You needn’t purchase the most recent Galaxy Extremely cellphone, plus it can save you cash. I will clarify.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely has a few of the greatest specs of any smartphone immediately, however it additionally comes with an enormous $1,300 price ticket. The 2024 mannequin, the Galaxy S24 Extremely, additionally has glorious specs, and although it is just one technology outdated, you’ll be able to decide it up new for $950 or used for $544. That is lower than half the worth of the present mannequin on the used market. Severely.
Positive, if you happen to’re attempting to promote your S24 sequence cellphone, that quantity of depreciation actually sucks. However if you happen to’re seeking to improve from an older cellphone, then you definately’ve bought your self a discount on a high-end system.
So what distinction does one technology make? Can a 2-year-old mannequin nonetheless carry out like the present flagship? Let’s put these telephones facet by facet and see what we get.
Which one’s which? It is tough to inform.
On paper, the specs are very comparable. They each have huge shows with equivalent resolutions and refresh charges. They each have potent Qualcomm processors, 12GB of RAM, 200-megapixel cameras, titanium frames, and an IP68 score for mud and water resistance. And sure, each have the S Pen stylus stuffed inside if you wish to doodle photos whereas pretending to be working. The S24 Extremely’s S Pen even has a number of nifty tips that have been eliminated on the S25 Extremely’s stylus.
The upcoming Galaxy S26 lineup — together with the S26 Extremely — is anticipated to reach quickly. Positive, it may need an entire overhaul that justifies paying its top-end value over the cheaper earlier technology. However present rumors recommend that the brand new cellphone might obtain solely modest upgrades.
Given that you could count on to see a pointy lower within the value of the S25 Extremely, the identical precept might apply: Save some huge cash by shopping for the earlier technology on the used market.
From a purely numbers perspective, there’s little to decide on between the S24 Extremely and S25 Extremely — definitely nothing that warrants such a steep value distinction. So what are they like to make use of in particular person? Let’s begin with the cameras.
Galaxy S24 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: cameras
Digital camera efficiency is a central approach phone-makers attempt to improve their telephones every year, with the most recent fashions sometimes boasting higher imaging abilities than earlier generations.
Whereas there are some upgrades on paper — just like the S25 Extremely’s higher-resolution 50-megapixel ultrawide digicam — Samsung hasn’t actually altered its format that a lot for its previous couple of Extremely fashions.
I’ve taken many pictures on each telephones since they launched, and for essentially the most half, I believe you’d battle to inform a lot distinction, not to mention decide a winner. They’re each able to taking beautiful pictures with extensive dynamic vary, correct colours and loads of element. The zooms on each telephones are glorious, and the evening modes are excellent.
The improve in ultrawide decision does offer you a bit extra element, however would you actually discover that by yourself? It is unlikely exterior of side-by-side comparisons.
Galaxy S24 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: processor
One of many main upgrades within the S25 Extremely over its predecessor is its processor. The S25 Extremely packs a customized model of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, versus the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip on the S24 Extremely. On our benchmark checks, there is a noticeable distinction in scores — about 25% greater within the newer chip, in reality — however I am undecided it is a distinction you are more likely to discover in on a regular basis use.
Galaxy S25 Extremely vs. Galaxy S24 Extremely processor efficiency
Galaxy S25 Extremely 3,173 10,047Galaxy S24 Extremely 2,294 7,293
- Geekbench 6 (single core)
- Geekbench 6 (multi-core)
I discovered each telephones have been completely able to enjoying demanding 3D video games like Genshin Impression and PUBG at max settings whereas nonetheless giving easy body charges. Modifying pictures in Adobe Lightroom was responsive, and navigating across the Android 16 interface felt nippy and easy.
So certain, the most recent mannequin may need extra energy. However do you actually need it? A Ferrari may need extra energy than a Mercedes, however the Mercedes remains to be going to be exceptionally good for 98% of the driving you do on a weekly foundation.
Galaxy S24 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: software program
Software program-wise, each telephones run Android 16 with Samsung’s newest One UI 8 pores and skin excessive. You may discover the identical options throughout each fashions, together with Samsung’s varied AI instruments like stay translation, audio eraser and drawing help, which turns your doodles into actual photos. You then’ve bought Google’s AI instruments like Gemini Stay and Circle to look, which once more you may discover on each fashions.
There aren’t any new software program options you are lacking out on by going with the final technology. However it’s at all times necessary to maintain the software program help interval in thoughts, particularly when shopping for used. Because the more moderen cellphone, the S25 Extremely may have an additional yr of assured help. On the identical time, Samsung dedicated to seven years of help for the S24 line, so the older cellphone will nonetheless obtain software program and safety updates till no less than 2031. Mainly, it is nonetheless bought an excellent life forward of it.
Each telephones are greater than highly effective sufficient to play video games like Genshin Impression at max settings.
Galaxy S24 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: battery life
Each Ultras pack 5,000-mAh batteries, and, maybe unsurprisingly, real-world battery life is just about the identical on each telephones. You may count on to simply get via a full day on a single cost and possibly even have sufficient energy left to begin a second day. In our CNET Labs 3-hour video streaming take a look at, the place we cost the telephones to 100% and play a YouTube video over Wi-Fi, the Galaxy S24 Extremely really carried out noticeably higher.
For those who’re shopping for a used S24 Extremely, the battery might have aged barely, however I would not count on it to have degraded a lot in only one yr of use. Each telephones provide 45-watt wired charging and reverse wi-fi charging to energy one other system.
After I began penning this piece, I really assumed that there could be extra variations between the S25 Extremely and the S24 Extremely. However there’s hardly something. They even look principally the identical besides the newer one has flat edges, which I do not really like as a lot.
With battery life and digicam efficiency being just about on par, and Samsung bringing all of its new AI abilities to earlier generations, there’s little or no to decide on between them. It actually comes all the way down to the newer processor, however I truthfully do not suppose the overwhelming majority of individuals would discover the distinction. The chip within the S24 is already a powerhouse.
The same digicam setup on each telephones means there’s not a lot to achieve from the more moderen mannequin.
Galaxy S24 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: remaining ideas
These telephones are equivalent in so some ways, apart from value. Positive, how a lot you really spend on a used system will rely on the standard — cheaper ones might have the odd scuff right here and there, whereas pristine variations will demand barely greater costs.
All in all, choosing final yr’s mannequin on the used market is a great strategy to save some huge cash on a succesful system that might in any other case be too costly. And, with the Galaxy S26 Extremely probably simply across the nook, this complete article will nonetheless be related as we transfer into the subsequent technology.
The logic right here is not restricted to Samsung’s telephones. With nearly all corporations, together with Google, Apple, OnePlus and others providing vastly highly effective units with lengthy software program help intervals, it is potential it’s possible you’ll by no means want to purchase a brand-new cellphone ever once more.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely specs vs. Galaxy S24 Extremely
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely | Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely | |
| Show dimension, tech, decision, refresh price | 6.8-inch AMOLED; 3,120×1,440 pixels; 1-120Hz adaptive refresh price | 6.8-inch AMOLED; 3,120×1,440 pixels; 1-120Hz adaptive refresh price |
| Pixel density | 501 ppi | 501 ppi |
| Dimensions (inches) | 6.41 x 3.06 x 0.32 in. | 6.40 x 3.11 x 0.34 in. |
| Dimensions (millimeters) | 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm | 163 x 79 x 8.6 mm |
| Weight (grams, ounces) | 218 g (7.69 oz.) | 233g (8.22 oz.) |
| Cellular software program | Android 15 | Android 14 |
| Digital camera | 200-megapixel (extensive), 50-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (3x telephoto), 50-megapixel (5x telephoto) | 200-megapixel (extensive), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (3x telephoto), 50-megapixel (5x telephoto) |
| Entrance-facing digicam | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel |
| Video seize | 8K | 8K |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| RAM + storage | 12GB RAM + 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 12GB RAM + 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Expandable storage | None | None |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Fingerprint sensor | Below show | Below show |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C |
| Headphone jack | None | None |
| Particular options | Titanium body, 2,600-nit peak brightness; 7 years of OS and safety updates; 5G (mmWave); IP68 water and dirt resistance; wi-fi PowerShare to cost different units; built-in S Pen; UWB for locating different units; 45W wired charging (charger not included); Galaxy AI; Wi-Fi 7; Gorilla Glass Armor cowl glass; ultrawideband | Titanium body, 2,600-nit peak brightness; 7 years of OS and safety updates; 5G (mmWave); IP68 water and dirt resistance; wi-fi PowerShare to cost different units; built-in S Pen; UWB for locating different units; 45W wired charging (charger not included); Galaxy AI; Wi-Fi 7; Gorilla Glass Armor cowl glass |