Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G review

25 January 2021


Sort by:

  • S
  • SVK
  • rJ7
  • 28 Jan 2021

Could you please update review about changes brought by adding Google Feed and Google Messages.
Or are these changes not present in OneUI 3.1?

    • S
    • Shui8
    • KZK
    • 28 Jan 2021

    TheLastOracle, 28 Jan 2021BM3D technique is basically a image denoising algorithm, an... moreI've compared it, a lot of time. Can't unsee how bad the S21 Ultra oversharpened things, especially in low lights. Look at the tied rope in the middle right, details are identical between Mate & S21, but S21 introduce more noise & artificial sharpening.

      • S
      • Shui8
      • KZK
      • 28 Jan 2021

      Nick Tegrataker, 28 Jan 2021You're totally right, but it's really unfortunate... moreThe upscale crop technique is a bad habit. Looks like they want to control the camera bump thickness, by sacrificing a bit when pixel peep.

        Shui8, 28 Jan 2021Lol those HUGE margin you call obviously just an artificial... moreBM3D technique is basically a image denoising algorithm, and nothing more. And, incidentally, the Ultra has better noise handling than the Mate40 in low light as well. See the comparison link again of the 3 cameras. It has the lownlight photos in the comparison tool as well.
        Most likely, the Ultra is using the BM3D noise reduction algorithms, and the Mate isn't.

          Shui8, 28 Jan 2021Lol those HUGE margin you call obviously just an artificial... moreYou're totally right, but it's really unfortunate that Mate 40 Pro only uses the centre 9MP portion of the image and upscales it which is clearly reflected on GSMArena's photo comparison chart (softer edges and more jagged lines compared to Mate 30 Pro). A part of me kind of wished that GSMArena would've taken a photo at 0.8x magnification where no crop is applied to the image, though at the same time I know it would be totally unfair if I blamed it on them.

            • y
            • ypcx
            • HBt
            • 28 Jan 2021

            dazed1, 27 Jan 2021Charging speed is already fixed, you should STOP thinking a... moreI top-up my phone when I go take a shower. What Samsung offers now is too slow for that.

              • S
              • Shui8
              • KZK
              • 28 Jan 2021

              TheLastOracle, 26 Jan 2021In the Comparison tool of gsmarena, between the Samsung S21... moreLol those HUGE margin you call obviously just an artificial detail caused by excessive oversharpening. Its called overprocessing, with a bit of noise too.

              Iphone 12 Pro Max does worse, oversharpening + smudging + noise everywhere. Less processing, but way more artifacts. I'll take S21 Ultra over it anyday.

              As for Mate 40, its the most natural when it comes to details. Actually it resolve almost the same as S21, but kept sharpness & noise reduction well controlled, thanks to the BM3D technique. Yes it is softer than others, but thats how it should be.

                Anonymous, 27 Jan 2021Go purchase a 50$ wired and wireless earphones and tell me ... moreNot sure I follow, explain better. In the wired category, I always had earphones that came with the phone. So pretty good (AKG). Last with my Note 8 and Note 9. I also have a wireless $100 earphones and $450 headphones. That being said, I like how all of them sound with some tweaks in EQ, sound profiles, etc.

                  TheLastOracle, 27 Jan 2021Since you're so confident of your theory, you could do... moreWithout added sharpening:
                  https://i.imgur.com/FLcT52e.jpg
                  https://i.imgur.com/ZOH07mU.jpg
                  https://i.imgur.com/LJRIiyF.jpg

                  With added sharpening (150, radius 3):
                  https://i.imgur.com/fVpOLP9.jpg
                  https://i.imgur.com/iFjQBoR.jpg
                  https://i.imgur.com/47bhP9W.jpg

                  You should probably test it out yourself if you still have any doubts.

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • gBV
                    • 28 Jan 2021

                    A comparison with the Xiaomi 10 Ultra periscope camera would be interesting.
                    A Xiaomi 10 Ultra vs P40 Pro Plus full resolution comparison at gizmochina shows that the 120mm equivalent Xiaomi 10 Ultra periscope camera can occasionally beat the 240mm equivalent periscope camera of the P40 Pro Plus regarding distant objects. Maybe the quality of the P40 Pro Plus lens is worse or maybe the image processing is worse.
                    I wonder if the Xiaomi 10 Ultra periscope camera beats the S21 Ultra regarding distant objects. My impression is also that the Xiaomi 10 Ultra periscope camera seems to take the best and most natural moon photos.

                      • A
                      • Andrey
                      • 8w2
                      • 27 Jan 2021

                      With what version of the processor were the photos taken? Exynos 2100 or Snapdragon 888. Is there a difference in photo quality when the processor is different?

                        • b
                        • begjay
                        • r3H
                        • 27 Jan 2021

                        [deleted post]Dual sim means you can used two sim on that phone and your second question mean both sim have that network frequency you mention

                          AKW2020, 27 Jan 2021Thank u so much. It called bbk electronics, include Oppo Vi... more1100usd for my find x2 pro back in may 2020

                            • D
                            • AnonD-973296
                            • GYi
                            • 27 Jan 2021

                            Hellfire, 27 Jan 2021I just run geekbench 5 on samsung s21 ultra and single core... moreu own one? and if so which version do u have?

                              https://japantoday.com/category/tech/samsung-display-unveils-new-low-power-oled-display-for-smartphones
                              Looks like there's secret sauce in the Ultra oled panel reducing power draw vs all other oled phones

                                Nick.B, 26 Jan 2021Oppo is the top of the brands in the Group (don't know... moreThank u so much. It called bbk electronics, include Oppo Vivo Oneplus Realme and iqoo. It will be perfect if we can active both 3 fingers swipe and navigation button for screenshot together. I like Oppo X2 Pro and Find X. Vivo X60+ Pro has that leather back idk about slip. But Find X2 Pro is enough altough i can only buy mid range phones. Xiaomi is cheaper but there is news to data colleting idk about other chinese but high price of Oppo and Vivo seems explain it.

                                  • p
                                  • pepe-el-toro
                                  • Lyd
                                  • 27 Jan 2021

                                  No MicroSD, no carger? Samsung thinks they are Apple now? No more Samsungs for my Galaxy Note 9 is the last Samsung phone...

                                    • T
                                    • T-money
                                    • q$v
                                    • 27 Jan 2021

                                    Thanks for the review. Love the jabs at Samsung and its attempt to "save the planet". GSMarena keeping it real lol

                                      Joe, 27 Jan 2021BBK they own Oppo, Oneplus, Realme and Vivo just clarifying... moreThey do. And the top dog is Oppo. End of story.
                                      Check it if you want.

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • pEC
                                        • 27 Jan 2021

                                        So it seems that the phone changes cameras in certain conditions when zooming, especially in low light. Then, I understand, it crops the 108MP photo to "zoom in" instead of using the dedicated zoom camera.

                                        How can we tell whether a photo was shot using zoom lens or the main one in that case?

                                          12 of 21