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Galaxy S25 Ultra: The Smart Buy Over S26 Ultra?
2 Apr
Summary
- Samsung's S26 Ultra is priced at $1,300, while the S25 Ultra is $720 used.
- Both phones feature identical displays, 200MP cameras, and 5,000-mAh batteries.
- New S26 Ultra offers minor processor gains and AI Photo Assist features.

Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra, launched with a $1,300 price tag, presents iterative improvements over its predecessor, the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The S25 Ultra, available used for approximately $720, offers remarkable savings while retaining many core features.
Both phones share identical display specifications, 200-megapixel cameras, 12GB of RAM, and 5,000-mAh batteries. The S26 Ultra, however, features a slightly more powerful processor and enhanced AI-driven camera features like 'AI Photo Assist.'
Performance benchmarks show a modest increase in processing power for the S26 Ultra, but real-world usage, including gaming and photo editing, reveals negligible differences. Both devices run Android 16 with Samsung's One UI 8, offering similar software experiences and extensive AI tools.
Battery life sees a slight edge for the S26 Ultra, though both models provide substantial endurance. Samsung guarantees seven years of security support for both phones, ensuring long-term usability, with the S26 Ultra supported until 2033 and the S25 Ultra until 2032.
The S24 Ultra, an even older model, is also a strong contender on the used market at around $536, offering comparable performance and camera capabilities to its successors at a fraction of the cost.