Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra In-Depth Review: The Blueprint of Mobile Luxury

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra represents a definitive moment for the brand—the point where “Ultra” transitioned from a marketing buzzword into a refined reality. Released as a powerhouse built to silence the criticisms of its predecessor, this device balances raw performance, an elite camera ecosystem, and the historic introduction of S Pen support to the Galaxy S lineup.

The Core Verdict

The Galaxy S21 Ultra packs the absolute best of Samsung’s engineering into a sleek, monolithic frame. Powered by a brilliant dual-telephoto camera array and a stunning 120Hz Quad HD display, it fixed the glaring autofocus quirks of the previous generation. While its high price tag, lack of an included charger, and missing microSD card slot remain sticking points, it stands as a premium, highly capable Android flagship.

Pros & Cons

+ Industry-Leading Optical Zoom: Dual telephoto lenses yield stellar close-ups.
+ Refined Matte Aesthetic: The Phantom Black finish is visually arresting and hides smudges perfectly.
+ Pioneer S Pen Compatibility: Expands Note-style utility to the S-series line.
– Unmistakably Expensive: Demands a steep financial commitment across all tiers.
– Axed MicroSD Expansion: Users are locked into the physical onboard storage they purchase.
– Sparse Retail Box: No power adapter or headphones are supplied in the packaging.

Pricing, Configurations, and Availability

At launch, the Galaxy S21 Ultra arrived with a more aggressive, lower price point than the previous year’s S20 Ultra, though it firmly maintains its standing in the premium tier.

Configuration (RAM / Storage)	US Launch Price	UK Launch Price	AU Launch Price
12GB / 128GB	$1,199	£1,149	AU$1,849
12GB / 256GB	$1,249	£1,199	AU$1,949
16GB / 512GB	$1,379	£1,329	AU$2,149

Buying Advice: Because there is no expandable storage option, power users or those shooting high volumes of 4K and 8K video should opt for the 256GB or 512GB tiers right from the start.

Design and Display: High-End Sophistication

Samsung achieved a major design milestone with the S21 Ultra, dropping the reflective, plastic-looking finishes of older models in favor of an elegant, modern industrial look.

Phantom Finishes: The hallmark matte Phantom Black absorbs light beautifully, seamlessly integrating the large rear camera array into the chassis via a sleek “Contour Cut” edge.
Form Factor: Protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, the device sports a subtle, narrow edge-to-edge curve that makes its 6.8-inch frame far easier to hold comfortably than boxier competitors like the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Uncompromised Display Specs: This screen marked Samsung’s first implementation of a fluid 120Hz refresh rate running simultaneously at a crisp Quad HD+ resolution. It utilizes a variable refresh rate (ranging from 11Hz to 120Hz) to intelligently preserve power depending on screen activity.
Outdoor Visibility: The panel effortlessly hits an ultra-bright 1,500 nits under direct sunlight, while an upgraded Qualcomm-powered ultrasonic fingerprint reader expands the biometric scanning area by 1.7x for lightning-fast unlocks.

Camera System: The King of Zoom

The S21 Ultra introduces an advanced five-sensor camera layout bolstered by an essential addition: a Laser Auto Focus module that permanently resolves earlier hunting and blur issues.

Rear Lens Array

Main Sensor: 108MP ($f/1.8$) with phase-detection autofocus.
Ultra-Wide: 12MP ($f/2.2$) featuring a 120-degree field of view.
Telephoto (3x): 10MP ($f/2.4$) native optical zoom.
Telephoto (10x): 10MP ($f/4.9$) native optical periscope zoom.

Photography and Video Highlights

Dual-Telephoto System: Rather than forcing a single lens to digitalize intermediate ranges, native 3x and 10x optical steps handle close and mid-range shots flawlessly.
Tripod Lock Software: At extreme 30x and 100x Space Zoom boundaries, software algorithms lock onto your target and stabilize the frame automatically, keeping shaky hand movements from ruining the composition.
Director’s View: A dream addition for vloggers and social creators, this feature lets you record high-quality 4K video using the front 40MP selfie cam and the rear main lenses concurrently to capture instant reaction shots.

S Pen Stylus Integration

As the inaugural non-Note smartphone to support Samsung’s active stylus technology, the S21 Ultra bridges the gap for digital artists and professionals.

Form and Ergonomics: The optional S Pen designed for the Ultra is larger, thicker, and significantly more comfortable to hold for extended writing sessions than the smaller versions built into traditional Note frames.
Storage Reality: The device does not feature an internal silo to house the pen. Instead, users must pair the stylus with a specialized folio case designed with a dedicated spine slot to keep the pen secure.
Functionality: While it flawlessly handles off-screen memos, sketching, and Air Command tasks, the baseline launch stylus lacks the Bluetooth remote gesture capabilities found on the Note series.

Performance and Battery Life

Whether driven by the Snapdragon 888 or the Exynos 2100, the S21 Ultra blazes through multi-window productivity, high-frame-rate 3D gaming, and processing massive 12-bit RAW graphic files without generating excessive thermal throttling.

The user experience is further streamlined by the modern One UI interface, which limits confusing prompt menus and substitutes cluttered side-panels with clean Google Assistant cards.

The heavy-duty 5,000mAh battery easily provides a full day of demanding mixed use under factory default 1080p settings. Maximizing settings to 120Hz at full Quad HD resolution will naturally drain the cell much faster. When topping off, the phone caps out at 25W wired fast charging, dropping the older, underutilized 45W standard in favor of more efficient power curves.

Is the Galaxy S21 Ultra Right For You?

Buy It If…

You Want Masterful Zoom Capabilities: The dual 3x and 10x optical lenses remain unmatched for catching faraway details clearly.
You Core-Value Performance: It effortlessly handles complex multitasking, gaming, and creative processing workflows.
You Crave Stylus Versatility: You get to enjoy high-tier Note productivity elements without being restricted to buying an actual Note handset.

Don’t Buy It If…

You Expect an All-In-One Box: If you do not already own a compatible USB-C power block, remember to factor the extra cost of a retail charger into your budget.

You Demand Expandable Storage: If local physical storage upgrades are a non-negotiable part of your mobile workflow, the missing microSD card reader will be a deal-breaker.

You’re Shopping on a Strict Budget: Despite its generational price cuts, it remains firmly entrenched as an expensive luxury commodity.

Buy now

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review