Galaxy S25 Ultra Vs Galaxy S25+

Galaxy S25 Ultra
Galaxy S25 Ultra
Starting at

Refurbished price:£654.00

Versus £1,249.00 new

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Galaxy S25+
Galaxy S25+
Starting at

Refurbished price:£550.00

Versus £958.39 new

See options

Ratings

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy S25 Plus, both released in February 2025, represent Samsung's flagship Android smartphone offerings. While sharing a common operating system and many core features, the Ultra model distinguishes itself with a larger display, a more advanced camera system, and the integrated S Pen, catering to users with specific productivity and photography needs. Both devices run on the Android 15 operating system with Samsung's One UI 7 interface, offering a consistent software experience.

Scores

Durability

Both the Galaxy S25 Ultra and S25 Plus were launched in early 2025, ensuring a similar starting point for their operational lifespan. Samsung has committed to providing seven years of operating system and security updates for the S25 series, meaning both devices are expected to receive software support until early 2032.

  • Software Longevity: Users can expect extended software support, with both models receiving updates for an identical duration, contributing to a longer practical lifespan.
  • Physical Durability: The S25 Ultra features a titanium frame and Gorilla Glass Armor 2 on its display and back, which is designed for enhanced durability and reduced glare. The S25 Plus utilizes an Armor Aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for its front and back panels. Both devices carry an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.
  • Repairability: While specific repairability scores are not detailed, both models are designed with modern smartphone construction, suggesting that professional repair services would be the primary option for significant damage.

Year of Release

2025

2025

OS

Android

Android

Foldable

No

No

Performance

Both the Galaxy S25 Ultra and S25 Plus are equipped with the same advanced processor, ensuring a high level of performance across the board.

  • Processing Power: Both devices handle demanding applications, intensive multitasking, and graphic-heavy games smoothly, offering a responsive user experience. The processor is designed to manage on-device artificial intelligence tasks efficiently.
  • Multitasking Capabilities: All models in the S25 series come with 12GB of RAM as standard, providing ample memory for seamless app switching and efficient background process management.
  • Battery Performance: The S25 Ultra features a 5000mAh battery, while the S25 Plus has a 4900mAh battery. In typical usage scenarios, both phones offer substantial battery life, with the S25 Plus reportedly lasting slightly longer in some tests. Both support fast wired and wireless charging.

Memory (GB)

12 GB

12 GB

Screen quality

The visual experience on both devices is vibrant and clear, though there are distinctions in size and specific display enhancements.

  • Display Technology and Clarity: Both phones feature a Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and support for HDR10+, offering deep blacks, vibrant colors, and smooth scrolling. The S25 Ultra has a 6.9-inch display, while the S25 Plus features a 6.7-inch display.
  • Resolution and Brightness: The S25 Ultra and S25 Plus both offer a QHD+ resolution (3120x1440 pixels), resulting in sharp and detailed visuals. Both displays can reach a peak brightness of 2600 nits, ensuring good visibility even in bright outdoor conditions. The S25 Plus has a slightly higher pixel density at 513 ppi compared to the Ultra's 498 ppi due to its smaller screen size with the same resolution.
  • Viewing Experience: The S25 Ultra's display includes an anti-reflective coating, which can improve visibility by reducing glare in various lighting environments. Both models also incorporate ProScaler technology, which uses AI to enhance lower-resolution content for better viewing on their high-resolution screens.

Resolution

1440x3120

1440x3120

Audiovisual

The camera systems on the Galaxy S25 Ultra and S25 Plus offer distinct capabilities, particularly in telephoto performance and overall versatility.

  • Rear Camera Systems: The S25 Plus features a triple rear camera setup with a 50MP main wide-angle lens, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The S25 Ultra boasts a more comprehensive quad-camera system, including a 200MP main wide-angle sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and an additional 50MP periscope telephoto lens offering 5x optical zoom. The Ultra also features a Quad Tele System, providing multiple optical zoom levels (2x, 3x, 5x, and 10x).
  • Photography and Video Features: Both models include a 12MP front-facing camera. The S25 Ultra benefits from Samsung's ProVisual Engine, which enhances image processing with features like adaptive scene optimization and noise reduction. Both devices can record video at up to 8K resolution at 30 frames per second. The S25 Ultra's advanced camera setup allows for more detailed macro photos and offers features like dual recording in 4K and video recording in log format.
  • Audio Experience: While specific details on speaker output are not extensively differentiated, both devices are expected to provide a quality audio experience for media consumption and calls, consistent with flagship smartphones.

Miscellaneous

Beyond core specifications, several practical elements differentiate the user experience between these two Galaxy models.

  • Connectivity and Ports: Both devices support modern connectivity standards, including 5G, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4. The S25 Ultra also includes Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology. Both models feature a USB-C port for charging and data transfer.
  • Biometric Security: Both the S25 Ultra and S25 Plus incorporate an ultrasonic in-screen fingerprint sensor for secure unlocking and authentication.
  • Dimensions and Handling: The S25 Ultra is larger and heavier, measuring 6.41 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches and weighing 218 grams. The S25 Plus is slightly more compact and lighter at 6.24 x 2.98 x 0.29 inches and 190 grams. The Ultra's larger size may impact one-handed use for some users.
  • Unique Features: The S25 Ultra uniquely integrates an S Pen stylus, offering capabilities for note-taking, drawing, and various AI-enhanced interactions like AI Select and Translate. However, the S Pen in the S25 Ultra no longer supports Bluetooth functions such as Air Actions or remote camera control.

Weight

233 g

190 g

Screen size (in)

6.9

6.7

Mobile network

5G

5G

SIM card

Dual Physical SIM + eSIM

Dual Physical SIM

Carrier compatibility

Unlocked

Unlocked

User feedback often highlights the Galaxy S25 Ultra's comprehensive camera system and the versatility of the S Pen as its primary strengths. Some users appreciate the Ultra's larger display and enhanced durability features. Conversely, the S25 Plus is frequently praised for offering a premium experience with excellent performance and a high-quality display in a slightly more manageable size. Criticisms for the S25 Plus sometimes point to its camera system being less advanced than the Ultra, particularly in zoom capabilities. For the S25 Ultra, the removal of Bluetooth functionality from the S Pen has been noted by some users.

Users prioritizing an expansive and highly capable camera system, especially for telephoto photography, along with the integrated S Pen for creative and productivity tasks, may find the Galaxy S25 Ultra better suited to their needs. Its larger screen also appeals to those who consume a lot of media or require more screen real estate for work. On the other hand, users seeking a powerful flagship experience with a brilliant display and strong performance, but in a slightly more compact and lighter form factor, will likely lean towards the Galaxy S25 Plus. It provides a robust set of features for everyday use without the Ultra's specialized camera array or S Pen. Both devices offer a long software support timeline, making them viable choices for an extended period, and considering a quality-assured refurbished option can be a sustainable choice for either model.

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