Samsung is raising the bar yet again with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Based on leaks, the new flagship is the pinnacle of cutting-edge mobile technology. But with the Galaxy S22 Ultra still performing admirably, many users are wondering: Is the upgrade worth it? Several Galaxy S22 Ultra users have asked us if they should upgrade to the S25 Ultra. Let’s dive into the key differences to help you decide.
Galaxy S25 Ultra vs S22 Ultra: Design and Build
At first glance, the Galaxy S25 Ultra may look somewhat similar to the S22 Ultra, but there are several notable differences. For one, Samsung has moved on from the boxy design featuring sharp corners. Instead, you get rounded corners. This follows the switch to a flat display in 2024. So, alongside those sharp corners, the curved screen is gone too. Samsung also offers a titanium frame instead of aluminum.
While the overall durability remains largely unchanged — the S22 Ultra already has a very strong build — the titanium frame with Gorilla Armor 2 glass protection on the front and back adds to the S25 Ultra’s strength. Moreover, the new model is more compact, measuring 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm in dimension, while the S22 Ultra is 163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9 mm. This makes the Galaxy S25 Ultra 0.7mm slimmer. At 219 grams, it is also 10 grams lighter than the 2022 model (229 grams).
Verdict: The Galaxy S25 Ultra offers a tangible step up in terms of aesthetics and build, enough to make it a compelling upgrade. But read on, there’s more to this story.
Display technology
Despite a more compact build with a flat display, the Galaxy S25 Ultra gives you a 6.9-inch screen instead of 6.8-inch, all thanks to a 91.4% screen-to-body ratio. That’s an impressive number for a non-curved smartphone (S22 Ultra’s curved design gives you a 90.2% screen-to-body ratio, while last year’s S24 Ultra with a flat display has a screen-to-body ratio of 88.5%). This tells you volumes about the new model’s ultra-slim bezel.
But the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s display isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s an improved M13 OLED panel with a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, much higher than the S22 Ultra’s 1,750 nits. While you get the same Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, QHD+ resolution, and HDR10+ support on the 2022 model, it uses M11 OLED technology. This means enhanced color accuracy and power efficiency on the S25 Ultra. The S Pen isn’t going anywhere, but might lose Bluetooth connectivity. This will drop support for Air Actions or air gestures.
Verdict: Both models feature stunning AMOLED displays, but the Galaxy S25 Ultra edges ahead in some areas; could be a solid reason to upgrade if you use your phone a lot for content consumption.
Processor and Performance
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, Qualcomm’s latest flagship processor, globally. There’s no Exynos version — the S22 Ultra runs the Exynos 2200 in Europe and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in most other markets. The Snapdragon 8 Elite is miles ahead of both. It is a 3nm chip, while the 2022 solutions are 4nm chips, so that’s a huge efficiency boost.
But beyond that, the 2025 model’s Snapdragon chip delivers a massive upgrade in CPU performance, GPU performance, and AI capabilities. Its peak CPU speed of 4.47GHz is 50-60% higher than the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s two processors. This year’s Samsung flagship wins the performance battle by a huge margin. It’s built for the AI era at every level (more on this later).
Moreover, the Galaxy S25 Ultra offers up to 16GB of RAM (the 256GB storage version has 12GB RAM). In contrast, the S22 Ultra comes in 8GB/12GB RAM options. More importantly, Samsung has upgraded the new model to 12nm LPDDR5X RAM chips, much superior to S22 Ultra LPDR5 RAM. Alongside enhanced performance and power efficiency, you get better thermal management too.
Verdict: The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s performance leap is significant; easily a strong reason to upgrade from the S22 Ultra.
Galaxy S25 Ultra vs S22 Ultra: Camera System
The camera system on Samsung’s 2025 flagship looks substantially different from the 2022 model. The main sensor has been upgraded from a 108MP sensor to a 200MP one. Samsung has already done away with the 10MP 10x zoom camera, replacing it with a 50MP 5x zoom camera. the 10MP 3x zoom camera is still around, but the 12MP ultrawide camera upgrades to a 50MP sensor.
The selfie camera has also been upgraded from a 40MP sensor to a 12MP one. On top of this, the Galaxy S25 Ultra benefits from the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s enhanced camera capabilities and Samsung’s refined software processing. Samsung has also introduced new AI-powered camera features. You get better image stabilization, enhanced scene optimization, and a new astrophotography mode to name a few.
Verdict: The camera upgrades are another solid reason for Galaxy S22 Ultra users to switch to the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Battery and Charging
Samsung has always moved cautiously in the battery and charging space. For years, it has limited Galaxy flagships to 45W wired charging. The Galaxy S25 Ultra doesn’t go beyond that. Its battery capacity also remains unchanged at 5,000mAh. However, you should get a longer battery life thanks to improvements in other areas, including the display and processor.
Additionally, the Galaxy S25 Ultra might offer faster wireless charging, with rumors of 25W Qi2 charging support. The new model also brings support for magnetic accessories via a compatible case. With a case, you can attach magnetic wallets and other accessories to the back of your phone. The phone itself lacks built-in magnets, so you need a compatible case for add-on accessories.
Verdict: While features like Qi2 wireless charging and magnetic accessory support are appealing perks, they’re not compelling enough to warrant an upgrade on their own.
Software and Features
Launched with Android 12, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is eligible for four major OS updates, i.e., up to Android 16. So it will get Android 15-based One UI 7, which will run out of the box on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. However, several AI features and camera enhancements won’t make it to the 2022 model. The Galaxy S25 Ulltra is also eligible for seven years of updates, so it will receive new features for years to come.
Verdict: Enhanced software experience and access to new AI tools make a strong case for upgrading from the Galaxy S22 Ultra to S25 Ultra.
Price and Availability
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is expected to start at over $1,300. The exact pricing structure is not known yet, but it surely won’t come cheaper than that. So, upgrading from the Galaxy S22 Ultra will cost you a handsome amount. While Samsung promises up to $900 trade-in credit, the S22 Ultra is likely to fetch much less. The highest trade-in credit is always reserved for the latest models.
That said, with a decent trade-in value and other early bird offers, provided you pre-order the Galaxy S25 Ultra, you might be able to grab a substantial discount on the new model. Your color options include Titanium SilverBlue, Titanium WhiteSilver, Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium JetBlack, Titanium JadeGreen, and Titanium PinkGold, with the latter three being exclusive to Samsung’s official website.
Verdict: The Galaxy S25 Ultra is an expensive phone, but it offers plenty of upgrades over the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Galaxy S25 Ultra vs S22 Ultra: Should you upgrade?
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is undoubtedly a remarkable device, but is it the right time to upgrade from the Galaxy S22 Ultra? The short answer is yes — if you have the budget for Samsung’s latest flagship, it’s a solid choice. While some areas may not show drastic changes, the overall experience takes a significant leap forward. From the display and cameras to the processor, software features, and performance, the Galaxy S25 Ultra offers a notable upgrade over the S22 Ultra.
No doubt, the 2022 model is still a very capable flagship. But if you pit it against the Galaxy S25 Ultra, it fails miserably. There are enough upgrades to justify the expense. Samsung offers savings of up to $1,250 when you pre-order the new model, so you might want to check out the latest deals before buying. Pre-reservations for the phone are already live.
