Samsung S25 Ultra vs S24 Ultra Camera: What Actually Changed

The S25 Ultra uses the same primary and telephoto cameras as the S24 Ultra, with differences limited to the ultrawide and video, plus software improvements. In practice, reviewers found these updates didn’t stand out as much as expected, and one actually performed slightly worse in daylight.

Specs that differ and specs that don't

The camera setup hasn’t changed much from the Galaxy S24 Ultra according to GSMArena’s review published on 30 January 2025. That includes keeping the same main 200MP Samsung HP2 sensor and 3x and 5x telephoto cameras. The one notable change is a new 50MP Samsung JN3 ultrawide camera sensor that’s almost exactly the same size as the old 12MP unit, so you get more megapixels but not a bigger light collector.

Contrary to what we wrote earlier on this page, the ProVisual Engine, as Samsung calls its bundle of AI-powered photography and image editing features, isn’t new to the Galaxy S25 Ultra. According to Samsung’s newsroom it debuted with the Galaxy S24 series, meaning both phones have it.

The new ultrawide in reviewers' tests

GSMArena noted that the S25 Ultra’s 12MP ultrawide photos weren’t quite as sharp as those from the S24 Ultra, although colours, dynamic range and exposure were all fine. Its 50MP images did retain more detail and performed better when cropped/resized. Night shots from the S25 Ultra were slightly cleaner and softer, with more accurate white balance. DXOMARK’s verdict on the whole phone in March 2025 echoed GSMArena’s: only a modest upgrade from the S24 Ultra. Overall, unless you’re planning on making a lot of ultrawide images in low light or cropping in on your full-res photos, you probably won’t see much of a difference between the S24 and S25 Ultra’s cameras.

Video got the bigger upgrade

The S25 Ultra shoots 10-bit HDR video instead of 8-bit video like the S24 Ultra (according to GSMArena). Both support Samsung Log, with the S25 Ultra at launch and the S24 Ultra after the One UI 7 update. GSMArena also noticed brighter exposure from the S25’s telephoto cameras in its night video comparison, and it says footage has good detail considering the conditions.

The S25 Ultra supports Horizon Lock (introduced with One UI 9 according to SamMobile), which locks the horizon and prevents footage from tilting as you move the phone, a feature that was not added to the S24 Ultra. The S25 Ultra also supports 8K video recording on the ultrawide camera, while according to GSMArena’s S24 Ultra review, 8K video was only supported on the main and 5x cameras. Our Samsung Log guide covers exposing and grading Log on both.

Expert RAW, Galaxy AI and the S Pen

SamMobile noticed that 24MP resolution isn’t available in the Photo mode on either phone, with the site saying that this feature is still reserved exclusively for the S26 after One UI 9. That said, you can still shoot in 24MP in Expert RAW on both the S24 and S25 Ultra. SamMobile also points out that Expert RAW on the Galaxy S25 Ultra now supports saving 200MP RAW photos, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra tops out at 50MP. Additionally, the newer Galaxy phone adds support for Virtual Aperture in Expert RAW, a feature that simulates aperture/depth-of-field control. On a Galaxy S25 Ultra updated to One UI 9 (checked in November 2026), Expert RAW’s version number is 6.0. To change the RAW photo option in Pro mode, go to Camera settings > Photo format > Pro mode picture format. The Expert RAW guide explains the rest. For what to change first on each phone, see our S24 Ultra settings guide and the S25 Ultra settings page.

Both get most of the new Galaxy AI features (with the exception of notification summaries on the Galaxy S24 Ultra), and both retain Photo Assist (a.k.a. the revamped Generative Edit with AI-powered Move and eraser tools) introduced in One UI 8.5. The only notable regression pertains to the S Pen. According to GSMArena, unlike on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, you can’t use the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s S Pen as a remote shutter. That’s unfortunate since it came in handy when taking group photos or using a tripod.

Which phone wins, situation by situation

Should you upgrade from an S24 Ultra?

That said, if it’s just about photos, skip the S25 Ultra if you’re the proud owner of the S24 Ultra. They produce comparable shots in nearly every scenario, particularly with the main and telephoto cameras. And don’t forget the S24 Ultra is getting security updates from Samsung every month, and the company promises to support the device for as many as seven years from its January 2024 debut. Consider stepping up to the S25 Ultra if you regularly shoot video, or photos in dim light with the ultrawide camera.

If you’re shopping used, though, the S25 Ultra’s promise of an additional year of updates, along with the aforementioned video improvements, might sway you. Then again, so might the S24 Ultra’s S Pen remote. If low light is the main reason to upgrade, look at the S26 Ultra's f/1.4 main camera instead, compared in our S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra guide. The S24 Ultra buyer's guide and the Galaxy Ultra ranking cover the rest of the lineup, and the S24 vs S25 camera comparison does the same for the standard models.