Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. S25 Plus: A Closer Look at Performance

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. Galaxy S25 Plus: A Detailed Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy S25 Plus represent Samsung’s top-tier and mid-range flagship offerings. While the Ultra typically grabs the most attention with its cutting-edge features, the Plus provides a compelling alternative at a lower price point. This comparison delves into the key differences between these two powerful smartphones.

Design and Display

The Galaxy S25 Ultra boasts a significant redesign compared to its predecessor. Samsung has switched from the sharp, straight edges of the S24 Ultra to more rounded corners, creating a more consistent design language with the S25 Plus.

Both phones now share a similar aesthetic. The S25 Ultra retains its titanium frame and Gorilla Glass Armor 2 front and back panels, enhanced with Samsung’s anti-reflective coating. The S25 Plus uses Armor Aluminum for the frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for the protection. Importantly, the S25 Plus lacks the anti-reflective coating.

Beyond the curved edges, the S25 Ultra incorporates slimmer bezels, enabling a larger 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate, HDR support, and the anti-reflective coating. The S25 Plus features a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with the same refresh rate and HDR support but lacks the anti-reflective coating.

Both phones are thinner and lighter than their predecessors. The S25 Ultra measures 8.2mm thick and weighs 218g, while the S25 Plus is 7.3mm thick and 190g.

A key differentiator remains the S Pen, included exclusively with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Both phones employ an in-display ultrasonic fingerprint scanner and face unlock for biometric security.

Color options vary slightly. The S25 Ultra comes in Black, Gray, Silver Blue, and White Silver, while the S25 Plus offers Navy, Ice Blue, Silver Shadow, and Mint, with potentially more exclusive colors available from Samsung directly. Both utilize a flat design with a single centered camera punch-hole and offer IP68 water and dust resistance.

Performance and Software

Both the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy S25 Plus are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, a custom-tuned 3nm chip offering improved CPU (37%), GPU (30%), and NPU (40%) performance compared to its predecessor. This processor is used across all regional variants of the S25 series, ensuring consistent performance.

Benchmark tests show exceptional performance in both phones, exceeding competitors including the iPhone. Real-world usage exhibits remarkable responsiveness. While overall performance is comparable, the S25 Ultra’s larger vapor chamber contributes to superior heat dissipation, resulting in better sustained performance, particularly beneficial for mobile gaming.

Both phones provide 12GB of RAM. Storage options include 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB for the S25 Ultra, and 256GB and 512GB for the Plus.

Software Features

Both devices run One UI 7, based on Android 15. This version includes updated visuals and functionality enhancements. A significant improvement is the inclusion of Galaxy AI, powered by Google’s Gemini. Key features include cross-app actions, where natural language commands trigger actions across multiple apps (e.g., scheduling events directly from a sports team’s schedule). The redesigned Now Bar on the lock screen displays various live data, charging status, and music playback. The Circle to Search feature also gains "Action Chips" for quicker access to relevant actions.

Both phones are promised seven years of major software updates, supporting them until 2032.

Camera System

The Galaxy S25 Ultra presents a refined camera system. It maintains the 200MP main camera, 50MP 5X telephoto, and 10MP 3X telephoto lenses, but upgrades the ultrawide lens to 50MP from 12MP. While this will still produce pixel-binned 12MP images, the improvement is expected to increase image sharpness and low-light performance. The S25 Plus retains its 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP 3X telephoto configuration.

Both phones benefit from a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy ProVisual Engine that improves image processing for reduced noise, motion blur and increased detail. The Expert RAW mode introduces a Virtual Aperture feature that allows adjustment of F-stop from F1.4 to F14, providing more control over depth of field.

Video recording upgrades to 10-bit HDR capture for both phones, leading to richer colors and better dynamic range. Galaxy Log video recording is also included for enhanced post-processing flexibility. A new Audio Eraser tool allows selective control over various sounds in videos. Generative editing features and the object eraser have also been improved.

Battery Life and Charging

Both phones retain the same battery capacities as their predecessors: 5,000mAh for the S25 Ultra and 4,900mAh for the S25 Plus. Real-world testing shows comparable results, with the S25 Ultra exhibiting a slight advantage in browsing and gaming tasks. Charging speeds remain unchanged at 45W wired and 15W wireless fast charging for both models.

Specifications Comparison Table

Summary

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and S25 Plus offer exceptional performance and features. The Ultra stands out with its larger display, S Pen, upgraded ultrawide camera and slightly better sustained performance due to superior heat management; however, the Plus provides excellent value with a compelling feature set at a lower price point. The choice depends largely on individual preferences concerning screen size, S Pen functionality, and budget. The price difference, usually around $300, makes the Plus a more budget-friendly option without sacrificing much in terms of overall daily experience.