Is It Worth Buying Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra in 2025? A Smart Choice or Just Hype?
Introduction
Thinking about buying the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra in 2025? This phone came out in early 2024, and now it’s been over a year. Many people wonder if they should still buy it or go for a newer model. In this article, I’ll share honest information about how this phone works after using it for many months. I’ll talk about its good and bad points, current price in India, and help you decide if it’s right for you.
Current Price in India (April 2025)
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra now costs much less than when it first came out:
- 256GB version: Rs 89,999 – Rs 94,999 (launched at Rs 1,19,999)
- 512GB version: Rs 1,09,999 – Rs 1,15,999
- 1TB version: Rs 1,29,999 – Rs 1,34,999
During Amazon and Flipkart sales, with bank offers and exchange deals, you can sometimes get the 256GB model for around Rs 75,000. This is a big drop from the launch price. The phone is now available in most offline stores and online shops across India.
Design and Build Quality in 2025
The S24 Ultra still looks modern even in 2025. It has a strong titanium frame that doesn’t bend or scratch easily. After using it for over a year, the phone still looks good without many scratches. The flat screen is better for using the pen and putting on screen guards.
The phone comes in several colours like Titanium Black, Gray, Violet, and Yellow. In my experience, the Gray colour hides fingerprints best. The phone weighs 232 grams, which is heavy for daily use. My hands often get tired when using it for a long time.
The IP68 water resistance still works well. The screen is protected by Gorilla Armor glass, which has stayed scratch-free with normal use.
One thing to note – this is a big phone. If you have small hands or want to use your phone with one hand, you might find it difficult to use.
Display Quality After One Year
The 6.8-inch screen still looks amazing in 2025. The colours look bright and clear, and the high brightness (2600 nits) means you can see everything clearly even in bright sunlight. This is very useful in Indian summers when using the phone outdoors.
The anti-reflective coating is one of the best features – it reduces glare compared to other phones. The 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling look smooth, and the phone automatically lowers this when not needed to save battery.
After using it for a year, I haven’t noticed any screen burn-in issues, which is good for a phone with an AMOLED display. The flat screen also makes it easier to use screen protectors than curved screens.
Performance in Daily Use
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor still works very well in 2025. For normal tasks like making calls, using WhatsApp, checking email, and browsing social media, the phone feels very fast with no lag.
For heavy tasks like playing games (BGMI, Call of Duty Mobile), the phone still performs excellently. I can play on high graphics settings without the phone getting too hot. The cooling system works well even after a year of use.
All S24 Ultra models come with 12GB RAM, which is plenty for multitasking. I can keep 15-20 apps open at once without any slowdown. The 256GB storage option is enough for most people, but remember there’s no memory card slot, so you can’t add more storage later.
One thing I’ve noticed – after major updates, the phone sometimes feels slower for a few days before it gets back to normal speed.
Camera Performance in 2025
The camera system is still one of the best parts of this phone:
- Main camera (200MP): Takes very clear photos with good colours
- Ultra-wide (12MP): Good for landscape photos and large groups
- 3x zoom (10MP): Perfect for portraits
- 5x zoom (50MP): Great for distant objects
In good lighting, photos look excellent with natural colours and lots of detail. Night photos also look good, though sometimes they can look a bit too bright or unnatural.
The zoom features still work well – up to 10x zoom gives usable photos, but beyond that quality drops quite a bit. The 100x “Space Zoom” is more of a marketing feature than something you’ll use regularly.
For video, the phone can record in 8K, but 4K at 60fps gives the best balance of quality and file size. The video stabilization still works very well, even when walking.
After using it for a year, I’ve noticed the camera is slightly slower to open and take photos compared to when it was new, but the difference is small.
Battery Life After One Year
The 5,000mAh battery in the S24 Ultra still holds up well in 2025. With normal use (calls, messaging, social media, some videos), it easily lasts a full day. Typical screen-on time is around 6-7 hours, which is good for a flagship phone.
Heavy use with gaming, navigation, and camera reduces this to about 5 hours of screen time. In very hot Indian summer days (40°C+), the battery drains faster, which is normal for all phones.
After a year of use, it is noticed about 10% reduction in battery life compared to when it was new. This is normal for lithium batteries.
The 45W charging is not the fastest in 2025 (many Chinese phones now offer 100W+), but it still charges from 0 to 60% in about 30 minutes. A full charge takes around 70 minutes.
Remember, Samsung doesn’t include a charger in the box, so you need to buy one separately if you don’t already have one.
Software Updates and Support
One of the biggest advantages of the S24 Ultra in 2025 is that it still has 5 more years of guaranteed updates. Samsung promised 7 years of updates (until 2031), which is longer than most other Android phones.
The phone launched with Android 14 and One UI 6.1, and has received Android 15 with One UI 7 in early 2025. In my experience, Samsung has been delivering security updates regularly, usually once every 2-3 months.
The Galaxy AI features (introduced in 2024) still work well, including:
- Live translation during calls
- Circle to Search feature
- AI photo editing
- Text suggestions in messaging apps
Some newer AI features from 2025 have also been added through updates, though a few are only available on the S25 series.
Current Issues and Problems
After a year of use, some common issues have appeared:
- Software updates sometimes cause temporary battery drain or slowdown.
- The S Pen button sometimes becomes less responsive with time.
- The under-display fingerprint sensor can be unreliable with wet fingers.
Most of these issues are fixed with software updates or by restarting the phone. Samsung service centres in major Indian cities are quite good at handling warranty cases if needed.
Also Read : Samsung Galaxy M56 5G is made for those who want solid performance, long battery life, and a smooth display experience – all at a budget that makes sense for Indian users
S24 Ultra vs. S25 Ultra: What's Different?
The S25 Ultra launched in January 2025 with these improvements over the S24 Ultra:
- Newer Snapdragon 8 Elite processor (about 25-30% faster)
- Improved 50MP ultra-wide camera (up from 12MP)
- Better battery efficiency
- Slightly thinner and lighter design
- Starts at Rs 1,23,999 (about Rs 30,000 more than S24 Ultra in 2025)
For most regular users, these differences aren’t huge. Unless you need the absolute latest features, the S24 Ultra offers better value in 2025.
Alternatives to Consider in 2025
If you’re looking at the S24 Ultra, you might also want to consider:
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (Rs 1,23,999): The latest model with better processor and cameras
- Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max (Rs 1,34,999): Great cameras and better app ecosystem
- Google Pixel 9 Pro (Rs 94,999): Clean Android experience with faster updates
- OnePlus 13 (Rs 69,999): Similar performance at a lower price, faster charging but fewer camera features
Who Should Buy the S24 Ultra in 2025?
Buy it if:
- You want a premium phone with an S Pen
- You need excellent camera quality, especially zoom
- Long software support (until 2031) is important to you
- You find a good deal (below Rs 85,000)
- You want a Samsung flagship experience without paying for the latest model
Don’t buy it if:
- You want the absolute newest technology
- You prefer smaller, lighter phones
- Fast charging is very important to you
- You have small hands (one-handed use is difficult)
- You don’t care about the S Pen
Real User Experiences from Indian Users
Some users review on S24 Ultra in India:
- The phone is too big for my hands, but I love the S Pen for taking notes in meetings. The screen is beautiful for watching movies on long flights. My only complaint is that it’s heavy to carry around all day.
- I use my phone for work calls and emails. The battery lasts me almost two days with light use. The price drop made it a good value compared to the newer models.
Tips for Buying in 2025
If you decide to buy the S24 Ultra in 2025, here are some tips:
- Wait for sales on Amazon, Flipkart or Samsung.com – they often offer Rs 10,000-15,000 off
- Check bank offers – HDFC, SBI, and ICICI often have extra discounts
- Buy from authorised sellers to ensure proper warranty
- Consider buying the 512GB version if you take lots of photos and videos
Long-term Value
The S24 Ultra’s guaranteed 7 years of updates makes it more future-proof than most Android phones. Even in 2025, it will stay updated until 2031, which is excellent value.
The phone’s resale value also stays relatively strong compared to other Android brands. If you decide to upgrade in 1-2 years, you can still get a decent amount by selling it.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth Buying Samsung S24 Ultra in 2025?
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is still worth buying in 2025 for most people, especially at its reduced price.
It offers flagship performance, excellent cameras, good battery life, and long-term software support. The S Pen adds extra functionality you can’t find on most other phones.
The main drawbacks are its large size, weight, and the lack of super-fast charging. Some newer phones have slightly better processors and cameras, but the differences aren’t huge for everyday use.
If you can get it for around Rs 85,000 or less (which is often possible during sales), it represents excellent value compared to newer flagships costing Rs 1,20,000 or more.
Before making your final decision, try to visit a store and hold the phone to make sure its size feels comfortable in your hand. Also check the latest prices and offers, as they can change during festival sales and special events.
Also see: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Full Review. check all its feature and review on smarttechbyte.com
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra in 2025 is like buying a premium car from last year – you get most of the features of the newest model at a much better price. It’s still a top performer with great cameras, good battery life, and the unique S Pen feature.
If you don’t mind not having the absolute latest model and can handle its size, the S24 Ultra offers excellent value in 2025. With 5 more years of software updates ahead, it’s a phone that will stay useful for a long time.
Whether it’s worth buying depends on your specific needs and budget, but for most people looking for a premium phone experience without the premium price of the newest models, the S24 Ultra is definitely worth considering in 2025.
Also See: Is the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Worth Buying in 2025? – Explore if last year’s flagship with a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, 200MP camera, and S Pen support is still a smart choice this year.