Disclaimer
I know the Galaxy S25 Ultra would be a better and superior device than the two generations older Galaxy S23 Ultra. If you live under a rock or have no knowledge about the tech industry, you can still tell that the Galaxy S25 Ultra would be a better device than its predecessors. Better materials, better screen, better cameras, better SoC, and humongous 7 years of major software support, and it will be a drastically improved device in every respect of the tech concerned. But why my stupid practical mind is telling me to buy the Galaxy S23 Ultra instead of the upcoming beast Galaxy S25 Ultra. Well, let’s find out.
Price
Price is one of the major factors behind choosing the Galaxy S23 Ultra instead of the Galaxy S25 Ultra. I am a simple man, always trying to find a better option for what I am paying. Right now the Galaxy S23 Ultra is available for under $650 on Amazon which is half the price on what the Galaxy S25 Ultra is coming. According to multiple reports, Samsung is considering launching the Galaxy S25 ultra at $1299 similar to its predecessors. So at half the price of Galaxy S25 Ultra, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is an unbeatable deal. You would get flagship performance, premium build quality, and flagship-grade cameras on the Galaxy S23 Ultra. The only thing that is a deal breaker is the software updates.
Samsung promised 4 years of software updates on the Galaxy S23 Ultra while the Galaxy S25 Ultra would feature 7 years of major software support. So if you buy the Galaxy S23 Ultra right now, you would only get 2 years of major software support. To solve this problem, you can choose the current generation Galaxy S24 Ultra which comes with 7 years of major OS updates similar to the upcoming Galaxy S25 Ultra and the price is also comparatively low. Right now you can buy the Galaxy S24 Ultra at $789 on Amazon. The only differences between the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Galaxy S25 Ultra are the latest generation Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, rounded corners, and upgraded 50 megapixels Ultrawide camera. Other than that an average user or even a pro user wouldn’t find any differences between the Galaxy S23 Ultra, or Galaxy S24 Ultra. So if you are tight on a budget then Galaxy S24 Ultra (1st preference) or Galaxy S23 Ultra (2nd preference) would be a better logical decision.
Proper Boxy Design
The upcoming Galaxy S25 Ultra is coming with a refined rounded corner design which is indeed a practical approach by Samsung as the sharp corners were uncomfortable for the hands and pockets as well. But this decision is creating softwaves among the Galaxy Note fans. Not only does it take away the signature boxy design essence from the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but it is also making OG Galaxy Note fans sad. That is why many Note fans don’t want to upgrade their Galaxy S23 Ultra or Galaxy S24 Ultra. So if you are one of those who likes super sharp boxy corners and want the OG Note experience then go for the Galaxy S24 Ultra or Galaxy S23 Ultra.
10x Periscope Lens
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra features a 10x periscope zoom lens. On the other hand, the Galaxy S24 Ultra as well as the upcoming Galaxy S25 Ultra would have a 5x optical periscope zoom lens. So if you are a fan of higher magnification zoom lenses then Galaxy S23 Ultra would be a better option for you. However, ditching the 10x periscope zoom lens was a practical decision by Samsung as there was a huge magnification gap between 3x telephoto and 10x periscope zoom lenses. So until you hit the 10x magnification mark, the device had to digitally crop in the 3x telephoto lens. That is why Samsung chose to go with a 5x optical zoom lens instead of a 10x periscope lens. Samsung is using AI and a higher resolution 50MP sensor to produce 10x or beyond that magnification photos and the results are very good. However, if your priority is a 10x optical periscope lens then Galaxy S23 Ultra is a logical choice.
Once A Flagship, Always A Flagship
No doubt, Galaxy S25 Ultra is a better smartphone than the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Titanium frame, better display, improved cameras, 7 years of major software support, Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, everything makes the Galaxy S25 Ultra an unbeatable beast, and comparing it with 2 years old Galaxy S23 Ultra is like comparing young Tom Aspinal with ‘The Old Duck’ Jon Jones. But for an average user or even a pro user who is stuck on a budget of $650 then Galaxy S23 Ultra would be a logical choice for you. Premium build quality, flagship Snapdragon 8Gen 2, flagship cameras, beautiful curved screen, premium boxy design, everything even shines in 2024 or 2025. So you wouldn’t notice any big differences on the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Once a flagship, always a flagship.
So go for the Galaxy S24 Ultra if you are stuck under the $800 price tag. Go for the the Galaxy S23 Ultra if your budget is $650, or anyway, if you want the latest tech and the best one out there, and the budget isn’t an issue for you then surely go for the Galaxy S25 Ultra. 7 years of software updates, and Snapdragon 8 Elite is enough to make the Galaxy S25 Ultra a desirable choice over its predecessors.
Hope you liked this blog. Have a nice day.
