1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Motorola Razr 40 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | Standard | Foldable | The Razr 40 folds in half, making it more compact when not in use. The S21 Ultra is a traditional slab phone. |
| Dimensions | 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm | 170.8 x 74 x 7.4 mm | The Razr 40 is taller but thinner and narrower when unfolded. The S21 Ultra is wider and thicker overall. |
| Weight | 227g | 188.6g | The Razr 40 is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for long usage and pocketable |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Motorola Razr 40 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.8" | 6.9" | The Razr 40 has a slightly larger screen, but the difference is barely noticeable. |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3200 | 1080 x 2640 | The S21 Ultra has a much sharper display. Text and images will appear clearer and more detailed. |
| PPI | 515 | 413 | The S21 Ultra has a noticeably higher pixel density leading to crisper and sharper visuals. |
| Technology | AMOLED | - | The S21 Ultra's AMOLED display offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors. The Razr 40 display technology is not specified, so it's difficult to make a comparison. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | The Razr 40's higher refresh rate provides slightly smoother scrolling and animations but the difference might not be too visible to most users. |
| Brightness | 1500 nits | 1400 nits | The S21 Ultra has better visibility in direct sunlight due to its slightly higher brightness. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Motorola Razr 40 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Different chipsets. The 4nm process of the Razr 40 typically suggests better power efficiency, while the S21 Ultra's chipset may offer more raw power in certain tasks. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,000 | 699,600 | The S21 Ultra has slightly better benchmark performance, indicating potentially smoother performance in intensive tasks and gaming. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Adreno 644 | Different GPUs, benchmarks scores show that the S21 Ultra has a slight edge in graphical performance, beneficial for gaming. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Motorola Razr 40 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Camera | 108MP, f/1.8, 1/1.33" sensor | 64MP, f/1.8 | The S21 Ultra captures higher resolution images with a larger sensor, potentially resulting in better low light performance and more detail. |
| Telephoto + Portrait | 10.8MP, f/2.4, 1/2.65" sensor | Not Available | The S21 Ultra offers a dedicated telephoto lens for better zoom and portrait shots. |
| Selfie Camera | 44MP, f/2.2, 1/2.65" sensor | 32MP, f/2.45 | The S21 Ultra has higher resolution and a wider aperture for better selfies, especially in low light. |
| Telephoto Lens | 10.8MP, f/4.9, 1/2.65" sensor | Not Available | The S21 Ultra has a dedicated telephoto lens, offering more versatile zoom capabilities. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | 12.2MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55" sensor | 13MP, f/2.2 | The Razr 40's wide-angle camera has slightly higher resolution, but the practical difference is small. |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps | 4K@30fps | The S21 Ultra offers higher video resolution (8K) and frame rates, better for high-quality video recording. |
| DxOMark (Mobile) | 115 (Photo: 121, Video: 100) | Not Available | The S21 Ultra has a superior camera performance according to DxOMark, offering great image and video quality. |
| DxOMark (Selfie) | 135 (Photo: 133, Video: 140) | Not Available | The S21 Ultra has a superior selfie camera according to DxOMark, offering great image and video quality. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Motorola Razr 40 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4200mAh | The S21 Ultra has a significantly larger battery, likely providing longer battery life on a single charge. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 33W Fast Charging | The Razr 40 charges slightly faster despite having a smaller battery. |
| Features | 15W Wireless Charging, 9W Reverse Wireless Charging | 8W Wireless Charging | The S21 Ultra offers faster wireless charging and reverse wireless charging capabilities. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G Advantages:
- Superior Display: Higher resolution, pixel density, AMOLED technology, and brightness provides a sharper, more vibrant viewing experience, especially outdoors.
- Stronger Performance: Higher benchmark scores and GPU suggest better performance for demanding tasks and gaming.
- Versatile Camera System: Features a dedicated telephoto lens, higher resolution primary sensor, and 8K video recording, offering more flexibility and higher quality images and videos.
- Bigger Battery: The 5000 mAh battery will likely last longer than the Razr 40's 4200 mAh.
- Advanced Wireless Charging: Faster wireless and reverse wireless charging.
- More Sensors: Environmental sensors like a barometer.
Practical Implications: The S21 Ultra is better suited for users who prioritize a premium display, high-end performance, and versatile camera capabilities. It is ideal for multimedia consumption, heavy gaming, and professional photography/videography.
Motorola Razr 40 Advantages:
- Foldable Design: Compact and pocketable when folded, offering a unique form factor.
- Lighter Weight: Significantly lighter and thinner than S21 Ultra, making it more comfortable for long use and easier to carry.
- Slightly Faster Refresh Rate: The 144 Hz refresh rate is negligibly better than the S21 Ultra's 120Hz for slightly smoother scrolling.
- Faster Charging: The 33W charging is quicker.
- Newer Bluetooth Standard: Bluetooth 5.3 offers minor improvements in efficiency and range.
- eSIM Support: Provides digital carrier switching capability.
Practical Implications: The Razr 40 is better suited for users who prioritize a compact design, novelty, pocketability, and value a unique form factor. It would be good for those who want a more comfortable, lightweight phone that fits in smaller pockets, as well as those who use eSIMs.
Significant Trade-Offs:
- S21 Ultra: Bulkier and heavier than Razr 40, making it less comfortable to carry for long periods.
- Razr 40: Lower camera performance and display resolution compared to the S21 Ultra. It also has a smaller battery.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
- Ideal User: Power users, multimedia enthusiasts, mobile photographers/videographers, gamers.
- Use Cases:
- High-end gaming with smooth graphics.
- Professional quality photo and video creation.
- Extensive multimedia consumption (movies, streaming).
- Demanding multitasking with multiple apps.
- Users who prefer larger displays and value cutting edge technology.
- Price-to-Value: High initial cost but offers top-tier specs in key areas such as display, camera, and performance.
Motorola Razr 40
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize portability, novelty, and a compact form factor; fashion-conscious individuals.
- Use Cases:
- Everyday casual use.
- Convenient portability for those with smaller pockets.
- Unique and stylish smartphone experience.
- Users who want a compact phone that is easy to carry around.
- Those who prefer the flexibility of eSIM.
- Price-to-Value: A newer phone, offering a unique foldable design at a somewhat lower price than other foldable devices.
4. Decision Framework
Here are three key questions for buyers to consider:
- Form Factor Preference: Do you prioritize a traditional slab phone or the unique foldability of the Razr 40?
- Performance vs. Portability: Do you prioritize top-tier performance, a bigger battery, and a superior camera (S21 Ultra) or a lighter, more portable phone (Razr 40)?
- Budget: Consider that the S21 Ultra is an older flagship phone and may be found at a lower price, while the Razr 40 has a higher cost, being a newer foldable phone.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1 (Multimedia & Photography): If you frequently watch videos, play graphic-intensive games, and take photos/videos, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is the better choice due to its superior display, performance, camera, and bigger battery.
- Scenario 2 (Portability & Unique Design): If you prioritize a compact, lightweight phone with a unique form factor and the novelty of a foldable design, the Motorola Razr 40 is the more suitable option despite its lower specs in other areas.
- Scenario 3 (Budget-Conscious): If you are on a tight budget, the S21 Ultra may be found at lower price, offering great performance and features at a relatively lower cost.
What I would choose and why
Personally, I would choose the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G. While the Motorola Razr 40's foldable design is intriguing, my priorities lie in having the best possible display and camera performance for my daily use. As someone who consumes a lot of media and enjoys photography, the S21 Ultra's superior display, more versatile camera system, and larger battery align perfectly with my needs. The extra weight and bulk are acceptable trade-offs for the higher quality experience it provides in those areas. Despite being an older device, the flagship level specs are still good enough for my use cases.
