Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G vs. Samsung Galaxy S23+
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Samsung Galaxy S23+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-01-29 | 2023-02-17 | The S23+ is a newer model, likely with better software support and updates |
| Dimensions | 165.1 × 75.6 × 8.9 mm | 157.8 × 76.2 × 7.6 mm | S21 Ultra is taller and thicker, S23+ is more compact and easier to handle |
| Weight | 227g | 196g | S23+ is significantly lighter, more comfortable for prolonged use |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.8" | 6.6" | S21 Ultra has a slightly larger display, better for media consumption |
| Resolution | 1440x3200 | 1080x2340 | S21 Ultra has a sharper, more detailed display |
| PPI | 515 | 393 | S21 Ultra's higher pixel density offers a noticeably clearer visual experience |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both have smooth scrolling and animations |
| Brightness | 1500 nits | 1750 nits | S23+ offers better outdoor visibility in bright sunlight |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) | S23+ has a much more powerful and efficient processor, better for demanding tasks |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,000 | 1,508,732 | S23+ provides a significantly faster overall experience, noticeably better performance |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Adreno 740 | S23+ has a more powerful GPU, better for gaming and graphics-intensive tasks |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 108MP, f/1.8, 1/1.33" sensor | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.57" sensor | S21 Ultra has a higher resolution sensor but slightly smaller pixels, S23+ has larger pixels |
| Telephoto + Portrait Camera | 10.8MP, f/2.4, 1/2.65" sensor | N/A | S21 Ultra has dedicated telephoto capabilities, better for optical zoom |
| Selfie Camera | 44MP, f/2.2, 1/2.65" sensor | 12MP, f/2.2 | S21 Ultra has much higher resolution front camera, better for selfies |
| Telephoto Lens | 10.8MP, f/4.9, 1/2.65" sensor | 10MP, f/2.4, 1/3.9" sensor | S23+ has a wider aperture, but S21 Ultra has a larger sensor |
| Wide Angle Lens | N/A | 12.2MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55" sensor | S23+ has dedicated wide angle lens |
| Wide Angle + Macro Camera | 12.2MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55" sensor | N/A | S21 Ultra has dedicated macro capabilities |
| Video | Up to 8K@60fps | Up to 8K@30fps | Both are very capable video devices, S21 Ultra supports 8k at 60 fps |
| DxOMark Mobile Score | 115 | 133 | S23+ scores higher in the overall score, but only the main camera is tested, S21 Ultra scored higher in photo and video quality of the tested camera |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4700mAh | S21 Ultra has slightly larger capacity, potentially longer battery life |
| Charging | 25W fast charging | 45W fast charging | S23+ charges significantly faster |
| Features | 15W wireless, 9W reverse wireless | 10W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless, Bypass Charging | S21 Ultra has faster wireless charging, S23+ has bypass charging feature |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 15) | Android 13 (upgradable to 17) | S23+ offers a newer software experience and likely longer update support |
| Connectivity | |||
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano SIM + Nano SIM) | Dual SIM (Nano SIM + eSIM) | S23+ supports eSIM for flexibility, S21 Ultra has two physical SIM slots |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128GB/256GB/512GB | 256GB/512GB | Both phones offer up to 512GB of storage but the S21 has a 128 GB variant |
| RAM | 12GB/16GB | 8GB | S21 Ultra offers more RAM, potentially better for heavy multitasking |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G Advantages:
- Higher Resolution Display: Offers a sharper visual experience with higher pixel density.
- More Camera Versatility: Features a dedicated telephoto + portrait camera and wide-angle + macro camera, providing more creative options.
- Higher Resolution Selfie Camera: Ideal for users who prioritize front-facing camera quality.
- Potentially More RAM: Some variants have up to 16GB of RAM, beneficial for heavy multitasking and gaming.
- Faster Wireless Charging: Supports faster wireless charging (15W vs 10W).
- Noise cancellation microphone: Offers better call quality in noisy environments
Practical Implications: The S21 Ultra is geared towards users who value display sharpness, camera versatility, and higher RAM capacity for heavy tasks. It will also have better call quality due to its noise cancellation microphone.
Samsung Galaxy S23+ Advantages:
- Significantly Faster Processor: Offers vastly improved performance for demanding tasks and gaming.
- Lighter and More Compact Design: Easier to handle and more comfortable for everyday use.
- Brighter Display: Enhanced outdoor visibility, which makes the device more pleasant to use outdoors
- Faster Charging: Quick charging gets the phone from empty to full much faster.
- Newer Software: Comes with a more recent version of Android and is likely to receive software support for longer.
- Wider-Aperture Telephoto Lens Slightly better low-light shots at range than S21 Ultra
- eSIM Support Gives the user more flexibility regarding carriers
- Bypass charging: Better for users who game or use their devices while charging.
- Significantly higher benchmark score: 101% higher score
- Better overall photo quality: better DxOMark score for the main camera
Practical Implications: The S23+ is better suited for users who prioritize performance, portability, faster charging, and a more modern software experience.
Trade-offs:
- S21 Ultra sacrifices some performance for camera versatility and a higher-resolution display.
- S23+ sacrifices some camera features and raw display resolution for better performance and a more modern design.
- S21 Ultra has a noise-cancelling microphone for clearer calls in noisy environment, where S23+ does not have this feature.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G Ideal User:
- Photography Enthusiasts: Those who prioritize versatile camera systems with multiple lenses and high-resolution selfies.
- Power Users: People who need lots of RAM for heavy multitasking, and are always on the go
- Media Consumers: Users who value a large, sharp display for watching videos and browsing.
- Users that make frequent calls in noisy environments: Better call quality due to the noise cancelling microphone.
Specific Use Cases:
- Capturing detailed landscapes with the ultrawide and main cameras, and using optical zoom with the telephoto camera.
- Video recording at a professional quality in a wide variety of resolutions.
- Heavy multitasking between multiple apps and games on the larger screen
- Taking high resolution selfies.
- Making clearer calls in noisy environments.
Samsung Galaxy S23+ Ideal User:
- Gamers: Users who need high performance and fast refresh rates for a fluid gaming experience.
- Everyday Users: People who want a lightweight phone for day-to-day tasks, fast charging, and a long battery life.
- Tech Enthusiasts: Those who desire the latest software and performance advancements.
- People that prioritize overall photo quality
Specific Use Cases:
- Playing graphically demanding mobile games at high framerates.
- Using the phone for extended periods with fast charging.
- Enjoying smooth user interface due to fast processor.
- Taking photos at night due to better low-light performance.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Do you prioritize camera versatility or processing performance?
- Is having the latest software version more important than having more RAM?
- Is a larger display with higher resolution more important, or a lighter and more compact design with better outdoor visibility?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Photography is your main priority: If having a versatile camera setup with macro, telephoto, and high-resolution selfies is essential, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is a better choice.
- Scenario 2: Performance is the main priority: If you need the best possible performance for gaming or demanding applications, the Samsung Galaxy S23+ is the superior device.
- Scenario 3: Balanced User: For a more balanced user who needs strong performance for everyday usage, a lighter design, faster charging and a newer software experience, the Samsung Galaxy S23+ will be the more suitable option.
- Scenario 4: Value seeker: If price is a major factor, the older S21 Ultra may offer a better value for the price due to the lower price tag, if the performance drop and worse software support is not a deal breaker.
My Choice
If I were to choose between these two phones, I would choose the Samsung Galaxy S23+. While the S21 Ultra has its advantages, including a more versatile camera system and slightly higher resolution display, the performance gap is too significant to ignore. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the S23+ offers a much better user experience, especially for intensive tasks and gaming. The S23+ is also lighter, easier to handle, has a brighter display, better charging, and a longer software support window. While I appreciate a versatile camera system, the performance and newer features of the S23+ outweigh these advantages for my use case, making it the more practical and future-proof option.
