Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Galaxy S24 Ultra refurbished: which one should you buy?
Processor, S Pen, camera and price compared: is the refurbished Galaxy S24 Ultra still the smarter choice alongside the new S25 Ultra?
Door The Phone Shopper
Gepubliceerd: 2026-07-17
The Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Galaxy S24 Ultra both sit at the very top of the Android market, and that's exactly what makes choosing between them so difficult. On paper the S25 Ultra is the newer device, but the S24 Ultra is nearly the same phone at a significantly lower refurbished price. We put the two side by side — no marketing fluff.
Processor and everyday speed
The Galaxy S25 Ultra runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, a chip Samsung had specifically tuned for this phone. The Galaxy S24 Ultra features the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which was itself the fastest chip available last year. In benchmarks the S25 Ultra comes out ahead, particularly for AI tasks and multitasking with many apps open. But anyone using the S24 Ultra day to day for social media, photos, navigation and video will barely notice a difference in practice. Both chips are overkill for everyday use.
Display and S Pen
Both phones feature a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with adaptive 120Hz refresh, and on paper the differences are minimal — the S25 Ultra has slightly flatter edges and a marginally higher peak brightness. What remains is what Samsung Ultra has been famous for over the years: the built-in S Pen. On both models the stylus slots right into the body — no separate accessory, no hassle with separate charging. Taking notes, drawing or controlling the screen remotely works identically well on both devices.
Camera and Galaxy AI
The 200MP main camera is present on both models, along with the familiar combination of ultrawide, telephoto and periscope zoom lenses. The improvements on the S25 Ultra are mostly software-driven: faster image processing and refined Galaxy AI features such as smarter photo editing and search. The S24 Ultra was the first to introduce Galaxy AI and continues to receive new AI features through updates, so the gap is smaller than the model name might suggest.
Titanium frame, battery and updates
Since the S24 Ultra, Samsung has used a titanium frame instead of aluminium, and the S25 Ultra simply carries that forward — sturdy, lightweight and more resistant to drops and scratches. Battery life is also very close between the two; a full day of normal use is no problem for either. Where it really matters is the update promise: Samsung provides years of One UI and security updates for both models, so a refurbished S24 Ultra will stay current for a long time to come.
| Feature | Galaxy S25 Ultra | Galaxy S24 Ultra |
|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| Display | 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz | 6.8" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz |
| S Pen | Built-in | Built-in |
| Camera | 200MP + telephoto + periscope zoom | 200MP + telephoto + periscope zoom |
| Build material | Titanium frame | Titanium frame |
| Updates | Years of One UI updates | Years of One UI updates |
Refurbished price
This is where things get really interesting. A new S25 Ultra costs significantly more than a new S24 Ultra, but refurbished that price gap is often even larger — because the S24 Ultra has been on the market a little longer. With a refurbished S24 Ultra you get an experience that's virtually identical to the latest model, for hundreds of euros less. All refurbished devices at The Phone Shopper go through a 50-point quality check and come with a 2-year warranty, so whichever Ultra you choose, you're buying a reliable phone.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want the latest chip, want to be the first to use the newest Galaxy AI features, and the price difference doesn't bother you. Choose the Galaxy S24 Ultra if you want the same flagship experience — same display, same S Pen, same camera, same titanium build — but for noticeably less money. For most buyers, the real-world difference is small enough that the S24 Ultra is the smarter refurbished purchase. Still unsure? Browse all refurbished models and compare for yourself.
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