1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Nothing Phone (2) | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 165.1 × 75.6 × 8.9 mm | 162.1 × 76.4 × 8.6 mm | S21 Ultra is taller and thicker, potentially feeling less comfortable for small hands. Nothing Phone (2) is slightly wider. |
| Weight | 227g | 201.2g | Nothing Phone (2) is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable to hold for extended periods. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.8" | 6.7" | Negligible difference in size, both offer immersive viewing experiences. |
| Resolution | 1440x3200 | 1080x2412 | S21 Ultra's display is significantly sharper and clearer, providing better detail. |
| PPI | 515 | 394 | S21 Ultra offers noticeably crisper text and images due to higher pixel density. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Both offer excellent contrast and vibrant colors. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both provide smooth scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 1500 nits | 1600 nits | Nothing Phone (2) is slightly brighter, offering better outdoor visibility in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) | Nothing Phone (2)'s Snapdragon chip offers superior performance, faster processing, and improved efficiency, making it better for gaming and demanding applications. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,000 | 1,135,786 | Nothing Phone (2) demonstrates significantly better benchmark performance, indicating smoother operation. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Adreno 730 | The Adreno 730 in the Nothing Phone (2) provides better graphics performance for gaming and graphically intensive apps. |
| Camera | |||
| Rear Main Camera | 108MP, f/1.8, 1/1.33" | 50MP, f/1.88, 1/1.56" | S21 Ultra's main sensor offers higher resolution and larger sensor for more detail and better low-light performance although Nothing Phone (2) has larger pixel size. |
| Telephoto + Portrait Camera | 10.8MP | Not present | S21 Ultra offers dedicated telephoto and portrait lens for better zoomed and portrait shots. |
| Selfie Camera | 44MP, f/2.2, 1/2.65" | 32MP, f/2.45, 1/2.74" | S21 Ultra's selfie camera offers higher resolution, wider aperture, and a larger sensor for detailed selfies. |
| Telephoto Lens | 10.8MP | Not present | S21 Ultra provides better zoom capabilities with a dedicated telephoto lens. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | 12.2MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55" | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/2.76" | Nothing Phone (2) has a much higher resolution for wide-angle photos but smaller sensor. |
| Video Recording | Up to 8K@24fps | Up to 4K@60fps | S21 Ultra can record in 8K resolution, offering professional-grade video capture. |
| DXOMark (Mobile) | 115 (main) | Not available | S21 Ultra's camera performance is rated by DXOMark, indicating a good overall camera system. |
| DXOMark (Selfie) | 135 (selfie) | Not available | S21 Ultra's selfie camera performance is also rated, showing good selfie capabilities. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4700mAh | S21 Ultra has a slightly larger battery but this might not translate to much difference in real-world usage. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 45W Fast Charging | Nothing Phone (2) charges significantly faster, reducing downtime. |
| Wireless Charging | 15W, 9W Reverse | 15W, 5W Reverse | Both offer similar wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, but S21 Ultra has faster reverse charging. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 15) | Android 13 (upgradable to 16) | Nothing Phone (2) has a newer OS out of the box with a promise of longer future support. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Both support the latest WiFi standards, ensuring fast and stable connections. |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.3 | Nothing Phone (2) has newer Bluetooth with better connection stability and power efficiency. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), Galileo (E1+E5a) | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), NavIC System | Nothing Phone (2) provides broader location system support and potentially better accuracy in more regions. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 128/256/512 GB | 128/256/512 GB | Both offer similar storage options to meet different user needs. |
| RAM | 12/16 GB | 8/12 GB | S21 Ultra offers 16GB RAM for enhanced multitasking. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither device allows expandable storage, so choosing the right variant is crucial. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Quality | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Noise cancellation microphone, Stereo Speakers | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | S21 Ultra has slight advantage due to Dolby Atmos support and Noise cancellation microphone, offering better overall audio experience and call quality. |
| Security | |||
| Fingerprint Sensor | In-display fingerprint sensor | In-display fingerprint sensor | Both offer in-display fingerprint sensor for biometric security. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Not specified | S21 Ultra has enhanced screen protection with Gorilla Glass Victus, providing better durability. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Barometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Gravity | Samsung has additional Barometer which can measure atmospheric pressure, important for weather tracking, while Nothing phone (2) has a gravity sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G Advantages:
- Higher Resolution Display: Significantly sharper display with more detail (1440x3200 vs 1080x2412), better for media consumption and detail-oriented tasks.
- Superior Camera System: Offers a more versatile camera setup with dedicated telephoto lenses, higher resolution main and selfie cameras, and 8K video recording for high-quality video and zoom capabilities.
- More RAM (16GB option): Provides better multitasking performance, particularly for demanding users who often run multiple apps simultaneously.
- Wider Sensor Size on Main Camera: The 1/1.33" sensor will allow more light to hit the sensor and thus create better low light images
- Dolby Atmos and Noise Cancellation Microphone: Enhanced audio experience with Dolby Atmos, and clearer calls due to the noise-canceling microphone.
- Barometer Sensor: Additional environmental sensor for more precise weather and altitude data.
- Established Brand: Backed by Samsung's ecosystem and customer support, offering a sense of reliability.
Nothing Phone (2) Advantages:
- Newer Chipset: Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 offers significantly better performance in both CPU and GPU tasks, resulting in smoother operation, better gaming, and improved energy efficiency.
- Lighter Weight: Significantly lighter (201.2g vs 227g), making it more comfortable for extended use.
- Brighter Display: Higher brightness (1600 nits vs 1500 nits), resulting in better outdoor visibility
- Faster Charging: 45W fast charging compared to 25W, reducing charging times.
- Newer Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.3 provides better connection stability and improved power efficiency compared to Bluetooth 5.2.
- Newer Android OS: Launched with Android 13 and promises upgrades to Android 16, offering longer-term software support.
- Better GPS: Supports additional satellite systems (QZSS, NavIC) for improved location accuracy in more regions.
Trade-offs:
- S21 Ultra: Sacrifices processing power and charging speed for a more comprehensive camera setup and higher display resolution and established ecosystem. It is also heavier.
- Nothing Phone (2): Sacrifices some camera versatility (missing dedicated telephoto lenses) and a slightly lower display resolution for significantly better processing power, faster charging and lighter body.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G Ideal User:
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who prioritize camera versatility, zoom capabilities, and high-resolution image quality.
- Media Consumption Lovers: Users who want the sharpest display possible for watching videos and detailed images and who also value the Dolby Atmos audio experience.
- Heavy Multitaskers: Users who demand smooth operation when running many apps and appreciate the extra RAM (16GB option).
- Established Ecosystem Fans: Users who prefer the Samsung ecosystem and its additional features.
Specific Use Cases (S21 Ultra):
- Professional or high-quality photography and video creation.
- Detailed viewing of photos, videos, and text documents.
- Demanding multitasking on resource-intensive apps and games.
- Users who value established brand reputation and reliability.
Nothing Phone (2) Ideal User:
- Performance-Oriented Users: Users who prioritize fast performance for gaming, app loading, and smooth multitasking.
- On-the-Go Users: Users who need fast charging and a lighter phone for easy portability and extended use.
- Tech Enthusiasts: Users who want a modern design and the latest software experience.
- Users Seeking Value: Users who are looking for good performance at a competitive price.
Specific Use Cases (Nothing Phone (2)):
- Mobile gaming with demanding graphical requirements.
- Everyday users who want smooth performance and quick app loading.
- Users who need reliable, fast charging.
- Users looking for a more budget-conscious option with modern software and processing power.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your primary use case? (Photography, gaming, media, daily usage)
- How important is fast charging and portability?
- Are you looking for the best camera or the best performance?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Professional Photography/Videography: Choose the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G for its superior camera versatility, zoom capabilities, and 8K video recording.
- Scenario 2: Mobile Gaming/Demanding Apps: Choose the Nothing Phone (2) for its significantly better processor and GPU, which will ensure smooth, high-performance gaming and better app loading speeds.
- Scenario 3: Balanced Daily Use: Choose the Nothing Phone (2) for a lightweight design, faster charging, and newer software, while still providing a smooth performance.
- Scenario 4: Established Ecosystem & Brand Loyalty: Choose the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G for the familiarity, Samsung ecosystem, and advanced audio features.
My Choice:
Given these two phones and considering that I'm currently using the Pixel 6 Pro, I would choose the Nothing Phone (2).
Here's why:
- Performance: I often use my phone for demanding tasks and gaming, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Nothing Phone (2) is a significant upgrade over the Exynos 2100 of the S21 Ultra. This would result in a much better overall experience while using the phone.
- Weight: The weight of the S21 Ultra is a bit too much for daily use, whereas the Nothing Phone (2)'s lighter body is more comfortable for extended use.
- Charging Speed: The 45W fast charging is a very useful feature to have and it allows for a significantly faster charging experience.
- Newer OS: The newer operating system means that the phone would receive more updates and newer security patches, which is something that is important to me.
- Value: The price of the Nothing Phone (2) is more reasonable for the performance and features it offers.
While the Samsung S21 Ultra has a more versatile camera system and a sharper display, I am not a photography enthusiast to the point where I need the extra zoom or 8K video. The Nothing Phone (2) strikes a better balance between performance, usability, and price, making it a more appealing choice for my personal needs.
