Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Prices Compared
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra starts at $1,299 for 256GB. Carrier trade-in deals regularly bring the effective price to $499–$699. Samsung, Best Buy, and carrier stores run the most frequent promotions.
About Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Configurations: 256GB ($1,299), 512GB ($1,419), 1TB ($1,659). Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, 12GB RAM across all tiers, 6.9-inch QHD+ 120Hz LTPO, 200MP main + 50MP 5x telephoto, S Pen built-in, titanium frame, 5,000mAh battery.
S Pen change: The S25 Ultra's S Pen drops Bluetooth-based remote-shutter and air actions found on prior models. Writing and drawing work normally. If you depended on remote camera triggering, this is a step back.
AI features: Galaxy AI suite (Circle to Search, Live Translate, generative photo edit) is free through 2026, then likely paid. Factor that into your value calculation.
What's a good price for an S25 Ultra?
256GB unlocked ($1,299): Good $1,099 (Amazon, Samsung sales). Excellent $999 during major events. Floor: $899 with Samsung trade-in credit.
512GB unlocked ($1,419): Samsung often offers a free storage upgrade promo at launch — pay $1,299 for 512GB. Watch for this rather than buying 256GB at full price.
Trade-in path: Samsung accepts almost any working smartphone for $200–$800 credit. An S24 Ultra trade-in typically returns $700–$800. Their trade-in is more aggressive than Apple's.
Carrier path: T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T routinely offer the S25 Ultra "free" or up to $1,000 off with trade-in plus new line on a premium plan. Read the fine print — many require 36 months and a $90/month plan.
Refurbished: Samsung Certified Renewed lists prior models at ~25% off with a 1-year warranty. S25 Ultra Renewed should appear in mid-2026 around $899.
Where to buy — retailer notes
Samsung.com: The single best path for trade-in. Samsung often layers a free storage upgrade, free Buds, and trade-in credit simultaneously. Samsung Financing offers 0% APR for 24 months.
Amazon: Frequent $100–$200 discounts during Prime events. Watch for "Amazon Renewed" units at $200 off — Amazon's renewed warranty is 90 days, weaker than Samsung Renewed.
Best Buy: Carrier-locked variants discount fastest; My Best Buy Plus members get early sale access. Geek Squad protection adds value if you're rough on phones.
Costco: Often bundles a $100 gift card with carrier activation. Membership required.
Carrier stores (T-Mobile / Verizon / AT&T): Largest absolute discounts with trade-in, but you sign up for 24–36 months of service. Check the total cost of ownership, not just the upfront discount.
Samsung Certified Renewed (when available): Full Samsung warranty, replaced battery, original retail box. Best risk-adjusted path on the secondary market.