The Samsung Galaxy S21 series has been making waves in the tech industry as it offers three different versions of their latest flagship phone: the S21, S21+, and the S21 Ultra. All share a similarly sleek design with variations in their specs, features, and price points, but none are necessarily better than the other. The right choice for your next mobile upgrade all depends on how you want to use your phone; that’s why it helps to explore your options before settling on a Galaxy S21 model.
Samsung Galaxy S21 vs S21+ vs S21 Ultra: Differences in Design
S21: 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9mm, 172g
S21+: 161.5 x 75.6 x 7.8mm, 202g
S21 Ultra: 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9mm, 228g
All the Samsung Galaxy S21 series follow a sleek style with three stunning colourways: lavender, black, and light blue. As for the look of the display, both the S21 and S21+ follow a flat design to prevent distortion and mitigate accidental touches compared to a curved display.
The S21 Ultra has a curved front and back display that paves the way for more finger-action features, improved depth and more screen, plus better grip. While the Galaxy 21 uses metal and a plastic backplate, both the S21+ and Ultra models leave a more premium impression since they use metal and glass materials.
Samsung Galaxy S21 vs S21+ vs S21 Ultra: Differences in Display
S21: 6.2-inches, 2400 x 1080 pixels, 48-120Hz
S21+: 6.7-inches, 2400 x 1080 pixels, 48-120Hz
S21 Ultra: 6.8-inches, 3200 x 1440 pixels, 10-120Hz, S Pen
The Galaxy S21 and S21+ offer an excellent fresh rate that ranges between 48 to 120 Hz, so browsing looks relatively smooth, especially when set against a full HD+ resolution of 2,400 x 1,080 pixels. The fact that both models also support HDR10+ improves the display’s vibrancy and contrast, enabling brighter whites and punchier colours.
The S21 Ultra takes the display quality to greater heights with its 6.8-inch QHD+ 3200 x 1440 pixels and a 10 to 12 Hz adaptive refresh rate. The best part? It uses an AMOLED display, which offers greater brightness, contrast, and clarity.
Samsung Galaxy S21 vs S21+ vs S21 Ultra: Differences in Camera Quality
S21: Triple rear (12MP + 12MP + 64MP), 10MP front camera
S21+: Triple rear (12MP + 12MP + 64MP), 10MP front camera
S21 Ultra: Quad rear (108MP + 12MP + 10MP + 10MP), 40-megapixel front camera
One of the key differences between the S21, S21+ and S21 Ultra is the quality of the camera, which happens to be a feature that most mobile phone users care about the most. Both the S21 and S21+ use a triple rear camera, which contain the following features:
- 12-megapixel main sensor containing a 1.8µm pixel size, f/1.8 aperture and optical stabilisation (OIS);
- 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor with 1.4µm, f/2.2 aperture and OIS;
- 64-megapixel with 0.8µm, f/2.0 aperture and OIS;
As for the 21 Ultra, it definitely comes out on top as the better camera as it can capture more details even in low lighting conditions.
The Bottom Line: Breaking Down the Samsung Galaxy S21 Series
When choosing the best version of Samsung’s Galaxy S21 series, it should meet the specs, display, camera quality, and battery life that meet your expectations. While each model has something that makes it unique, there is one thing they all have in common: all three models have an impressive performance and can handle anything—be it for casual browsing, work-related consumption, or even heavy gaming.
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Arthur is a senior member of the communications team who has worked at several well-known companies over the past 10 years. As a writer with many years of experience in the technology sector, focusing on reviewing mobile phones and accessories, he has written about many products or has been hands-on with them at some point
