Samsung kicked off the year with the launch of its Galaxy S25 series back in January. While the Galaxy S25 Ultra stole most of the spotlight, it’s worth remembering that two other models also arrived — the Galaxy S25+ and the standard Galaxy S25. For those looking for a compact Android flagship, the regular Galaxy S25 stands out as one of the few premium small-screen phones on the market. Sure, there’s the Xiaomi 15, but if you’re after something tried and trusted, Samsung’s base Galaxy S line is still your best bet. And if you’re not into iOS and don’t want to switch to an iPhone 15 or 16, then the Galaxy S25 or its predecessor, the S24, are both worth considering.
Which of the two devices should you choose now that they are on the market, each with a distinct pricing range? Is it advisable to spend more money on the Galaxy S25 or save some money and purchase the Galaxy S24? Let us dissect it.
Pricing: How much more does the Galaxy S25 cost?
There are 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB versions of the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S25. On Samsung India’s website, the Galaxy S24 (128GB) is presently priced at Rs 64,999. You may instantly save Rs 10,000 with an HDFC Bank deal, lowering the price to Rs 54,999. Alternatively, the Galaxy S25 (128GB) costs Rs 80,999. You receive a Rs 7,000 discount when you use the same bank card, bringing the total cost down to Rs 67,999.
Thus, the difference between the two phones is Rs 13,000. Does the Galaxy S25 justify the higher price? Let us investigate.
Design: Subtle but noticeable refinements
The Galaxy S25 and the Galaxy S24 do not appear to be all that different at first glance. However, certain things have changed. Samsung’s camera rings now have a blacked-out appearance, and the company has added two more colors: navy and icy blue. Additionally, the bezels surrounding the screen are thinner. It would have been good to see Gorilla Armor 2 on the more recent model, even though both phones have Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The Galaxy S24’s thickness is 7.6mm, whereas the Galaxy S25’s is 7.2mm, which is a minor but visible difference. Although it might not seem like much, the slimmer S25 has a marginally better hand grip.
Memory: 12GB RAM finally makes it to the base model
This year’s biggest shift is that all Galaxy S25 models now come with 12GB of RAM as standard. Compared to the Galaxy S24, which only has 8GB of RAM, this is an improvement. 8GB is sufficient for social media, messaging, and light gaming for the majority of casual users. However, 12GB RAM gives you an advantage if you frequently multitask, play demanding games, or want a phone that maintains speed over time. It helps with faster app launches, better animations, and a reduction in lag by keeping more programs running in the background.
Performance: Big leap with Snapdragon 8 Elite
The Galaxy S25 presents a strong argument in this regard. It is powered by the most recent Snapdragon 8 Elite CPU, which is a significant improvement over the Exynos 2400 found in several areas’ Galaxy S24. Additionally, the Galaxy S25 has a 15% larger vapour chamber cooling system than the S24. The Galaxy S24 performed admirably under normal conditions, however in specific conditions, like as Android Auto, it did become quite heated. On the Galaxy S25, the heating problems are less of an issue. Because of improved efficiency and tuning, the S25’s battery lasts longer even though it still has a 4,000mAh capacity. Overall, performance is faster, smoother, and more dependable.
Camera: Same hardware, better results
Although the Galaxy S25’s camera technology is identical to that of its predecessor, the images convey a distinct message. Images are more realistic and color tones, particularly skin tones, are more accurate thanks to Samsung’s Pro-Visual Engine and an upgraded ISP (Image Signal Processor). The experience seems more professional because to features like a new zoom slider and smooth lens swapping during video recording. Camera aficionados may now adjust the appearance of photographs in real time with additional options including exposure adjustments and ND filter settings in the Expert RAW mode.
Galaxy S25 or Galaxy S24: Which one should you buy?
So, is the Galaxy S25 worth the additional Rs 13,000? The answer is definitely yes if you care about performance, multitasking, improved heat management, and camera enhancements. The Galaxy S25 is more future-proof because to its Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and 12GB of RAM. Additionally, you are receiving a more elegant overall experience, a longer battery life, and a cleaner design.
However, if you are on a tight budget, the Galaxy S24 is still an excellent small flagship. You can buy the same display, comparable camera hardware, and good daily performance with 8GB RAM for Rs 54,999 (with bank discount). The Galaxy S24 will not disappoint you if you are a light user or do not mind not using the newest upgrades.
In summary, the Galaxy S24 is still a very affordable option, but the Galaxy S25 is the more sophisticated and powerful one. Whether you want the best Samsung has to offer or a good deal that does the majority of the work for less will determine which option you choose.
