The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra hits stores earlier than on previous occasions, but it does so with the same ambition as before: to become the benchmark smartphone both within and outside the Android segment. It debuts a new design, has a more versatile camera and brings with it the most powerful processor from Samsung. Here's our review: The first time I got to see the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G in person, I was blown away. Samsung phones are generally well built. But, when I held the S21 Ultra in hand, I felt like it was a step ahead of all the smartphones the brand has released in recent years.
As the days go by, you realize that there are many details that Samsung has refined in this new generation. The curvature of the screen, for example, is now negligible. The treatment applied to the glass on the back, which is matte, suits you wonderfully. Black - in my opinion, the most beautiful of all - is super elegant. And the way the photo module blends into the side frame, as well as being original, is quite attractive.
When I look back and compare with the sensations that the S20 Ultra left me, I feel like more time has passed than it really has. The feeling that the new model transmits is much better both to the touch and to the eye. In fact, I think I would not be exaggerating if I said that this is the most attractive mobile that Samsung has launched on the market in a long time. Without a doubt, one of those products that, for aesthetics and construction, you always want to have in your hands.
Ahead, the feeling is equally positive, but it is true that it is not so surprising. As in previous models, the leading role on this face of the phone is taken by the screen, which occupies the entire surface. The only terrain yet to be conquered is drilling for the front camera, but the technology to hide this element under the screen is not yet mature enough. To this day, therefore, little more can be asked.
Beauty is not only on the outside
The good feelings with the Galaxy S21 Ultra do not end on the outside. The operation of the phone, as expected from a product in this price category, is also quite good. And Samsung, in fact, has implemented several interesting changes.
The screen, for example, is the benchmark in the sector. It has a QHD + resolution, reaches 1,500 nits of brightness, dynamically adapts its refresh rate between 10 and 120 Hz (to consume less power) and is compatible with standards such as HDR10 +. In practice, the panel offers excellent image quality, as Samsung is accustomed to us. The color calibration is good, the contrast ratio is incredible - as in any OLED panel - and the refresh rate of 120 Hz makes any interaction with the phone much more fluid, organic and pleasing to the eye.
Regarding the panel, yes, I must make three observations:
- The first one is that, for the first time, it is possible to activate the refresh rate of 120 Hz on par with the QHD + resolution. In previous Samsung phones, you had to choose between 120 Hz and Full HD + or 60 Hz and QHD +. But that is over. Now you can have the best of both worlds.
- The second is that Samsung, by default, delivers the S21 Ultra with a calibration mode that oversaturates colors. This honestly looks like a losing battle. Samsung has been doing this for years and everything seems to indicate that, in the short term, it will continue to do so. Luckily, it has an easy solution: in the screen settings you can select the Natural modest represents colors with fidelity instead of being extravagant. If you plan to edit photos or simply want to enjoy the audiovisual content as the creator captured it, I recommend that you activate it. Personally, it's the first thing I do every time I set up a Galaxy.
- And the third (and last) appreciation is that, for the first time, a smartphone from the Galaxy S line is compatible with the S-Pen, Samsung's stylus. The phone does not have a bay to store it, as in the Galaxy Note, but its screen is capable of recognizing it. The stylus and storage case is also sold as a separate accessory.
How about autonomy? Why doesn't Samsung include an adapter in the box?
The Galaxy S21 Ultra features a 5,000 mAh capacity battery that can be quickly powered at up to 25 watts wired or 15 watts wirelessly. The phone is also capable of transferring power to other devices compatible with the Qi standard - quite practical for, for example, giving an emergency charge to the Galaxy Buds Pro
The 5,000 mAh battery, added to the energy efficiency of the rest of the components, translates into a fairly good autonomy. Even with the QHD + resolution, 5G connection and the dynamic refresh rate (which reaches 120 Hz), I have been able to finish a day of standard use without problems. Zero concerns in this regard.
As you've probably read, the S21 Ultra box doesn't include a power adapter or headphones. Samsung has jumped on the same bandwagon as Apple and Xiaomi, dispensing with these two elements in its high-end products. The reason? Environment. The South Korean firm wants to encourage the reuse of accessories instead of producing them uncontrollably and generating tons of waste every year. By reducing the size of the box, they can also send more phones on each plane or transport truck they use in their logistics chain, which also translates into lower emissions.
Samsung's most ambitious camera
With the S20 Ultra, Samsung began to flirt with long-range telephoto lenses by incorporating an optical 4X into its reference phone. A year later, the brand has not only continued to experiment with them but has doubled its bet.
The Galaxy S21 Ultra is the first Samsung with two telephoto lenses: one with three times and the other with ten times. I personally love the proposal. And I sense that the same thing will happen to many people who are fond of photography. The versatility of having two telephoto lenses like these in your pocket makes the S21 Ultra a super-powerful creative tool. And not only because of the power to get closer to distant objects but because of how this type of lens distorts perspectives.
To Caesar, yes, what belongs to Caesar. Samsung is not the first brand that has opted for this configuration. The P40 Pro Plus also featured two telephoto lenses. The difference is that the Huawei mobile, due to the problems they are having with Google, has barely made its way into the West, so the Samsung mobile, in reality, will be the one who will expand this trend.
The performance of the two telephoto lenses, once we went out to shoot with them, is very good. I have to admit that, before trying them, I was afraid that the performance of the 10X would not be satisfactory, but, nothing could be further from the truth. It is true that its aperture makes it easier for noise to appear when the light fades. It is a limitation that, inevitably, must be assumed with this type of camera. But in relatively well-lit conditions, the results are quite good.
Along with these two telephoto lenses we find, how could it be otherwise, a wide-angle and a standard camera accompanied by a sensor that helps you focus? This element, also implemented in the Note 20 Ultra, avoids the focusing problems that we found in the S20 Ultra.
The performance of the main camera, which incorporates a 108-megapixel sensor, is super good. The photos I have captured with this camera have very good lighting, more correct colours and, in general, a fair amount of balance. All the changes the brand has made to both the sensor and the software have taken effect. And honestly, I like to see that Samsung has finally taken a step forward in this field.
The only notable counterpoint is that, in some adverse conditions, Samsung's treatment of the image is not as effective as that of the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The latter retains a little more detail and processes textures on some surfaces better.
Lastly, the S21 Ultra is capable of recording video in 8K at 24 FPS, although personally, I think the results are much better at 4K at 60 FPS. Samsung also offers a series of quite effective stabilization systems and a new recording mode that allows you to switch between the different cameras at speed to create more cinematic content.
The Galaxy S21 Ultra is, without a doubt, one of the Samsung phones that I have enjoyed the most in recent years. The South Korean brand, in addition to the classic annual evolution, has refined many details that, although they are not appreciated at first glance, contribute to a better user experience. It has also put an even more versatile camera (with two super fun telephoto lenses) and has made it a hundred euros cheaper than its predecessor, which is essential to gain traction in the market.
Putting all those pieces together, the result of the equation I think is obvious. Samsung has done an excellent job with this phone. And I think I'm not exaggerating if I say that the S21 Ultra is the best Android smartphone of the moment.
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