1. Specifications Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G and the Motorola Edge 30 Fusion, focusing on practical user implications:
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Motorola Edge 30 Fusion | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm | 158.5 x 72 x 7.5 mm | The S21 Ultra is larger, potentially less comfortable for smaller hands and pocket use. The Edge 30 Fusion is more pocketable and easier to handle. |
| Weight | 227g | 168g | The Edge 30 Fusion is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use and carrying around. The S21 Ultra feels more substantial, but might feel heavy for some. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Motorola Edge 30 Fusion | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.8" | 6.55" | The S21 Ultra offers a slightly larger screen, providing a more immersive viewing experience, especially for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 1440x3200 | 1080x2400 | The S21 Ultra has a noticeably sharper display, resulting in clearer text and images. This is especially beneficial for detail-oriented tasks and high-resolution content. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 515 | 402 | The S21 Ultra's higher pixel density makes images look crisper and smoother, enhancing the overall visual quality. |
| Technology | AMOLED | P-OLED | Both technologies offer excellent color reproduction and deep blacks, with minor differences in display characteristics. The difference is unlikely to be noticeable for most users. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | The Edge 30 Fusion's higher refresh rate results in slightly smoother scrolling and animations, giving a more fluid user interface. |
| Brightness (nits) | 1500 | 1100 | The S21 Ultra has significantly higher peak brightness, making it much easier to view the screen in direct sunlight. The Edge 30 Fusion might struggle in very bright conditions. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Motorola Edge 30 Fusion | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm) | The Snapdragon 888+ in the Edge 30 Fusion generally provides slightly better performance and efficiency, especially for gaming and heavy app use. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,000 | 904,900 | The Edge 30 Fusion demonstrates superior benchmark performance, leading to snappier multitasking and faster app loading times. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Adreno 660 | The Adreno 660 in the Edge 30 Fusion generally offers better graphics performance, beneficial for gamers and those using graphically intensive apps. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Motorola Edge 30 Fusion | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera | 108MP, f/1.8, 1/1.33", 0.8µm | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.55", 1.0µm | S21 Ultra has a higher resolution sensor and a larger sensor, potentially capturing more detail and better low-light images, but the Edge 30 Fusion has larger pixels which can help with low light performance. |
| Telephoto + Portrait Lens | 10.8MP, f/2.4, 1/2.65", 1.22µm | None | The S21 Ultra has a dedicated telephoto lens for zoomed shots and portraits, which the Edge 30 Fusion lacks. |
| Selfie Camera | 44MP, f/2.2, 1/2.65", 0.7µm | 32MP, f/2.2, 0.8µm | The S21 Ultra offers higher resolution selfies, but the Edge 30 Fusion has slightly larger pixels, which may offer better low light results. |
| Telephoto Lens | 10.8MP, f/4.9, 1/2.65", 1.22µm | None | The S21 Ultra offers a dedicated telephoto lens for zoomed shots, while the Edge 30 Fusion does not have a telephoto lens. |
| Wide Angle Lens | None | 13MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | The Edge 30 Fusion includes a dedicated wide-angle lens for capturing expansive scenes, lacking on the S21 Ultra. |
| Portrait Mode (Depth) | None | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5", 1.75µm | The Edge 30 Fusion includes a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode, allowing for better background blur, while the S21 Ultra doesn't have a dedicated depth sensor. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | 12.2MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55", 1.4µm | None | The S21 Ultra has a dedicated wide angle and macro lens for versatile photos while the Edge 30 Fusion doesn't have a dedicated macro lens. |
| Video | Up to 8K@24fps with HDR, EIS | Up to 8K@30fps with EIS | Both phones offer excellent video recording capabilities, but the S21 Ultra offers 4k recording at 30/60fps, while the Edge 30 Fusion does not. |
| DXOMark (Mobile) | 115 (Photo: 121, Video: 100) | Not Tested | The S21 Ultra has been professionally tested, showing solid photo and video capabilities. The Edge 30 Fusion has not been tested by DXOMark. |
| DXOMark (Selfie) | 135 (Photo: 133, Video: 140) | Not Tested | The S21 Ultra has been professionally tested, showing excellent selfie photo and video capabilities. The Edge 30 Fusion has not been tested by DXOMark. |
| Camera Features | Optical zoom, Quadruple camera, Manual Focus, Laser AF | Triple camera, Laser AF | The S21 Ultra offers additional camera functionalities like manual focus and a true optical zoom. The Edge 30 Fusion offers a dedicated laser autofocus system. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Motorola Edge 30 Fusion | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4400mAh | The S21 Ultra has a larger battery, likely providing longer battery life, particularly for heavy users. |
| Charging | 25W | 68W | The Edge 30 Fusion offers significantly faster charging, reducing downtime for users needing a quick power-up. |
| Features | Wireless charging, Reverse charging | None | The S21 Ultra provides wireless and reverse wireless charging capabilities, offering more convenience for charging accessories and other devices, while the Edge 30 Fusion does not have these features. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G Advantages:
- Superior Display: Higher resolution, higher pixel density, and higher brightness lead to a significantly sharper and more visible screen, especially in sunlight.
- Versatile Camera System: Includes a more comprehensive camera system, with two dedicated telephoto lenses, a wider-angle lens, and macro capabilities allowing for versatile photography and offering optical zoom capabilities.
- Larger Battery: The 5000mAh battery provides better battery endurance, which is especially useful for heavy users and extended usage.
- Wireless Charging: Supports both wireless and reverse wireless charging.
- Additional Sensors: Provides a Barometer, Hall, Geomagnetic, offering additional use cases for weather monitoring or advanced gaming.
- More RAM: Up to 16 GB of RAM offering smoother multi tasking performance
Motorola Edge 30 Fusion Advantages:
- Lighter and More Compact: Significantly lighter and thinner, making it more comfortable to hold and pocket.
- Faster Performance: Superior benchmark performance from the Snapdragon 888+ resulting in faster app loading and smoother operation.
- Smoother Display: The 144Hz refresh rate provides slightly smoother animations.
- Faster Charging: 68W fast charging allows for quick replenishment of battery, which is useful for users needing to get their phone charged and go quickly.
- Wide Angle Lens: The inclusion of a dedicated wide-angle lens.
- Depth Sensor: Includes a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode photos.
Trade-offs
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G: Larger and heavier, slower charging speeds, and lacks a dedicated wide angle lens.
- Motorola Edge 30 Fusion: Lower resolution display, lower peak brightness, smaller battery, and less versatile camera system.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Ideal Users for Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G:
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who prioritize versatile photography, with multiple zoom options, and advanced manual controls.
- Media Consumption: Those who want the best visual experience for watching videos, playing games, and reading, especially in bright environments.
- Power Users: Individuals needing long battery life and the ability to wirelessly charge other devices.
- Multitaskers: Those who need high RAM for heavy multi-tasking.
- Users needing comprehensive sensor data for niche applications such as barometric pressure reading.
Use Cases: Taking high-quality photos and videos for professional and personal use, enjoying detailed media consumption on a sharp and bright display, extended usage throughout the day without frequent charging, and those needing wireless charging capabilities and advanced features.
Ideal Users for Motorola Edge 30 Fusion:
- Everyday Users: Those who prioritize comfort and ease of use.
- Gamers: Benefit from the slightly higher performance and smoother display of the 144Hz refresh rate.
- Users needing fast charging: Those who often need to quickly charge their device and get going again.
- Wide-Angle Photographers: Users who want a dedicated wide-angle lens for landscape shots.
Use Cases: Comfortable daily phone usage, smooth gaming experience, quickly charging the phone between use, and taking wide-angle landscape shots.
Price-to-Value Ratio
- The Motorola Edge 30 Fusion generally offers a better price-to-performance ratio, providing a flagship-like experience at a more accessible price point.
- The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G commands a higher price point due to its premium display, versatile camera, and additional features like wireless charging.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is camera versatility and quality? If the user needs multiple zoom lenses and advanced photo features, the S21 Ultra is better. If a good main camera and a wide-angle lens is enough, the Edge 30 Fusion suffices.
- Is battery life or charging speed a priority? If battery life is more crucial, go for the S21 Ultra. If a quick charge is more important, the Edge 30 Fusion is better.
- Is portability and comfort more important? The Edge 30 Fusion is lighter and easier to handle. For users needing something pocketable, the Edge 30 Fusion wins here.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: A user who wants the best camera experience, is a power user, needs the best visual experience, and doesn't mind a bigger, heavier phone and slower charging speeds - choose the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G.
- Scenario 2: A user who wants a comfortable, lightweight, and fast phone with good performance, and a quick charge, while having a decent camera system - choose the Motorola Edge 30 Fusion.
- Scenario 3: A user who needs to take wide-angle photos frequently - the Motorola Edge 30 Fusion is the obvious choice.
- Scenario 4: A user who frequently takes photos of objects far away - the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is the obvious choice.
My Choice
If I had to choose, I would pick the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, despite its age. My rationale is that for my specific needs, the strengths of the S21 Ultra outweigh the advantages of the Edge 30 Fusion. I need excellent camera versatility, including multiple telephoto lenses for different use cases, and the superior display with high brightness is a must for my daily use. The larger battery and wireless charging capabilities are also very convenient. While the Edge 30 Fusion has better benchmark performance and faster charging, those aren't as critical to me as the camera versatility and display quality. The heavier and larger form factor is a compromise I'm willing to accept for the superior overall user experience.
