Head to head
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S25+
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra leads 6 to 2 on the 8 rankable specs, but Samsung Galaxy S25+ costs $300 less.
Catalog as of September 1, 2026
Why, in numbers
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Compare a different phone
Google Pixel 8a$499OnePlus 12$799iPhone 16$799Google Pixel 9$799Samsung Galaxy S24$799Samsung Galaxy S25$799iPhone 17$799ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra$899iPhone 16 Plus$899OnePlus 13$899iPhone 16 Pro$999Google Pixel 9 Pro$999Samsung Galaxy S24+$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: 6 to 2
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
- Leads 6 of 8 rankable overall specs; Samsung Galaxy S25+ takes 2.
- Size: 6.9 inches vs 6.7 inches
- Max optical zoom: 5x optical zoom vs 3x optical zoom
- Samsung Galaxy S25+ is $300 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+
190 g (6.70 oz)
Size
Galaxy S25 Ultra
6.9 inches
Galaxy S25+
6.7 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+
4,900 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 | 158.4 × 75.7 × 7.3 mm |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 219 g (7.72 oz) | 190 g (6.70 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
3 differences| Type | Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X | Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.9 inches (wins this row: higher) | 6.7 inches |
| Resolution | 3120 × 1440 (QHD+) | 3120 × 1440 (QHD+) |
| Pixel density | 505 ppi | 513 ppi (wins this row: higher) |
| 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
2 differences| RAM | 12 GB (16 GB option) | 12 GB |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | 256 GB | 256 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB (UFS 4.0) | 256 GB, 512 GB (UFS 4.0) |
| 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 1-0| Capacity | 5,000 mAh (wins this row: higher) | 4,900 mAh |
|---|---|---|
| Wired chargingNot on the official sheet | 45W fast wired charging (up to 65% in 30 min) | 45W fast wired charging (up to 65% 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 | Galaxy AI suite (Circle to Search, Now Brief, Live Translate, Note Assist), Samsung DeX desktop mode, UWB support |
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+
6.7-inch Galaxy S25+ featuring Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, QHD+ 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 12GB RAM standard, and upgraded 50MP ultrawide.
- Snapdragon 8 Elite custom 3nm performance with 12GB RAM standard
- Sharp QHD+ 120Hz LTPO screen with slim 7.3mm profile
- 7 years of full Android OS and security upgrades
What you give up
- No built-in S Pen stylus like the Ultra
- Telephoto zoom capped at 3x optical
Best for each use
Photos
For photos, buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Battery & updates
Too close to call on battery & updates from the spec sheets. Only capacity is rankable here.
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 $300 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, 40 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.