Editor
Jodee Tan chevron_right
Another new year, another new Samsung phone. And this time, we're reviewing the new Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G review!
We've previously touched on our Galaxy S21 Ultra first impression. Suffice to say, the phone exudes elegance and uniqueness over its predecessor; something that we can appreciate given how most phones are getting way too similar in design. The Galaxy S21 Ultra claims to offer you a super-computer experience in the palm of your hands.
But can Samsung really wow us with any more new magic in the technology realm? How does it differ from last year's model? We take a look here in our Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review for Malaysians to decide if it's worth upgrading to.
Specifications
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Dimension & Weight |
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Camera |
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Memory |
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Battery |
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Charging |
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OS |
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Network & Connectivity |
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Payment |
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Sensors |
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Authentication |
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Audio |
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Video |
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Water Resistance |
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Built
To repeat, our Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra unit is the Phantom Black edition - a monolith of a phone. As you may have already realised, the contour cut camera design seem to jut out in promotional images but it seamlessly blends the camera bump into the glass back, so it's a plus one there. But this is still a massive device you’ll want to use with two hands. Thankfully, it's not a heavy device although it is slightly heavier in its gross weight than its predecessor.
You'd be surprised to find that the display is gently curved to the back, unlike the fully flat regular Galaxy S21. This makes the S21 Ultra quite comfortable to hold more so than ever.
One of our video editor's favourite design upgrades on the S21 Ultra is the 1.7x larger fingerprint sensor. This makes it easier to unlock the phone. A plus point is that they've found that the S21 Ultra's sensor is more accurate and sensitive to press compared to the previous generation.
Display
Not surprisingly, the 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display on the Galaxy S21 Ultra is simply one of the best screens we've experienced on a phone. Colours are very sharp and vibrant thanks to the WQHD resolution. What's more, the S21 Ultra doesn't force you to choose between the highest resolution and highest refresh rate like its predecessor. Instead, everything has been optimised for general purposes.
Yes, you’ll be mesmerized when you watch videos on this phablet. The colours are as rich as ever, and its wide viewing angles are a pleasure to binge-watch on the likes of Netflix.
With its dynamic refresh rate of 120Hz, you get super smooth scrolling and gameplay. That is further complemented with the S21 Ultra's quad HD resolution at the same time. With both simultaneously activated, you don’t have to choose between using either the highest resolution or the highest refresh rates. Instead, you get both together!
If this is a concern of your, no worries as the S21 Ultra is smart enough to automatically dial the refresh rate all the way down to 10Hz in order to conserve power when needed.
Samsung also said that the S21 Ultra has a 3 million: 1 contrast ratio, which is 50% higher than the S20 Ultra, giving you that beautiful, glossy and clearer-than-crystal visuals. For eye-care support, there's an Eye Comfort Shield feature that's designed to reduce eye fatigue by limiting blue light.
Camera
This time, the Galaxy S21 Ultra has a main 108MP wide sensor and 12MP ultra-wide camera, which is complemented by a laser autofocus sensor. Compared to similar competitors such as the iPhone 12 Pro Max which has a stuck 2.5x optical zoom, the S21 Ultra packs two telephoto lenses of 3x and 10x optical zoom for flexibility.
The zoom is insane when it comes to clarity. At 100x, the zoom does get shaky but with the new Zoom Lock feature, it helps you to get a steadier shot with it.
Other impressive notes about the 108MP main camera include capturing 12-bit HDR photos with 64 times richer colour data and more than 3x the dynamic range of the Galaxy S20 Ultra. Plus, there's the option to take 12-bit RAW files when in Pro mode.
Samsung is constantly improving its low-light photography capabilities. Thanks to the improved Bright Night sensor and 12MP nona-binning technology which reduces noise reduction, images on the Galaxy S21 Ultra are well-lit in low light.
On the video front, the Galaxy S21 Ultra can record 8K videos at up to 24 fps whereas the cameras can capture 4K video at up to 60 fps. But we have to say that the coolest video upgrade for the S21 Ultra is Director's View.
There's a new vlogger mode that lets you use the front and back cameras at the same time for recording videos. Moreover, you can see live thumbnails of each camera while you're recording video to let you make switch them seamlessly.
In our video editor's point of view (Umar's), the Single Take 2.0 feature on the S21 Ultra is pretty fun for photos and stills at once. It managed to capture Umar's attempt at a reverse layup in slow-mo and pleasant coordination at the top of the jump. However, the music that Samsung has for its auto-generated video clips can sound cheesy.
Performance
Samsung's Galaxy S21 Ultra is one of the first phones powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 chip for both USA and China units whereas it'll be the Exynos 2100 for the rest. They are complemented by either a 12GB or 16GB of RAM.
Before you honk about which is the better, it has been opined by many reviewers that both processors are quite similar in power capabilities and shouldn't hamper the phone in reaching its full potential. For starters, battery drain for both is similar.
When it comes to daily usage, expect higher clock speeds for the Exynos 2100, which means better multitasking capabilities. Whereas, the Snapdragon 888 is likely to give an edge for gaming due to its better output of frame rates in graphics-based apps.
Battery
As stated earlier, the battery drainage on both the Snapdragon 888 and Exynos 2100 is similar despite the expected advantages of both chipsets. In our video editor's review, the phone was used for about 4 hours of active on-screen phone usage and resulted in battery drainage of 50%. Realistically speaking, the phone should easily last you past an entire day with normal usage.
Additionally, to remind, the S21 Ultra will intelligently dial the refresh rate all the way down to 10Hz if there's the need to conserve power on the phone.
Notable features
(still-shot of S Pen)
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Verdict
With the rising price of smartphones such as one that carries the luxury of the Samsung brand, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G scores well in several important factors. There's the display which is the best in class. Then there are also cameras which are much improved than the previous generation. With the comfortable screen size, you can even use this phone as a Galaxy Note if you want to.
Moreover, you're guaranteed a little machine that can provide you with all the necessary power to fulfil your entertainment needs thanks to that beautiful big screen. Not to mention, the optional support for S Pen makes it a reliable fill-in document editor for business purposes.
Shortcomings about the Galaxy S21 Ultra are focused on its hardware than its performance. For starters, it’s a little big and heavy. Also, both the lack of a charger and microSD card slot stings.
And while the S21 Ultra is fast, it’s still a step behind the iPhone 12 Pro Max in terms of seamlessness overall. Then again, Samsung’s phone lasts longer on charge and lets you do more with its cameras compared to the former.
You know where this is going:- You won't regret getting this little machine to do almost anything you want. If you're looking for a superior-in-performance Android phone, you won't go wrong with the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. If you're looking to upgrade from at least 2 generations of Samsung Galaxy S before, this phone is one to go for.
