Want a Galaxy S25 Ultra for Cheap? Buy a Galaxy S24 Ultra Instead

You need not purchase the newest Galaxy Extremely telephone, plus it can save you cash. I will clarify.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has a few of the finest specs of any smartphone at the moment, nevertheless it additionally comes with an enormous $1,300 price ticket. The 2024 mannequin, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, additionally has wonderful specs, and though it is just one era previous, you may decide it up new for $950 or used for $544. That is lower than half the worth of the present mannequin on the used market. Severely. 

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

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Certain, for those who’re making an attempt to promote your S24 sequence telephone, that quantity of depreciation actually sucks. However for those who’re seeking to improve from an older telephone, you then’ve acquired your self a cut price on a high-end gadget. 

So what distinction does one era make? Can a 2-year-old mannequin nonetheless carry out like the present flagship? Let’s put these telephones aspect by aspect and see what we get. 

On paper, the specs are very related. They each have large shows with an identical resolutions and refresh charges. They each have potent Qualcomm processors, 12GB of RAM, 200-megapixel cameras, titanium frames, and an IP68 score for mud and water resistance. And sure, each have the S Pen stylus stuffed inside if you wish to doodle footage whereas pretending to be working. The S24 Extremely’s S Pen even has a number of nifty tips that had been eliminated on the S25 Extremely’s stylus.

The upcoming Galaxy S26 lineup — together with the S26 Ultra — is anticipated to reach quickly. Certain, it may need a whole overhaul that justifies paying its top-end value over the cheaper earlier era. However current rumors suggest that the brand new telephone might obtain solely modest upgrades. 

Given that you may anticipate to see a pointy lower within the value of the S25 Extremely, the identical precept may apply: Save some huge cash by shopping for the earlier era on the used market.

From a purely numbers perspective, there’s little to decide on between the S24 Extremely and S25 Extremely — definitely 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 S24 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: cameras

Digital camera efficiency is a central manner phone-makers attempt to improve their telephones annually, with the newest fashions sometimes boasting higher imaging abilities than earlier generations. 

Whereas there are some upgrades on paper — just like the S25 Extremely’s higher-resolution 50-megapixel ultrawide digicam — Samsung hasn’t actually altered its format that a lot for its previous few Extremely fashions. 

I’ve taken many pictures on each telephones since they launched, and for probably the most half, I believe you’d wrestle to inform a lot distinction, not to mention decide a winner. They’re each able to taking pretty pictures with extensive dynamic vary, correct colours and loads of element. The zooms on each telephones are wonderful, and the night time modes are excellent. 

The improve in ultrawide decision does offer you a bit extra element, however would you actually discover that by yourself? It is unlikely exterior of side-by-side comparisons.

Galaxy S24 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 chip, versus the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip on the S24 Extremely. On our benchmark assessments, there is a noticeable distinction in scores — about 25% larger within the newer chip, actually — however I am unsure it is a distinction you are more likely to discover in on a regular basis use. 

I discovered each telephones had been completely able to enjoying demanding 3D video games like Genshin Impression and PUBG at max settings whereas nonetheless giving clean body charges. Modifying pictures in Adobe Lightroom was responsive, and navigating across the Android 16 interface felt nippy and clean. 

So positive, the newest mannequin may need extra energy. However do you actually need it? A Ferrari may need extra energy than a Mercedes, however the Mercedes remains to be going to be exceptionally good for 98% of the driving you do on a weekly foundation. 

Galaxy S24 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 may 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 footage. Then you definitely’ve acquired Google’s AI instruments like Gemini Reside and Circle to go looking, which once more you may discover on each fashions. 

There are not any new software program options you are lacking out on by going with the final era. But it surely’s at all times necessary to maintain the software program help interval in thoughts, particularly when shopping for used. Because the more moderen telephone, the S25 Extremely can have an additional 12 months of assured help. On the similar time, Samsung dedicated to seven years of help for the S24 line, so the older telephone will nonetheless obtain software program and safety updates till not less than 2031. Mainly, it is nonetheless acquired an incredible life forward of it.

Galaxy S24 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: battery life

Each Ultras pack 5,000-mAh batteries, and, maybe unsurprisingly, real-world battery life is just about the identical on each telephones. You may anticipate to simply get by way of a full day on a single cost and perhaps even have sufficient energy left to start out a second day. In our CNET Labs 3-hour video streaming check, the place we cost the telephones to 100% and play a YouTube video over Wi-Fi, the Galaxy S24 Extremely really carried out noticeably higher.

If you happen to’re shopping for a used S24 Extremely, the battery might have aged barely, however I would not anticipate it to have degraded a lot in only one 12 months of use. Each telephones supply 45-watt wired charging and reverse wi-fi charging to energy one other gadget. 

After I began penning this piece, I really assumed that there can be extra variations between the S25 Extremely and the S24 Extremely. However there’s hardly something. They even look mainly the identical besides the newer one has flat edges, which I do not really like as a lot. 

With battery life and digicam efficiency being just about on par, and Samsung bringing all of its new AI abilities to earlier generations, there’s little or no to decide on between them. It actually comes right down to the newer processor, however I actually do not assume the overwhelming majority of individuals would discover the distinction. The chip within the S24 is already a powerhouse. 

Galaxy S24 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: Closing ideas

These telephones are an identical in so some ways, aside from value. Certain, how a lot you really spend on a used gadget will depend upon the standard — cheaper ones might have the odd scuff right here and there, whereas pristine variations will demand barely larger costs. 

All in all, choosing final 12 months’s mannequin on the used market is a great option to save some huge cash on a succesful gadget that may in any other case be too costly. And, with the Galaxy S26 Extremely doubtlessly simply across the nook, this complete article will nonetheless be related as we transfer into the subsequent era. 

The logic right here is not restricted to Samsung’s telephones. With nearly all firms, together with Google, Apple, OnePlus and others providing massively highly effective gadgets with lengthy software program help durations, it is potential it’s possible you’ll by no means want to purchase a brand-new telephone ever once more.