Below I compare the new Galaxy S25 flagship with last year’s Galaxy S24 across design and build, display, performance, thermal behavior, camera hardware and software, battery and charging, software updates, and overall value. After the comparison, you’ll find practical upgrade guidance for different buyer types.

Design & build

The S25 continues Samsung’s premium design language — metal frame, glass front/back, IP68 — but Samsung refined materials and finishing with slightly tougher frame alloys and updated glass protection. The Ultra retains the square camera island with subtle tweaks to lens layout and a slightly more compact camera bump. If you liked the S24’s fit and finish, you’ll find the S25 very familiar; differences are incremental rather than a major redesign.

Display

Both generations use Samsung’s top-tier LTPO AMOLED panels with 120 Hz dynamic refresh and very high peak brightness. Samsung advertises higher peak numbers for the S25 lineup, improving HDR highlights and sunlight visibility, but everyday differences are modest because the S24 already offered excellent color, clarity, and contrast. HDR tone mapping is slightly cleaner on the S25.

Performance — chipset, benchmarks, and thermal behavior

The biggest generational upgrade is the chipset. The S25 uses Qualcomm’s newest high-end silicon in many markets, replacing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 used in most S24 models. The newer chip brings architectural improvements and higher frequencies that result in significantly better CPU and GPU scores — commonly in the range of 25–35 percent depending on the benchmark.

In real use, this means smoother high-frame-rate gaming, faster multitasking, quicker AI features, and better future-proofing. For everyday social apps, web browsing, and video playback, the difference is smaller because the S24 was already fast.

Thermals are improved but not eliminated as a factor. The S25 can still warm up under long gaming sessions or sustained benchmark loops, leading to gradual throttling where CPU and GPU clocks step down over time to maintain safe temperatures. The updated cooling design makes throttling more progressive rather than abrupt.

Camera — hardware vs software tweaks

The S25 Ultra sees the biggest change: a larger 200 MP main sensor and updated periscope system that offers more native optical zoom steps. This leads to sharper telephoto shots and better low-light performance at long distances. The standard S25 model remains closer to the S24 in hardware, with more subtle sensor updates.

Improvements in the image pipeline and AI processing play an even bigger role. Enhanced pixel-binning, better highlight control, cleaner noise reduction, and more natural texture mapping produce more balanced photos, especially in night mode and high-contrast scenes. Casual users will notice more consistent color and clarity; photography enthusiasts will appreciate improved detail and dynamic range.

Battery & charging

Battery capacities remain similar across the lineup, with the Ultra retaining a 5000 mAh cell. Charging speeds are unchanged at 45W wired for the high-end models and 25W for the base models, along with fast wireless charging support.

Despite similar battery sizes, real-world endurance is improved. Mixed-use battery tests show that the S25 lasts longer than the S24 due to increased efficiency from the newer chipset and optimized software. Charging times remain comparable with both generations delivering quick top-ups but not breaking industry speed records.

Software features & longevity

The S25 ships with Android 15 / One UI 7 and deeper Galaxy AI integration, including upgraded on-device editing, summarization tools, and more advanced camera AI functions. These features operate more responsively on the new chipset.

Samsung maintains its extended update promise: the S25 series receives seven years of major OS and security updates. The S24 also has the same promised support window, though it is already one year into its cycle. Both are long-lived devices, but the S25 effectively gains an extra year of practical support.

Value proposition

The S25 aims to deliver flagship performance, improved cameras, and the newest AI features at competitive pricing. It offers strong value for users who want the most up-to-date hardware, especially in areas such as telephoto photography, gaming, and AI-assisted workflows.

For others, the S24 is still a great deal. With price drops after the S25 launch, the S24 becomes a high-value flagship that retains excellent performance, a strong camera system, and long-term software support.

Should someone who already has last year’s model upgrade now, or wait?

1) People who own an S24 (one-year-old owners)

Short answer: Mostly wait — unless one of the specific S25 improvements matters to you.

The S25 delivers meaningful CPU/GPU gains, improved AI features, and better telephoto performance on the Ultra model, but everyday use feels similar because the S24 is still fast and capable. If your S24 satisfies your needs in speed, battery life, and photography, upgrading now offers limited practical benefit.

Reasons to upgrade now:

• You play heavy, graphics-intensive games
• You rely on long-range zoom photography
• You want the new Galaxy AI features immediately
• You can access strong trade-in or carrier deals

2) People upgrading from older phones (S22, S21, or earlier Android flagships)

Short answer: Upgrade now — it’s worth it.
The jump from two- or three-year-old devices to the S25 brings major improvements: substantially faster performance, better battery efficiency, significantly improved cameras (especially at night and telephoto), and long-term update support. You will feel the upgrade immediately.

3) Budget-watchers / price-sensitive buyers

Short answer: Choose the S24 unless the S25 goes on sale.
The S24 will drop in price following the S25 launch and still offers flagship-level hardware, a great camera system, and seven years of updates. For the best value per dollar, the S24 is the smarter buy unless the S25 is discounted or you specifically want its added AI, performance, or telephoto features.

Final recommendation

If you own an S24: Wait unless you need the specific upgraded features.

If your phone is two or more generations old: The S25 is absolutely worth upgrading to.

If you’re budget-focused: The S24 is the better value unless you find a strong S25 promotion.