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The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated February 12, 2024·
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra offers a larger screen and a significantly more powerful zoom capability with its telephoto lenses, which is ideal if you value photography. It has a higher battery capacity than the Galaxy S24, potentially leading to longer battery life. The S21 Ultra also comes at a more budget-friendly price compared to the S24. On the other hand, the Galaxy S24, while more expensive, offers a better overall camera experience, higher peak screen brightness, and newer processor technology, which could lead to smoother performance. If camera quality and device performance are your top priorities and you're willing to invest more, the S24 might be the better choice. Both phones have OLED displays with high refresh rates, 5G connectivity, and no headphone jack, ensuring a modern experience with either option. 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 Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
- The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has no clear advantages over the Samsung Galaxy S24.
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S24
- Very good for taking photos
- Good for recording videos
- Very good battery life
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
7.8
8.4
The Samsung Galaxy S24 has very good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has good overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra provides a good selfie experience, while the Samsung Galaxy S24 falls short with a poor selfie score, which is highly important. Additionally, the S21 Ultra displays strength in camera versatility and low light performance, whereas the S24, despite having very good scores in photos resolution, dynamic range, and software experience, doesn't match up in these key areas that are also important for camera performance.
Photo Quality
7.8
8.5
The Samsung Galaxy S24 takes very good photos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra takes good photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra captures better selfie photos compared to the Samsung Galaxy S24 due to higher selfie quality performance. Additionally, while the S21 Ultra takes overall good photos, the S24, although newer, does not match up across various factors like photo software experience and low light performance, which both contribute to the overall photo quality.
Video Quality
7.1
7.9
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra both have good videos, though the Samsung Galaxy S24 takes somewhat better videos.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra offers a higher video resolution and framerate, contributing to its good video capabilities, while the Samsung Galaxy S24, despite having the newest technology, has a reduced video quality. This could be due to a range of factors like software optimizations and hardware choices that affect video stabilization, dynamic range, low light performance, and microphone quality.
Battery
6.7 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has 6.7 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S24 has 8 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has a screen size of 6.8 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S24 is 6.2 inches.
Cost
$423
$800
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has a price of $423 and the Samsung Galaxy S24 costs $800.
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How the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy S24 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra | Samsung Galaxy S24 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$423 | $800 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Samsung | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 29, 2021 | January 24, 2024 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.8" | 6.2" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3200 x 1440 | 2340 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | Yes | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 515 | 416 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | SD888 | SD8G3 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 12 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 7.9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 7.1/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto, Super Telephoto | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 108 megapixels + OIS | 50 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.7 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 5000 mAh | 4000 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 15 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | Yes (4.5 watts) | Yes (4.5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 6.5" x 2.98" | 5.79" x 2.78" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 8.01 oz | 5.89 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.3 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6e | 6e | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (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 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 7, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 276 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Navy, Phantom Titanium | Sandstone Orange, Onyx Black, Marble Gray, Cobalt Violet, Amber Yellow, Jade Green, Sapphire Blue | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | No | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
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 Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra or the Samsung Galaxy S24
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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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
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Seth Peoples
Phones Expert
Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.
Efthimis Kotanidis
Phones Expert
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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