DxOMark gives the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra a lower score than the S20 Ultra

01 March 2021
According to the detailed review, the phone's zoom capabilities regressed, despite having a longer periscope and an additional telephoto lens.

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  • Sam
  • CbB
  • 02 Mar 2021

LooooooL here we go...

    While the Exynos variant of S21 Ultra indeed produces underwhelming results according to samples on some other websites as well, this particular review seem to have been done on the initial firmware which makes it appear even worse than it actually is right now. Essentially, the review doesn't represent the actual camera performance of this phone, and obviously neither does the overall score.

    With that said, it's worth noting that it has always been up to OEMs which firmware version DxOMark carries out the test on - Apple held off from sending DxO a test unit for iPhone 11 Pro until they released the Deep Fusion update, Oppo or Xiaomi I believe gave them special units with yet-to-be-released camera software updates, and in the past Samsung asked them to test the 5G variant of Note 10 so that they could have a new score that would better reflect the effect of the latest camera software update.

    Back in 2018, Huawei rushed out and sent them P30 Pro that still exhibited poorly controlled artifacts and colour balance which greatly reduced the scores for the corresponding sections. I'm assuming Samsung made a similar mistake, thinking that S21U's dual telephoto lens setup would somehow pull it off.. and it backfired on them badly.

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      • Anonymous
      • LkB
      • 02 Mar 2021

      Anonymous, 02 Mar 2021Those YouTube reviewers are still more trustable than a Son... moreBy the way, I had stuff from Huawei years ago.

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        • Anonymous
        • p%S
        • 02 Mar 2021

        React 2 Gadgets YT, 02 Mar 2021Not bigger sensor, but more advanced. They are of the same size S20 ultra and S21 Ultra don't have same size sensors for zoom camera.

          Android-Authority, 02 Mar 2021Not really surprised by the lower DxOMark score for video o... moreNot bigger sensor, but more advanced. They are of the same size

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            • Anonymous
            • LkB
            • 02 Mar 2021

            Anonymous, 02 Mar 2021Those YouTube reviewers are still more trustable than a Son... moreGood evening Android Master. How've u been?
            Log in next time. So I can say hi sooner.

              beep bop boop, 02 Mar 2021do u think it will get a better score on SD version? also i... moreYes maybe the reason is lack of optimization.
              But shouldn't Samsung be able to have better optimization for their flagship phone in terms of camera on their own homegrown Exynos chip?

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                • beep bop boop
                • GYi
                • 02 Mar 2021

                Android-Authority, 02 Mar 2021Not really surprised by the lower DxOMark score for video o... moredo u think it will get a better score on SD version? also is the reason why it got worse score due to lack of optimization?

                  Not really surprised by the lower DxOMark score for video on the Exynos version.

                  But I think it is definitely better than the S20 ultra camera in terms of zoom in daytime. Night-time, it's better on the S20 ultra because of the bigger sensor.

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                    • Anonymous
                    • ntJ
                    • 02 Mar 2021

                    Anonymous, 02 Mar 2021Pretty rare to find photographers on youtube talking about ... moreThose YouTube reviewers are still more trustable than a Sony anonymous joker who refuses to answer real question. Which country are you from? Always avoiding it when other people asked you Chinese hater

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                      • Anonymous
                      • 7vb
                      • 02 Mar 2021

                      Mikele, 01 Mar 2021How? People write comments as if they were the one who did... moreDxOmark's scores have less credibility than a blind man's scores.

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                        • Anonymous
                        • ntJ
                        • 02 Mar 2021

                        Shui8, 01 Mar 2021As usual, total score of DxO can create arguments & mis... moreIt's the case for Exynos version.
                        Snapdragon has much better image and video quality

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                          • sev7en
                          • PQs
                          • 02 Mar 2021

                          MadMel, 01 Mar 2021one Huawei to rule them all ... Well said!

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                            • Shui8
                            • KZK
                            • 02 Mar 2021

                            Anonymous, 02 Mar 2021Pretty rare to find photographers on youtube talking about ... moreTalking about China phone, Ted Forbes did review the last P30 & P30 Pro. He praise its computational photography, aperture mode & zoom system quality.

                              I owned an s20 Ultra and agee iit had many problems. I purchased an s21Ultra and it's camera is FAR superior to the S20. The focus ia better and the zoom ia infinitely impribed especially with the new stabilization function.

                              The HDR is significantly improved and the night mode works better. I have serious concerns about your testing if you think the very flawed S20 Ultra is equal to the S21 Ultra.

                                in short, it is a failed flagship.

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                                  • Anonymous
                                  • LkB
                                  • 02 Mar 2021

                                  Aldwin123, 02 Mar 2021So does the lower AF and Zoom Score makes sense to you? Eve... morePretty rare to find photographers on youtube talking about phones.
                                  So far the only one I know is Ted Forbes from Art of Photography.
                                  But I think he has videos only on Samsung, Apple and Sony. Not sure about Google.

                                  I am sure if I go to dxomark s21u review, I am gonna see people posting links of videos from Marques Brownlee, Mr Whose the Boss and Supersaf. LOL .....

                                  Most youtubers are all the same. Copy and paste review.

                                  Specs: talk about specs. Never mention for example RAM and storage from different suppliers have different speed and price.

                                  Screen: never do measurements, just say resolution, RR and brightness

                                  Performance : run benchmark 5 times in a row ( that's stupid), play games 1 min later when the phone is still too hot, then complain if device does not sustain 59-60fps.

                                  Camera: praises warm satured colours, bash phones with correct WB , make ppl believe OIS helps with video. Nothing more. 0% of technical evaluation and 100% personnal taste.

                                  Battery: base battery endurance on hours of games and benchmarks instead of simulation of daily use.

                                  Audio : louder is always label of better. Even if it is mono vs stereo.

                                  Price : complain about any phone that costs more than $800 that is not Galaxy nor iphone. Demand price similiar of chinese phones are sold in China and think price difference is profits exclusively.

                                  My cat can do this kind of review ...

                                    Kempy83, 01 Mar 2021Please enlighten us all as to how the S20 ultra is incompar... moreThe S20 ultra camera supposedly beat the s21 in zoom and autofocus?which were the worst performing aspects of the camera which everyone knew...the S20 ultra can't even keep up with iPhone 11 series while the s21 defeats the iPhone 12 pro max in most scenarios in any camera comparison you can find.
                                    Imagine a review company telling you the predecessor had a better camera and believing it wholly.

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                                      • AnonD-762416
                                      • 3iL
                                      • 02 Mar 2021

                                      Panino Manino, 02 Mar 2021You read that section wrong. That section was looking at t... moreAnd what did I write about? What's magenta and green?
                                      If you add green to a human's face, or most other things, it looks less saturated. This is why Kodak used to lean a lot towards magenta on their films, because that is what people wanted for that "Kodak moment".

                                        Anonymous, 02 Mar 2021Those reviews that always say "details in the shadows&... moreSo does the lower AF and Zoom Score makes sense to you? Even if there is Laser Autofocus aiding the 108mp Sensor. Does 10x Hybrid/Digital Zoom better than the Optical One??. What in the world

                                        And I said "Multiple" Tech Reviewers. It includes Average to Professional Photographers/Reviewers.

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