The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the newer, pricier refurbished option; the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is noticeably cheaper — check today's price for each on its product page. The S25 Ultra suits buyers who want Samsung's newest camera hardware, a flat-edge titanium redesign and the fastest Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip. The S24 Ultra suits buyers who want the same core Ultra experience — titanium build, S Pen, 200MP main camera, Galaxy AI — for meaningfully less. This guide compares both refurbished models using only what's confirmed on each product listing, so you can decide which generation is worth your money.
Key Takeaways
- The S24 Ultra is noticeably cheaper than the S25 Ultra refurbished — check today's price for each storage size and condition on the product pages.
- The S25 Ultra runs the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip; the S24 Ultra runs the previous-generation Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy.
- The S25 Ultra's camera is upgraded with a 50MP ultra-wide sensor, replacing the S24 Ultra's 12MP ultra-wide; both share the same 200MP main sensor and 50MP 5x periscope telephoto.
- The S25 Ultra's titanium frame has flattened edges per its own listing, a design change from the more rounded titanium build shared by the S24 Ultra and S23 Ultra.
- Both phones are currently listed in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB across all four condition grades (Like New, Excellent, Very Good and Fair) — check the product page for live stock before choosing a storage tier.
- Both phones carry a 12-month warranty (excluding battery, physical and water damage) and a 30-day return window from delivery.
See it in action: the newest Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip, an upgraded 50MP ultra-wide camera and a flat-edge titanium redesign — see today's price for the refurbished Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Same titanium-and-S-Pen Ultra experience for noticeably less — see today's price for the refurbished Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Quick Verdict
Buy the S25 Ultra if you want Samsung's newest hardware and are prepared to pay a genuine premium for it; buy the S24 Ultra if you want the same core Ultra experience for meaningfully less. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra leads on almost every measurable spec — newer chipset, upgraded ultra-wide camera, a longer software runway simply by being newer, and the newest Galaxy AI feature set. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is not a downgrade that will bother most owners day to day — it shares the same 200MP main camera, the same titanium-and-S-Pen formula, and a strong Galaxy AI feature set of its own, for meaningfully less. The price gap between the two generations is significant, so the value question genuinely matters here — we cover it in detail below.
Design: Flat-Edge Titanium vs the Established Ultra Shape
The S25 Ultra introduces a flattened-edge titanium frame, a visible change from the more rounded titanium build the S24 Ultra carried over from the S23 Ultra generation. The Tech Gadgets' S25 Ultra listing describes "a titanium frame with flattened edges," fronted by Corning Gorilla Glass Armor 2; the S24 Ultra's listing describes a titanium frame with Corning Gorilla Armor glass, without the flattened-edge language.
Both phones use a QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel at up to 120Hz — 6.9 inches on the S25 Ultra, 6.8 inches on the S24 Ultra — and both are rated IP68 (1.5 metres, 30 minutes) as new devices; neither listing states this has been re-verified on the refurbished unit you'd receive. The size difference is marginal; the flattened edges are the change you'll actually feel in the hand, and whether that reads as more premium comes down to preference.
Performance and Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
The S25 Ultra runs a full chipset generation ahead of the S24 Ultra. The S25 Ultra's listing confirms the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy; the S24 Ultra's listing confirms the previous-generation Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy.
Both are top-tier flagship silicon that handle everyday use — browsing, messaging, social media, photos — without either phone feeling slow. The Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy is expected to pull ahead under sustained heavier load: demanding games, extended multitasking, and on-device AI processing. For typical daily use, the S24 Ultra's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy remains a genuinely capable flagship chip, not a compromise pick.
Camera: The Ultra-Wide Upgrade
The clearest hardware difference between the two cameras is the ultra-wide sensor: the S25 Ultra moves to a 50MP ultra-wide, up from the 12MP ultra-wide on the S24 Ultra. Both listings confirm the same core setup otherwise — a 200MP wide main camera, a 50MP 5x periscope telephoto, a 10MP 3x telephoto, and a 12MP front camera are shared across both generations.
A 50MP ultra-wide gives the S25 Ultra more resolution for cropping and typically cleaner results in lower light than the S24 Ultra's 12MP sensor. If ultra-wide shots are a regular part of how you shoot, this is a genuine upgrade. If your photography leans on the main sensor or the 5x periscope telephoto, both phones give identical specified hardware, and the camera won't be the deciding factor.
Galaxy AI Features: A Newer, Wider Feature Set on the S25 Ultra
Both phones ship with Samsung's Galaxy AI features, but the S25 Ultra — as Samsung's current flagship — carries the newest and most complete version, subject to the software version and region of the unit you receive. The S24 Ultra's listing confirms Galaxy AI features including Circle to Search and live translation, introduced at launch and since expanded via updates. Neither listing breaks down exactly what's exclusive to the S25 Ultra, so if a specific feature is your deciding factor, check Samsung's current eligibility list before ordering.
Battery and Charging
Specifications are identical on paper. Samsung specifies a 5,000mAh battery on both phones, each with 45W wired fast charging plus wireless and reverse wireless charging. Neither listing states battery health for individual units — some reduction versus new is normal on any used device, and battery issues are excluded from the 12-month warranty on both. Ask The Tech Gadgets to confirm battery health for your unit if this matters to you.
Software Longevity
Neither listing states a specific number of years of OS or security updates, so we can't quote a supported-until date from the information published. What can be said with confidence: as the newer phone, the S25 Ultra has more of its software support window ahead of it simply by launching later. Check Samsung's current published update policy before you buy if you want the exact commitment in years.
Is the S25 Ultra Worth the Price Premium Over the S24 Ultra?
At The Tech Gadgets, the price of both phones depends on storage and condition grade — Like New costs the most, then Excellent, then Very Good, and Fair is the cheapest — and the newer S25 Ultra carries a clear premium over the S24 Ultra. Check today's price for each storage size on the product pages before deciding.
What that premium buys is real, not cosmetic: a newer Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset, an upgraded 50MP ultra-wide camera, the flattened-edge titanium redesign, and the newest Galaxy AI feature set. What it doesn't buy is a fundamentally different phone — the S24 Ultra shares the same 200MP main sensor, 5x periscope telephoto, S Pen and titanium-and-glass build quality, plus a Galaxy AI feature set of its own. If your budget stretches to it, the S25 Ultra's premium buys genuine current-generation hardware rather than just a newer badge; if the price difference is meaningful to you, the S24 Ultra remains a highly capable Ultra-tier phone, not a compromise. This comes down to your budget ceiling far more than either phone having a hidden flaw.
One note on stock: all four condition grades and every storage tier, including 1TB, are currently listed for both phones. If 1TB storage is a requirement, check the product page for live stock before deciding.
Which Should You Buy? By Use Case
Best for photography
The S25 Ultra, on the strength of its upgraded 50MP ultra-wide sensor. Elsewhere the two phones are specified identically, so this is a genuine win in one specific area, not a sweeping one.
Best for performance
The S25 Ultra. A full chipset generation ahead with the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, which matters most under sustained heavy load — gaming, multitasking, on-device AI.
Best for budget / value
The S24 Ultra. Noticeably cheaper for a phone sharing the same main camera, S Pen and titanium-and-glass build.
Best for everyday use
Genuinely close. Both handle browsing, messaging, social media and photos comfortably, and both run Galaxy AI. If pushed, the S25 Ultra edges it on newer software, but the S24 Ultra won't feel like a step down day to day.
Best for buyers who want the newest hardware without compromise
The S25 Ultra, without qualification — newest chipset, upgraded camera, redesigned frame and the newest Galaxy AI feature set, if your budget covers the premium.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs S24 Ultra: Full Comparison Table
| Spec | Galaxy S25 Ultra | Galaxy S24 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy |
| Display | 6.9" QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, up to 120Hz, Gorilla Glass Armor 2 | 6.8" QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, up to 120Hz, Gorilla Armor |
| Build | Titanium frame, flattened edges | Titanium frame |
| Rear camera | 200MP wide + 50MP 5x periscope tele + 10MP 3x tele + 50MP ultra-wide | 200MP wide + 50MP 5x periscope tele + 10MP 3x tele + 12MP ultra-wide |
| Front camera | 12MP | 12MP |
| S Pen | Included | Included |
| Battery / charging | 5,000mAh, 45W wired + wireless/reverse wireless | 5,000mAh, 45W wired + wireless/reverse wireless |
| Galaxy AI | Newest available feature set | Circle to Search, live translation and more |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth, Nano-SIM + eSIM | 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Water resistance (new) | IP68, 1.5m / 30 min (Samsung spec, not re-verified) | IP68, 1.5m / 30 min (Samsung spec, not re-verified) |
| Storage / price (256GB, Like New) | See today's price | See today's price |
| Storage / price (512GB, Like New) | See today's price | See today's price |
| Storage / price (1TB, Like New) | See today's price — check live stock | See today's price — check live stock |
| Condition grades | Like New / Excellent / Very Good / Fair — all four listed; check live stock | Like New / Excellent / Very Good / Fair — all four listed; check live stock |
| Warranty / returns | 12 months, 30-day returns | 12 months, 30-day returns |
| Product link | View S25 Ultra | View S24 Ultra |
Buying Checklist
- Confirm current live pricing and stock for your storage tier and colour on each product page.
- Decide whether the S25 Ultra's price premium for its newer chipset, camera and frame fits your budget, or whether the S24 Ultra's shared core specification suits you better.
- Check live stock for your chosen condition grade and colour — all four grades (Like New, Excellent, Very Good and Fair) are currently listed on both product pages.
- Ask about battery health if remaining capacity matters to you, since neither listing states it per unit.
- Confirm S Pen presence for your specific unit before ordering if this is essential.
- Both phones are unlocked and should work on EE, O2, Vodafone, Three and other UK networks, subject to normal compatibility.
- The 12-month warranty on both phones excludes battery, physical and water damage — factor a case into your budget regardless of which you choose.
- You have 30 days from delivery to return either phone if it isn't right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Galaxy S25 Ultra worth it over the Galaxy S24 Ultra?
It depends on budget. The S25 Ultra offers a newer chipset, an upgraded ultra-wide camera and a flattened-edge redesign, but costs noticeably more than the S24 Ultra. If that fits your budget, it's genuinely newer hardware; if not, the S24 Ultra shares the same main camera, S Pen and titanium build for less.
What is the price difference between the S25 Ultra and S24 Ultra refurbished?
The S25 Ultra costs noticeably more than the S24 Ultra at both 256GB and 512GB. Prices change with stock and condition grade — Like New costs the most, then Excellent, then Very Good, and Fair is the cheapest — so compare today's price for each on the product pages.
What's the camera difference between the S25 Ultra and S24 Ultra?
The main change is the ultra-wide sensor: 50MP on the S25 Ultra, up from 12MP on the S24 Ultra. Both share the same 200MP main sensor and 50MP 5x periscope telephoto.
Do both phones have the S Pen?
Yes. Both listings confirm a built-in S Pen as standard.
Which has the newer chipset?
The S25 Ultra runs the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy; the S24 Ultra runs the previous-generation Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy.
Is the S25 Ultra's titanium frame different from the S24 Ultra's?
Yes. The S25 Ultra's listing describes flattened edges, a change from the more rounded titanium build used on the S24 Ultra and S23 Ultra.
Are both phones in stock at The Tech Gadgets?
Both phones are currently listed in all four condition grades — Like New, Excellent, Very Good and Fair — at 256GB, 512GB and 1TB, in every colour. Stock changes, so always check live stock on the product page before ordering.
Do both phones support 5G and eSIM?
Yes. Both listings confirm 5G and eSIM alongside a physical Nano-SIM tray on UK models.
What warranty comes with these refurbished phones?
Both carry a 12-month warranty covering manufacturing defects and functional faults, excluding battery, physical and water damage, plus a 30-day return window from delivery.
Which phone should I buy if I want the best value rather than the newest phone?
The S24 Ultra. It shares the same main camera, S Pen and build as the S25 Ultra for noticeably less — the S25 Ultra's advantages are real but come at a non-trivial premium.
Related Content
- Refurbished Samsung Galaxy S25 Series UK: Buy S25, Plus, Edge & Ultra
- Refurbished Samsung Galaxy S24 Series UK: Buy S24, Plus, FE & Ultra
- Is a Refurbished Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Worth Buying in 2026? UK Buyer's Guide
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs S22 Ultra Refurbished: Which Should You Buy in 2026?
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs S24 Ultra Refurbished: Which Should You Buy?