It wouldn’t be Samsung unless they unveil a highest spec model of a new smartphone. With the Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21+ already out of the bag, they’ve taken it further with the new Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.
The differences may have you thinking twice on whether you want to jump straight to this model. It’s got much of the S21 and S21+ feature set, with some distinct improvements in certain areas to make this model standout.
If you’re the type that wants to see the specs, see the table below before diving deep into some of its unique features.
| Galaxy S21 Ultra | |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.8" Edge WQHD+ @ 3200x1440 (515 ppi); Adaptive 120Hz refresh rate (10~120Hz); HDR10+ certified |
| Rear Camera | 12MP Ultra Wide Dual Pixel f/2.2 FOV 120 108MP wide-angle f/1.8 Phase Detection AF, FOV 83 w/ OIS 10MP f/2.4 Dual Pixel AF, Optical 3x, FOV 35 w/OIS 10MP f/4.9 Dual Pixel AF, Optical 10x, FOV 10 w/OIS Laser AF sensor |
| Front Camera | 40MP f/2.2 Phase Detection AF, FOV 80 |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh |
| Storage | 128 GB/256 GB (12GB LPDDR5) and 512 GB (16BG LPDDR5) |
| Connectivity | 5G (NSA, SA, Sub6/mmWave), Ultra Wide Band Wi-Fi 6E 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz); NFC; Bluetooth 5.0, USB 3.1, Type-C 1.0 reversible connector |
| Colours | Phantom Silver, Phantom Black |
Under the Hood
Just like the S21 and S21+, this model is also powered by a new 5nm fab SoC with mix of power-efficient and high-performance cores. It’s going to be the Exynos chipset, since Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 is meant for the US markets.
As an added connectivity bonus, this model supports the new Wi-Fi 6E standard alongside the Ulta Wide Band standard. 5G is also available supporting both Standalone (SA) and Non Standalone (NSA) networks.
Finger or S Pen?
If you’ve heard whispers that the Galaxy S series would support the popular S Pen, it turns out to be true. However, this nifty stylus support is exclusive to the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, and the occassion also resulted in Samsung announcing two new S Pen models that are supported using Wacom’s technology.
Best part is that you can bring your existing S Pen for use, buy a fresh one, or even use third-party models certified by Samsung.
Although the S Pen has been a signature identity of the Galaxy Note series, this brings up one important question for their products. Will Samsung retire the Galaxy Note family and keep the Galaxy S Ultra as the high-end productivity-focused model?
Camera… Ultra-graded!
One clear look at the back side, it’s taken the same design cue for the camera bump to be flush with the binding chassis. The biggest difference comes down to the number of camera sensors. It’s the most visually distinguishing trait to show that the Samsung Galay S21 Ultra is really meant to be for the highest end group of users.
Along with both an Ultra Wide and Wide Angles lens, there are two Telephoto lenses to give users the flexibility of zooming in for those close shots from a distance. They work both for photos and videos, so you never have to worry about whether you can catch that moment from afar.
Paired with the HDR-comaptible display, you’ll be able to capture 12-bit HDR photos using the wide-angle sensor. However, it’s not clear whether it can also capture HDR videos as well.
I want one… NOW!
Preorders are already up and running in many of the countries in the Middle East, with special pre-order gifts bundled based on which model you order:
- UAE: Etisalat and du (S21 Ultra)
- Saudi Arabia: Mobily (S21 Ultra)
- Qatar: Vodafone Qatar and Ooredoo Qatar
- Oman: Omantel and Ooredoo Oman
- Kuwait: Ooredoo Kuwait
- Bahrain: Batelco
Image Credits: Samsung Newsroom
