Head to head
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S25
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra leads 10 to 1 on the 11 rankable specs, but Samsung Galaxy S25 costs $500 less.
Catalog as of September 1, 2026
Why, in numbers
Swap
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Google Pixel 8a$499OnePlus 12$799iPhone 16$799Google Pixel 9$799Samsung Galaxy S24$799iPhone 17$799ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra$899iPhone 16 Plus$899OnePlus 13$899iPhone 16 Pro$999Google Pixel 9 Pro$999Samsung Galaxy S24+$999Samsung Galaxy S25+$999iPhone 17 Pro$999iPhone Air$999Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6$1,099Google Pixel 9 Pro XL$1,099iPhone 16 Pro Max$1,199iPhone 17 Pro Max$1,199Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra$1,299Xiaomi 14 Ultra$1,399OnePlus Open$1,699Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold$1,799Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6$1,899Swap
Compare a different phone
Google Pixel 8a$499OnePlus 12$799iPhone 16$799Google Pixel 9$799Samsung Galaxy S24$799iPhone 17$799ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra$899iPhone 16 Plus$899OnePlus 13$899iPhone 16 Pro$999Google Pixel 9 Pro$999Samsung Galaxy S24+$999Samsung Galaxy S25+$999iPhone 17 Pro$999iPhone Air$999Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6$1,099Google Pixel 9 Pro XL$1,099iPhone 16 Pro Max$1,199iPhone 17 Pro Max$1,199Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra$1,299Xiaomi 14 Ultra$1,399OnePlus Open$1,699Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold$1,799Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6$1,899Generational Upgrade Analysis
Samsung sibling models compared across generations.
Our recommendation: Compare the spec differences below to see if the price premium justifies the newer model's additions.
Buying for
Your devices
Straight answer
Overall: 10 to 1
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
- Leads 10 of 11 rankable overall specs; Samsung Galaxy S25 takes 1.
- Size: 6.9 inches vs 6.2 inches
- Max optical zoom: 5x optical zoom vs 3x optical zoom
- Samsung Galaxy S25 is $500 cheaper. Pay the difference only if size matters to you.
Deal-breakers
tick what would make you walk away
- Clear:Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra · Yes (built-in S Pen with Bluetooth LE)Trips:Samsung Galaxy S25 · No
- Trips:Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra · NoTrips:Samsung Galaxy S25 · No
- Trips:Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra · NoTrips:Samsung Galaxy S25 · No
- Trips:Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra · NoTrips:Samsung Galaxy S25 · No
At a glance
The handful of numbers that decide most purchases in this category.
Weight
Galaxy S25 Ultra
219 g (7.72 oz)
Galaxy S25
162 g (5.71 oz)
Size
Galaxy S25 Ultra
6.9 inches
Galaxy S25
6.2 inches
Chipsetsame
Galaxy S25 Ultra
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3 nm)
Galaxy S25
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3 nm)
RAM≠
Galaxy S25 Ultra
12 GB (16 GB option)
Galaxy S25
12 GB
Max optical zoom
Galaxy S25 Ultra
5x optical zoom (10x optical quality, 100x Space Zoom)
Galaxy S25
3x optical zoom
Capacity
Galaxy S25 Ultra
5,000 mAh
Galaxy S25
4,000 mAh
The 90-Day Owner Regret Check
Documented ergonomic quirks, hardware annoyances, and maintenance realities reported by real owners.
Galaxy S25 Ultra: What to watch for
- Hidden Cost
No wall charging adapter included in the retail box.
Galaxy S25: What to watch for
- Hidden Cost
No wall charging adapter included in the retail box.
Body
5 differences| Dimensions | 162.8 × 77.6 × 8.2 mm | 146.9 × 70.4 × 7.2 mm |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 219 g (7.72 oz) | 162 g (5.71 oz) (wins this row: lower) |
| Build | Titanium frame with Gorilla Armor 2 front and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 back | Enhanced Armor Aluminum frame with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 back |
| Water / dust rating | IP68 (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | IP68 (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) |
| Colors | Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Whitesilver | Silver Shadow, Midnight Black, Moon Night Blue, Sparkling Green |
| Stylus | Yes (built-in S Pen with Bluetooth LE) (wins this row: has it) | No |
Display
leads 3-0| Type | Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X | Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.9 inches (wins this row: higher) | 6.2 inches |
| Resolution | 3120 × 1440 (QHD+) (wins this row: higher) | 2340 × 1080 (FHD+) |
| Pixel density | 505 ppi (wins this row: higher) | 416 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz (1–120Hz LTPO) | 120 Hz (1–120Hz LTPO) |
| Peak brightness | 2,600 nits peak | 2,600 nits peak |
| HDR | HDR10+, HLG | HDR10+, HLG |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Armor 2 (anti-reflective) | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Always-on display | Yes | Yes |
Platform
0 differences| Operating system | Android 15 (One UI 7) | Android 15 (One UI 7) |
|---|---|---|
| Software support | 7 generations of OS upgrades & 7 years security updates | 7 generations of OS upgrades & 7 years security updates |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3 nm) |
| CPU | 8-core Oryon CPU (2× 4.47 GHz Prime + 6× 3.53 GHz Performance) | 8-core Oryon CPU (2× 4.47 GHz Prime + 6× 3.53 GHz Performance) |
| GPU | Adreno 830 | Adreno 830 |
Memory
leads 1-0| RAM | 12 GB (16 GB option) | 12 GB |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | 256 GB (wins this row: higher) | 128 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB (UFS 4.0) | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| microSD | No | No |
Rear camera
leads 3-0| Main | 200 MP (f/1.7, 24mm, 1/1.3", multi-directional PDAF, Laser AF, OIS) (wins this row: higher) | 50 MP (f/1.8, 24mm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS) |
|---|---|---|
| Ultrawide | 50 MP (f/1.9, 120° FOV, Dual Pixel PDAF, macro) | 50 MP (f/1.9, 120° FOV, Dual Pixel PDAF) |
| Telephoto | 50 MP 5x periscope (f/3.4, 115mm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS) + 50 MP 3x (f/2.4, 67mm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS) (wins this row: higher) | 10 MP (f/2.4, 67mm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom) |
| Max optical zoom | 5x optical zoom (10x optical quality, 100x Space Zoom) (wins this row: higher) | 3x optical zoom |
| Stabilization | OIS on main and both telephoto cameras | OIS on main and 3x telephoto cameras |
| Video | 8K at 30 fps, 4K at 30/60/120 fps, HDR10+, 10-bit LOG video | 8K at 30 fps, 4K at 30/60/120 fps, HDR10+ |
Front camera
0 differences| Selfie camera | 12 MP (f/2.2, 26mm, Dual Pixel PDAF) | 12 MP (f/2.2, 26mm, Dual Pixel PDAF) |
|---|---|---|
| Selfie video | 4K at 30/60 fps | 4K at 30/60 fps |
Battery & charging
leads 2-0| Capacity | 5,000 mAh (wins this row: higher) | 4,000 mAh |
|---|---|---|
| Wired chargingNot on the official sheet | 45W fast wired charging (up to 65% in 30 min) (wins this row: higher) | 25W wired fast charging (up to 50% in 30 min) |
| Wireless charging | 15W Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 | 15W Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 |
| Reverse wireless | 4.5W Wireless PowerShare | 4.5W Wireless PowerShare |
| Charger in box | No | No |
Audio
0 differences| Speakers | Stereo speakers tuned by AKG | Stereo speakers tuned by AKG |
|---|---|---|
| Headphone jack | No | No |
Connectivity
0 differences| Cellular | 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave) | 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave) |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be tri-band) | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be tri-band) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4 | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| NFC | Yes (Samsung Pay / Google Pay) | Yes (Samsung Pay / Google Pay) |
| USB | USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (DisplayPort video out) | USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (DisplayPort video out) |
| SIM | Dual eSIM / Nano-SIM + eSIM | Dual eSIM / Nano-SIM + eSIM |
Features
2 differences| Biometrics | Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor + 2D Face unlock | Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor + 2D Face unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Extra controls | S Pen air gestures | None |
| Standout features | Built-in S Pen, Galaxy AI 2.0 (Now Brief, Live Translate, Sketch to Image), Anti-reflective Gorilla Armor 2, Samsung DeX | Compact 7.2mm lightweight design, Galaxy AI suite (Now Brief, Live Translate, Circle to Search), Samsung DeX |
Which one should you buy
Pick this one if
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Flagship titanium smartphone with Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, built-in S Pen, 200MP quad camera with 50MP ultrawide and 50MP 5x telephoto, and Galaxy AI.
- Top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite 3nm custom Galaxy performance
- Upgraded 50MP ultra-wide and dual 50MP telephoto sensors with 200MP main
- Corning Gorilla Armor 2 anti-reflective display and built-in S Pen stylus
What you give up
- Premium $1,299 starting price
- Wired charging remains at 45W
Pick this one if
Samsung Galaxy S25
Compact 6.2-inch flagship phone with Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, 12GB RAM, Dynamic AMOLED 2X 120Hz display, and 7 years of OS updates.
- Flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite power in a lightweight 162g compact body
- RAM upgraded to 12GB standard across all storage tiers
- 7 years of Android OS and security upgrades
What you give up
- Wired charging capped at 25W
- Base storage starts at 128GB
Best for each use
Photos
For photos, buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Battery & updates
For battery & updates, buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Games & video
Too close to call on games & video from the spec sheets. Only size is rankable here.
Done deciding?
Open the full standalone spec sheet for either device.
Manufacturer pages: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra ↗ · Samsung Galaxy S25 ↗
Common questions
Which is cheaper, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra or the Samsung Galaxy S25?
Samsung Galaxy S25 costs $500 less at list price.
What is the biggest catch with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra or Samsung Galaxy S25?
Samsung Galaxy S25 has this deal-breaker: no stylus. No pen input for handwritten notes or markup.
Which is better for photos, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra or the Samsung Galaxy S25?
For photos, buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Leads 3 of 3 rankable photos specs. Max optical zoom: 5x optical zoom vs 3x optical zoom
What cannot be compared from spec sheets?
Of the 48 specs tracked here, 37 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.