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Galaxy S25 Ultra vs S20 Ultra: Is five years of innovation worth the upgrade?

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy S20 Ultra represent two flagship generations five years apart, showcasing how Samsung has evolved in design, performance, and camera technology. With the S20 Ultra still being a capable device at a much lower price, many users might wonder if upgrading to the S25 Ultra is worth it. This comparison highlights the key differences in display, performance, camera capabilities, battery efficiency, and software support to help you decide whether the latest Ultra is a must-have or if the older flagship still holds its ground in 2025.

Design and Display...The Galaxy S25 Ultra brings a more premium build with Gorilla Armor 2 glass and a titanium frame, making it significantly tougher than the S20 Ultra, which features Gorilla Glass 6 and an aluminum frame. Both devices retain IP68 water and dust resistance, but the S25 Ultra feels more durable and refined.

On the display front, both models offer 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels, but the S25 Ultra takes a massive leap with a 2600-nit peak brightness, compared to 1400 nits on the S20 Ultra. The S25 Ultra’s LTPO panel ensures more efficient power consumption and an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, whereas the S20 Ultra was limited to 120Hz at FHD or 60Hz at QHD. The S25 Ultra’s titanium build and superior display make it a clear winner, ensuring better durability and visibility in bright sunlight.

Specifications...The S25 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm), making it significantly faster and more power-efficient than the Snapdragon 865/Exynos 990 (7 nm+) in the S20 Ultra. The Adreno 830 GPU in the S25 Ultra also delivers better gaming and AI-driven optimizations.

The battery remains 5000mAh on both phones, but S25 Ultra supports faster 45W wired charging, while its Qi2-ready 15W wireless charging is more efficient than the S20 Ultra’s. Samsung promises seven years of updates for the S25 Ultra, whereas the S20 Ultra stopped at Android 13.

The S25 Ultra’s chipset and long-term software support make it much more future-proof and efficient, ensuring faster performance and better battery management.

Camera...The S25 Ultra upgrades to a 200MP main sensor, a big leap from the 108MP in the S20 Ultra. The new sensor captures sharper details and better low-light shots. It also enhances zoom with a 50MP periscope lens offering 5x optical zoom, compared to the S20 Ultra’s 48MP periscope with 4x zoom. The ultrawide lens is also improved to 50MP, making it far superior to the 12MP ultrawide of the S20 Ultra.

On the selfie side, the S25 Ultra has a 12MP sensor, which is lower in resolution than the 40MP on the S20 Ultra, but better optimized for HDR and AI processing. Both models support 8K video recording, but the S25 Ultra offers smoother stabilization.

The S25 Ultra’s camera system is more refined and versatile, offering better zoom, low-light performance, and AI enhancements, making it a major upgrade.

Pricing...The S25 Ultra starts at $1,249, while the S20 Ultra initially launched at a higher price of $1,399, but now can be found for as low as $199–$250 due to its age.

If budget isn’t an issue, the S25 Ultra is the better long-term investment, but for someone looking for a flagship at a budget price, the S20 Ultra remains an incredible deal.

S25 Ultra has a titanium frame, making it more durable than the S20 Ultra’s aluminum frame.

The S25 Ultra’s display is brighter and more power-efficient, making it easier to use outdoors.

Seven years of software updates make the S25 Ultra a better long-term choice, while the S20 Ultra is already outdated.

AI-powered photography and improved zoom give the S25 Ultra a major edge in camera performance.

The S25 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Elite ensures better gaming, multitasking, and efficiency compared to the S20 Ultra’s aging chipset.

The S25 Ultra is a major upgrade in almost every department, making it an excellent choice for power users. If you want the best Samsung has to offer and plan to keep your phone for years, go for the Galaxy S25 Ultra. But if you just need a great phone without spending over $1,000, the S20 Ultra is still a worthy option, just keep in mind its aging software support.

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