Introduction
Samsung S lineup has evolved quite a bit for the last couple of years, moving from two flagship models to three, but arguably the most significant change is the ultimate Galaxy S flagship - the Ultra. And we can say that this year's Ultra makes no compromises, unlike its predecessor, which, although a great phone, was missing some key features and was playing catch-up with the competition. The Galaxy Ultra S21 5G, however, doesn't have that issue. It checks absolutely all the boxes and has a couple of unique features that may persuade you to buy one despite the relatively high price. Which, by the way, is €100 lower than last year so there goes your first reason.
A quick look at the specs sheet suggest a significant upgrade in the camera department as the device features not one but two telephoto lenses. One offers a game-changing 10x optical zoom, while the other delivers a more flexible 3x optical zoom.
The primary sensor isn't overlooked either, which is a second-generation 108MP sensor with 9-in-1 pixel nona-binning. Additionally, the Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel can now go up to 120Hz with a 1440p+ resolution. It's also brighter and supports an adaptive refresh rate ranging from 10Hz to 120Hz, just like the Note20 Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G specs at a glance:
- Body: 165.1x75.6x8.9mm, 227g; Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frame; IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins), Stylus support.
- Display: 6.80" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak), 1440x3200px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 515ppi; Always-on display.
- Chipset: Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - International, Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 (5 nm) - USA/China: Octa-core (1x2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A55) - International, Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 680 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 680 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 680 - USA/China; Mali-G78 MP14 - International, Adreno 660 - USA/China.
- Memory: 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM; UFS 3.1, .
- OS/Software: Android 11, One UI 3.1.
- Rear camera: Wide (main): 108 MP, f/1.8, 26mm, 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, Laser AF, OIS; Telephoto: 10 MP, f/4.9, 240mm, 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom; Telephoto: 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm, 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom; Ultra wide angle: 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video.
- Front camera: 40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.7µm, PDAF.
- Video capture: Rear camera: 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS; Front camera: 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps.
- Battery: 5000mAh; Fast charging 25W, USB Power Delivery 3.0, Fast Qi/PMA wireless charging 15W, Reverse wireless charging 4.5W.
- Misc: Fingerprint reader (under display, ultrasonic); NFC; FM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent); Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support), Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified), Ultra Wideband (UWB) support.
Unfortunately, we can't say the same for the vanilla Galaxy S21 5G. There are a couple of noticeable downgrades in terms of build quality, display and the exclusion of the microSD card. The display is no longer 1440p+ and caps at 1080p while the back of the device is plastic. We saw a similar move from Samsung when it released the vanilla Galaxy Note20. And while those downgrades were introduced, no upgrades were made, too, except for the chipset, of course. We just hope the lower resolution screen would affect the battery life positively as it wasn't stellar before.
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G specs at a glance:
- Body: 151.7x71.2x7.9mm, 169g; Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame; IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins).
- Display: 6.20" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak), 1080x2400px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 421ppi; Always-on display.
- Chipset: Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - International, Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 (5 nm) - USA/China: Octa-core (1x2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A55) - International, Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 680 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 680 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 680 - USA/China; Mali-G78 MP14 - International, Adreno 660 - USA/China.
- Memory: 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM; UFS 3.X.
- OS/Software: Android 11, One UI 3.1.
- Rear camera: Wide (main): 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm, 1/1.76", 1.8µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS; Telephoto: 64 MP, f/2.0, 29mm, 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 1.1x optical zoom, 3x hybrid zoom; Ultra wide angle: 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚, 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video.
- Front camera: 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, Dual Pixel PDAF.
- Video capture: Rear camera: 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS; Front camera: 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps.
- Battery: 4000mAh; Fast charging 25W, USB Power Delivery 3.0, Fast Qi/PMA wireless charging 15W, Reverse wireless charging 4.5W.
- Misc: Fingerprint reader (under display, ultrasonic); NFC; FM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent); Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support), Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified).
To make up for those changes, Samsung lowered the Galaxy S21 price. This one goes for €50 less than its predecessor, and after a few months, it could easily fit in the "affordable flagship" category. But until then, let's take a closer look at what the two Galaxy S21s look and feel like at first glance.
Design and handling
The Samsung Galaxy S21-series is a small but noticeable departure from the Galaxy S20 lineup in terms of design. The camera positioning is the same, and so is the front design. But the devil lies in the details. Let's talk about that huge bump on the back.
Although large and protruding quite a bit, the camera bump on the back is what makes the Galaxy S21 Ultra stand out. We like what Samsung has achieved with the design here. The module is one whole piece of aluminum and seamlessly transitions into the frame.
The glass on the front of the Galaxy S21 Ultra is Gorilla Glass Victus, while the one on the back is Gorilla Glass too but of unspecified generation.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Honestly, it's an unwieldy phone, sitting at 227g and measuring 8.9mm in thickness, not accounting for the camera bump. But that's understandable given that the device is made of glass and metal and houses a 5,000mAh battery. The camera hardware probably adds some extra weight, too.
The frosted glass feels soft, nice and premium. Fingerprints don't stick, too, at least on the black version of the phone we got. Unfortunately, there's no way around the slippery nature of the finish. That's its only weakness.
Flipping the phone around reveals little change on the front. The centered-punch hole is there, and the subtle curvature on the left and right edges too. Gone are the days of curved Galaxies. The curvature is so small that it merely serves aesthetic purposes by making the bezels look smaller. It also helps with the grip a little.
Yes, we know it's 2021 already, and we take thin bezels for granted, but the ones on the new Galaxy S21s are even thinner, even though the size reduction is small. You can mostly see in the bottom bezel, which is sensibly smaller than before but still ever so slightly thicker than the rest.
We are quite impressed with the top loudspeaker, which doubles as an earpiece too. It's so small that you can barely notice it. A fingernail barely fits, and you have to hold the phone at the right angle to see it. However, the sound coming from it is powerful. Can't wait to see how it fares in our loudspeaker loudness test.
And as for the buttons and the fingerprint reader - they are all well-positioned and within comfortable thumb reach without requiring finger gymnastics.
Hardware overview
When it comes to upgrades, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is in stark contrast to its smaller siblings - it has quite a few upgrades over its predecessor, while the Galaxy S21 and S21+ are more modest upgrades.
Let's start with the display. It's still Dynamic AMOLED 2X, but this time around, it can support 1440p+ resolution at 120Hz. The adaptive refresh rate control is as advanced as on the Galaxy Note20 (10Hz to 120Hz) but offering even more granular control, depending on the scenario. It's also brighter, supporting an S Pen. It doesn't have a holster for the pen, but it's the first Galaxy S flagship to offer Galaxy Note's stylus functionalities.
Perhaps Samsung wants to make a steady transition before axing the Galaxy Note-series. Those who want a big screen without the S Pen don't have to pay a price premium for it. And those that can't do without one - have another phone model to choose from.
The annual chipset upgrade is also at hand. Those living in South Korea, China and the US get the Snapdragon 888-powered version while the rest get the Exynos 2100. Both chipsets are based on the 5nm node, but this time around, Samsung promises that it has finally closed the gap between the two SoCs. In fact, preliminary benchmarks suggest the Exynos 2100 is actually faster in some cases compared to the Snapdragon 888. We will make sure to check those claims in the full review.
The camera department has gotten some love from Samsung, too. The upgraded 108MP ISOCELL HM3 sensor from Samsung with nona-binning promises better overall performance in all scenarios - including the autofocus, which was the biggest issue with the previous generation.
There's also an optical 10x zoom camera, which uses a 10MP sensor, and the periscope zoom refracts the light just two times as opposed to the 5 times the Huawei P40 Pro+ does, ensuring a clearer, sharper image.
An identical 10MP sensor is used for a more mid-range 3x optical zoom when 10x is just too much. This makes the Galaxy S21 Ultra one of the most versatile camera experiences on the market. The 12MP ultrawide gets a decent upgrade with its autofocus, which allows for better close-up shots.
Lastly, the cutout on the front houses a 40MP camera capable of recording up to 4K@60fps videos.
We feel like we should also mention the upgraded fingerprint reader. It's still ultrasonic, but it's now bigger and faster. We can definitely feel the difference - just a light touch is enough to unlock the device within a matter of milliseconds.
Among all those upgrades, here comes a shortlist of downgrades. There's no microSD card slot available, and the device still starts at 128GB. The wired fast charging is now limited to 25W, and you don't get any charger in the box too. It's surprising how quickly Samsung is following Apple in this move.
Design and handling
The Galaxy S21 feels a lot different than the S21 Ultra - in more than one way. Aside from the obvious fact that it's much lighter and compact (just 163g and 7.9mm thick), the back panel is also made of plastic, not glass. A notable downgrade from the last year's vanilla Galaxy S20. There's a silver lining to it, though.
The matte finish on the back feels different, providing a bit better grip, while still not attracting fingerprints or smudges. The Phantom Violet color we received goes well with the rose gold-ish side frame and camera bump. Moreover, cracking or scratching your back panel doesn't make it an expensive incident. Surely a plastic back panel is cheaper to replace.
And to be absolutely honest about it, we had to use the phone for a while before noticing that there's something off with the back. Perhaps that's what Samsung intended "glasstic" to be for all these years. At least the front panel is Gorilla Victus-protected.
The bump is considerably smaller than on the Ultra and somewhat more symmetrical, too.
Samsung Galaxy S21
The vanilla S21's thin bezels are somewhat more noticeable, in a good way. You can definitely appreciate them more as the phone feels tiny. And so is the earpiece. Still wrapping our heads around how small the earpiece is.
Going down in size hasn't ruined the Galaxy S21's button and fingerprint reader positioning. Everything is within a thumb's reach.
Hardware overview
This section is going to be short and not because there's no hardware to talk about but mostly because there are no significant changes to talk about. Aside from the new chipset, of course.
On the other hand, there are some downgrades that need to be addressed. For instance, the Dynamic AMOLED 2X has been downgraded to 1080p+ resolution but keeps the 120Hz refresh rate. The microSD card slot has been axed, the camera setup is absolutely identical to the S20 (but you do get a couple of new features, though). The battery capacity and charging tech are the same, too.
And while the overall camera setup worked out pretty well last time, so we don't mind Samsung sticking to the proven recipe, but a bump in the battery capacity would have been greatly appreciated. Last year's S20 didn't do a good job in our endurance tests, so we hope the new display and more efficient SoC will have a positive impact.
First camera samples
Plenty to go through in the camera section. At least when it comes to the Ultra. That's why we are going to leave all the features and tidbits for the full review. For now, we will show you a glimpse of what the S21 Ultra can do. We took all four cameras for a spin, and here's what we got.
Galaxy S21 Ultra camera samples: Main • Ultrawide
And here are the 3x and 10x zoom samples.
Galaxy S21 Ultra telephoto sample: 3x • 10x
Of course, we took a couple of samples with the vanilla Galaxy S21, too.
Galaxy S21 camera samples: Main • Ultrawide • 3x zoom
Software
As the name implies, One UI 3.1 offers incremental changes to the software compared to the rest of the Samsung phones running One UI 3.0. The OS is still based on Android 11. The UI appearance, animations and settings are the same. A couple of notable changes, though.
One of the first attempts for continuity across Samsung devices is being introduced here. Currently, only the Samsung Internet browser and Samsung Notes offer real-time sync with multiple devices. You can start taking notes and browsing on your phone and seamlessly switch to your tablet, for example.
Sceenshots from the UI and the updated camera app
Cool new call background videos freshen up the call screen, the S Pen support earns another mention, but we have a feeling this would remain an exclusive S21 Ultra feature for the time being.
The camera app has seen some big changes too. The video resolution toggles are now just a tap away, located on the viewfinder. A new Director's View feature gives you live footage from all four cameras - main, ultrawide, 3x telephoto and selfie. You can switch between cameras on the fly while recording a video. Lastly, there's a new Focus enhancer toggle that promises better focusing performance.
Early verdict
For such feature-packed phones, it's tough to form an early impression. But we do feel like it's a step forward for the Ultra and a side step for the other two in the family. Sure, the S21 and the S21+ both received a significant price reduction to be in line with the absence of some features and even the downgrades, but it still feels it's not enough. In a couple of months, the Galaxy S21 will be an excellent compact flagship at a lucrative price, while the Plus model will touch the Ultra size at a more manageable price as well.
Coincidentally, Samsung is in an excellent position to sell the S21 Ultra at €1,250. The microSD card slot might have been axed, but apart from this, the handset packs pretty much any the features you'd want in a flagship smartphone. There's not a single corner cut this time around, and while last year's Ultra was playing catch-up, the S21 Ultra seems to be setting the bar this time around. A full review is on its way so let's wait for the numbers to come in and see if they can justify the price tag.
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