Phone vs phone
Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Galaxy S25 Ultra
Same question, two phones: which costs less over a 24-month contract, which is cheaper to buy outright, and what you actually get for the difference.
bemobiles tips
Which is cheaper over 24 months?
Galaxy S26 Ultra — its best deal costs £915.80 including April rises, £10.16 less than the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Which has the bigger screen and battery?
Screen: Galaxy S26 Ultra 6.9″, Galaxy S25 Ultra 6.9″. Battery: Galaxy S26 Ultra 5,000 mAh, Galaxy S25 Ultra 5,000 mAh.
Is it cheaper to buy either one outright?
Galaxy S26 Ultra: £1,423 SIM-free plus SIM only. Galaxy S25 Ultra: £1,393. Compare with the contract totals above.
Galaxy S26 Ultra£915.80
Galaxy S25 Ultra£925.96True total of the cheapest deal, April rises included
Live from retailers, rises estimated for a contract starting this month.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is the cheaper of the two today: its best contract costs £915.80 over 24 months with April rises, against £925.96 for the Galaxy S25 Ultra — a gap of £10.16, or about £0.42 a month.
Prices checked 29 October 2026 · How we compare
Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Galaxy S25 Ultra, side by side
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| True total (24 months) | £915.80 | £925.96 |
| Cheapest network | Talkmobile | iD Mobile |
| Upfront on that deal | £629 | £19 |
| Monthly on that deal | £11.95 | £35.99 |
| Lowest monthly anywhere | £11.95 | £35.99 |
| SIM-free price from | £1,279 | £1,249 |
| SIM-free + SIM only, 24 months | £1,423 | £1,393 |
| Contract deals tracked | 5,009 | 66 |
| Screen | 6.9 inches | 6.9 inches |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Storage | 256GB | 256GB, 512GB |
| Weight | 214 g | 218 g |
| Released | February 2026 | January 2025 |
| Colours on sale | 4 | 4 |
Highlighted = better on that line. Prices live from retailers; specifications from our data partner’s catalogue.
Network by network
If you already know which network you want, here is the cheapest deal for each phone on it, April rises included.
| Network | Galaxy S26 Ultra | Galaxy S25 Ultra | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| iD Mobile | £982.96 | £925.96 | £57 |
| Vodafone | £1,057 | £1,507 | £450 |
| O2 | £1,083 | £1,559 | £476 |
Our verdict
On price, the Galaxy S26 Ultra wins: £10.16 less over two years once each network’s April rises are counted. That is under £2 a month, so pick on features rather than price.
On the spec sheet, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is the newer phone (February 2026).
Buying outright: Galaxy S26 Ultra SIM-free plus SIM only costs £1,423, more than its cheapest contract; the Galaxy S25 Ultra costs £1,393, more than its contract.
Pick the Galaxy S26 Ultra if…
- You want the lowest monthly price — from £11.95 a month vs £35.99
- You want the lower total — £10.16 less over 24 months
- You prefer a lighter phone
- You want the newer model with longer support ahead
Pick the Galaxy S25 Ultra if…
- You want to pay less on the day — from £0 upfront vs £379
- You prefer Samsung or the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s design
FAQ
Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Galaxy S25 Ultra questions
Which is cheaper, the Galaxy S26 Ultra or the Galaxy S25 Ultra?
The Galaxy S26 Ultra. Its cheapest contract costs £915.80 over 24 months including April rises, £10.16 less than the Galaxy S25 Ultra (£925.96).
What is the cheapest network for each?
For the Galaxy S26 Ultra it is Talkmobile (£629 upfront, £11.95 a month); for the Galaxy S25 Ultra it is iD Mobile (£19 upfront, £35.99 a month).
Is the Galaxy S26 Ultra bigger than the Galaxy S25 Ultra?
The Galaxy S26 Ultra has a 6.9-inch screen and the Galaxy S25 Ultra a 6.9-inch screen; they weigh 214 g and 218 g.
How much are they to buy outright?
SIM-free, the Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at £1,279 and the Galaxy S25 Ultra at £1,249, from retailers we track.