Galaxy S21+ to Galaxy S25+: Is It Worth Upgrading?
A plain-English look at what actually changes, 4 years apart.
Yes — the Galaxy S25+ is a worthwhile upgrade
The Galaxy S25+ is 4 years newer than the Galaxy S21+, and the BeastScore rises from 77.0 to 84.3. The biggest improvements: performance rated 10 points higher, camera rated 16 points higher, display rated 4 points higher.
What you gain with the Galaxy S25+
- Performance rated 10 points higher
- Camera rated 16 points higher
- Display rated 4 points higher
- Newer Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset (replaces Samsung Exynos 2100)
- 100 mAh bigger battery
- 20W faster wired charging
- 1,300 nits brighter peak display
- Higher-resolution main camera (+38 MP)
- 4 GB more RAM
- 10 g lighter
Head-to-head
| Spec | Galaxy S21+ | Galaxy S25+ | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BeastScore (overall) | 77.0 | 84.3 | +7.3 (9%) |
| Performance score | 80 | 90 | +10 (13%) |
| Camera score | 75 | 91 | +16 (21%) |
| Battery score | 78 | 78 | No real change |
| Display score | 86 | 90 | +4 (5%) |
| Chipset | Samsung Exynos 2100 | Snapdragon 8 Elite | New generation chip |
| Battery capacity | 4,800 mAh | 4,900 mAh | +100 mAh |
| Wired charging | 25W | 45W | +20W (80%) |
| Wireless charging | 15W | 15W | No real change |
| Screen size | 6.7" | 6.7" | No real change |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | No real change |
| Peak brightness | 1,300 nits | 2,600 nits | +1,300 nits (100%) |
| Main camera | 12 MP | 50 MP | +38 MP (317%) |
| Optical zoom | 3x | 3x | No real change |
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB | +4 GB (50%) |
| Weight | 200 g | 190 g | −10 g (5%) |
| Launch price | $999 | $999 | No real change |
Upgrade if…
- You regularly run out of battery before the end of the day
- Photo quality is a priority for you
- You play demanding games or want the newest on-device AI features
- You use your phone outdoors a lot and want a brighter, smoother screen
- Your Galaxy S21+ is 4+ years old and its battery has worn down
Galaxy S21+ to Galaxy S25+: Common Questions
Is it worth upgrading from the Galaxy S21+ to the Galaxy S25+?
Yes — the Galaxy S25+ is a worthwhile upgrade. The Galaxy S25+ is 4 years newer than the Galaxy S21+, and the BeastScore rises from 77.0 to 84.3. The biggest improvements: performance rated 10 points higher, camera rated 16 points higher, display rated 4 points higher.
What is the biggest difference between the Galaxy S21+ and Galaxy S25+?
Performance rated 10 points higher: 80 on the Galaxy S21+ vs 90 on the Galaxy S25+.
Does the Galaxy S25+ have a bigger battery than the Galaxy S21+?
The Galaxy S25+ has a 4,900 mAh battery versus 4,800 mAh on the Galaxy S21+ (+100 mAh).
Who should upgrade to the Galaxy S25+?
Upgrade if: You regularly run out of battery before the end of the day; Photo quality is a priority for you; You play demanding games or want the newest on-device AI features; You use your phone outdoors a lot and want a brighter, smoother screen; Your Galaxy S21+ is 4+ years old and its battery has worn down.