Samsung Note 20 Ultra is known for its remarkable looks and features like S-Pen and more. But before you click on that order button, why not have a look at the latest S21 Ultra.
The S21 Ultra is the first from the Galaxy S family to come with S-Pen support, which in our sense, is a strong reason to choose this device than going with the seemingly older Note 20 Ultra. Of course, there are plenty of other reasons as well, that support our statement which we will discuss in the article below.
If you find yourself convinced from what we share, make sure to check some best screen protectors for your new S21 Ultra, or, you can check the same for the Note 20 Ultra as well.
What’s Different?
| Features and Specs | Galaxy S21 Ultra | Galaxy Note 20 Ultra |
| Display | 6.8-inch, WQHD+, 120Hz, Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, 3200*1440 resolution | 6.9-inch, WQHD+, 120Hz, Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, 3088*1440 resolution |
| Processor | Qualcomm SD888 | Qualcomm SD865 |
| RAM | 12GB/16GB(LPDDR5) | 12GB(LPDDR5) |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB | 128GB/512GB(Expandable up to 1TB) |
| Connectivity | 5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi 6, USB Type-C | 5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 5, USB Type-C |
| Camera (Front, Rear) | 40MP, 108MP main-12MP ultrawide-2*10MP telephoto | 10MP, 108MP main-12MP telephoto, 12MP Ultrawide |
| Battery | 5000mAh with Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 | 4500mAh with 4.5W Wireless PowerShare |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 10 |
| Dimensions | 165*75.6*8.9mm | 164.8*77.2*8.1mm |
| Weight | 229g | 208g |
| Price | $1,199.99 | $1299.99 |
A look at the specs
Design
Upon first glance, the S21 ultra looks narrower compared to the Note 20Ultra which has a wider display. Also, the S21 Ultra is thick with conventional rounded corners, where the Note 20 Ultra has got the signature rectangular look with sharp corners.
Moreover, the Galaxy S21 Ultra has got a new camera module styling that blends into the metal frame and looks quite stylish. While the same on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra protrudes outwards and is noticeable if you are using the phone without a case.
Additionally, since both the devices come with S Pen support, there is housing for it on the Note 20 Ultra but not on the S21 Ultra. If you are looking to use the S-Pen with the latter, you’ll need to manage with a separate case for the same. You can find a protective case for your S21 Ultra here. If you are looking for a protective case for your Note 20 Ultra, click here.
Display
The display on the Note 20 Ultra is larger and wider by a few proportions than it is on the S21 Ultra. The differences might seem small on paper, however, when placed next to each other, you’ll clearly spot the difference between both displays.
In terms of technology, the display on the S21 Ultra is better with 516ppi and 1440*3200 resolution. The display can be brightened up to 1500nits, which is the highest in any smartphone. This means you can use the display under direct sunlight without any difficulty.
Furthermore, since the Note 20 Ultra cannot use the 120Hz dynamic refresh rate under maximum resolution conditions, the S21 Ultra will pull more weight in its favor.
Performance
With Qualcomm’s latest and most powerful processor the SD888 at heart, the Galaxy S21 Ultra simply excels at performance-intensive tasks such as gaming and live streaming. Also, the 5nm build process being used in the manufacturing of this processor allows for more transistors to be deployed and significantly higher performance to be obtained without wanting too much power. Not to mean that the Note 20 Ultra is slow, however, in contrast to what SD888 has to offer, S21 Ultra clearly takes the lead.
Storage
Both phones are available with at least 128 GB of storage in the market. However, if you are looking to expand that, only the Note 20 Ultra will have the provision for allowing so. The S21 ultra does not have microSD card support and you will need to stay where you’re at. However, to compensate that you can go with the higher 256GB and 512GB version on the S21 Ultra.
Connectivity
While both the devices have 5G band support, the S21 Ultra has an advantage of a 5G MODEM built right into the chip. This makes the S21 Ultra consume lesser energy than the Note 20 Ultra, meaning better battery life. Furthermore, the S21 Ultra has the latest Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity for sharing files, whereas the Note 20 Ultra spares with the Bluetooth 5.0, not too much but still something to account for.
Camera
One thing that clearly defines a line between the two devices is the look of the camera module. While it tends to merge with the body frame on the S21 Ultra, the same seems to protrude out of the body. Also, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has a three-lens setup while there’s a four-lens setup on the Galaxy S 21 Ultra.
The design of the Note 20 Ultra camera module was impressive with metal rings around each lens, giving it a stylish look. However, when it comes to image quality, the S21 Ultra can be seen breaking conventions.
Samsung had retained 50X for the Note 20 Ultra as the 100X space zoom feature on the S20 Ultra was reported useless. But, with the S21 Ultra, 100X zoom will make a come-back and hopefully with a better worth. This is expected from the new 10X zoom native periscope lens which combines with the intelligent digital zoom to generate up to 100X zoom. Also, a secondary 3X zoom telephoto lens has been added to bridge the gap between the zoom range of 1X to 10X.
Last but not the least, the 8K video recording at 24fps feature on the S21 Ultra makes it the ultimate smartphone to get.
The final word
With all that is expected to arrive in the new Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, the decision of which smartphone to buy becomes even easier. Features like S-Pen support, better battery life, and improved camera performance combined with the latest processor are going to work in favor of the Galaxy S21 Ultra.
If you are looking to future-proof your purchase, hopefully, the S21 Ultra is the device for you!
