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Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G vs Galaxy S21+ 5G vs Galaxy S21 5G – How Do They Compare?
The biggest flagships of 2021 so far have officially been announced. Samsung has released its next-generation Galaxy S21 devices. This time the phones come in three models: the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, the Galaxy S21+ 5G, and the Galaxy S21 5G.
They all run 5G, they all have 120Hz OLED displays, and this time Samsung has actually made the Ultra version, well… ULTRA!
Needless to say, there’s a lot to unpack with what is sure to be Android’s hottest smartphones of the year. Let’s dive in and see how the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, the Galaxy S21+ 5G, and the Galaxy S21 5G compare against each other.
Reviews
Galaxy S21 Ultra
Galaxy S21+
Galaxy S21 (Standard Model)
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G vs Galaxy S21+ 5G vs Galaxy S21 5G Quick Comparison
Design
The Samsung Galaxy S21 range does quite a few things differently to the S20 lineup from 2020. And these changes, combined with serious updates to their respective cameras and internal specs, make the S21 one of the best Galaxy S updates in years.
The design, across the range, is fairly uniform and similar. You no longer have curved OLED displays; instead, Samsung has opted for a tighter, more focussed flat screen on all the models. It looks sharper and more refined, in our opinion.
The most notable change is, of course, the protruding camera module on the rear of the phone. It almost looks like a clip-on module. But I think that was the point, as it adds plenty of contrast and character to the phones’ design. It also signals loud and clearly that THIS is a Galaxy S21, not a Galaxy S20 or Galaxy S9.
As always, the build materials are premium and Samsung has, once again, outdone itself with the display tech. All models now run Super AMOLED panels with 120Hz refresh rates – no upscaling. It stays at 120Hz 24/7, a move Samsung achieved by dropped the resolution to 1080p. In our opinion, that trade-off is more than OK. The screens look sublime from every angle.
- Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G – The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G has a 6.8in display. Its industrial design features a Gorilla Glass Victus display and comes in two colors – Phantom Black and Phantom Silver.
- Galaxy S21+ 5G – The Galaxy S21+ 5G has a 6.7in display. Its industrial design features a Gorilla Glass Victus display and comes in four colors – Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Pink, and Phantom Violet.
- Galaxy S21 5G – The Galaxy S21 5G has a 6.2in display. Its industrial design features a Gorilla Glass Victus display and comes in four colors – Phantom Grey, Phantom White, Phantom Pink, and Phantom Violet.
Winner? Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G – At 6.8in the phone is an absolute beast. The Phantom Silver color option is also beautiful.
Displays
- Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G – The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G features a 6.8in Edge Quad HD+ display and features a 120Hz refresh rate.
- Galaxy S21+ 5G – The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G has a 6.7in Flat FHD+ display and features a 120Hz refresh rate.
- Galaxy S21 5G – The Galaxy S21 5G features a 6.2in Flat FHD+ display and features a 120Hz refresh rate.
Winner? Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G – The Edge Quad display is truly stunning. It stands out above the other S21 models by a long shot.
CPU/Processor
With CPUs, Samsung has once again divided up its allocation between its own Exynos 2100 and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 platform. If you’re in the US, you’ll get the Snapdragon 888 version. Elsewhere, meaning the UK and Samsung’s native Korea, will get the Exynos 2100 version.
Both the Snapdragon 888 and Exynos 2100 were built using a 5nm fabrication process, both support 5G out the box, and both provide very fast performance. Reports suggest Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 might have a slight edge in certain areas, but most users should not notice too much difference.
- Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G – the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G features the Octa-core 2.84GHz Exynos 2100 SoC chipset.
- Galaxy S21+ 5G – the Galaxy S21+ 5G features the Octa-core 2.84GHz Exynos 2100 SoC chipset.
- Galaxy S21 5G – the Galaxy S21 5G features the Octa-core 2.84GHz Exynos 2100 SoC chipset.
Winner? Draw. They all use the same CPUs, although the jury’s still out on which is best out of Samsung and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888.
Camera
- Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G – The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G features a staggering 40MP front-facing camera. On the rear camera you get a quad-lens 12MP ultra wide, 108MP wide, and 2x 10MP telephoto lenses.
- Galaxy S21+ 5G – The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G features a 10MP front-facing camera. On the rear camera you get a triple-lens 12MP ultra wide, 12MP wide, 64MP telephoto.
- Galaxy S21 5G – The Galaxy S21 5G features a 10MP front-facing camera. On the rear camera you get a triple-lens 12MP ultra wide, 12MP wide, 64MP telephoto.
Winner? Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G – The 40MP selfie camera is insane. That’s not even to mention the QUAD-lens rear camera with a combined, staggering 100x Space zoom.
Storage Options
- Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G – 128, 256, or 512GB
- Galaxy S21+ 5G – 128 or 256GB
- Galaxy S21 5G – 128 or 256GB
Battery Life
- Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G – The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G’s battery is 5000 mAh. That should get you over a day’s use with mixed usage.
- Galaxy S21+ 5G – The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G’s battery is 4800 mAh. That should get you over a day’s use with mixed usage, too.
- Galaxy S21 5G – The Galaxy S21 5G’s battery is 4000 mAh, which should get you over a day’s use with mixed usage.
Winner? Draw. Despite the varying battery sizes, they all get you over a day’s use on a single charge.
Price
- Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G – $1199 (512GB), $1249 (256GB), or $1199 (128GB).
- Galaxy S21+ 5G – $1049 (256GB) or $999 (128GB).
- Galaxy S21 5G – $849 (256GB) or $799 (128GB).
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Verdict?
The great thing about all three of these phones is that no matter which you choose, you’re getting a lot of identical tech inside. For example, all three phones feature the same 5nm Octa-core 2.84GHz Exynos 2100 SoC chipset. All of the phones also have over a day’s battery life, wireless charging, 120Hz displays, 5G, and the Ultrasonic Fingerprint sensor.
In other words, no matter which S21 you pick, you’re getting a killer Android handset.
However–all that being said–there’s a reason Samsung named the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G “Ultra” for a reason. It has a far superior display thanks to its Edge design. But the single biggest reason to go with the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is for the cameras. The 40MP selfie camera on the Ultra blows the 10MP front cameras you get on the other models away.
And that rear camera setup on the Ultra: QUAD lenses. Two 10MP telephoto lenses, a 108MP wide lens, and a 12MP ultra wide is just amazing. It’s hard to believe so many lenses can be packed into one phone. And it’s sure to set your pics apart. In other words, if you have the cash, go with the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G vs Galaxy S21+ 5G vs Galaxy S21 5G: Specs
Here are the specs for the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G:
- Display: 6.8in Edge Quad HD+ 120Hz
- Dimensions: 75.6×165.1×8.9mm
- Weight: 229 grams
- Storage: 128, 256, or 512GB
- Processors: Exynoss 2100 SoC
- RAM: 16GB (512GB model) 12GB (other models)
- Front camera: 40MP
- Rear camera: 12MP ultra wide, 108MP wide, and 2x 10MP telephoto lenses
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- Other: Ultrasonic Fingerprint, IP68, S Pen compatible, 5G
- Colors: Phantom Black, Phantom Silver
Here are the specs for the Galaxy S21+ 5G:
- Display: 6.7in Flat FHD+ 120Hz
- Dimensions: 75.6×161.5×7.8mm
- Weight: 202 grams
- Storage: 128 or 256GB
- Processors: Exynoss 2100 SoC
- RAM: 8GB
- Front camera: 10MP
- Rear camera: 12MP ultra wide, 12MP wide, 64MP telephoto
- Battery: 4800 mAh
- Other: Ultrasonic Fingerprint, IP68, 5G
- Colors: Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Pink, Phantom Violet
And here are the specs for the Galaxy S21 5G:
- Display: 6.2in Flat FHD+ 120Hz
- Dimensions: 71.2×151.7×7.9mm
- Weight: 171 grams
- Storage: 128 or 256GB
- Processors: Exynoss 2100 SoC
- RAM: 8GB
- Front camera: 10MP
- Rear camera: 12MP ultra wide, 12MP wide, 64MP telephoto
- Battery: 4000 mAh
- Other: Ultrasonic Fingerprint, IP68, 5G
- Colors: Phantom Grey, Phantom White, Phantom Pink, Phantom Violet