1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Motorola Moto G24 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm | 163.5 x 74.5 x 8 mm | S21 Ultra is slightly larger and thicker, may feel less comfortable for one-handed use. G24 is more compact and pocketable. |
| Weight | 227g | 181g | G24 is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use, while the S21 Ultra is noticeably heavier. |
| Build Material | Not specified | Not specified | Build materials are not specified. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Motorola Moto G24 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.8" | 6.56" | S21 Ultra has a slightly larger screen, offering a more immersive viewing experience. |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3200 | 720 x 1612 | S21 Ultra has a much sharper and more detailed display, significantly better for media consumption and text clarity. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 515 | 269 | S21 Ultra has a drastically sharper display, providing clearer images and text compared to the G24. |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | S21 Ultra's AMOLED panel offers better blacks, contrast, and color vibrancy, resulting in superior picture quality, particularly noticeable in dark mode and HDR content. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 90Hz | S21 Ultra provides smoother scrolling and animations, beneficial for gaming and general fluidity, but the difference from the G24’s 90Hz may not be very noticeable for the average user. |
| Brightness | 1500 nits | 500 nits | S21 Ultra is much more visible in direct sunlight, ensuring clear readability outdoors, a major advantage in bright conditions. |
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Unknown | S21 Ultra offers superior scratch and drop protection, reducing the risk of screen damage. The G24 screen protection is unknown. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Motorola Moto G24 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Mediatek Helio G85 (12 nm) | S21 Ultra's chip offers much better performance for demanding tasks like gaming, video editing and overall responsiveness. The G24 is adequate for basic tasks. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,000 | 266,894 | S21 Ultra is significantly faster, leading to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance. The G24 struggles more with heavy workloads. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Mali-G52 MC2 | S21 Ultra's GPU is far more capable, ensuring better graphics performance, especially in games and graphically intensive apps. |
| RAM | 12GB or 16GB | 4GB or 8GB | S21 Ultra offers more RAM, enabling smoother multitasking, running more apps in the background, and a better overall user experience, especially with heavy app usage. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Motorola Moto G24 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 108MP | 50MP | S21 Ultra captures more detailed images with its higher resolution sensor, enabling more cropping and better print quality. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/1.33" | Not Specified | S21 Ultra's larger sensor captures more light, improving low-light performance and image quality. |
| Telephoto Lens | Yes (10.8MP, f/2.4 and 10.8MP, f/4.9) | No | S21 Ultra has two telephoto cameras, offering excellent optical zoom capabilities for distant subjects. |
| Wide Angle Lens | Yes (12.2MP) | Yes (2MP) | S21 Ultra's ultrawide lens provides better image quality and detail compared to the G24’s low-resolution ultrawide. |
| Macro Lens | No | Yes (2MP) | G24 offers a dedicated macro lens for close-up photography. However, the quality may not be very high due to its lower resolution. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 44MP | 8MP | S21 Ultra captures more detailed selfies, suitable for high-quality social media posts or video conferencing. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.0 | G24 has a slightly wider aperture for its selfie camera, potentially slightly better low-light performance, though the large difference in resolution heavily favors the S21 Ultra. |
| Video Recording | 8K @ 24fps, 4K @ up to 60fps | 1080p @ 30fps | S21 Ultra records much higher-quality video, including 8K, with more stabilization and advanced options, excellent for videography and content creation. |
| Video Stabilization | Yes | No | The S21 Ultra has better video stabilization. The G24 does not offer such stabilization. |
| Slow Motion | Up to 960 fps | Up to 120 fps | The S21 Ultra offers much better slow motion video capabilities. |
| DXOMark Scores | Mobile: 115, Selfie: 135 | Not available | S21 Ultra's camera is significantly better according to DXOMark testing. |
| Camera Features | Extensive, including OIS, Optical Zoom, Laser AF, RAW, Night Mode | Basic, including PDAF, HDR, Scene Mode, RAW | S21 Ultra offers a more versatile and feature-rich camera system with more advanced capabilities like optical image stabilization (OIS), resulting in better overall photography. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Motorola Moto G24 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh | Both phones offer similar battery capacity and comparable battery life. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 15W Fast Charging | S21 Ultra charges significantly faster, reducing downtime. |
| Wireless Charging | 15W, Reverse Wireless Charging 9W | No | S21 Ultra offers convenient wireless charging and reverse wireless charging for other devices. |
| In-Box Charger | No | Not specified | S21 Ultra does not include a charger in the box. The G24 box contents are not specified. |
Other
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Motorola Moto G24 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 11 (upgradable to 15) | Android 14 | G24 has a newer out of the box Android version (14), but may not get as many future updates as the S21 Ultra (upgradable to 15). |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | S21 Ultra has newer and faster WiFi standard, leading to faster speeds and more reliable connections. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.0 | S21 Ultra has a newer Bluetooth version, offering slightly better range and power efficiency. |
| GPS | GPS (L1+L5), Galileo (E1+E5a) | GPS, SUPL, Galileo | S21 Ultra provides more precise location tracking with dual-band GPS. |
| Storage | 128/256/512 GB | 128/256 GB | S21 Ultra offers a higher maximum storage option, providing more space for media and apps, and more flexibility to the user. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage, limiting users to the available internal storage. |
| Audio | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers, Noise cancellation microphone | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | S21 Ultra has a slight edge in audio features offering enhanced spatial audio, higher quality audio playback, clearer calls, better audio separation and immersion. |
| Security | Basic fingerprint sensor | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | G24 offers a more convenient and faster side-mounted fingerprint sensor. |
| Sensors | Full suite (Barometer, Gyro, Compass, Accelerometer, Proximity) | Basic suite (Gyro, Compass, Accelerometer, Proximity) | S21 Ultra includes an additional barometer, useful for weather tracking and altitude data. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G Advantages:
- Superior Display: Significantly higher resolution, AMOLED technology, higher refresh rate, and much higher brightness, providing a vastly superior viewing experience for media consumption and overall usage.
- Significantly Higher Performance: Much more powerful chipset and GPU, resulting in significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming capabilities.
- Superior Camera System: Higher resolution sensors, multiple telephoto lenses, better ultrawide lens, and advanced features like OIS, laser autofocus, and 8K video recording, resulting in much better image and video quality.
- Faster Charging and Wireless Charging: Faster wired charging and wireless charging capabilities, offering more convenience and flexibility.
- More RAM and Storage Options: Higher RAM capacity and higher internal storage option (512GB), suitable for heavy users and demanding applications.
- Advanced Features: Hi-Res Audio, Noise cancellation microphone, more advanced WiFi, more advanced Bluetooth and superior GPS.
- Better Build Quality: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus provides better protection.
- More Sensors: Includes a Barometer sensor.
Motorola Moto G24 Advantages:
- Lower Price: Significantly more affordable, making it accessible to budget-conscious consumers.
- Lighter and More Compact: More comfortable for one-handed use and easier to carry around.
- Newer Software: Comes with Android 14 out of the box, although it is unknown how many future updates the device will receive.
- Side-Mounted Fingerprint Sensor: May be more convenient than an in-display sensor.
- Macro Lens: Has a dedicated macro lens.
- Selfie Camera Aperture: The selfie camera has a slightly wider aperture.
Trade-offs:
- The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G offers superior performance and features, but is much heavier, bulkier, and more expensive.
- The Motorola Moto G24 is a more budget-friendly option and is lighter and more compact, but has significant compromises in performance, display quality, and camera capabilities.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G Ideal Users:
- Power Users: Individuals who need the best possible performance for gaming, multitasking, and demanding applications.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who want a versatile and high-quality camera system for both photos and videos, including telephoto capabilities and professional-grade video recording.
- Media Consumers: Those who value a superior display for watching videos, browsing the web, and viewing high-resolution content, especially in bright environments.
- Users Who Want the Latest Features: Users who prioritize advanced features, such as higher quality audio, more precise GPS and faster WiFi.
- Users that want the very best security: Users who prioritize additional sensors such as Barometer and superior screen protection.
Specific Use Cases:
- High-end gaming: Smooth performance on graphically intensive games.
- Professional photography/videography: Capturing detailed images and videos in various conditions.
- Outdoor media consumption: Clearly visible display even in direct sunlight.
- Multitasking on several resource-heavy applications: Seamless switching between apps and smooth performance.
- Professional use cases: High security and accurate GPS, especially with the barometer sensor.
Motorola Moto G24 Ideal Users:
- Budget-Conscious Buyers: Those who prioritize affordability and essential smartphone functions over high-end features.
- Casual Users: Individuals who primarily use their phone for basic tasks such as calling, texting, browsing the web, and social media.
- Users Who Prefer a Lightweight Design: People who value a comfortable and easy-to-handle smartphone.
- Users that do not require high performance or camera: Users that value an essential phone with a low price and a lightweight form factor.
Specific Use Cases:
- Everyday tasks: Calling, texting, light social media, and web browsing.
- Basic photography: Casual snapshots in good lighting conditions.
- Users with limited technical requirements: Basic functions such as a basic fingerprint sensor will meet their needs.
- People who prioritize an affordable device
- People that do not need a professional camera system: The 2MP cameras will meet their needs.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? The S21 Ultra is a significantly more expensive device, while the G24 is a much more affordable option.
- How important is performance and display quality to you? If you are a power user or media consumer, the S21 Ultra is the better choice. If you just need a basic smartphone, the G24 is suitable.
- How important is camera quality for you? The S21 Ultra has a much better camera, including features like OIS, telephoto lenses, and 8K video capabilities.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: High-Performance Gaming & Media Enthusiast
- Recommendation: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G. Its superior processor, display, and audio make it ideal for immersive gaming and media consumption.
- Scenario 2: Budget-Conscious User with Basic Needs
- Recommendation: Motorola Moto G24. This phone meets the requirements for basic use cases at a much lower cost, with a lightweight design.
- Scenario 3: Photography Buff
- Recommendation: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G. The camera system on the S21 Ultra is far superior to the G24, offering greater versatility and image quality.
- Scenario 4: User Who Wants Long Battery Life:
- Recommendation: Both phones offer similar battery life due to their capacity, but the S21 Ultra will charge faster.
Decision
I would choose the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G. While it is older and significantly more expensive, it offers a substantially better user experience due to its superior display, vastly superior performance, much more capable camera system, and faster charging, along with other high-end features.
Although the Motorola Moto G24 is a newer and more affordable phone, its compromises in performance, camera, and display quality are too significant for my use case. As someone who values high-resolution media, demanding games, and high-quality photography, the S21 Ultra’s capabilities would be worth the additional cost and the slightly larger size. The S21 Ultra's features such as advanced wifi, GPS and security features are also important to me. The additional sensors and advanced features are a big bonus.
