Don’t Buy the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Get This Phone Seriously Cheap Instead

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has impressed us with its processor efficiency, digicam expertise and naturally its innovative Privacy Display, which truly works in addition to the corporate boasted it will. It is a powerhouse of an Android phone and it comes with a price ticket to match. At $1,300 (£1,279) it requires quite a lot of money to get one into your pocket however there’s a cheaper choice. Final yr’s Galaxy S25 Ultra has most of the similar specs and you may choose it up used for round $720 on Gazelle — a whopping financial savings over the unique. 

It is truly extraordinary how a lot much less the S25 Extremely prices when shopping for a used one, particularly when you think about simply how related it’s to the most recent mannequin. Positive, you will not get the brand new Privateness Show, however the digicam efficiency is analogous, the shows are the identical measurement and determination and each have 5,000-mAh batteries. The S26 Extremely is generally an iterative improve over its predecessor, however you may must shell out nearly twice as a lot for it. In fact, for those who’re promoting your S25 Extremely then that quantity of depreciation actually sucks. However for those who’re looking to upgrade from an older phone, then you may have your self a cut price on a high-end gadget. 

So what distinction does one era make? Can final yr’s mannequin nonetheless carry out like the present flagship? Let’s put these telephones aspect by aspect and see what we get. 

Watch this: Do not Purchase the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely. Save Cash With a Used S24 Extremely As an alternative

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Galaxy S26 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: Key specs in contrast

On paper, the key specs are similar. They each have huge shows with an identical resolutions and refresh charges. They each have potent Qualcomm processors, 12GB of RAM, 200-megapixel cameras, and an IP68 ranking for mud and water resistance. And sure, each have the S Pen stylus tucked inside if you wish to doodle photos whereas pretending to be working. The S25 Extremely is constructed from titanium, whereas Samsung opted for Aluminum for the S26 Extremely. That change sheds 4 grams off the brand new mannequin, which is not an quantity you are ever prone to discover, and probably radiates warmth out of the telephone extra successfully. 

From a purely numbers perspective, there’s little to decide on between the S26 Extremely and S25 Extremely — actually nothing that warrants such a steep value distinction. So what are they like to make use of in particular person? Let’s begin with the cameras. 

Galaxy S26 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: Cameras

Digicam efficiency is a central approach phone-makers attempt to improve their telephones annually, with the most recent fashions sometimes boasting higher imaging expertise than earlier generations. Whereas there are some upgrades on paper — just like the S26 Extremely’s wider f/1.4 aperture on the principle digicam — Samsung hasn’t actually altered its format that a lot for its previous few Extremely fashions, so the variations in on a regular basis use are negligible.

I’ve taken quite a lot of images on each telephones and, for probably the most half, I believe you’d battle to inform a lot distinction, not to mention choose a winner. They’re each able to taking pretty photos with huge dynamic vary, sometimes punchy colours and loads of element. The zooms on each telephones are wonderful, and the evening modes are very good. 

The broader aperture of the principle digicam ought to technically assist it seize extra mild for low mild photographs however side-by-side, I am unable to inform a lot distinction as each are wonderful performers on this space. The S26 Extremely’s largest marketed upgrades come within the type of new AI instruments with the corporate’s “AI Picture Help” instruments, which allow you to do issues like change the model of hat somebody is carrying. Samsung sometimes brings most, if not all, of its software program options to earlier telephones although, so it is possible that even these new instruments will turn out to be out there for S25 Extremely homeowners.

Galaxy S26 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: Processor

One of many main upgrades within the S25 Extremely over its predecessor is its processor. The S25 Extremely packs a customized model of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, versus the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip on the S25 Extremely. On our benchmark exams, there is a roughly 10% improve in processor efficiency on the brand new mannequin or a roughly 6% improve for graphics efficiency. It is not an enormous bump by any means and I actually doubt you’d ever discover the distinction in on a regular basis use.

I discovered each telephones have been greater than able to taking part in demanding 3D video games like Genshin Affect and PUBG at max settings whereas nonetheless giving easy body charges. Modifying images in Adobe Lightroom was responsive and navigating across the Android 16 interface felt nippy and easy. 

So positive, the most recent mannequin may need a bit extra energy. However do you actually need it? A Ferrari may need a bit extra energy than an Aston Martin, however the Aston Martin continues to be an exceptionally potent machine that’ll outperform most different issues on the highway.

Galaxy S26 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: Software program

Software program-wise, each telephones run Android 16 with Samsung’s newest One UI 8 pores and skin excessive. You will discover the identical options throughout each fashions, together with Samsung’s numerous AI instruments like dwell translation, audio eraser and drawing help, which turns your doodles into actual photos. Then you may have Google’s AI instruments like Gemini Reside and Circle to look, which once more you may discover on each fashions. 

Apart from the aforementioned AI Picture Help within the digicam, there are not any new software program options you are lacking out on by going with the final era. But it surely’s all the time essential to maintain the software program assist interval in thoughts, particularly when shopping for used. Samsung dedicated to seven years of safety assist for each telephones. Because the newer mannequin, the S26 Extremely will subsequently be secure to make use of till 2033, however the S25 Extremely will nonetheless be good via to a minimum of 2032, which is a big lifespan. 

Galaxy S26 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: Battery life

Each Ultras pack 5,000-mAh batteries however via numerous software program optimizations, the S26 Extremely carried out barely higher on our numerous battery rundown exams. After 3 hours of YouTube streaming the S26 Extremely had dropped to 87% whereas the S25 Extremely was right down to 81% after the identical time. Equally, after 45 minutes of combined use the S26 Extremely dropped from full to 95% whereas the 25 Extremely went from full to 92%. Is it a large distinction? No, by no means and your utilization will rely totally on how demanding you’re of your telephone, however for many who actually need to squeeze each minute of use out of your telephone the S26 Extremely technically wins.

If you happen to’re shopping for a used S25 Extremely, the battery could have aged barely however I would not count on it to have degraded a lot in only one yr of use. 

Galaxy S26 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: Which must you purchase?

After I began penning this piece, I assumed that there could be extra variations between the S26 Extremely and the S25 Extremely. However there’s hardly any modifications made between fashions; they even look principally the identical. Positive, the Privateness Show is kinda cool, however is it actually one thing you’d have to spend large on? Are you actually plagued that a lot by folks peering over your shoulder in elevators as Samsung’s advert steered? 

With processor and digicam efficiency being just about on par, and Samsung bringing a lot of its new AI expertise and software program to earlier generations, there’s little or no to decide on between them, apart from the massive distinction in value. All in all, selecting final yr’s mannequin on the used market is a brilliant method to save some huge cash on a succesful gadget that may in any other case be too costly. 

The logic right here is not restricted to Samsung’s telephones. With nearly all firms, together with Apple, Google, OnePlus and others providing vastly highly effective units with lengthy software program assist intervals, it is attainable you could by no means want to purchase a brand new telephone ever once more. 

Galaxy S26 Extremely vs. S24 Extremely: Save much more cash

Here is an additional spanner within the works in your decision-making: Why not take into account the older Galaxy S24 Ultra? My first model of this text in contrast the S25 Extremely and S24 Extremely and for probably the most half all I’ve wanted to do right here is change the numbers every time I point out the product title. The reason being that Samsung hasn’t really overhauled its merchandise in a very long time, as a substitute every time including somewhat bit extra processing energy or one other tiny tweak right here and there. 

The S24 Extremely completely holds its personal in opposition to the S25 Extremely and can even put up a battle in opposition to the S26 Extremely, particularly in terms of value. On the used market you’ll be able to choose the S24 Extremely for under $536 — nearly $800 lower than the brand new S26 Extremely. The digicam setup is way the identical and whereas there is a honest step up in processor efficiency, the S24 Extremely nonetheless has greater than sufficient energy for nearly something you’d possible need to throw at it. 

Its battery life is on par too (it scored higher than the S25 Extremely, placing it extra alongside the present mannequin) and its seven years of safety assist means it’s going to nonetheless be secure to make use of till 2031. The worth distinction on the used market between the 2 older fashions may not be as dramatic as it’s in opposition to the brand new mannequin, however for those who’re after a excessive efficiency telephone and desirous to squeeze each greenback you’ll be able to out of your buy, my cash would go on the S24 Extremely.