Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-01-29 | 2023-10-16 | The Tab S9 FE is a much newer device (almost 2 years later), likely with more recent software and features. |
| Form Factor | Standard Smartphone | Standard Tablet | The S21 Ultra is designed for pocketability, while the Tab S9 FE is a larger device for media consumption and productivity. |
| Dimensions | 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm | 254.3 x 165.8 x 6.5 mm | S21 Ultra is much smaller, easier to handle with one hand; Tab S9 FE is larger, less portable but with a more immersive display. |
| Weight | 227g | 523g | S21 Ultra is significantly lighter, much more comfortable for extended handheld use; Tab S9 FE is heavier, better suited for table/lap use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.8" | 10.9" | Tab S9 FE offers a much larger viewing area, ideal for media consumption, multitasking and drawing. |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3200 | 1440 x 2304 | S21 Ultra has a sharper display with more pixels leading to better clarity and detail. |
| Pixel Density | 515 ppi | 249 ppi | S21 Ultra provides a significantly sharper and more detailed image, better for reading text and viewing high-resolution content. |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | S21 Ultra's AMOLED offers superior blacks, higher contrast and vibrant colors, and better power efficiency with dark themes. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 90Hz | S21 Ultra's 120Hz screen provides smoother scrolling and animations, resulting in a more fluid user experience. |
| Brightness | 1500 nits | 0 nits | S21 Ultra has superior outdoor visibility with higher peak brightness. Tab S9 FE has an unlisted brightness making outdoor visibility difficult to estimate. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5nm) | Exynos 1380 (5nm) | S21 Ultra's chipset is more powerful for demanding tasks, Tab S9 FE's chip is more focused on efficiency. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,000 | 507,000 | S21 Ultra shows better performance in benchmarks, expect faster app loading and smoother multitasking. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Mali-G68 MP5 | S21 Ultra has a more powerful GPU for graphics-intensive tasks, such as gaming and video editing. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 8000 mAh | Tab S9 FE has a larger battery, potentially offering better battery life, although real world results may vary. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 45W Fast Charging | Tab S9 FE charges faster, reducing the time spent plugged in. |
| Features | Reverse Charging, Wireless Charging 15W | Bypass Charging | S21 Ultra has more features like reverse wireless and wireless charging. Tab S9 FE has bypass charging for gaming while plugged in |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 108MP, f/1.8 | 12MP, f/2.0 | S21 Ultra's main camera has much higher resolution, better detail and low light performance. |
| Telephoto + Portrait Camera | 10.8MP, f/2.4 | Not Available | S21 Ultra has a dedicated Telephoto camera for zoom photography and portrait modes, offering better depth and detail. |
| Selfie Camera | 44MP, f/2.2 | 8MP | S21 Ultra's front camera captures much more detailed self-portraits. |
| Telephoto Lens | 10.8MP, f/4.9 | Not Available | S21 Ultra has an additional telephoto lens for enhanced zoom capabilities. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | 12.2MP, f/2.2 | Not Available | S21 Ultra's wide-angle camera captures expansive landscape shots and has a macro mode for detailed close-ups. |
| Video Recording | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps | 4K@30fps | S21 Ultra allows for professional quality video recording, the S9 FE is more basic |
| DXOMark (Mobile) | 115 | Not Tested | S21 Ultra has scored significantly better in camera performance on DXOMark, suggesting better overall image and video quality. |
| DXOMark (Selfie) | 135 | Not Tested | S21 Ultra has scored significantly better in selfie camera performance on DXOMark. |
| Camera Features | Advanced OIS, Zoom, RAW, Night mode | Basic autofocus, HDR | S21 Ultra has significantly more advanced camera features such as RAW, OIS, and Night mode, resulting in more creative and high quality photo possibilities. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to 15 | Android 13, upgradable to 17 | Tab S9 FE comes with a newer version of Android out of the box and likely receives OS updates longer. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6, Dual Band | Wi-Fi 6, Dual Band | Both have similar Wi-Fi capabilities. S21 Ultra supports hotspot. |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.3 | Tab S9 FE features a more recent Bluetooth version with extra codecs |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, L1+L5, E1+E5a | GPS | S21 Ultra supports more location systems for better positioning accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual SIM, Nano SIM | Not Available | S21 Ultra allows for two sim cards at once, a feature the S9 FE lacks. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256/512 GB | 128/256 GB | S21 Ultra has a 512 GB option for users who need more space. |
| RAM | 12/16 GB | 6/8 GB | S21 Ultra has more RAM, leading to better multitasking and smoother performance. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone offers expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Noise cancellation mic | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | S21 Ultra offers enhanced audio features, while both offer great spatial audio with Dolby Atmos |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic Fingerprint | Side-mounted Fingerprint | Tab S9 FE offers a more modern side-mounted fingerprint sensor. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Gorilla Glass Victus | Unknown | S21 Ultra has robust screen protection against scratches. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Barometer, Hall, Geomagnetic | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer | S21 Ultra has a full sensor suite compared to the Tab S9 FE. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G Advantages:
- Superior Display: Much higher resolution, pixel density and AMOLED technology offer a significantly sharper and more vibrant display, with better outdoor visibility.
- Superior Performance: Faster chipset and significantly better performance benchmarks, leading to smoother app loading, multitasking, and better gaming performance.
- Superior Camera System: Much higher main camera resolution, dedicated telephoto, ultrawide and macro lenses, significantly higher DXOMark scores, 8K video recording and enhanced photography features offering a versatile, high-quality photography and videography experience.
- Enhanced Audio: Features like Hi-Res Audio and Noise cancellation microphone.
- Robust sensor suite: Compass, gyroscope, barometer, hall and geomagnetic sensors are available
- Dual Sim Support: S21 Ultra supports two sim cards at once, a feature the S9 FE lacks.
Practical Implications: The S21 Ultra is excellent for users who prioritize a top-tier mobile experience, demanding performance, and professional quality imaging. It's designed for those who need a powerful device they can take anywhere.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Advantages:
- Larger Display: Significantly larger screen size provides a much more immersive experience for media consumption, multitasking, drawing and productivity.
- Longer Battery Life: Larger battery capacity offers potentially extended usage time between charges and 45W fast charging allows for reduced downtime.
- Newer Software: Ships with a newer version of Android and is likely to receive software updates for longer.
- Bypass Charging: Allows for the device to be powered directly from the charging cable for gaming and other intensive tasks.
- Newer Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth 5.3 offers better wireless audio and connectivity with devices compared to the S21 Ultra's 5.2.
Practical Implications: The Tab S9 FE is perfect for users who prioritize media consumption, casual gaming, and tablet functionality. It offers a large screen experience, better battery life for long sessions and a modern Android experience.
Trade-offs:
- S21 Ultra sacrifices screen size and battery life for significantly better performance and much better camera capabilities.
- Tab S9 FE sacrifices portability, performance, and camera quality for a larger display, better battery life, and newer software experience.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G:
- Ideal Users:
- Users needing top-tier mobile performance.
- Photography and videography enthusiasts.
- Gamers seeking the best mobile experience.
- Professionals who need a powerful on-the-go device.
- Use Cases:
- Capturing high-resolution photos and videos.
- Playing graphics-intensive games.
- Editing documents and media on the go.
- Daily tasks that require a fast and responsive experience.
- Travel photography.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE:
- Ideal Users:
- Media consumers who love to watch videos and movies.
- Users who frequently read articles, ebooks, and browse the web.
- Students and professionals who need a larger screen for productivity tasks.
- Users who want to casually game on a larger screen.
- Artists and designers who use the tablet as a sketchpad.
- Use Cases:
- Watching videos and movies.
- Reading documents and ebooks.
- Casual gaming.
- Web browsing.
- Drawing and note-taking with a stylus.
- Multitasking with multiple apps.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The S21 Ultra, while older, is generally cheaper now, offering amazing value for its top-tier features.
- The Tab S9 FE is newer and may have a higher price tag, but its target demographic may find it a better value proposition.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your primary use case? (e.g., photography, gaming, media consumption, productivity)
- How important is portability and one-handed usage to you?
- How important is performance vs battery life?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Photography Enthusiast: If you are passionate about taking photos and videos, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is the clear choice due to its superior camera system and imaging capabilities.
- Scenario 2: Media Consumption and Casual Gaming: If you prioritize watching videos and playing games on a larger screen and want a more modern software experience with decent battery life, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE is more suitable.
- Scenario 3: On-the-Go Productivity: For users needing performance on-the-go, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G provides a balance between power and a convenient form factor. If you need to view content on a larger screen, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE might be preferred.
- Scenario 4: General User: If you have an older phone and need a serious upgrade without breaking the bank, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G offers great performance and high quality camera features at a lower price point.
My Choice and Reasoning
If I had to choose one, I would pick the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G.
My main reason is that I value having a top-tier camera system with optical zoom, multiple lenses, and all the extra features the S21 Ultra provides like RAW, OIS and Night mode. The sheer number of lenses and the quality of the primary sensor paired with the enhanced software features makes it the superior device for photography and videography. While the S21 Ultra lacks the large screen that the Tab S9 FE offers, the AMOLED screen still looks beautiful for general consumption and is great for travel, or as my sole device. I also find myself using multiple apps at once and multitasking, so the superior processor and greater amount of RAM of the S21 Ultra makes it the better device for me. While the battery life of the S21 Ultra is not as high, the 120Hz panel and the enhanced performance justify it.
While the Tab S9 FE is a newer device and would be great for tablet use, I already have other devices for that purpose, so the S21 Ultra is a better fit for me.
