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The Galaxy S25 Ultra is Samsung’s flagship choice for a sharper, slightly larger display, an S Pen, dedicated telephoto cameras and up to 1TB of storage. The Galaxy A57 5G is the lower-priced option by Samsung’s U.S. launch figures, while still offering a 120Hz AMOLED display, a 5,000mAh typical battery, IP68 protection and long stated software support. Those launch prices differed by $750, but they are not current-price quotes.
At a glance: which phone fits which buyer?
- Choose the Galaxy S25 Ultra if you will use its S Pen, want dedicated long-range telephoto hardware, prefer the higher-resolution display or need a listed 1TB storage configuration.
- Consider the Galaxy A57 5G if your priority is a lower launch-price tier with a large 120Hz AMOLED screen, IP68 protection and up to six years of stated updates.
- Compare current offers before buying: the $750 difference below is calculated from U.S. launch starting prices announced in different years, not live October 2026 prices or equivalent storage configurations.
Specifications and support periods below are manufacturer-published. They describe hardware and commitments, not independent camera, speed or battery tests.
How much more did the S25 Ultra cost at launch?
Samsung announced a U.S. starting price of $1,299.99 for the Galaxy S25 Ultra on January 22, 2025, and Samsung announced a U.S. starting price of $549.99 for the Galaxy A57 5G on March 25, 2026. The difference between those two launch starting prices is $750. The figures come from different launch years and do not establish today’s transaction prices, discounts, equivalent storage versions, carrier terms or trade-in value. See Samsung’s S25 U.S. launch announcement and A57 U.S. announcement.
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Before deciding, compare the same market, storage capacity and sales channel, and check whether each listing is unlocked or tied to a carrier. The A57’s listed configurations vary by market, so a base-price comparison is not a like-for-like storage comparison.
#1 Best Overall
- Stunning 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with adaptive 1–120 Hz refresh rate, ultra‑bright up to ~2600 nits, HDR support, “Vision Booster,” and adaptive color tone — giving vivid colours, great outdoor visibility, and super‑smooth scrolling.
- Powerful internals: it runs on the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3 nm) chip, with 12 GB (or in some markets up to 16 GB) RAM and up to 1 TB UFS 4.0 storage — offering significantly improved CPU/GPU/NPU performance, especially for AI tasks, gaming, and heavy multitasking.
- Advanced quad‑camera system: 200 MP wide main sensor, plus a 50 MP ultrawide, a 50 MP periscope telephoto (5× optical zoom), and a 10 MP telephoto (3× optical zoom) — giving flexibility from ultra‑wide through detailed telephoto shots, and strong performance in varied lighting.
- 5,000 mAh battery with 45 W fast wired charging, wireless charging (Qi2) and reverse wireless charging — balancing long battery life with flexible charging options.
- Durable, premium build: Titanium‑frame body, protected by Corning Gorilla Armor 2 glass, with IP68 dust/water resistance, ultrasonic in‑display fingerprint sensor, modern connectivity (5G, Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth, UWB, USB‑C), and long‑term software support (Android 15 / One UI 7, promised 7 major OS/security updates).
Galaxy S25 Ultra vs A57 specifications
| Specification | Galaxy S25 Ultra | Galaxy A57 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X; adaptive 120Hz | 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED+; up to 120Hz |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy | Octa-core processor; Samsung UK lists CPU speeds of 2.9GHz, 2.6GHz and 1.9GHz |
| Rear cameras | 200MP wide with OIS; 50MP ultra-wide; 10MP 3x telephoto with OIS; 50MP 5x telephoto with OIS | 50MP wide with OIS; 12MP ultra-wide; 5MP macro |
| Front camera | 12MP with autofocus | 12MP; autofocus is not listed on Samsung UK’s product page |
| RAM and storage | 12GB RAM; 256GB, 512GB or 1TB storage | Global launch configurations: 8GB/128GB, 8GB/256GB, 12GB/256GB or 12GB/512GB; availability varies by market |
| Typical battery capacity | 5,000mAh | 5,000mAh; minimum rated capacity 4,905mAh in Samsung’s global specification table |
| Charging claim | Samsung says up to 65% in around 30 minutes with a 45W adapter and USB-C cable | Samsung says Super Fast Charging 2.0 reaches up to 60% in around 30 minutes |
| Stylus | S Pen and S Pen functionality listed by Samsung | No S Pen claim in the reviewed product specifications |
| Durability details | Titanium frame and Gorilla Armor 2 cover material in Samsung’s launch materials | IP68 water and dust resistance; Gorilla Glass Victus+ listed on Samsung UK’s product page |
| Software support announced | Seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates for the S25 series | Up to six generations of Android OS and One UI upgrades and up to six years of security updates |
| Launch software | Android 15 and One UI 7.0 in Samsung’s January 22, 2025 specification sheet | Android 16 and One UI 8.5 in Samsung’s March 25, 2026 global launch table |
| U.S. launch starting price | $1,299.99, announced January 2025 | $549.99, announced March 2026 |
Sources: Samsung’s S25 Series specification sheet, A57 global launch and specification table, and Samsung UK A57 product page.
Where the S25 Ultra has the clearest hardware advantages
Display resolution and size
The S25 Ultra’s listed display is 6.9 inches with QHD+ resolution, compared with the A57’s 6.7-inch FHD+ panel. Both are AMOLED-class screens with refresh rates up to 120Hz in Samsung’s specifications. The Ultra therefore offers more listed resolution and a slightly larger diagonal; the shared refresh-rate ceiling does not make the panels identical.
Zoom cameras and stylus use
Samsung lists two telephoto cameras on the S25 Ultra, including a 50MP 5x telephoto camera, alongside a 10MP 3x telephoto. The A57’s listed rear cameras are wide, ultra-wide and macro, with no dedicated telephoto listed. That gives the Ultra more dedicated zoom hardware on paper, but specifications alone do not establish a controlled photo-quality result.
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Rank #2
- Stunning 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with adaptive 1–120 Hz refresh rate, ultra‑bright up to ~2600 nits, HDR support, “Vision Booster,” and adaptive color tone — giving vivid colours, great outdoor visibility, and super‑smooth scrolling.
- Powerful internals: it runs on the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3 nm) chip, with 12 GB (or in some markets up to 16 GB) RAM and up to 1 TB UFS 4.0 storage — offering significantly improved CPU/GPU/NPU performance, especially for AI tasks, gaming, and heavy multitasking.
- Advanced quad‑camera system: 200 MP wide main sensor, plus a 50 MP ultrawide, a 50 MP periscope telephoto (5× optical zoom), and a 10 MP telephoto (3× optical zoom) — giving flexibility from ultra‑wide through detailed telephoto shots, and strong performance in varied lighting.
- 5,000 mAh battery with 45 W fast wired charging, wireless charging (Qi2) and reverse wireless charging — balancing long battery life with flexible charging options.
- Durable, premium build: Titanium‑frame body, protected by Corning Gorilla Armor 2 glass, with IP68 dust/water resistance, ultrasonic in‑display fingerprint sensor, modern connectivity (5G, Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth, UWB, USB‑C), and long‑term software support (Android 15 / One UI 7, promised 7 major OS/security updates).
The S Pen is another functional difference: Samsung lists S Pen support for the S25 Ultra. That matters for handwriting, annotating documents and stylus-driven workflows. The reviewed A57 specification does not list an S Pen feature.
Maximum storage
The S25 Ultra is listed with storage up to 1TB. Samsung’s A57 global launch table lists configurations up to 512GB, with the available RAM and storage combinations varying by market. If you need more than 512GB built in, the S25 Ultra is the only one of these listed configurations that reaches 1TB.
Where the A57 remains compelling
The A57 offers a large 6.7-inch AMOLED display with up to 120Hz refresh, a 5,000mAh typical battery capacity, and an IP68 water- and dust-resistance rating. It is the more budget-oriented choice by the U.S. launch starting prices cited above, without giving up a high-refresh AMOLED screen or a long published support commitment.
Rank #3
- Stunning 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with adaptive 1–120 Hz refresh rate, ultra‑bright up to ~2600 nits, HDR support, “Vision Booster,” and adaptive color tone — giving vivid colours, great outdoor visibility, and super‑smooth scrolling.
- Powerful internals: it runs on the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3 nm) chip, with 12 GB (or in some markets up to 16 GB) RAM and up to 1 TB UFS 4.0 storage — offering significantly improved CPU/GPU/NPU performance, especially for AI tasks, gaming, and heavy multitasking.
- Advanced quad‑camera system: 200 MP wide main sensor, plus a 50 MP ultrawide, a 50 MP periscope telephoto (5× optical zoom), and a 10 MP telephoto (3× optical zoom) — giving flexibility from ultra‑wide through detailed telephoto shots, and strong performance in varied lighting.
- 5,000 mAh battery with 45 W fast wired charging, wireless charging (Qi2) and reverse wireless charging — balancing long battery life with flexible charging options.
- Durable, premium build: Titanium‑frame body, protected by Corning Gorilla Armor 2 glass, with IP68 dust/water resistance, ultrasonic in‑display fingerprint sensor, modern connectivity (5G, Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth, UWB, USB‑C), and long‑term software support (Android 15 / One UI 7, promised 7 major OS/security updates).
Samsung’s global announcement says the A57 can last up to two days, but that is a manufacturer claim rather than an independent runtime measurement. Battery life depends on usage, network and settings; the matching 5,000mAh typical-capacity figures for both phones do not prove matching endurance.
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Both phones are listed with a 5,000mAh typical battery. Samsung’s A57 table additionally gives a 4,905mAh minimum rated capacity. Capacity is not a runtime test, so screen use, connectivity and other conditions can produce different results on the two models.
Samsung’s charging figures are also manufacturer guidance: it says the S25 Ultra can reach up to 65% in around 30 minutes with a 45W adapter and USB-C cable, while the A57’s Super Fast Charging 2.0 claim is up to 60% in around 30 minutes. Check local accessory compatibility and what is included with the phone rather than assuming an adapter is in the box.
For protection, Samsung lists IP68 water and dust resistance for the A57, Gorilla Glass Victus+ on its UK product page, and a titanium frame with Gorilla Armor 2 cover material for the S25 Ultra. An ingress-protection rating and cover materials are not guarantees against damage; neither phone should be treated as damage-proof.
Software support and regional differences
Samsung announced seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates for the S25 series. For the A57, Samsung states up to six generations of Android OS and One UI upgrades and up to six years of security updates. Keep the A57’s “up to” qualification: these are manufacturer support commitments, not proof that every future feature will be identical across models.
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The Android and One UI versions in the comparison table are launch-time details, not a statement of the current software version as of October 2026. A57 release timing and configurations differ by market; Samsung said U.S. launch was in April 2026, while its global announcement dates from March 25, 2026. Samsung also cautions that AI feature availability can vary by region, OS/One UI version, model and carrier. Confirm the regional variant and the specific software features you rely on.
Quick Recap
How to choose between them
- Pick the S25 Ultra if the S Pen, listed 3x and 5x telephoto cameras, QHD+ display or 1TB storage option will matter in your daily use.
- Pick the A57 as the value-oriented candidate if its display, battery capacity, IP68 rating and stated update support meet your needs and the Ultra’s specialized hardware does not justify its price for you.
- Recheck actual prices and configurations in your country before purchase: the launch-price gap is historical, and the two base prices do not compare matched storage, promotions, trade-ins or carrier costs.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
