Samsung closed the year in January with the launch of its Galaxy S25 series. While the Galaxy S25 Ultra stole most of the spotlight, it is worth remembering that two other models also arrived – the Galaxy S25+ and standard Galaxy S25. For those looking for compact Android flagship, the regular Galaxy S25 stands out as one of the small-screen phones on the market. Surely, there is Xiaomi 15, but if you are after trying something and being reliable, Samsung’s base Galaxy S line is still your best condition. And if you are not in iOS and do not want to switch to the iPhone 15 or 16, then Galaxy S25 or its preceding, S24, both are worth considering.

Now that both devices are available in the market – and at different price points – the question is: for whom should you go? Is it better to save some money and buy Galaxy S24, or spend more and get a new Galaxy S25? Let’s break it.

Pricing: How high is the cost of Galaxy S25?

Both Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S25 come in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB variants. The Galaxy S24 (128GB) is currently listed on Samsung India website for Rs 64,999. With an HDFC bank offer, you can immediately get a discount of Rs 10,000, which can cost Rs 54,999. On the other hand, the price of Galaxy S25 (128GB) is Rs 80,999. With the same bank card, you get a discount of Rs 7,000, dropped the final cost to Rs 67,999.

So there is a difference of Rs 13,000 between the two phones. Is the Galaxy S25 worth that extra money? Let’s know.

Design: Subtle but noticeable purification

At first glance, the Galaxy S25 does not look different from the Galaxy S24. But there are some changes. Samsung has started a new colored and icy blue color-and the camera rings now have a black-out look. The bezels around the display are also slimer. While both phones have the feature of Gorilla Glass Victus 2, it would be good to see Gorilla Armer 2 on the new model. A small but noticeable change is thickness – the galaxy S25 is 7.2 mm thick, while the galaxy S24 measures 7.6 mm. This may not take much, but thin S25 provides a slightly better grip in the hand.

Memory: 12GB RAM finally makes it for the base model

A major change this year is that the Galaxy S25 comes as a standard with 12GB of RAM in all variants. It is a step from the Galaxy S24, which only offers 8GB of RAM. For most casual users, 8GB is fine for social media, messaging and light gaming. But if you often do multitasks, play heavy games, or want a phone that stays fast over time, 12 GB RAM gives you the edge. It runs more apps in the background, reduces gaps, and helps with smooth animation and faster app launch.

Performance: Big Jump with Snapdragon 8 Elite

This is where the Galaxy S25 makes a solid case for itself. It runs on the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, a clear step from Exynos 2400 used in Galaxy S24 in many areas. The Galaxy S25 also has a vapor chamber cooling system that is 15 percent larger than one in S24. While the Galaxy S24 was well held in regular use, it became quite hot during some functions such as Android Auto. Those heating issues are less than a concern on the Galaxy S25. Overall, the performance is sharp, smooth and more reliable – and while the battery is still 4,000mAh, S25 is long thanks to better efficiency and tuning.

Camera: same hardware, better results

The Galaxy S25 takes the same camera to hardware as its predecessor, but the photos tell a different story. With a better ISP (image signal processor) and Samsung’s pro-visual engine, images look more wide and color tone-especially the skin tons are more accurate. Features such as seamless lens switching and a new zoom slider feel more polished during video recording. For the camera enthusiasts, expert Raw Mode now provides additional equipment such as exposure control and ND filter settings to help you get the look of photos in real time.

Galaxy S25 or Galaxy S24: Which one should you buy?

So, should you spend an additional Rs 13,000 on Galaxy S25? If performance, multitasking, better thermal management, and camera improvement matters to you, the answer is yes. Snapdragon 8 Elite Chip and 12 GB RAM Galaxy S25 make future proofs. You are also getting a cleaner design, long battery life and more sophisticated overall experience.

But the Galaxy S24 is still a great compact flagship, especially if you are trying to stick to a budget. For Rs 54,999 (after bank discounts), you are getting solid day-to-day performance with the same display, similar camera hardware and 8 GB RAM. If you are a light user or do not object to leaving the latest updates, the Galaxy S24 will not disappoint you.

In short, the Galaxy S25 is a more powerful and polished option, but the Galaxy S24 is a great value for paisa. Your pick depends on what you want is to introduce Samsung the best – or a smart deal that works the most for low.