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What we think
The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize camera quality, especially for still photos and video, the OnePlus 11 might be a more satisfying choice, albeit with a higher price tag. Conversely, if you're looking to save money and battery life is crucial, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra offers longer battery life and comes at a lower cost. Note that while the OnePlus 11 has a slightly larger main camera megapixel count and more RAM, the Galaxy S21 Ultra supports wireless charging and has a slightly bigger screen, which could be important if you prefer a larger display for multimedia consumption. Both phones are made of glass, run on Android, and have no headphone jack or SD card slot, but only the OnePlus 11 offers alert slider functionality. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the OnePlus 11
- Very good battery life
- Best in class display quality
- Excellent performance
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
- The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has no clear advantages over the OnePlus 11.
Key differences
Battery
8.2 Hours
6.7 Hours
The OnePlus 11 has 8.2 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has 6.7 hours of battery life.
Cost
$699
$423
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The OnePlus 11 has a price of $699 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra costs $423.
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Key similarities
Overall Camera Quality
7.7
7.8
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and OnePlus 11 both have good overall cameras quality.
The OnePlus 11 possesses very good cameras, attributed to its high selfie quality and consistent performance across various photo aspects like software experience, dynamic range, low light capability, and camera versatility. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra also delivers good camera performance with a particularly strong camera versatility reflected in its high-quality telephoto lens and strong video low light performance.
Photo Quality
7.6
7.8
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and OnePlus 11 both have good photos.
The OnePlus 11 delivers very good photos due to its strong software experience and overall good camera performance, yet the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, despite being older, manages good photo quality with an edge in selfie performance. The main difference lies in the S21 Ultra's better selfie capabilities, which are essential for customers prioritizing front-facing camera quality.
Video Quality
7.0
7.1
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and OnePlus 11 both have good videos.
The OnePlus 11 provides a superior video quality with the highest marks in resolution and framerate, software experience, and stabilization, which accounts for its excellent video capabilities. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, while still offering good video quality, stands out for its dynamic range and low light performance, with its video features being recognized as very good in these areas.
Screen Size
The OnePlus 11 has a screen size of 6.7 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is 6.8 inches.
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How the OnePlus 11 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| OnePlus 11 | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$699 | $423 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | OnePlus | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 16, 2023 | January 29, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.7" | 6.8" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3216 x 1440 | 3200 x 1440 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | Yes | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 525 | 515 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | SD8G2 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 7.7/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.6/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 7/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto, Super Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 50 megapixels + OIS | 108 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8.2 Hours | 6.7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | No | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 0 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | Yes (4.5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 6.42" x 2.92" | 6.5" x 2.98" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 7.23 oz | 8.01 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 7 | 6e | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 75, 77, 78 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | Yes | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Titan Black, Eternal Green | Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Navy, Phantom Titanium | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | No | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
OnePlus 11
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Dig into reviews and images
Android Police
Will Sattelberg | April 2023
"The OnePlus 11 isn’t a perfect device, but it’s another big step in the right direction for the company. A great display, incredible performance, and some of the best battery life I've ever seen on a phone helps make this one of the best OnePlus devices in recent years."
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
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Dig into reviews and images
Android Authority
David Imel | January 2023
"The Galaxy S21 Ultra is a killer combo of great design, blazing-fast performance, a wonderful display, long-lasting battery life, and one of the most versatile camera systems you can get in a smartphone today."
Get a great deal on the OnePlus 11 or the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
About OnePlus
OnePlus, established in 2013, is a smartphone brand that first became known for providing flagship-like devices, at a fraction of the cost compared to more expensive Android competitors. OnePlus focuses on creating smartphones with powerful hardware at reasonable prices. They also bring hardware features normally not seen in other Android phones sold in the US, such as their ultra-fast “Warp Charge” and the beloved “Alert Slider”.
About Samsung
Samsung is one of the most recognizable names in the smartphone industry, standing as the undisputed best-selling brand of Android smartphones in the United States for many years now. Samsung is known for offering a variety of smartphones in all available price points, as well as for implementing cutting-edge technology and innovative features in their flagship devices, ones that often shape the market going forward. The company offers its own unique spin on Android, called One UI, which focuses on offering a multitude of features and is heavily customizable, according to user preference.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
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Phones evaluated
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Recommendations made
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About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.
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