Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Impressions: Redemption Time!

Samsung's Galaxy S21 Ultra makes a bold entrance at the start of 2021, aiming to redeem the previous generation’s camera and performance weaknesses with a comprehensive upgrade package. The first look emphasizes a new design language that blends a matte back with shiny sides and a contour-cut camera bump, creating a distinct silhouette that Marques Brownlee describes as futuristic rather than bulky. The video details the four-camera system on the back, including a 108 MP main sensor with optical image stabilization, a 12 MP ultrawide, and two telephotos (3x and 10x periscope) that enable wide-ranging zoom, up to 100x space zoom. In addition to hardware, the camera app now offers features like director’s view and multi-device recording, signaling a stronger emphasis on flexible smartphone videography. On the front, the S21 Ultra hosts a 6.8-inch quad HD+ display with adaptive 120 Hz refresh rate and a new adaptive mode that shifts between 10 Hz and 120 Hz to save battery, paired with an upgraded, larger in-display fingerprint sensor and brighter brightness levels up to 1500 nits. The video also covers the sibilant tradeoffs: no microSD expansion, no headphone jack, and the box lacking a charger, underscoring Samsung’s push toward ecosystem strategies and sustainability talking points. Finally, the S21 Ultra’s S Pen support is described as optional and peripheral rather than a core feature, suggesting Samsung sees the Note lineage and S Pen as separate product tracks rather than a merged direction, while still hinting at a potential Note 21 Ultra in the future. In closing, the reviewer frames the S21 Ultra as a strong step forward with top-tier cameras, a premium display, and robust internals while acknowledging the ongoing debate about value and the company’s packaging choices. Viewers are invited to weigh whether the S21 Ultra’s new capabilities justify its price against the S21 family and competing flagships, and to stay tuned for a full review that will test real-world performance and battery life.

Topics · technology · smartphones · camera technology · display