1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Motorola Razr 40 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | Standard | Foldable | The Razr 40 Ultra is a compact foldable, offering portability, while the S21 Ultra is a traditional slab phone. |
| Dimensions | 165.1 × 75.6 × 8.9 mm | 170.8 × 74 × 7 mm (unfolded) | The Razr 40 Ultra is taller and thinner, making it more pocketable when folded. The S21 Ultra has a larger overall volume. |
| Weight | 227g | 184.5g | The Razr 40 Ultra is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for one-handed use and prolonged holding. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Motorola Razr 40 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.8" | 6.9" | The Razr 40 Ultra offers a slightly larger viewing area. |
| Resolution | 1440x3200 | 1080x2640 | The S21 Ultra provides significantly sharper visuals, making text and images appear clearer. |
| PPI | 515 | 413 | The S21 Ultra has much higher pixel density, contributing to a noticeably crisper and more detailed screen. |
| Technology | AMOLED | The S21 Ultra's AMOLED display offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors compared to the unknown display technology of the Razr 40 Ultra. | |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 165Hz | The Razr 40 Ultra has a higher refresh rate for smoother scrolling and animations, making the user experience more fluid. |
| Brightness | 1500 nits | 1400 nits | The S21 Ultra has higher brightness, which helps with better visibility in bright outdoor conditions. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Motorola Razr 40 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) | The Razr 40 Ultra's newer chipset offers significantly better performance and efficiency. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,000 | 1,238,000 | The Razr 40 Ultra is considerably faster, resulting in smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Adreno 730 | The Razr 40 Ultra's GPU provides better graphics performance, useful for gaming and other graphically intensive tasks. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Motorola Razr 40 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 108MP, f/1.8, 1/1.33" | 12MP, f/1.5 | The S21 Ultra captures much more detailed images with its higher resolution sensor. The Razr 40 Ultra's wider aperture might perform slightly better in low light. |
| Telephoto Camera | 10.8MP, f/2.4, 1/2.65" | None | The S21 Ultra offers optical zoom capabilities for better image quality at a distance. |
| Selfie Camera | 44MP, f/2.2 | 32MP, f/2.45 | The S21 Ultra takes more detailed selfies with a slightly wider aperture for better low-light performance. |
| Wide Angle Camera | 12.2MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55" | 13MP, f/2.2 | The Razr 40 Ultra captures slightly more detail with a higher resolution sensor for ultrawide shots. |
| Video Recording | Up to 8K@24fps | Up to 4K@60fps | The S21 Ultra offers higher resolution recording, useful for professional video creation. Both phones provide video stabilization. |
| DXOMark Mobile | 115 (Photo: 121, Video: 100) | Not Tested | The S21 Ultra's camera system is highly rated, indicating good overall image and video quality. |
| DXOMark Selfie | 135 (Photo: 133, Video: 140) | Not Tested | The S21 Ultra's selfie camera performs very well. |
| Camera Features | Optical zoom, Quad camera, 8K video, | Time-lapse, Ultra stable video, Dual camera | The S21 Ultra offers a versatile camera system with multiple lenses and advanced features like OIS, laser autofocus, and 8K recording. Razr 40 Ultra offers advanced time-lapse and ultra-stable video features |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Motorola Razr 40 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 3800mAh | The S21 Ultra has a significantly larger battery, likely providing longer battery life. |
| Charging | 25W | 30W | The Razr 40 Ultra charges slightly faster. |
| 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 Quality: Higher resolution, pixel density, and AMOLED technology resulting in sharper, more vibrant visuals.
- Versatile Camera System: Features a more comprehensive camera system with multiple lenses including optical zoom and 8K video recording.
- Larger Battery: Significantly larger capacity likely translates to longer battery life, reducing the need for frequent charging.
- Advanced Audio Features: Hi-Res audio and noise cancellation microphones for superior audio experience.
Motorola Razr 40 Ultra Advantages:
- Foldable Design: Offers a more compact form factor when folded, enhancing portability and pocketability.
- Higher Performance: The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset provides much better performance compared to the older Exynos 2100, suitable for intensive tasks like gaming.
- Higher Refresh Rate: 165Hz display refresh rate results in smoother scrolling and animations.
- Faster Charging: Supports slightly faster wired charging compared to the S21 Ultra.
- Newer Software: Comes with Android 13, while the S21 Ultra launched with Android 11, giving it an advantage in terms of features and security updates.
- eSIM support: Offers digital sim card functionality.
- Newer WiFi standard: Offers faster speeds and access to 6GHz band.
- Newer Bluetooth: Has a newer bluetooth version, though the S21 Ultra supports more features.
Trade-offs:
- S21 Ultra: Trades a more compact form for superior display quality, a more advanced camera system, and longer battery life. Older chipset.
- Razr 40 Ultra: Trades display sharpness, camera versatility and battery capacity for a compact, foldable form, better performance, and faster charging.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G:
- Ideal User:
- Users who prioritize display quality, camera performance, and battery life.
- Mobile photographers and videographers who need versatile zoom options and high-resolution video recording.
- Professionals who need a reliable, high-performance device for daily productivity and media consumption.
- Users who prefer a traditional form factor and don't need a foldable phone.
- Specific Use Cases:
- Professional photography and video creation.
- Long hours of media consumption and gaming.
- Demanding multitasking across multiple apps.
- Work related tasks that may require high battery performance and a reliable camera.
Motorola Razr 40 Ultra:
- Ideal User:
- Users who value portability and a unique, stylish design.
- Gamers and performance enthusiasts who prioritize raw speed and smooth animations.
- Users who prefer a modern, innovative device and prioritize newer software and features.
- Users who want a phone that is pocketable when folded.
- Specific Use Cases:
- Mobile gaming and other resource-intensive tasks.
- Frequent travel and on-the-go use.
- Users who appreciate innovative design and latest tech features.
- Users who prefer the latest bluetooth and WiFi features.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The S21 Ultra, being older, might be available at a lower price point, providing great value for those on a budget who still want a premium camera and display.
- The Razr 40 Ultra, being newer and foldable, is likely more expensive, but offers cutting-edge features for those who value innovation and portability.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Do I prioritize portability and a unique foldable design or a traditional form factor with superior display and camera versatility?
- Is raw performance (for gaming, etc.) more important than battery life and camera capabilities?
- Do I prefer a more up to date software and features or do I prefer a better camera, battery and display?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
Scenario 1: Photography Enthusiast:
- Recommendation: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G. The superior camera system with multiple lenses, high resolution images, 8K video recording capabilities, and higher DXOMark scores make it the better choice for photography.
Scenario 2: Performance-Focused User:
- Recommendation: Motorola Razr 40 Ultra. The newer Snapdragon chipset and higher refresh rate display make it the best choice for resource-intensive applications and gaming.
Scenario 3: Portability and Innovation:
- Recommendation: Motorola Razr 40 Ultra. Its compact foldable design and newer features make it a great choice for users who value portability and the latest technology.
Scenario 4: Balanced User:
- Recommendation: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G. If you don't need the foldable design, the S21 Ultra offers a balance of premium features like a great camera, display and battery life with a potentially lower price tag.
My Choice
If I were to choose, I would personally choose the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G. While the Razr 40 Ultra is an impressive device with its foldable design and superior performance, my priorities lie with a superior display and camera. The S21 Ultra's AMOLED screen with its higher resolution and brightness, combined with its powerful camera system offering versatile zoom capabilities and 8K video recording, would suit my needs more effectively. I also value longer battery life which the S21 Ultra offers. While the Razr 40 Ultra is undoubtedly a cutting-edge device, the S21 Ultra offers the best balance of features for my use case. The higher performance of the Razr 40 Ultra is not as relevant to my everyday use as the display and camera.
