Samsung Galaxy S21 vs. S21+ vs. S21 Ultra review

Last Updated on March 5, 2021 by Rick Darlinton

Recently released, Samsung Galaxy S21 is the latest flagship device under the Galaxy series that is already making the headlines. Unsurprisingly, a lot of users are willing to upgrade their smartphones to S21 as well. If you are also planning to get a new S21, then you can go through this essential Samsung Galaxy S21 review to know about its major features, limitations, advantages, and more.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Review: Major Features to Look For

Now let’s get to know what makes Samsung Galaxy S21 a keeper.

Body and Display

Samsung S21 has a 6.2-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display while S21+ and S21 Ultra have a wider display of 6.7 and 6.8-inches respectively. It features a LTPO (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) display that provides a better user experience and can substantially save your phone’s power. The device comes in an aluminum frame with a Gorilla Glass back and front protection.

S-pen Support

If you can upgrade to S21 Ultra, then you can also integrate your S-Pen with the device. Apart from being a stylus, the S-Pen can also be used to take photos, manage music, control presentations, and do other tasks wirelessly.

Fast Charging

Surprisingly, Galaxy S21 Ultra is one of the first major smartphones that come without a charger. Though, it supports a wide range of chargers with a 65W fast charging capacity. This means you can charge its battery of 5000 mAh in less than an hour.

Power-packed Performance

Samsung S21 has to be one of the most powerful smartphones of the year. While the basic version runs on 8 GB, the Ultra version has a RAM of 12 GB. The basic version runs on the octa-core processor of Exynos 2100 while S21 Ultra is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 875. The device has a high refresh rate of 120Hz (2K) to provide a delay-free experience while running heavy apps.

Camera

Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21+ come with a triple camera setup of 12MP Dual Pixel + Ultra Wide 12MP Camera + 64MP Camera Tele 3X with a 30x space zoom option and a front camera of 10 MP. On the other hand, S21 Ultra has a quad-camera of 108-megapixel (f/1.8, 0.8-micron) + 12-megapixel (f/2.2, 1.4-micron) + 2x 10-megapixel (f/2.4, 1.22-micron) with 100x superzoom and a 40 MP front camera.

Wireless Samsung DeX

Samsung Galaxy S21 also supports an advanced Desktop Experience, letting us connect our Samsung phone to the desktop. This will let you extend your smartphone and manage its features easily on your computer.

Pros

  • Tons of power-packed features
  • Stunning camera (triple and quad)
  • Samsung DeX, NFS, Bixby, and S Pen support
  • 5G technology compatible

Cons

  • A bit expensive compared to other Android devices
  • No SD card support
  • Samsung has discontinued providing a charger in the box

Overall, Samsung S21 is a decent Android smartphone that has certainly taken Samsung’s flagship series to the next edge. From a stunning camera setup to a powerful processor, the smartphone range certainly has a lot to offer. It would also let you experience 5G technology at ease. Though, it doesn’t have an SD card slot and comes at a substantial price tag. If you are willing to invest around $800 on a smartphone, then S21 would certainly be a catch!

Samsung Galaxy S21 vs. S21+ vs. S21 Ultra: A Quick Comparison

Samsung has come up with three different versions for its flagship model: Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra. Therefore, if you are not sure which device to pick, then have a look at this quick comparison.

 

Samsung S21 Samsung S21+ Samsung S21 Ultra
Display 6.2-inches 6.7-inches 6.8-inches
Front camera 10 MP 10 MP 40 MP
Rear Camera 12 + 12 + 64 MP 12 + 12 + 64 MP 10 MP + 10 MP + 12 MP + 108 MP
Zoom 30x space zoom 30x space zoom 100x space zoom
Battery 4000 mAh 4800 mAh 5000 mAh
Storage 128 or 256 GB 128 or 256 GB 256 or 512 GB
RAM 8 GB 8 GB 12 GB
SIM Slots Nano + Nano Nano + Nano Nano + e-SIM
Processor Exynos 2100 Exynos 2100 Qualcomm Snapdragon 875
S Pen Compatibility No No Yes
Pricing $799.99 $999.99

$1199.99

That’s a wrap! Now when you know about all the detailed specifications of Samsung S21 in this review, you can easily make up your mind. If you want to have a bigger device, then you can consider buying S21+ instead. Though, Samsung S21 Ultra is the most power-packed model of them all that would certainly give you a memorable smartphone experience (at a substantial price range).