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Get the Galaxy S21 for free at AT&T this Cyber Monday -- if you commit to an unlimited plan
Get the Galaxy S21 for free at AT&T this Cyber Monday -- if you commit to an unlimited plan
This story is part of Gift Guide, our year-round collection of the best gift ideas.
AT&T is giving away Samsung's Galaxy S21 this Cyber Monday as long as you meet the carrier's conditions. The Galaxy S21 is Samsung's flagship smartphone from 2021 that comes with 6.2-inch screen and a triple-lens camera.
To take advantage of the deal, you'll need to buy the Galaxy S21 through AT&T's monthly installment payment plan instead of buying the device outright. You'll also have to pay taxes on the full retail amount up front and pay the $30 activation or upgrade fee. The deal is only available for those who activate or continue paying for AT&T's unlimited wireless service plan.
If you meet those requirements, you'll get up to $800 in bill credits toward your Samsung Galaxy S21. It's important to note that these credits only start after three bills, but AT&T says you'll receive catch-up credits later. If you cancel your service, the credits will stop and you'll be responsible for the remaining balance.
The deal is only valid on Nov. 29. Although there are several conditions in the fine print, it's still a good deal for those who are planning to stick with AT&T for the longterm or are considering switching to its service. Many deals like this usually require you to trade in your old device to get such a big discount, so this deal is notable for that reason as well.
The Galaxy S21 is almost a year old, which means it's likely almost time for the Galaxy S22. But the Galaxy S21 is still an excellent choice for those who want a compact, well-designed Android phone with a solid camera, smooth screen and decent battery life.
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Forget the Galaxy S22 and get an S21: Main differences between S21, Plus and Ultra
Forget the Galaxy S22 and get an S21: Main differences between S21, Plus and Ultra
Samsung's current flagship lineup, the Galaxy S21, has been out for more than six months now. Since the unveiling of the Galaxy S21, S21 Plus and S21 Ultra, Samsung has also released two new foldable devices, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Z Fold 3, and rumor has it the phone giant is also gearing up for the Galaxy S22 and the Galaxy S21 FE, a sequel to last year's popular lower-priced handset, the Galaxy S20 FE. Phew. With all these buzzy new phones being released, your best bet might actually be to buy one of Samsung's older models, especially if there are d eals to be had. (The Galaxy S20 is also still worthy of consideration.) And if you're interested in the Galaxy S21, chances are you're very confused about the main differences between the three versions.
Read more: Galaxy S22 vs. Galaxy S21, based on rumors
As the names suggest, each model in the Galaxy S21 lineup is slightly upgraded (and slightly pricier) than the one before it, resulting in a spectrum of specs to meet just about any Android user's needs. But how do you decide whether you're a baseline kind of person or if you should go directly to the top of the line? Sure, your budget can make the decision for you, but price doesn't tell the whole story and, depending on your needs, a higher-priced phone might also be the best value.
Samsung announced the Galaxy S21, S21 Plus and S21 Ultra in January.
Sarah Tew/CNET
The most obvious differences among Samsung's Galaxy S21 line, besides the price, are screen size, battery capacity and camera capabilities. Going up the line, each phone increases in size. If you're small-handed, you might hate the heft of the Ultra. But if you're going to be watching a lot of videos, bigger is probably better.
Galaxy S21: 6.2 inches
Galaxy S21 Plus: 6.7 inches
Galaxy S21 Ultra: 6.8 inches
Battery capacity also increases as you move up the line, though we don't think you'll have any trouble getting through the day on a charge even with the baseline S21 phone.
Galaxy S21: 4,000 mAh
Galaxy S21 Plus: 4,800 mAh
Galaxy S21 Ultra: 5,000 mAh
Read more: How the new Galaxy A series compares to Samsung's other phones: S21 and S20 FE
Camera geeks are probably going to want to upgrade to the S21 Ultra. You can tell just by looking at the three phones that the S21 Ultra has some extra camera tricks up its sleeve, evidenced by its extra-large quadruple camera module, which also houses its flash. The S21 Ultra gets Space Zoom, an extra telephoto camera and a 108-megapixel wide-angle lens -- we're particularly impressed with S21 Ultra's zoom.
A few other things to consider: You want a pretty pink phone? Then you'll have to get the S21. Want S Pen support? Only the S21 Ultra has that (and the new Galaxy Z Fold 3). Ditto for storage greater than 256GB: Only the Ultra goes up to 512GB (that model gives you more RAM too), and none of the Galaxy S21 phones accommodates expandable storage. The S21 Plus and Ultra both feature a Gorilla Glass Victus backing, which lends durability that the plastic-backed S21 won't have.
Check out the chart below for all of the Galaxy S21 specs compared, and read our comparison of the Galaxy S21 vs. iPhone 12 and Galaxy S21 vs. S20 vs. S20 FE vs. Note 20.
Snapdragon 888 or 64-bit octa-core processor 2.8GHz (max 2.4GHz+1.8GHz)
Snapdragon 888 or 64-bit octa-core processor 2.8GHz (max 2.4GHz+1.8GHz)
Snapdragon 888 or 64-bit octa-core processor (max 2.4GHz+1.8GHz)
Storage
128GB/256GB
128GB/256GB
128GB/256GB, 512GB
RAM
8GB
8GB
12GB, 16GB
Expandable storage
No
No
No
Battery
4,000 mAh
4,800 mAh
5,000 mAh
Fingerprint sensor
In-screen
In-screen
In-screen
Headphone jack
No
No
No
Special features
IP68 rating, 5G-enabled, 30x Space Zoom, 10W wireless charging,
IP68 rating, 5G-enabled, 30x Space Zoom, 10W wireless charging,
IP68 rating, 5G-enabled, 100x Space Zoom, 10W wireless charging, 10x optical zoom; S Pen support
Price off-contract (USD)
$800 (128GB)
$1,000 (128 GB)
$1,200 (128 GB)
Price (GBP)
£769
£949
£1,149
Price (AUD)
AU$1,249
AU$1,549
AU$1,849
Drew Evans/CNET
The phone has a clean look thanks to the two-tone approach, and it has Full HD resolution, which CNET's Patrick Holland describes as "a step down from the Quad HD quality on the S20" in his review. The adjustable screen refresh rate, which is good for games and good for your battery life when it's not in use, is also a plus.
Sarah Tew/CNET
The S21 Ultra is a significant hardware and software upgrade over the S20 Ultra. That's why the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra received the Editors' Choice Award from CNET. The addition of S-Pen support (it's the first Galaxy S phone to do so) will also get be of some use for Galaxy Note owners searching for a new phone.
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Samsung Galaxy S22 Review: Pocket-Friendly Phone Has Great Cameras, Mediocre Battery Life
Samsung Galaxy S22 Review: Pocket-Friendly Phone Has Great Cameras, Mediocre Battery Life
At a time when phones are getting bigger, Samsung is going smaller. The Galaxy S22, which starts at $800 and launches on Feb. 25, is the tiniest (and cheapest) phone in Samsung's new lineup. It has a 6.1-inch screen, making it slightly smaller than last year's Galaxy S21, and is otherwise identical to the Galaxy S22 Plus.
It's best to think of the Galaxy S22 as a moderate improvement over the Galaxy S21. It has a refreshed design and a new processor, but it's really the camera update that's the star of the show. The Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus both have a 50-megapixel main sensor that brings general improvements to color and clarity. All three of Samsung's new Galaxy phones are also better at taking photos in the dark.
These are welcome improvements that have made the Galaxy S22 enjoyable to use for the most part. But they also aren't game-changing updates that bring substantially new features to the Galaxy S22. They just make Samsung's phones a bit better at most of the things they were able to do before, particularly photography.
Between the Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus, I think the Plus has the right balance of screen size and battery life for most people. The Galaxy S22 is great for those who want a phone that's easy to use with one hand or squeeze in a tight pocket. But be warned that you'll have to sacrifice some battery life.
The right size for people who prefer smaller phones
The Galaxy S22 is the smallest phone in Samsung's new lineup.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
The Galaxy S22 is slightly more compact than last year's Galaxy S21 and noticeably smaller than the Galaxy S22 Plus and S22 Ultra. Its 6.1-inch screen also makes it around the same size as the iPhone 13, although it's technically just a hair slimmer.
It reminds me of a combination of the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10E in terms of design. Its display is the same size as the Galaxy S10's, but its flat edges are reminiscent of the smaller Galaxy S10E's. The Galaxy S22 feels a bit cramped for me personally after switching from the 6.6-inch Galaxy S22 Plus, especially when typing text messages or email responses.
But I imagine people who usually prefer smaller phones would feel at home using the Galaxy S22. After all, there aren't many smaller phones out there for Android fans to choose from. Most high-end phones from Google, Motorola and OnePlus come with larger screens that measure around 6.4 inches or larger.
The Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus have also gotten a makeover in general. Both phones have an eye-catching glass and metal design that feels like a step up compared to last year's devices. It also feels much more premium than the $700 Galaxy S21 FE, which just seems bland in comparison.
You might not really care about the design if you just plan to put a case over your device. But a phone that's almost $1,000 should live up to that in terms of build quality and aesthetics, and the Galaxy S22 definitely delivers on that front.
Not much has changed when it comes to overall display quality. Similar to the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 FE, the Galaxy S22 comes with a flat 2,340-by-1,080-pixel AMOLED display, which feels bright and crisp enough for watching videos, reading and playing games. Samsung has also added a new feature called Vision Booster, which is meant to adjust the screen to the lighting around you. But this didn't make much of a difference in my experience.
The camera is better, especially at nighttime photos
The Galaxy S22 is better at taking photos in the dark.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
The Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus have both gotten a noticeable camera upgrade. Both phones now have a 50-megapixel main camera, compared to the Galaxy S21's 12-megapixel main camera. That puts it on more equal footing with the Google Pixel 6 Pro, which also has a 50-megapixel main camera.
Both phones have excellent cameras that provide colorful and sharp images. In many circumstances, particularly when shooting in sunlight outdoors, it was hard to decide which one took better photos. But there were a couple of circumstances in which one phone upstaged the other. Take this photo of a flower bouquet, for example. Samsung did a better job at keeping the petals in focus, making them appear sharper than in Google's photo. The Pixel 6 Pro's photo is brighter, however.
Galaxy S22
This photo was taken on the Galaxy S22.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Pixel 6 Pro
This photo was taken on the Pixel 6 Pro.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
But I preferred the Pixel 6 Pro's Portrait Mode photo over the Galaxy S22's in this case. The perspective is closer, and I thought Google did a better job of preserving detail, especially in the face. But they're both still high-quality photos.
Galaxy S22
A Portrait Mode photo taken on the Galaxy S22.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Pixel 6 Pro
This Portrait Mode photo was taken on the Pixel 6 Pro.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
What is certain, though, is that the Galaxy S22's camera represents a step up from the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 FE. The Galaxy S22 produced photos that generally had better contrast, more sharpness and richer color in most cases. I also didn't notice much of a difference when taking photos with the telephoto lens. That's surprising considering the Galaxy S21 has a higher-resolution 64-megapixel zoom lens compared to the S22's 10-megapixel zoom lens.
Galaxy S21
This photo was taken on the Galaxy S21.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Galaxy S21 FE
This photo was taken on the Galaxy S21 FE
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Galaxy S22
This photo was taken on the Galaxy S22.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
The Galaxy S22 also takes better photos at night, just like the S22 Plus and S22 Ultra. Take a look at the portrait below, which was taken in my apartment with all of the lights turned off. You'll notice that the Galaxy S22's photo is much brighter and more colorful than those taken on the Galaxy S21 and Pixel 6 Pro.
Galaxy S22
This photo was taken with the lights turned off in my apartment.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Galaxy S21 FE
This photo was taken on the Galaxy S21 FE in a very dark room.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Galaxy S21
This photo was taken in my apartment in the dark on the Galaxy S21.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
The Galaxy S22 sometimes had issues focusing on still objects when shooting in very dark circumstances, like the S22 Plus and S22 Ultra. But in my experience so far, it's been able to focus a bit faster than its pricier siblings in these circumstances.
Check out the gallery below to see more photos taken with the Galaxy S22.
Performance is solid, battery life could be better
The Galaxy S22 has a fresh design and a better camera, but the battery life was unimpressive.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
The Galaxy S22 lineup runs on Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. Everyday tasks like playing games, swiping through screens and launching apps feel as fast as you'd expect from a high-end phone. All three of Samsung's new phones can also crank their refresh rates up to 120Hz, another factor that makes these phones feel fluid.
Check out the results below to see how the Galaxy S22 handled benchmark tests that measure general computing (Geekbench 5) and graphics performance (3DMark).
Geekbench 5 Single Core
Note:
Higher scores are better.
Geekbench 5 Multicore
Note:
Higher scores are better.
3DMark Slingshot Unlimited
Note:
Higher scores are better.
But I only wish the Galaxy S22 had better battery life. The Galaxy S22 has a 3,700-mAh battery, which is substantially less than the 4,500 mAh and 5,000 mAh offered on the S22 Plus and Ultra, respectively. I was able to get through a full day with the screen's refresh rate set to the adaptive 120Hz setting, but just barely. With this setting turned off, I'm able to get about a day and a half. But that's the same longevity I'd normally get from the Galaxy S22 Plus or Ultra with the adaptive refresh rate turned on. I also didn't spend much time on video calls or streaming media -- both tasks that are sure to drain the battery faster -- when anecdotally testing the S22's battery.
The Galaxy S22 also had the lowest score in CNET's battery test compared to the Galaxy S22 Plus, Galaxy S22 Ultra and Galaxy S21 FE. It lasted for 15 hours and 21 minutes, whereas the Galaxy S21 FE lasted for 15 hours and 46 minutes. The Galaxy S22 Plus and S22 Ultra each lasted for more than 18 hours. To compare to the similarly priced iPhone 13 Mini, Apple's phone ran for 18 hours and 19 minutes on our test, but it's worth noting that the iPhone 13 Mini does not have a high refresh rate screen. CNET's battery test consists of continuously playing video with the screen brightness set to 50% and airplane mode turned on.
The Galaxy S22 supports 25-watt fast charging, unlike the S22 Plus and S22 Ultra, which both support 45-watt quick charging. But thankfully the compatible charging adapter, which must be purchased separately, is priced at a much more reasonable $35 via Samsung's website compared to the $50 45-watt charger. Other USB-C power adapters will likely charge the phone as well, but speeds could vary.
Samsung's newest software and four years of Android updates
The Galaxy S22 runs on Android 12 and Samsung's One UI 4.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
All of Samsung's Galaxy S22 phones run on Android 12 and the latest version of Samsung's One UI 4 software. Samsung launched One UI 4 in late 2021, and the software brings a bunch of new features like more control over app permissions, new color palettes and a cleaner look for widgets.
I'm personally loving the new camera app interface, which is much easier to navigate since it shows the specific zoom level with numbers rather than symbols. The software isn't exclusive to the Galaxy S22 lineup, but it's great that Galaxy S22 buyers won't have to wait for the new software.
But perhaps most importantly, Samsung has committed to supporting up to four generations of Android updates on the Galaxy S22 lineup and other recent phones. That's great news for anyone who plans to keep their device for several years before upgrading. It even outdoes Google's Pixel 6 line, which is committing to three years of software updates and five years of security updates.
Samsung is also working more closely with Google on certain features, particularly in the search giant's Duo video chatting app. Galaxy S22 owners can share content from their screen, like a virtual whiteboard, with the other person on the call when using Google Duo. It seems like an attempt to rival Apple's SharePlay feature for FaceTime, which debuted in iOS 15. But Google still reserves many of its software features, like the ability to see wait time predictions for toll free business when making a call, for its Pixel devices.
Should you buy it?
The Galaxy S22 (left), Galaxy S22 Plus (middle) and Galaxy S22 Ultra (right).
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
The $800 Galaxy S22 feels like a near-perfect device for people who prefer smaller phones. If the shorter battery life doesn't bother you, I'd only recommend buying the Galaxy S22 if you have an Android phone that's at least two years old and prefer smaller phones.
The Galaxy S22 Plus provides a better balance of screen size and battery life that I imagine would suit most people. But it's also $200 more expensive than the Galaxy S22. Other than its screen size, faster charging (for a price) and longer battery life, the only difference is that the Plus model supports ultra-wideband technology.
There's also the $700 Galaxy S21 FE, which has a larger screen but a less capable camera and a bland design. It's battery life is longer than the Galaxy S22's in my testing, but not by much.
Overall, the Galaxy S22's improved camera and new design make it feel like an upgrade compared to the Galaxy S21, albeit a modest one. But its short battery life holds it back from being as great as it could be.
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S21 Ultra vs. S20 Ultra: Samsung Galaxy camera shootout
S21 Ultra vs. S20 Ultra: Samsung Galaxy camera shootout
The standout feature of last year's Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra was its camera, a five-lens setup that could shoot at a crazy 100x magnification. A year later, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is Samsung's newest flagship. It improves on its predecessor in numerous ways: A gorgeous matte back, an even more gorgeous 3,200x1,440-pixel display that lets you scroll in QHD and 120Hz for the first time, and a customary processor upgrade.
But just like last year, those looking into buying Samsung's new crown jewel are mostly doing so for the camera. Updates this year include dual telephoto lenses, 4K video60 frames per second from all rear cameras, and better zoom-stabilization software. So just how much more Ultra is the S21's photography?
Standard
It'll come as little surprise that there's minimal difference between the two cameras when you're shooting in optimal lighting conditions.
In this shot you'll see the colors on the beer can are similarly vibrant, and the same level of detail is captured. The only difference is in the aperture: The background looks a little more blurred in the S20 Ultra as compared to the S21 Ultra. I personally prefer the latter shot, but that's very much a taste thing.
What about less conducive lighting conditions? I shot these flowers under my living room light, which typically makes for some ugly yellow tinting. The S21 Ultra dealt with this lighting far better, neutralizing the yellow shade and producing a shot with better white balance. It also captured better detail on the flower itself.
One issue I found with the S20 Ultra was that, compared to the iPhone 12 Pro, it struggled with extreme close-up shots. It often couldn't focus properly, and other times colors would be overwhelming.
I recruited yet another flower for help here, and found the S21 Ultra a slight improvement. The red in the S20 Ultra shot is just completely overpowering, whereas it's bearable -- but still strong -- on the S21 Ultra. More data was shot too, as you'll see from the details on the flower's petals.
As for ultrawide-angle shots, I found the cameras to be largely comparable. The S20 Ultra sometimes suffered from blown highlights at times when the S21 Ultra wouldn't. That said, the S20 Ultra's ultrawide shots also looked more vibrant.
See how the colors pop more here on the S21 Ultra. But the processing around the building's edges results in harsher lighting.
That difference is more evident here, with that harsh sun in the top right being better handled by the S21 Ultra's ultrawide-angle sensor.
Portrait
If the S21 Ultra regresses anywhere, it's in Portrait shots. (Which are now called Portraits, as opposed to Samsung's previous "Live Focus" branding.)
In my testing, the S21 Ultra tended to cool the tone down and capture more detail. It's bokeh, which mimics the depth-of-field effects found in DSLR cameras, is more blurred and creamy. This isn't always bad: See these shots below of CNET Science Editor Jackson Ryan. I much prefer the S20 Ultra shot, as it looks softer and less artificial. But the S21 Ultra has captured more of Jackson's facial features, like his freckles, and more detail in his beard.
This is a nice change. In the past, critics (myself included) have marked down Samsung's Portraits due to their skin-smoothing software, which can result in fake, brushed Portraits.
But more often than not, I found the S21 Ultra's Portraits to be more unsightly than the S20 Ultra's. Look how artificially blue my friend Dan's skin looks here, and note the sunny glow in the S20 Ultra that's absent in the S21 Ultra. The S21 Ultra is a little sharper, but just looks flat compared to the S20 Ultra.
It's less of a problem with selfie Portraits. In the below comparison I look softer in the S20 Ultra shot, and the S21 Ultra's sharpness brings out my monobrow. You love to see it. But assuming you have less facial hair than me, this won't be an issue. Here it's a matter of taste, since the unsightly blue tint isn't as much of a problem.
Zoom
Let's move on to why we're really here. Samsung has been investing big design and marketing dollars into its phones' zoom function over the last year, and that's the case with the S21 Ultra too. Like last year's S20 Ultra, it has 100x Space Zoom. Improvements come with a 3x optical zoom, and a lock feature that makes taking pictures at high zoom much easier.
That 3x optical zoom actually makes a big difference, although it's a qualified one. As you can see, not all 3x magnifications are created equal. The S21 Ultra's 3x zoom is actually less magnified than the S20 Ultra's: These shots of my old and ill-kept Game of Thrones books were taken from the same distance at 3x zoom, yet they look far closer on the S20 Ultra. But they also look clearer and less blurred on the S21 Ultra.
Extending out to 10x zoom, the difference actually shrinks. Both phones do a crazy good job here. The below photo was taken at the standard magnification.
Now zooming in 10x, you'll quickly notice how much more dynamic the S21 Ultra's shot is. You may not be able to tell on site here, but looking at the raw files I noticed the S20 Ultra is also more grainy than the S21 Ultra. Again though, both Samsung phones do well at 10x zoom.
However, the chasm widens once again when you begin to zoom further than 10x. See that blue building in the background of this shot? Let's zoom in a big ol' 30x.
The building is adorned with artwork of an Australian kookaburra bird. Apologies for the weird angle, but taking identical shots at 30x zoom is hard! In any case, the S21 Ultra's software is working overtime here and it shows. Both are impressive -- most phones can't zoom this far -- but the S21 Ultra's shot is sharper and with better colors.
Below is another 30x comparison. You'll see that the S20 Ultra's shot is more blurry, has less contrast and captured less detail.
And finally, the ultimate flex: 100x zoom. Of all the 100x-zoom shots I took, this one exemplifies the difference the best. First, here's the scene I was working with:
Now zooming as far as both phones can go, we see both do frankly insane jobs at capturing the moon. The S21 Ultra, though, did better. It's more luminescent and impressive.
Night time
The S21 Ultra performs better at night than its predecessor, but it's not without flaws. Generally speaking, it'll capture more light in its low-light photos -- but at a cost.
This shot illuminates the issue. It was taken with Night Mode off. The S21 Ultra took the better photo, capturing more light and more detail, which you can see in the clouds and on the fencing behind the umbrella. But along with that comes some ugly noise, which is particularly bad in the top left of the photo.
Now let's turn Night Mode on. Here I can say the S21 Ultra is an unqualified winner. There are noise issues, particularly on the wall on the right of the photo, but it's worth it for the extra illumination and sharpness.
But there are times where Night Mode can overdo it. Below is a scene with minimal natural light.
With Night Mode turned on, the S21 Ultra technically does a better job at flooding the scene with light. But it goes too far, resulting in a harsh shot. The S20 Ultra's Night Mode added less light, but produced a more natural-looking photo.
Still, generally speaking the S21 Ultra was a minor improvement over its predecessor. The comparison below is illustrative of what you'll mostly find: The S21 Ultra is a bit sharper, brighter and better at night.
Small improvements
Samsung made some improvements to the S21 Ultra's video camera, too. Both can shoot video in 8K, but now the S21 Ultra can shoot 4K 60 frames-per-second video from all of its rear cameras, notably including its ultrawide angle shooter.
We'd need a whole new article -- or video rather -- to compare the video capabilities of the two phones. I'll just say in my (more limited) testing of the video capabilities, the S21 Ultra's cameras did better at night, with improved low-light autofocus and also better processing of highlights, which can get blown out on the S20 Ultra at times.
All in all, the S21 Ultra is a solid bump up from its predecessor in most photographic ways, especially zoom, though you may personally prefer the S20 Ultra's take on Portrait modes. This is particularly impressive considering the S21 Ultra ($1,200, £1,149, AU$1,849) actually launched at a lower price than the S20 Ultra ($1,400, £1,199, $1,999).
Sarah Tew/CNET
The Galaxy S21 Ultra is Samsung's flagship 2021 phone, its biggest and best of the 2021 Galaxy S21 line that was originally released in the first quarter of that year. We loved its two telephoto cameras, spectacular 6.8-inch screen and support for Samsung's S-Pen stylus (though you'll need to buy that separately). While it's comparatively heavy and lacks a MicroSD expansion slot, you can find it marked down from its original $1,200 base price.
Sarah Tew/CNET
The Galaxy S20 Ultra was Samsung's top phone until the Note 20 Ultra was released later in 2020. We liked its 5x optical zoom camera and S Pen support, but felt it was a bit too heavy and expensive compared to other models in the 2020 Galaxy S line.
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S21 Ultra vs. S20 Ultra: Samsung Galaxy camera shootout
S21 Ultra vs. S20 Ultra: Samsung Galaxy camera shootout
The standout feature of last year's Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra was its camera, a five-lens setup that could shoot at a crazy 100x magnification. A year later, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is Samsung's newest flagship. It improves on its predecessor in numerous ways: A gorgeous matte back, an even more gorgeous 3,200x1,440-pixel display that lets you scroll in QHD and 120Hz for the first time, and a customary processor upgrade.
But just like last year, those looking into buying Samsung's new crown jewel are mostly doing so for the camera. Updates this year include dual telephoto lenses, 4K video60 frames per second from all rear cameras, and better zoom-stabilization software. So just how much more Ultra is the S21's photography?
Standard
It'll come as little surprise that there's minimal difference between the two cameras when you're shooting in optimal lighting conditions.
In this shot you'll see the colors on the beer can are similarly vibrant, and the same level of detail is captured. The only difference is in the aperture: The background looks a little more blurred in the S20 Ultra as compared to the S21 Ultra. I personally prefer the latter shot, but that's very much a taste thing.
What about less conducive lighting conditions? I shot these flowers under my living room light, which typically makes for some ugly yellow tinting. The S21 Ultra dealt with this lighting far better, neutralizing the yellow shade and producing a shot with better white balance. It also captured better detail on the flower itself.
One issue I found with the S20 Ultra was that, compared to the iPhone 12 Pro, it struggled with extreme close-up shots. It often couldn't focus properly, and other times colors would be overwhelming.
I recruited yet another flower for help here, and found the S21 Ultra a slight improvement. The red in the S20 Ultra shot is just completely overpowering, whereas it's bearable -- but still strong -- on the S21 Ultra. More data was shot too, as you'll see from the details on the flower's petals.
As for ultrawide-angle shots, I found the cameras to be largely comparable. The S20 Ultra sometimes suffered from blown highlights at times when the S21 Ultra wouldn't. That said, the S20 Ultra's ultrawide shots also looked more vibrant.
See how the colors pop more here on the S21 Ultra. But the processing around the building's edges results in harsher lighting.
That difference is more evident here, with that harsh sun in the top right being better handled by the S21 Ultra's ultrawide-angle sensor.
Portrait
If the S21 Ultra regresses anywhere, it's in Portrait shots. (Which are now called Portraits, as opposed to Samsung's previous "Live Focus" branding.)
In my testing, the S21 Ultra tended to cool the tone down and capture more detail. It's bokeh, which mimics the depth-of-field effects found in DSLR cameras, is more blurred and creamy. This isn't always bad: See these shots below of CNET Science Editor Jackson Ryan. I much prefer the S20 Ultra shot, as it looks softer and less artificial. But the S21 Ultra has captured more of Jackson's facial features, like his freckles, and more detail in his beard.
This is a nice change. In the past, critics (myself included) have marked down Samsung's Portraits due to their skin-smoothing software, which can result in fake, brushed Portraits.
But more often than not, I found the S21 Ultra's Portraits to be more unsightly than the S20 Ultra's. Look how artificially blue my friend Dan's skin looks here, and note the sunny glow in the S20 Ultra that's absent in the S21 Ultra. The S21 Ultra is a little sharper, but just looks flat compared to the S20 Ultra.
It's less of a problem with selfie Portraits. In the below comparison I look softer in the S20 Ultra shot, and the S21 Ultra's sharpness brings out my monobrow. You love to see it. But assuming you have less facial hair than me, this won't be an issue. Here it's a matter of taste, since the unsightly blue tint isn't as much of a problem.
Zoom
Let's move on to why we're really here. Samsung has been investing big design and marketing dollars into its phones' zoom function over the last year, and that's the case with the S21 Ultra too. Like last year's S20 Ultra, it has 100x Space Zoom. Improvements come with a 3x optical zoom, and a lock feature that makes taking pictures at high zoom much easier.
That 3x optical zoom actually makes a big difference, although it's a qualified one. As you can see, not all 3x magnifications are created equal. The S21 Ultra's 3x zoom is actually less magnified than the S20 Ultra's: These shots of my old and ill-kept Game of Thrones books were taken from the same distance at 3x zoom, yet they look far closer on the S20 Ultra. But they also look clearer and less blurred on the S21 Ultra.
Extending out to 10x zoom, the difference actually shrinks. Both phones do a crazy good job here. The below photo was taken at the standard magnification.
Now zooming in 10x, you'll quickly notice how much more dynamic the S21 Ultra's shot is. You may not be able to tell on site here, but looking at the raw files I noticed the S20 Ultra is also more grainy than the S21 Ultra. Again though, both Samsung phones do well at 10x zoom.
However, the chasm widens once again when you begin to zoom further than 10x. See that blue building in the background of this shot? Let's zoom in a big ol' 30x.
The building is adorned with artwork of an Australian kookaburra bird. Apologies for the weird angle, but taking identical shots at 30x zoom is hard! In any case, the S21 Ultra's software is working overtime here and it shows. Both are impressive -- most phones can't zoom this far -- but the S21 Ultra's shot is sharper and with better colors.
Below is another 30x comparison. You'll see that the S20 Ultra's shot is more blurry, has less contrast and captured less detail.
And finally, the ultimate flex: 100x zoom. Of all the 100x-zoom shots I took, this one exemplifies the difference the best. First, here's the scene I was working with:
Now zooming as far as both phones can go, we see both do frankly insane jobs at capturing the moon. The S21 Ultra, though, did better. It's more luminescent and impressive.
Night time
The S21 Ultra performs better at night than its predecessor, but it's not without flaws. Generally speaking, it'll capture more light in its low-light photos -- but at a cost.
This shot illuminates the issue. It was taken with Night Mode off. The S21 Ultra took the better photo, capturing more light and more detail, which you can see in the clouds and on the fencing behind the umbrella. But along with that comes some ugly noise, which is particularly bad in the top left of the photo.
Now let's turn Night Mode on. Here I can say the S21 Ultra is an unqualified winner. There are noise issues, particularly on the wall on the right of the photo, but it's worth it for the extra illumination and sharpness.
But there are times where Night Mode can overdo it. Below is a scene with minimal natural light.
With Night Mode turned on, the S21 Ultra technically does a better job at flooding the scene with light. But it goes too far, resulting in a harsh shot. The S20 Ultra's Night Mode added less light, but produced a more natural-looking photo.
Still, generally speaking the S21 Ultra was a minor improvement over its predecessor. The comparison below is illustrative of what you'll mostly find: The S21 Ultra is a bit sharper, brighter and better at night.
Small improvements
Samsung made some improvements to the S21 Ultra's video camera, too. Both can shoot video in 8K, but now the S21 Ultra can shoot 4K 60 frames-per-second video from all of its rear cameras, notably including its ultrawide angle shooter.
We'd need a whole new article -- or video rather -- to compare the video capabilities of the two phones. I'll just say in my (more limited) testing of the video capabilities, the S21 Ultra's cameras did better at night, with improved low-light autofocus and also better processing of highlights, which can get blown out on the S20 Ultra at times.
All in all, the S21 Ultra is a solid bump up from its predecessor in most photographic ways, especially zoom, though you may personally prefer the S20 Ultra's take on Portrait modes. This is particularly impressive considering the S21 Ultra ($1,200, £1,149, AU$1,849) actually launched at a lower price than the S20 Ultra ($1,400, £1,199, $1,999).
Sarah Tew/CNET
The Galaxy S21 Ultra is Samsung's flagship 2021 phone, its biggest and best of the 2021 Galaxy S21 line that was originally released in the first quarter of that year. We loved its two telephoto cameras, spectacular 6.8-inch screen and support for Samsung's S-Pen stylus (though you'll need to buy that separately). While it's comparatively heavy and lacks a MicroSD expansion slot, you can find it marked down from its original $1,200 base price.
Sarah Tew/CNET
The Galaxy S20 Ultra was Samsung's top phone until the Note 20 Ultra was released later in 2020. We liked its 5x optical zoom camera and S Pen support, but felt it was a bit too heavy and expensive compared to other models in the 2020 Galaxy S line.
