Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra (2023)

FAQs

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra? ›

Galaxy S21 Ultra goes out, makes space for S22 Ultra

A previous leak suggested that Samsung could be mostly relying on its Exynos 2200 chip, which has a new GPU that is based on the AMD RDNA 2 architecture. Leaked website data suggests that the cameras could not be much different from the S21 Ultra.

Galaxy S21 Ultra goes out, makes space for S22 Ultra

A previous leak suggested that Samsung could be mostly relying on its Exynos 2200 chip, which has a new GPU that is based on the AMD RDNA 2 architecture. Leaked website data suggests that the cameras could not be much different from the S21 Ultra.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra Is Still a Great Phone

Samsung's Galaxy S21 Ultra was one of the best phones of 2021 and almost in a league of its own thanks to the 108MP camera around the back, and it's still an excellent option today.

Galaxy S21 Ultra Specs: Still relevant in 2023? Although the Galaxy S21 Ultra is now more than two years old, it's actually not outdated at all. Actually, that flagship is pretty much very similar to its successors of the Galaxy S flagship lineup.

If you prefer a bigger phone, then you'll want to stick with the upgraded S21 Ultra, which has a 6.8-inch display, where the S21 measures in at 6.2-inches. Both have the same max refresh rate at 120 Hz, but the S21 Ultra has an upgraded QHD screen, giving you more detail than the S21.

If you are having issues with the S21 Ultra touchscreen registering input — as some users have reported — it can be incredibly frustrating. Double or triple tapping to get the phone to respond can leave you wondering what's going wrong — and users have reported issues with the fingerprint sensor, too.

Eligible Galaxy devices include with four years of One UI and five years of security updates[1]: Galaxy S Series: Galaxy S22, S22+, S22 Ultra as well as Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra, S21 FE and upcoming S series devices.

For Galaxy S21 Ultra owners: You don't need to upgrade yet. The Galaxy S23 Ultra has a faster new processor and better cameras with improved low light and dynamic range. But the Galaxy S21 Ultra is still fairly new and worth holding on to.

Performance and connectivity

The S21 Ultra featured 12GB of RAM for the 128GB and 256GB models, while the 512GB variant included 16GB of RAM. In contrast, the S22 Ultra starts at 8GB for the 128GB entry point, while all other options get 12GB of RAM.

Why are Samsung S21 so cheap? ›

Why are Samsung's Galaxy S21 phones cheaper than last year's models? It's because 5G technology got cheaper. Samsung's Galaxy S21 smartphones start at $799.99 and cost $200 per model less than their predecessors, the Galaxy S20 series. The Galaxy S21 phones aren't worse in any way or have fewer features.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra is clearly the better phone to buy in 2023. It comes with a 6.8-inch AMOLED panel that gets noticeably brighter and is protected with the new Gorilla Glass Victus 2. You also get upgraded internals, complete with the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip for Galaxy and more storage options.

So, is the Galaxy S21 worth buying in 2023? Absolutely! The Samsung Galaxy S21 proves its worth in 2023 with its impressive display, powerful performance, capable camera system, reliable battery life, and excellent value for money.

How much does a Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G cost? Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G prices start at $293 and cost $393 on average as of September 2023. Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G prices will continue to get cheaper over time. Samsung phones hold their value well, but prices will continue to drop as time passes and new models are announced.

The S23 offers better build quality, a brighter display, excellent camera optics, and a chipset with improved performance. You get all the good stuff a brand like Samsung has to offer at a relatively reasonable price. That said, upgrading from the S21 to the S23 is a small jump.

The latest software update for the unlocked versions of the Galaxy S21 series comes with firmware version G99xU1UES5DWB2 in the US. The update brings the February 2023 security patch that fixes over forty vulnerabilities found in Samsung smartphones.