Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S24: Should You Upgrade?

Samsung has just launched its latest compact flagship, the Galaxy S25, and it brings some exciting updates while staying true to the features that made its predecessor, the Galaxy S24, a fan favorite. But is the S25 worth the upgrade, or is the S24 still a solid choice in 2025? Let’s break it down.

Design and Display

The Galaxy S25 sticks with the familiar design of the Galaxy S24, featuring a glass front and back with an aluminum frame. The key difference? A slightly thinner and lighter build and a thicker ring around the rear camera lenses, a design cue borrowed from the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

Both phones offer an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance and use Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for durability. The display remains unchanged, with both featuring a 6.2-inch LTPO AMOLED panel that’s crisp, vibrant, and supports a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth visuals.

Performance and Battery

Here’s where the Galaxy S25 pulls ahead. It’s powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, promising better performance, improved power efficiency, and enhanced imaging capabilities. The S25 also comes with 12GB of RAM, up from the S24’s 8GB. This makes it more future-proof for users planning to keep their phone long-term.

Battery life remains similar, with both phones housing a 4,000mAh battery. However, the S25 gets a small efficiency boost thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite. Unfortunately, charging speeds are still capped at 25W wired and 15W wireless, just like the S24.

Software

The S25 ships with Android 15-based One UI 7, which brings a refreshed design, lock-screen improvements, a revamped camera app, and deeper AI integration. Features like Circle to Search, Writing Assist, and Call Transcript get significant updates.

The S24, while currently running Android 14-based One UI 6.1, will also get the Android 15 update in early 2025. This means the software experience between the two phones will eventually align, but the S25 gives you the latest out of the box.

Cameras

Both phones share the same camera setup:

50MP main sensor
12MP ultrawide lens
10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom

While the hardware is identical, the software improvements in One UI 7 on the S25 might bring better imaging performance. However, early impressions suggest that the S25’s cameras are likely to perform similarly to the S24’s, which struggle a bit with motion and tend to oversaturate images.

Price and Availability

Galaxy S25: Starts at $800 for 128GB and $860 for 256GB. Available widely from February 7 through retailers like Samsung.com, Amazon, and Best Buy.
Galaxy S24: Launched at $800 for 128GB and $860 for 256GB, but often available at a $100+ discount depending on the retailer. Availability is more limited than the S25, but you can still find both variants on Samsung’s website, including exclusive colors.

Which Should You Buy?

Samsung Galaxy S25

The S25 is an excellent choice if you want the latest and greatest. With a cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, 12GB of RAM, and Android 15 out of the box, it’s a powerhouse for its compact size. If you’re upgrading from an older phone or want the newest tech, the S25 is worth the price.

Samsung Galaxy S24

If you’re on a budget or can grab a good discount, the S24 is still a fantastic phone. It has a great display, a capable Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, and will get the same Android 15 update as the S25. For those who don’t need bleeding-edge hardware, the S24 offers excellent value for money.

Quick Comparison: Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S24

Final Thoughts

If you value raw performance, future-proofing, and having the latest software, go for the Galaxy S25. But if you already own the S24 or can find it at a steep discount, it’s still one of the best compact smartphones you can buy in 2025.