S23 Ultra vs S24 Ultra vs S25 Ultra: Which Second-Hand Samsung Ultra to Buy in 2026?

In September 2026, Samsung raised the price of the Galaxy S26 Ultra in India by ₹15,000. The base model now costs ₹1,54,999. That's a lot of money for a phone, which is why so many people who want the Ultra experience (the big screen, the zoom camera, the S Pen) are now looking at a second-hand Samsung Ultra instead.

The three that make sense in 2026 are the Galaxy S23 Ultra, S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra. They look almost the same from a distance, but they're very different buys once you look at price, software support and a few details Samsung changed along the way. We have more than 100 Ultras in stock across our showrooms right now, so here's what we tell customers who ask us to choose.

The short answer

Best value overall: S24 Ultra. Flat anti-glare screen, titanium body and updates until about 2031, for around ₹66,000.
Best on a tighter budget: S23 Ultra. Still a superb camera phone from around ₹46,000, but its updates end sooner.
Best if you keep phones for 5+ years: S25 Ultra. Fastest, lightest, longest support, for about ₹11,000 more than an S24 Ultra.

Second-hand Samsung Ultra prices in India (2026)

These are the prices of the pre-owned, refurbished and sealed-pack Ultras on our site on 2 November 2026. Prices move with storage, condition and battery, so check the live Galaxy S Ultra listings for today's stock.

Model	Launch price in India	Our price (2 Nov 2026)	Software support
Galaxy S22 Ultra	₹1,09,999	₹41,190 – ₹46,890	Security patches only, ending around Feb 2027
Galaxy S23 Ultra	₹1,24,999	₹46,390 – ₹55,590	Android 17 is its last big update; security patches to about early 2028
Galaxy S24 Ultra	₹1,29,999	₹65,890 – ₹74,690	7 years, to about early 2031
Galaxy S25 Ultra	₹1,29,999	₹77,290 – ₹82,390 pre-owned, from ₹81,390 sealed pack	7 years, to about early 2032
Galaxy S26 Ultra	₹1,39,999 (now ₹1,54,999 new)	From ₹87,590 pre-owned, from ₹92,690 sealed pack	7 years, to about early 2033

Look at the gaps. Going from an S23 Ultra to an S24 Ultra costs about ₹19,500 more. Going from an S24 Ultra to an S25 Ultra costs only about ₹11,400 more. That second jump buys you a newer chip and an extra year of updates, which is why the S25 Ultra is better value than it first looks.

S23 Ultra vs S24 Ultra vs S25 Ultra: key differences

	S23 Ultra	S24 Ultra	S25 Ultra
Chip	Snapdragon 8 Gen 2	Snapdragon 8 Gen 3	Snapdragon 8 Elite
Screen	6.8-inch, slightly curved edges	6.8-inch flat, anti-reflective glass	6.9-inch flat, anti-reflective glass, rounder corners
Frame	Aluminium	Titanium	Titanium
Zoom cameras	3x and 10x (10MP each)	3x (10MP) and 5x (50MP)	3x (10MP) and 5x (50MP)
Ultra-wide camera	12MP	12MP	50MP
S Pen	Bluetooth (Air Actions)	Bluetooth (Air Actions)	No Bluetooth
Weight	234g	232g	218g
Battery and charging	5,000mAh, 45W	5,000mAh, 45W	5,000mAh, 45W

All three have a 200MP main camera, at least 12GB of RAM on the Indian models, and Galaxy AI features.

S23 Ultra vs S24 Ultra: which is better?

This is the comparison we get asked about most, and it's a closer call than YouTube makes it sound.

What the S24 Ultra does better:

The screen. It's flat, brighter outdoors, and its anti-reflective glass makes a real difference in Ahmedabad sunlight. If the S23's curved edges ever bothered you, this fixes it.
Software support. This is the big one. The S24 Ultra gets updates until around 2031. The S23 Ultra's last major Android update is Android 17, with security patches until about early 2028.
Speed. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is faster, especially for gaming and video editing. For WhatsApp, Instagram, banking and camera use, you won't feel much difference.

What the S23 Ultra does better:

Extreme zoom. Its dedicated 10x camera beats the S24's 5x camera for shots at 10x and beyond, like birds, the moon or a stage at a wedding. The S24 Ultra is sharper between 5x and 10x.
Price. About ₹19,500 less at our stores.

Our verdict: if you'll keep the phone for 2 years or less, the S23 Ultra is the smarter buy. If you'll keep it for 3 years or more, pay for the S24 Ultra, because those extra years of updates matter for banking apps and security.

S24 Ultra vs S25 Ultra: which is better?

At our current prices, there's about ₹11,400 between them. For that money, the S25 Ultra gives you:

A much faster, cooler-running chip (the Snapdragon 8 Elite) and better battery life in our experience
A lighter body: 218g against 232g, which you notice by the end of the day
A sharper 50MP ultra-wide camera for group photos and close-ups
One more year of updates

The catch is the S Pen. Samsung removed Bluetooth from the S25 Ultra's pen, so Air Actions are gone. You can't use the pen as a remote camera shutter or wave it to control media. If you use those features, buy the S24 Ultra. If you just write and draw with the pen, the S25 Ultra is the better long-term buy.

Is the S23 Ultra worth buying in 2026?

Yes, for the right person. At around ₹46,000, you get a 200MP camera, a 10x zoom, an S Pen and a phone that still feels quick. Just know that its last big Android update is Android 17, and security patches are expected to run until about early 2028. That makes it a great 2-year phone. For 4 or 5 years, look at the S24 or S25 Ultra instead.

And is the S24 Ultra worth buying in 2026?

Absolutely. It's the sweet spot of the range. It has a modern design, the anti-glare screen and support until around 2031, at roughly half its launch price.

What about the S22 Ultra or S21 Ultra?

They're tempting at ₹23,000 to ₹47,000, but be careful:

The S21 Ultra stopped receiving updates in early 2026. We wouldn't use one for UPI or banking.
The S22 Ultra is in its last year. It already gets security patches only once a quarter, and those are expected to stop around February 2027.

At ₹41,190, an S22 Ultra costs only about ₹5,000 less than an S23 Ultra with a year more support. We'd pay the difference.

8 checks before you buy a used Samsung Ultra

Make sure it's an Indian unit. In Settings > About phone, check the model number. Model numbers ending in U or U1 (like SM-S928U) are American units, which can have trouble with Jio 5G and Samsung Wallet in India.
Remove the old accounts. The seller should sign out of their Samsung and Google accounts and factory reset the phone in front of you. Otherwise, the phone can lock after a reset.
Ask about EMI. Phones bought on finance can sometimes be locked remotely if the original owner stops paying, even after the phone has been sold. Buyers on TechEnclave have been caught by this. Ask for the bill and proof the loan is closed.
Check the IMEI. Dial *#06#, match it with the box and bill, and check it on Sanchar Saathi. Our Sanchar Saathi guide explains how.
Inspect the screen. Open a plain grey or white image at full brightness. Look for burn-in (faint shadows of the keyboard or navigation bar) and thin green or pink lines, which show up on some older Samsung screens.
Check the battery. Open the Samsung Members app, go to Diagnostics and run Battery status. You want "Good" or "Normal". Also check that it says "Super fast charging" on a proper 45W charger.
Test the S Pen. Write across the whole screen, including the edges. Pull it out and put it back to check the alerts. On the S23 or S24 Ultra, try Air Actions too.
Test every camera. Tap through 0.6x, 1x, 3x and 5x or 10x. Look for dust inside the lenses and make sure each one focuses. Then run Samsung Members > Diagnostics > Test all for everything else.

Buying from a store? Every Samsung phone on our site has already passed our 120-point check, but it's still worth spending five minutes on these yourself.

Buying a second-hand Galaxy Ultra from The Digital Hub

We currently have S21 to S26 Ultras in stock, sold as Pre-Owned, Certified Refurbished and Sealed Pack. Here's what comes with every one:

A 120-point inspection, with the phone checked to be 100% original, IMEI-verified and FRP-free (no Google lock)
Battery health or grade shown on every listing
At least a 3-month warranty, and 6 months on many Ultras (check the listing)
7-day returns, a GST invoice, free insured delivery across India and EMI from 3 to 12 months

See every Samsung Ultra in stock, compare them in person at our showrooms in Gandhinagar, South Bopal and Bodakdev, or WhatsApp us on +91 8980 700 700 with your budget. If you're torn between an Ultra and an iPhone, our second-hand iPhone buying guide covers the Apple side. And if you're wondering why new phones cost so much this year, read why phone prices are increasing in India.

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, S23 Ultra or S24 Ultra?

The S24 Ultra is better overall, with a flat anti-glare screen, a titanium frame, a faster chip and updates until about 2031. The S23 Ultra has a better 10x zoom and costs about ₹19,500 less. Pick the S23 Ultra for 1 to 2 years of use, and the S24 Ultra for longer.

How many years of updates will the S23 Ultra get?

The S23 Ultra launched with Android 13 and was promised four Android upgrades, so Android 17 (One UI 9) is its last. Security patches are expected until about early 2028.

What is the second-hand price of the S24 Ultra in India?

At our stores in November 2026, a checked, warrantied S24 Ultra costs ₹65,890 to ₹74,690, depending on storage, condition and battery.

S24 Ultra vs S25 Ultra: which should I buy?

The S25 Ultra is faster, lighter and supported for a year longer, for about ₹11,400 more. Buy the S24 Ultra only if you use the S Pen's Air Actions, since the S25 Ultra's pen has no Bluetooth.

Is it safe to buy a second-hand Samsung Ultra?

Yes, if it's an Indian unit with a clean IMEI, the previous owner's accounts are removed, there's no unpaid EMI on it, and you get a warranty and a return window. Run the 8 checks above before you pay.

Is the S22 Ultra still worth buying?

Only if you'll replace it within a year. Its security updates are expected to end around February 2027. An S23 Ultra costs only a little more and is supported for about a year longer.