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Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra by Samsung

★ 9.0 Note: This rating is generated by our website based on the
product's specifications, features, and release period. It is not a user or expert rating.
Starting from $1,199.00
Launch price for the base storage/RAM variant
Disclaimer: The price shown is the official launch price (MSRP) for the base storage/RAM configuration.
Higher storage/RAM variants cost more. Actual prices may also vary depending on your country, region, taxes, and retailer.

Samsung's 2021 top-tier flagship with a 108MP camera, 5000mAh battery, and S Pen support (sold separately).

About Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

The Galaxy S21 Ultra was Samsung's first true 'Ultra' flagship, introducing a 108MP main camera alongside dual telephoto lenses for 3x and 10x optical zoom, plus up to 100x digital Space Zoom. It was also the first S-series phone to officially support the S Pen, though it required buying the stylus and a compatible case separately since there was no built-in slot. Powered by the Snapdragon 888 (or Exynos 2100 outside the US), it featured a 6.8-inch QHD+ display with LTPO technology that could dynamically switch its refresh rate between 10Hz and 120Hz to save battery. It launched in Phantom Black and Phantom Silver, with Phantom Titanium, Navy, Brown, and Gray as online-exclusive colors.

Full Specifications

Imported
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (US) / Exynos 2100 (global), 5nm
Operating System
Android 11, One UI 3.1
Display Size
6.8 inches
Display Resolution
1440 x 3200 pixels
Display Type
Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz LTPO
Refresh Rate
120Hz adaptive (10-120Hz)
S Pen Support
Yes (sold separately, no built-in slot)
Rear Camera
108MP wide (f/1.8) + 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2) + 10MP telephoto (f/2.4, 3x) + 10MP periscope telephoto (f/4.9, 10x)
Zoom
3x and 10x optical telephoto, up to 100x digital Space Zoom
Front Camera
40MP
RAM
12GB / 16GB
Internal Storage
128GB / 256GB / 512GB
Network
5G
Dimensions
165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm
Weight
227 g
Battery Capacity
5000 mAh
Water Resistance
IP68 (1.5m for 30 min)
Charging
25W wired, 15W wireless
Colors
Phantom Black, Phantom Silver (plus Phantom Titanium, Navy, Brown, Gray online-exclusive)

Known Issues & Fixes

Issue Solution / Fix
Some users reported a greenish tint or discoloration on the display, especially at lower brightness levels, shortly after launch. Samsung acknowledged the issue and released software updates that improved display color calibration for affected units.
Some early units had touch responsiveness problems in cold weather or when certain third-party screen protectors were applied. Improved through software updates that recalibrated touch sensitivity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What colors does the Galaxy S21 Ultra come in?

It launched in Phantom Black and Phantom Silver, with Phantom Titanium, Navy, Brown, and Gray available as online-exclusive colors.

Does the Galaxy S21 Ultra support the S Pen?

Yes, but the S Pen is sold separately and needs a compatible case, since this model has no built-in slot for it like later Ultra generations.

Is the S21 Ultra waterproof?

It has an IP68 rating, rated for up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes, though it is not officially rated for extended or repeated water exposure.

Does it have a microSD card slot?

No, the S21 Ultra dropped microSD support entirely. Storage is fixed at 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB depending on the variant.

What is Space Zoom, and how far can it zoom?

It combines the phone's 3x and 10x optical telephoto lenses with digital zoom to reach up to 100x total zoom, though image quality drops noticeably at the highest zoom levels.

Does it have a 3.5mm headphone jack?

No, like other Galaxy Ultra models, there is no headphone jack. Audio is available via USB-C or Bluetooth.

How many years of software updates did Samsung promise for this model?

The Galaxy S21 Ultra originally launched with a promise of 3 major Android OS updates and 4 years of security updates.