Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Announced January 14, 2021
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Exceptional
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is a high-end flagship that pairs a top-tier camera system with an industry-leading display. While the device is undeniably expensive and physically bulky, it remains a powerful, well-rounded performer for users who prioritize advanced mobile photography and screen quality.
Weighted from 59 reviewer scores
Pros
- Versatile camera system with high-quality zoom
- Best-in-class display with smooth 120Hz refresh rate
- Strong performance with S Pen support
- Premium build quality with improved matte finish
- Reliable and fast ultrasonic fingerprint sensor
Cons
- Lacks microSD expansion and bundled charger
- High price point
- Inconsistent camera processing and shutter lag
- Large and heavy physical footprint
- Software bloat and occasional ads
- Launch price $1,199 (USD)
- Main camera 108MP f/1.8 + 12MP Ultrawide + 10MP 3x Telephoto
- Video 8K 24p
- Display 6.8-inch AMOLED 120Hz
- Chipset Exynos 2100 8GB, 12GB, 16GB
What the Reviewers Say
All 59 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- PetaPixel 9.5/10
The Galaxy S21 Ultra is one of the very best smartphones you can buy today, even without taking the camera into consideration. Add in the superb camera, and the S21 Ultra becomes a must-buy for anyone who demands the very best in mobile tech.
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It's kind of the best they've ever done.
- The Verge 8.5/10
If you can navigate the software, the size, and the price tag, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is the best Android phone available today.
- WIRED 8/10
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra takes what made the S20 Ultra great and adds to it in style. It’s a more striking phone, and pushes further at the limits of mobile photography with advanced HDR and a dedicated 10x zoom.
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The Galaxy S21 Ultra is Samsung’s new superphone for 2021 – and comes out firmly as the best of its type, with a price to match.
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Suffice it to say, I came away from using the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra impressed. It’s a fine piece of hardware and features a more cohesive design than some of its progenitors.
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If you want to stick with the slabs, and you want the most versatile camera on a smartphone and you're comfortable with its compromises the Galaxy S21 Ultra is a potent package.
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If you're after the very best Samsung Galaxy S21 model and money is no object, the Ultra is the one for you. It's a big upgrade over the S20 Ultra, fixing the focus issues and improving battery life.
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For a phone at this price, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra needed to be excellent. Thankfully for Samsung, it is.
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The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the very best of what Samsung can pack into a smartphone. It wowed us with a huge screen, five cameras and the best zoom on any readily available Android phone.
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Samsung nearly perfected the big-screen phone with the Galaxy S21 Ultra. The display is best-in-class, the cameras are much improved and you can even use this thing as a Galaxy Note if you want to.
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Best of all, it's less expensive than the model it replaces.
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Living with this phone every single day for the last two months has shown me that, yes, it really is the best Android phone you're gonna get in 2021. It's also the biggest Android phone you're gonna get this year.
- CNET 8.9/10
[T]he S21 Ultra is a major update both in terms of hardware and software over the S20 Ultra.
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[I]ncredible cameras and an industry-leading display. If you can handle its massive size and high price, you'll be rewarded with one of the most powerful phones money can buy.
- Android Police 8.5/10
Samsung's come back with a phone that is both better and cheaper than the one that came before it.
- PhoneArena 9.1/10
All-around camera quality improvements, the 12-bit color RAW photo and 8K video support, and the cleanest, most stable optical zoom make the S21 Ultra camera the one to beat.
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Meanwhile, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is what the original Ultra should have been - jam-packed with high-end features, no asterisks, no fine print. Still no charger, though.
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That's the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra where Samsung gets it right and drops the price by $200. You've heard all the reasons why I think it's a pretty darn fine phone.
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The Galaxy S21 Ultra isn’t the fastest Android phone on the market and there are some areas where other manufacturers have an edge such as the fast charging from OnePlus or the stock Android experience of the Pixel.
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This time, it actually delivers on them so well, that I’d call it memorable.
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Samsung may have bumped up the price of all of its phones this year in India, but the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G in particular is still worth the premium in my opinion.
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I think Samsung has done a great job and they've really ticked a lot of boxes for a lot of people and if you, after the best from Samsung right now this is the device to get. [...] I really think this sets the bar high for the rest of the smart phones coming in the year.
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The clear flagship in the S21 family - and a better performer than the smaller S21 and S21+ models, thanks to its better cameras - the Ultra is the pick for those who want all the best that Samsung offers.
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[I]t is impossible for me not to recommend the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. It's a hyper-premium handset that delivers across the board, from internal hardware to camera system, screen space and fidelity to battery life, and onto advanced features [...]
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The Samsung S21 is a fabulous smartphone and it comes packed with everything you could possibly want from a flagship. However, with a four-figure cost that zooms past its already-expensive rivals, it’s a tough sell, especially during the current period of economic instability.
- SlashGear 8/10
On balance, though, I like Samsung's recipe here. Look beyond the gimmicks like Space Zoom and the Galaxy S21 Ultra takes great photos, is powerful, has a fantastic display, and adds in support for popular – if niche – accessories like the S Pen.
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An Android that earns its “ultra” title with an incredible camera array allowing you to capture moments other phones will simply miss.
- Creative Bloq 10/10
You’ll be hard-pressed to take issue with the Galaxy S21 Ultra once you get past its high price and hefty frame.
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So in my opinion, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the apex smartphone right now. This is the most well-rounded device.
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The Galaxy S21 Ultra is a no-holds-barred uber-flagship with sizeable proportions and a high price, but for your money, you get the most uncompromisingly capable smartphone on the market right now.
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While Samsung axing microSD card expandability is certainly regrettable, the S21 Ultra has the best screen, the longest (and most usable) zoom cam, and the best in-screen fingerprint reader you can get on a phone today. [...] the S21 Ultra is the phone to beat.
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Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra takes the baton from Galaxy Note 20 Ultra as the company’s new flagship smartphone. The handset also aims to showcase Samsung’s software and hardware prowess and to a large extent, it succeeds as well.
- IGN 8/10
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is about as capable as a smartphone can get without folding in half or rolling up (and those new form factors often have trade-offs). It has a high price, but it's justified compared to past Ultra models.
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The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is a gorgeous phone. The new colours are great and the cameras are unsurprisingly incredible.
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All right, so color choices, Samsung, we need a few more color choices with these $1,200 phones.
- WhistleOut 80/100
For the most part, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is a phone deserving of its price-tag and the "Ultra" moniker. It's just a shame it doesn't achieve the "no compromise" ideal due to its battery life.
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I think that Samsung needs credit for a couple of things: one, making really good hardware because this has held up really well. One year later, it still looks and feels better than pretty much anything else that came out the rest of the year.
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Simply put, the Samsung S21 Ultra is unparalleled.
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The Galaxy S21 Ultra is the closest Samsung has come to making a perfect flagship in recent years. In fact, when you judge it based on what Samsung says the phone can do, I would say the S21 Ultra is perfect.
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It's a really well executed product. [...] I think this is a great choice for people who like big screen phones or want one up if not the best camera systems to date on a phone in 2021.
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I try to be very picky in this video review, but I honestly can't think of any other flaws, which makes the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra a near flawless device that now has become my new daily driver.
- Ubergizmo 10/10
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra comes with a cutting-edge design and maxed-out features. It has the best of everything at Samsung mobile: design, materials, display, camera, performance, and battery life.
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When I look at it as a whole, with all the S21 Ultra brings to the table, the gaming prowess the camera, battery life there's so many things it does well. Even the speakers the audio is really good.
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After earning a whopping 85 points here on Tech Rewind, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra absolutely earns my stamp of approval.
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Personally, I think that this is an outrageously good phone. I just want people to understand that it's not perfect.
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[T]he experience of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra camera is just it's phenomenal. I don't think anybody will be disappointed regardless of what's coming out in the future [...]
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[...] I'm pretty impressed with the camera.
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Samsung corrected a number of things with the Galaxy S21 Ultra, making up for the shortcomings of last year’s model.
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If you're looking for the ultimate Android phone and don't mind paying for it, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is easy to recommend. It's over the top, but man, it's a lot of fun to use.
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If you're in the market for a super large device, this thing pretty much nails everything you would need in a smartphone. [...] If you're going to keep this phone for years, you're getting one of the best ever made.
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[T]he Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra delivers improved performance, improved battery, improved visuals, and dare I say, still one of the best and most versatile cameras that I've tested.
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The newcomer is a legit Android powerhouse, and comes with an elegant design, too, creating a perfect marriage between performance and build (the camera bump alone is a bona fide masterpiece).
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[T]he Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the perfect phone for anyone who's willing to spend over 1,000 bucks.
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If you have the money to afford a phone like this, I can definitely recommend the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.
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So while some phones may charge faster, cost less, or pack a rear display, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the best gimmick-free flagship Android on the block that packs all the right punches in all the right places.
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[T]he Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is still a very, very interesting device, but I don't think this would be a phone, I don't think this would be the first phone I would recommend people to buy.
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If you are planning to get this device today and if you can get it because the S22 Ultra is on the way, then definitely go for it; you are going to love every bit of this smartphone.
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[T]his is, of all the phones I've tested, the best one I've ever tested.
