Short answer: If you own a Galaxy S25 Ultra, don’t upgrade unless you specifically want Privacy Display or much faster charging. The two phones share the same screen size, base RAM, battery capacity and most camera sensors, both run One UI 9, and both have the S Pen without Bluetooth. The S26 Ultra is better at charging (84% in 30 minutes against 72% in GSMArena’s test), battery life, speed, low-light photos and comfort. It’s worse at close-ups, has a slightly weaker 3x camera, swaps titanium for aluminium and has a lower battery cycle rating. If you’re on an S24 Ultra it’s a closer call, and from an S23 Ultra or older it’s a clear upgrade. If you’re buying new, price decides it: in the US the S26 Ultra currently costs about the same as a discounted S25 Ultra, so buy the newer phone. In the UAE and India the S25 Ultra is thousands cheaper and the smarter buy.
Updated for One UI 9 and October 2026 prices · Prices last checked October 11, 2026 · By Stephen Jacob
How this comparison works: specs come from Samsung. Every test result is from a named lab (GSMArena, Tom’s Guide, PhoneArena or DXOMARK) and is labelled with its source. SamScopes doesn’t run its own lab, and my own views are marked as opinion. For what each spec means on its own, see our Galaxy S26 Ultra specs explained. This page is about one decision: upgrade or not.
Should you upgrade? The verdict by owner type
| You have | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S25 Ultra | Keep it (upgrade only for Privacy Display or 60W charging) | Same core hardware, already on One UI 9, supported until January 2032 |
| Galaxy S24 Ultra | Wait unless there’s a strong trade-in, upgrade if the battery is tired | Clear gains in battery, charging and speed, but you lose S Pen Air Actions and keep support until 2031 anyway |
| Galaxy S23 Ultra or older | Upgrade | One UI 9 is the S23 Ultra’s last major update; big jumps in battery, charging and speed |
| iPhone | S26 Ultra, if you want an Ultra | Newest chip, longest support; read our iPhone comparison first |
| Buying new, no phone to trade | Depends on your market | US: S26 Ultra (prices are level). UK: either. UAE and India: discounted S25 Ultra |
Galaxy S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra at a glance
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | Galaxy S25 Ultra | Who wins | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chip | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy | Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy | S26 Ultra (about 17% faster in Geekbench, GSMArena) |
| Screen | 6.9-inch QHD+ 120Hz with Privacy Display | 6.9-inch QHD+ 120Hz | S26 Ultra (Privacy Display) |
| Battery | 5,000mAh, 1,200-cycle rating | 5,000mAh, 2,000-cycle rating | S26 Ultra for runtime, S25 Ultra on paper for longevity |
| Wired charging | 60W | 45W | S26 Ultra |
| Wireless charging | 25W (Qi2.2, no magnets) | 15W (no magnets) | S26 Ultra |
| Main camera | 200MP, f/1.4 | 200MP, f/1.7 | S26 Ultra (brighter) |
| 5x telephoto | 50MP, f/2.9, 52cm close focus | 50MP, f/3.4, 26cm close focus | Split: S26 brighter, S25 better close-ups |
| 3x telephoto | 10MP, smaller sensor | 10MP | S25 Ultra (slightly, at night) |
| Frame | Armor Aluminum | Titanium | S25 Ultra |
| Size and weight | 7.9mm, 214g | 8.2mm, 218g | S26 Ultra (slimmer, rounder) |
| S Pen | No Bluetooth | No Bluetooth | Tie |
| Software now | One UI 9 | One UI 9 | Tie |
| Security updates until | February 28, 2033 | January 31, 2032 | S26 Ultra (about 13 months more) |
Sources: Samsung UK spec pages for both phones and Samsung’s launch specification tables; GSMArena for sensor sizes, close focus and benchmarks. The full 20-row spec table is on our specs page.
What’s actually better on the S26 Ultra?
Five things, in order of how much you’ll notice them.
- Charging. 60W wired instead of 45W, and it holds the speed. GSMArena measured 84% in 30 minutes and a full charge in 43 minutes, against 72% and 59 minutes for the S25 Ultra. Wireless goes from 15W to 25W. You need a 60W PPS charger to see it, and neither phone comes with one.
- Privacy Display. The only feature the S25 Ultra can’t get through an update, because it’s built into the panel. It hides the screen from people beside you, either all the time, in chosen apps, for notifications or when you type a PIN. It roughly halves peak brightness while it’s on (GSMArena), but barely affects battery life.
- Battery life. Same 5,000mAh capacity, but the newer chip is more efficient. Tom’s Guide’s browsing test went from 14 hours 27 minutes to 16 hours 10 minutes.
- Low-light photos and zoom. The main lens goes from f/1.4 to f/1.7 and the 5x from f/3.4 to f/2.9, which Samsung says lets in 47% and 37% more light. Tom’s Guide preferred the S26 Ultra’s night, zoom and portrait shots.
- Comfort. It’s 0.3mm thinner and 4g lighter, and the corners are rounder. GSMArena found the rounder corners make it easier to hold, though it’s slightly taller and wider.
Smaller extras: a wider-angle selfie camera, a horizontal-lock video stabilisation mode, the APV pro video codec with preset LUTs, Bluetooth 6.0, 16GB of RAM on every 1TB model, and better-balanced (if slightly quieter) speakers in GSMArena’s test.
What’s worse on the S26 Ultra?
This is the part most launch-day comparisons skipped.
- Close-ups. The 5x camera is no longer a folded periscope, so its minimum focus distance doubled from 26cm to 52cm, and the main camera’s grew from 8cm to 18cm (GSMArena). GSMArena calls the S26 Ultra “a major step back” for close-ups. If you photograph food, labels or small objects with the zoom lens, the S25 Ultra is better.
- The 3x camera. It uses a smaller sensor than the S25 Ultra’s (1/3.94-inch against 1/3.52-inch). In daylight GSMArena saw no real difference; at night, and in low-light video, the S25 Ultra’s 3x is slightly better.
- Aluminium instead of titanium. GSMArena counts it as a step back. Android Authority says you won’t feel a difference in the hand. If you liked the idea of titanium, it’s gone.
- Battery cycle rating. Samsung rates the S26 Ultra to keep at least 80% of its capacity after 1,200 full cycles. It listed 2,000 for the S25 Ultra. Samsung doesn’t explain the drop, and 1,200 cycles is still more than three years at one full charge a day, but on paper the S25 Ultra’s battery is rated to last longer.
- The camera bump. It sticks out further, and the phone rocks on a desk without a case.
- Night mode. It’s now an automatic toggle you can’t force on (GSMArena).
What hasn’t changed: the S Pen. Samsung removed Bluetooth from the S Pen with the S25 Ultra, so neither phone has Air Actions or a remote camera shutter. This isn’t a reason to upgrade or to stay.
Real-world test results: S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra
Battery life
| Test (lab) | Galaxy S26 Ultra | Galaxy S25 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous 5G web browsing at 150 nits (Tom’s Guide) | 16h 10m | 14h 27m |
| Active Use Score (GSMArena) | 16:23h | Lower; GSMArena reports “a notable improvement” for the S26 Ultra |
| Battery life estimate, mixed test (PhoneArena) | 7h 53m | 8h 0m |
Two labs found a clear gain, and PhoneArena’s mixed test had the phones level. Tom’s Guide notes it tested its S25 Ultra after several months of use, so a new S25 Ultra may have scored a little higher. Trusted Reviews found both gave around four hours of screen time in its heavy daily use. The fair summary: expect somewhat better battery life, not a different phone. If your S25 Ultra’s battery is already worn, that matters more than the chip. Our S26 Ultra battery life guide has real-world screen-on time, and if a new phone drains fast, see our battery draining fast fixes.
Charging
| Test (GSMArena, wired) | Galaxy S26 Ultra (60W) | Galaxy S25 Ultra (45W) |
|---|---|---|
| 15 minutes | 51% | 41% |
| 30 minutes | 84% | 72% |
| Full charge | 43 min | 59 min |
Tom’s Guide measured a smaller gap: 77% against 71% after 30 minutes. Both labs agree it’s faster. The catch is the charger: you need a USB PD charger with PPS at 20V/3A (such as Samsung’s 60W adapter) and a 3A cable. On a 45W charger, the S26 Ultra charges at S25 Ultra speed. Which charger to buy is in our S26 Ultra charging guide.
Performance
| Benchmark (GSMArena) | Galaxy S26 Ultra | Galaxy S25 Ultra | Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 multi-core | 11,566 | 9,846 | About 17% |
| AnTuTu v10 | 2,627,986 | 2,207,809 | About 19% |
| 3DMark Wild Life Extreme | 7,744 | 6,687 | About 16% |
Samsung claims 19% faster CPU, 24% faster GPU and 39% faster NPU, plus a vapour chamber with up to 21% better heat dissipation. GSMArena’s results land close to the CPU claim. Under sustained load the gain shrinks: GSMArena’s GPU throttling test showed no difference between the two, and its CPU stress test found the S26 Ultra throttled harder, dropping below 50% of its peak. Android Authority’s 20-loop 3DMark test was kinder, with scores tailing off gradually. Either way, long gaming sessions won’t feel transformed. In everyday use, neither phone is slow, and you won’t feel 17% when opening apps. If yours runs hot, our overheating guide covers what’s normal.
Camera
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Tom’s Guide, 200+ photo shootout | S26 Ultra won 8 of 10 rounds (daytime, colour, macro, selfie, portrait, ultrawide, zoom, low light); S25 Ultra won dynamic range and panorama |
| GSMArena, side-by-side | “Doesn’t really bring any hardware improvements to the camera system”; wider selfies and rounder 5x bokeh on the S26 Ultra; S25 Ultra better for close-ups and the 3x at night |
| DXOMARK score | 157 (S26 Ultra) against 151 (S25 Ultra) |
The labs don’t fully agree. Tom’s Guide’s John Velasco gave the S26 Ultra a clear win but still wouldn’t tell S25 Ultra owners they must upgrade for the cameras. GSMArena saw mostly similar results, apart from wider selfies and the close-up loss. Note that Tom’s Guide’s macro round used the automatic macro mode, while GSMArena’s close-up finding is about the telephoto and main cameras’ minimum focus distance. Both can be true.
Stephen’s take (opinion): the camera difference is real but small. You’ll see it at night and at 5x to 10x, and you’ll lose something if you shoot close-ups with the zoom. It’s not a reason to spend this much. To get more from either phone’s camera, use the settings in our S26 Ultra camera settings guide; most apply to the S25 Ultra too.
Display
Without Privacy Display, the screens are hard to tell apart. GSMArena measured 1,480 nits (S26 Ultra) against 1,417 nits with auto brightness, while Tom’s Guide measured 1,806 against 1,860. GSMArena found no meaningful difference in viewing angles, sharpness or brightness between them with Privacy Display off. If you’re sensitive to PWM flicker, neither phone is a fix; our S26 Ultra problems guide covers the screen issues owners report.
Software support: how long each phone is updated
Both phones get seven generations of Android upgrades and seven years of security updates, counted from their own launch. The S26 Ultra is one year newer, so it gets one more Android version and about 13 months more security support.
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Launched with | Android 16, One UI 8.5 (March 2026) | Android 15, One UI 7 (February 2025) |
| One UI 9 (Android 17) | Since September 16, 2026 | Korea September 28; US October 3–5; Europe, India and UAE (owner report) October 6 |
| Last promised Android version | Android 23 | Android 22 |
| Security updates until (Samsung UK) | February 28, 2033 | January 31, 2032 |
So the S25 Ultra isn’t behind on software today. Most One UI 9 Galaxy AI features, including My FanCam, Now Nudge, custom Now Brief cards and Call Brief, reach the S24 and S25 too. A few features that launched with the S26 series, such as Call Screening and Photo Assist’s describe-the-edit mode, haven’t been confirmed for older phones. Galaxy AI’s Samsung features are free on both, as explained in is Galaxy AI free. One difference: the S25 series came with a six-month Google Gemini offer that had to be redeemed by January 31, 2026, and the S26 Ultra comes with no Google AI Pro trial, so neither gets a free AI plan if you buy one now. What each feature does is in our Galaxy AI guide, and the update schedule for every model is in our One UI 9 release date tracker.
Stephen’s take (opinion): a security date in 2032 rather than 2033 matters only if you plan to keep the phone for six years or more. Most people will replace the battery or the phone before either date.
Price and value now, including trade-in
Samsung raised S26 Ultra list prices in October 2026, while the S25 Ultra has been discounted for months. The gap now depends heavily on where you buy.
| Market (checked Oct 11, 2026) | Galaxy S26 Ultra, 12GB / 256GB | Galaxy S25 Ultra, 12GB / 256GB | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| US, Samsung.com | $1,099.99 on promotion (list $1,399.99) | $1,299.99 | S26 Ultra is cheaper |
| US, Best Buy (unlocked) | — | $1,069.99 | About $30 |
| UK, Samsung.com | £1,359 | £1,099 | £260 |
| UAE, Samsung Gulf store | AED 5,499 (launch price AED 5,099) | AED 3,449 | AED 2,050 |
| UAE, Amazon.ae and Noon | — | About AED 2,700–3,000 | About AED 2,500 or more |
| India | ₹1,54,999 (since Sep 23) | ₹94,999 on Amazon’s sale (₹84,999 with coupon) | ₹60,000 or more |
Higher tiers: the S26 Ultra is $1,299.99 / $1,699.99 on Samsung US promotion for 512GB / 1TB (list $1,599.99 / $1,999.99), £1,529 / £1,859 in the UK and AED 6,299 / AED 7,899 in the UAE. The S25 Ultra 512GB is $1,419.99 on Samsung US, $1,299.99 at Best Buy, £1,249 in the UK and AED 3,849 on Samsung Gulf.
Sources: Samsung US, UK and Gulf store pages (captured October 11, 2026; the Samsung US promotion was marked valid until October 12); Best Buy listings; DeserTracker’s UAE price checks for Amazon.ae and Noon (October 10); Beebom for Amazon India; 91mobiles for India’s revised S26 Ultra price. Several UAE retailer listings are “International Version” phones, which can differ in warranty from Middle East stock, so check the label before you buy. Prices change often.
Trade-in: Samsung US currently offers up to $720 in instant trade-in credit on the S26 Ultra, down from the $900 it offered S25 Ultra owners at launch (9to5Google). Samsung Gulf offers up to AED 2,675 off with an upfront trade-in, plus up to AED 1,000 off at checkout. “Up to” means the best device in perfect condition; Samsung doesn’t publish the exact S25 Ultra value, so get a quote. In the best case, an S25 Ultra owner in the US pays around $380 to move to a 256GB S26 Ultra at the current promotion, if both the promotion and the full credit apply to your order. Compare that with a private sale before you accept.
Before you hand over your old phone, back it up and remove your Google and Samsung accounts. Our guide to transferring data to the S26 Ultra covers Smart Switch from any phone. If you do upgrade, our 12GB vs 16GB RAM guide and 256GB vs 512GB vs 1TB guide help you pick a model.
Should you buy a discounted S25 Ultra instead?
Yes, if it’s at least about 20% cheaper than the S26 Ultra where you live and you don’t need Privacy Display. You’d give up faster charging, some battery life and about a year of updates. You’d keep titanium, better close-ups and the higher battery cycle rating.
- In the US: no, not right now. At Samsung’s current promotion, the S26 Ultra costs about the same as an S25 Ultra at Best Buy and less than Samsung’s own S25 Ultra listing. Buy the newer phone. If the promotion ends and the S26 Ultra returns to $1,399.99, the S25 Ultra at around $1,070 becomes good value again.
- In the UK: either. £260 is a real saving. Choose the S25 Ultra if you mostly care about price, the S26 Ultra if you want 60W charging and Privacy Display.
- In the UAE and India: yes. The S25 Ultra costs roughly AED 2,000–2,800 less in the UAE, or more than ₹60,000 less in India. That’s most of the cost of a second phone for features most people won’t miss.
Stephen’s take (opinion): I’m in Dubai, and here the S25 Ultra at around AED 3,000 is the better buy for most people. I’d spend the extra on the S26 Ultra only if you work in public places a lot and would use Privacy Display daily.
Check the battery health and warranty on any older stock or refurbished S25 Ultra, and buy from a retailer that offers a local warranty.
Upgrading from an older Galaxy Ultra or an iPhone
From an S24 Ultra
It’s a much stronger case than from the S25 Ultra, but not an automatic one. GSMArena’s tests show the size of the jump: an Active Use Score of 16:23h against 13:49h, and Geekbench 6 multi-core of 11,566 against 7,076. You’d also get 60W charging (the S24 Ultra is 45W), a 50MP ultra-wide instead of 12MP, Privacy Display, and a phone 18g lighter. You’d lose the titanium frame and the S24 Ultra’s Bluetooth S Pen with Air Actions and the remote shutter. The S24 Ultra has seven years of support too, with security updates until January 31, 2031 (Samsung UK), and One UI 9 started reaching it in South Korea on October 6. Samsung offered up to $800 for an S24 Ultra at launch (9to5Google). Upgrade if your battery is tired or the trade-in is strong. Otherwise it can wait for the S27 Ultra. A full S26 Ultra vs S24 Ultra comparison is coming as its own page.
From an S23 Ultra or older
Upgrade. The S23 Ultra launched on Android 13 with four promised OS upgrades, so One UI 9 is its last major Android update (it’s still in beta for the S23 series). Its security updates are reported to end in February 2028. The S26 Ultra brings a much faster chip and 60W charging, and GSMArena’s Active Use Score rises from 13:24h to 16:23h. Two things to know: you’ll lose the S23 Ultra’s 10x optical periscope (the S26 Ultra’s 10x is a crop of the 5x camera) and its Bluetooth S Pen. The S22 Ultra and older don’t get One UI 9 at all.
From an iPhone
If you want a Samsung Ultra, buy the S26 Ultra rather than last year’s phone in most markets, because it’s supported for a year longer. The bigger question is Android versus iOS, and our Galaxy S26 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro Max comparison covers battery, video, cameras and ecosystem. Smart Switch can move your photos, contacts, messages and WhatsApp from an iPhone; the steps are in our transfer guide. If you’re on a budget in the UAE or India, a discounted S25 Ultra is a cheaper way to try Android at this level.
FAQ
Is the S26 Ultra worth upgrading from the S25 Ultra?
For most owners, no. The main gains are Privacy Display, faster charging, somewhat longer battery life and better low-light photos. You lose some close-up ability, the titanium frame and a little at 3x. Upgrade only if a strong trade-in brings the cost down or you’ll use Privacy Display every day.
Is the Galaxy S26 Ultra much faster than the S25 Ultra?
Not in a way you’ll feel day to day. GSMArena measured about 17% more in Geekbench 6 and about 16% more in 3DMark, but no difference in its sustained GPU throttling test.
Does the S26 Ultra battery last longer than the S25 Ultra?
In most tests, yes. Tom’s Guide measured 16 hours 10 minutes against 14 hours 27 minutes, and GSMArena also found a notable gain. PhoneArena’s mixed test had them level. Both have a 5,000mAh battery.
Is the S26 Ultra camera better than the S25 Ultra?
Slightly, at night and at 5x to 10x. Tom’s Guide preferred the S26 Ultra in 8 of 10 rounds, while GSMArena found no meaningful change overall. The S25 Ultra is better for close-ups.
Are the S26 Ultra and S25 Ultra the same size?
Almost. Both have a 6.9-inch screen. The S26 Ultra is 163.6 × 78.1 × 7.9mm and 214g; the S25 Ultra is 162.8 × 77.6 × 8.2mm and 218g. Because the dimensions and camera bump differ, an S25 Ultra case won’t fit the S26 Ultra properly.
Is the S26 Ultra titanium like the S25 Ultra?
No. The S26 Ultra has an Armor Aluminum frame. The S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra used titanium.
Does the S25 Ultra get One UI 9?
Yes. It started in South Korea on September 28, 2026, the US on October 3–5, and Europe and India on October 6. A UAE owner reported it on October 6 too.
How long will the S25 Ultra be supported?
Samsung UK lists security updates until January 31, 2032, and Samsung promises seven Android upgrades, ending with Android 22. The S26 Ultra runs to February 28, 2033.
Does either S Pen have Bluetooth?
No. Samsung dropped Bluetooth from the S Pen on the S25 Ultra, and the S26 Ultra’s S Pen doesn’t have it either, so there are no Air Actions or remote shutter on either phone.
How much is an S25 Ultra trade-in worth?
Samsung US currently offers up to $720 in trade-in credit towards the S26 Ultra, and Samsung Gulf up to AED 2,675. The exact amount depends on model and condition, so get a quote.
Should I buy the S25 Ultra or S26 Ultra in 2026?
In the US, the S26 Ultra, because Samsung’s current promotion puts it at about the S25 Ultra’s price. In the UAE and India, the discounted S25 Ultra, because it costs far less. In the UK, either.
Should I wait for the S27 Ultra instead?
If your S25 Ultra works well, yes. Samsung has launched each recent Ultra early in the year (the S26 Ultra in February 2026), but it hasn’t confirmed anything about the S27 Ultra or its price.
The bottom line
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is the better phone, but not a big enough step to replace a working S25 Ultra. Its real upgrades are Privacy Display, 60W charging, better battery life and brighter lenses, and its real downgrades are close-ups, the 3x camera, the aluminium frame and the battery cycle rating. S25 Ultra owners should keep their phone. S24 Ultra owners should upgrade only on a good trade-in or a tired battery, and S23 Ultra owners should upgrade now. If you’re buying new, let the price gap decide: the S26 Ultra in the US at today’s promotion, a discounted S25 Ultra in the UAE and India.
For the full verdict on the new phone, read our Galaxy S26 Ultra review. For setup, settings and fixes, start with the Galaxy S26 Ultra owner’s guide, and for where the Ultra sits among every Galaxy device, see our guide to every Galaxy device family.
Specifications and features vary by market. Battery life depends on usage, network and settings. Prices were checked on October 11, 2026 and change often.
