Galaxy S24 vs S25 Camera: Same Hardware, Different Extras

Spec-wise, GSMArena reports the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S25 boast identical camera hardware on paper, all four cameras, to be precise. In its Galaxy S25 review, GSMArena also observed the Galaxy S25 took photos very similar to those of the Galaxy S24. That said, there are a handful of differences between the two phones when it comes to video shooting capabilities, the chip they use and some of the software features they support. This article will run through those.

Note that where we’re comparing the S24 to the S25, the same will also apply to the S24+ vs. S25+. If you’re torn between Ultras, check out our S25 Ultra vs S24 Ultra comparison. The rest of this article is based on published reviews and Samsung’s own material, since we haven’t had the opportunity to get our hands on either phone.

Camera specs side by side

Battery size has stayed the same. Contrary to popular belief, the S25 doesn’t have a larger battery than the S24. According to GSMArena both devices feature a 4,000mAh battery.

The ProVisual Engine isn’t new. Samsung only refers to a “next-gen” ProVisual Engine for the S25, as it made its debut in the FE series when Samsung unveiled the S24 FE back in September 2024.

Photos look almost the same

GSMArena said in its S25 review that the main camera image quality is unchanged from the previous model. We'd expect similar results based on GSMArena's review of the S24. GSMArena liked the daylight photos from the S24's main camera, as well as the detail in images taken with the 3x telephoto camera, but found night images taken with the telephoto camera to be inconsistent.

DXOMARK tested out the Exynos version of the S24 and gave it a camera score of 133 using its testing protocol v5. It noticed more noise in images than with the S23. We couldn't find a camera test of the regular S25 by DXOMARK, so we don't have two DXOMARK camera scores we can compare. The takeaway? Based on reviews we've seen, we don't expect photos you take with an S25 to look noticeably different from those you'd capture with an S24.

You won't have more luck seeing a difference at night. GSMArena said night shots from the S25's telephoto camera are noisy and washed out, and noted that Night mode is slow to kick in automatically. That's not much different from what GSMArena said about the S24, so we'd expect similar results if you use either Galaxy phone after dark. Try shooting photos at 1x and cropping in post, and don't be afraid to manually enable Night mode if the Galaxy phone doesn't seem to think it's necessary. And selfies should look pretty much the same since GSMArena noted the selfie camera is also unchanged.

Video is where the S25 pulls ahead

10-bit HDR recording (on by default), Galaxy Log (a flat colour profile to aid post-processing), and Audio Eraser (which can reduce unwanted background noises like wind) are standard on the S25, with the first an upgrade from 8-bit HDR recording on the S24 (via GSMArena). In our Log video guide, we discussed when Log is worth the additional work of editing.

One UI 9 only served to widen the gap further. Meanwhile, SamMobile’s comparison also reveals that the Galaxy S25 supports Super Steady with Horizontal Lock (which will keep the horizon in videos level no matter how you tilt your phone) and some new Dual Recording options, neither of which will be available on the Galaxy S24 (which will retain the original Dual rec mode).

Feature by feature after One UI 9

That said, editing is pretty neck-and-neck between the two, especially since both series got access to the revamped Photo Assist in Samsung’s One UI 8.5 update. The S25 series also introduced Virtual Aperture to Samsung’s Expert RAW camera app, which lets you simulate shooting with a wider or narrower aperture in order to change the depth of field in your shots. Samsung’s Expert RAW mode is available on both phones. Our Expert RAW guide covers both phones.

Which one to buy

If you mainly take photos, pick the one that’s less expensive (it’s likely to be the S24). You’ll get pictures as good as the S25’s according to reviews, as well as the same Expert RAW and Photo Assist tools. And the S24 was promised seven years of upgrades from 2024, so you can use it into the early 2030s. Just note that DXOMARK tested the Exynos version of the S24 when it commented on noise in photos.

If you shoot video, pick the S25. It can record 10-bit HDR by default, and it has a special video profile called Galaxy Log. Also, the S25 will get updates for about a year longer than the S24. There’s little point in going from an S24 to an S25 if you’re looking at camera features only, as there’s little difference between the two phones’ photo capabilities. One UI 9 brings Horizontal Lock to the S25.

• Our Galaxy S24 camera guide has recommendations for the best settings to hide that phone’s weaknesses.
• Our Galaxy S25 camera guide offers recommended camera settings for different shooting situations with Samsung’s newer flagship.
• The Galaxy S26 FE sports a 3x telephoto camera on newer software, but Expert RAW functionality is absent from all FE models.
• For different shooting situations, our Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S25 camera settings pages offer recommended starting points.