You know… I live in Korea, but when I do live selling, most of the people I’m talking to are in the Philippines.
So I hear this question all the time:
“Ate Joana, the S25 is already out… is it still okay to buy the S24 Ultra now?”
And my answer? Yes—super okay.
Because the S24 Ultra isn’t the type of phone that suddenly becomes “old.” It still has strong flagship specs, and since the resale/secondhand market is very active, it often becomes an even better value—especially if you want a premium phone without paying “brand-new flagship” prices.
So today, let’s do S24 Ultra vs S25 Ultra—the practical, real-life way. 😄
S24 Ultra vs S25 Ultra — quick comparison (only what matters)
1) In-hand feel: the S25 is thinner and lighter
- S24 Ultra: 8.6mm / 232g
- S25 Ultra: 8.2mm / 218g
Joana comment:
I know it looks like a “small difference” on paper, but with big phones, you actually feel it—especially if you take lots of photos/videos or try to use it one-handed sometimes.
2) Display: the S25 is slightly bigger
- S24 Ultra: 6.8″
- S25 Ultra: 6.9″
Real talk: this isn’t a “WOW completely different” kind of upgrade. You’ll notice it more when you combine it with the refined design and lighter body.
3) Camera: the S25’s big headline is the ultra-wide upgrade
- S24 Ultra ultra-wide: 12MP
- S25 Ultra ultra-wide: 50MP
Joana comment:
If you love travel shots, group photos, indoor wide shots, this is where the S25 can feel extra tempting.
But if you mostly shoot daily photos and rely on the main camera, the S24 Ultra is still seriously good. Like… still flagship, hello? 😅
4) Battery: both are 5,000mAh (the difference is more about optimization)
- S24 Ultra: 5,000mAh
- S25 Ultra: 5,000mAh
Meaning: it’s not the kind of upgrade where the S25 “wins” just because it has a bigger battery. It’s more about chip + software optimization in real-life use.
5) Updates: the S24 still has long-term support, so it’s safer secondhand
- S24 series: long OS upgrades + long security updates
- S25 series: same long support
This matters because one scary thing about buying secondhand is, “What if updates end soon?” But with the S24 Ultra, the lifespan still looks strong.
So why is the S24 Ultra still popular? (Joana-style, real-life reasons)
1) Some phones stay “flagship” even after the newer one arrives
The S24 Ultra is already at a level where for everyday use—
Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, camera, work apps—it’s hard to feel like it’s lacking.
2) An active secondhand market makes it a safer buy
In the Philippines, this is a big deal:
- more choices (storage/color/condition)
- more flexible pricing
- easier to resell later
In short: easy to buy, easy to sell = demand stays strong.
3) The S Pen effect: once you try it, it’s hard to go back
Notes, screenshot memos, quick signatures, doodles…
At first: “Will I even use this?”
Then suddenly: “Wait… why do I not have it?!” 😭
4) The camera is already more than enough
Yes, the S25 improves the ultra-wide a lot.
But that doesn’t make the S24 Ultra “bad” overnight.
Most people see S24 Ultra photos and simply say:
“That looks amazing!”
5) Long updates give you a real reason to buy a secondhand flagship
It’s not a “use it for one year then bye” phone.
It can be a long-term phone—so the money feels worth it.
Joana’s verdict: Who should choose the S24 Ultra?
✅ The S24 Ultra is best if you…
- don’t need the latest, but want flagship quality
- want to save money but still want power
- are targeting a great-value secondhand/renewed option
- want a phone with a strong long-term lifespan
✅ The S25 Ultra is best if you…
- really want a lighter, slimmer Ultra
- shoot a lot of ultra-wide photos / photo-video
- love the “latest AI + latest hardware” vibe
Final thoughts (live selling vibe 😄)
Yes, the S25 is the newest.
But the S24 Ultra is the type of phone that becomes more tempting as the price drops.
So when someone asks me:
“Ate Joana, is the S24 Ultra still okay?”
I’ll say:
“Yes, it’s still okay. And sometimes… it’s actually the smarter choice. 😉”