, many are wondering how it stacks up against its predecessors, the S24 Ultra and the S23 Ultra. Has Samsung finally made a significant leap, or is this another year of incremental upgrades? Let’s break it all down.
A Flatter Design, Lighter Ultra
One of the most noticeable changes in the Galaxy S25 Ultra is its design. Samsung has gone toward a fully flat frame this generation, thus, it looks more in line with the standard S series models. The four corners now have a more prominent curve that should make the phone more comfortable to hold compared to the sharper edges of its predecessors.
The S25 Ultra is also the slimmest and lightest Ultra model to date. At 16g lighter than the S23 Ultra and 15g lighter than the S24 Ultra, it should feel noticeably less hefty. The titanium frame, first introduced in the S24 Ultra, returns, along with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the rear and the new Gorilla Armor 2 on the front, which Samsung claims is 29% more resistant to fractures.
As for colors, Samsung has gone all-in on its titanium branding. The S25 Ultra is available in Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Silverblue, and Titanium Whitesilver. In contrast, the S24 Ultra was available in Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, and Titanium Yellow, while the S23 Ultra had a wider variety of Earth-tone finishes.
A Slightly Bigger, Brighter Screen
The Galaxy S25 Ultra features a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, which is a whole 0.1 inches larger than the screens of the S24 Ultra and S23 Ultra. This increase in size is made possible by the 15% reduction in bezel thickness.
The S25 Ultra maintains the impressive 2,600-nit peak brightness of the S24 Ultra. The S23 Ultra, in comparison, topped out at 1,750 nits.
A new feature this year is ProScaler, which Samsung claims improves lower-resolution content by 43% more detail. This could be beneficial for mobile streaming apps, many of which cap resolution below QHD.
Performance and AI
Samsung has introduced the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset in the S25 Ultra. The SoC delivers better performance and power efficiency than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the S24 Ultra and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the S23 Ultra.
The biggest differentiator in 2025, however, is AI. The S25 Ultra introduces AI Agents, an upgraded assistant that integrates deeply into One UI 7.0. It can perform tasks between apps on behalf of the user. You can activate it with a long press of the power button.
Samsung has also improved the Circle to Search feature, allowing it to recognize sounds in videos, and introduced Now Brief, a home-screen widget that provides morning and evening summaries based on your schedule and notifications.
Camera Upgrades
Samsung hasn’t overhauled the camera system on S25 Ultra much. There are some noteworthy changes though. The ultrawide sensor has been upgraded from 12MP to 50MP, which should produce sharper, more detailed macro shots and better low-light performance.
The main 200MP sensor remains unchanged, as do the telephoto lenses: a 10MP 3x zoom and a 50MP 5x zoom. Samsung ditched the 10x periscope zoom that was present in the S23 Ultra with its successor.
Video capabilities have been enhanced with improved noise reduction and a new Spatial-Temporal Filter (STF) for better low-light video. Samsung has also added Galaxy Log for more professional-grade color correction in post-production.
Software and Longevity
One of the biggest selling points of the S25 Ultra is its software longevity. It will ship with Android 15 and One UI 7 and will receive seven years of OS updates and security patches.
The S24 Ultra shares this same commitment, but the S23 Ultra is capped at Android 17 and security updates through 2028. For users who keep their phones for a long time, the S25 Ultra has a clear advantage.
S Pen: Bluetooth Support Is Gone
One surprising downgrade in the S25 Ultra is the S Pen. While it remains stored in a dedicated silo, Samsung has removed Bluetooth (BLE) support, meaning Air Actions and remote camera shutter functions are no longer available.
According to Samsung, less than 1% of users utilized these features, so they decided to remove them. If you rely on those remote-control capabilities, you might prefer the S23 Ultra or S24 Ultra instead.
Battery Life and Charging
The S25 Ultra sticks to the same 5,000mAh battery capacity as its predecessors. Charging speeds remain at 45W wired and 15W wireless, with 5W reverse wireless charging. While there are no new improvements here, the efficiency gains from the Snapdragon 8 Elite should result in better battery life overall.
Should You Upgrade?
If you’re coming from the S23 Ultra, the S25 Ultra offers a more refined design, a larger display, improved cameras, longer software support, and a much more advanced AI experience. If those features matter to you, it’s worth the upgrade.
If you have an S24 Ultra, the differences are less dramatic. The slightly larger display, 50MP ultrawide camera, and AI enhancements might not be enough to justify a full upgrade.
For those looking to buy an Ultra model for the first time, the S25 Ultra is the obvious choice, given its future-proofing, AI features, and extended update cycle. But if you’re on a budget, the S23 Ultra at a discount might still be a solid option.
Overall, the S25 Ultra is a refinement rather than a revolution. It’s an Ultra, just a slightly better one.
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