Pixel 6 Pro vs S21 Ultra: Ultimate Smartphone Showdown!
Are you torn between two of the most impressive smartphones on the market? The Google Pixel 6 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra both promise top-tier performance, stunning cameras, and cutting-edge features. Choosing between them can feel like a tough decision.
This in-depth comparison dives into the nitty-gritty details, exploring everything from their displays and processors to their camera capabilities and battery life. We’ll analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each device, helping you determine which phone best suits your needs and preferences.
Prepare to discover which phone reigns supreme in this head-to-head battle. Whether you’re a photography enthusiast, a gaming guru, or simply someone who appreciates a premium smartphone experience, this comparison of the Pixel 6 Pro vs S21 Ultra will guide your decision.
Specs at a Glance:
| Feature | Pixel 6 Pro | S21 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Display Size | 6.7 inches | 6.8 inches |
| Display Type | LTPO OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Processor | Google Tensor | Snapdragon 888 / Exynos 2100 |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB / 16GB |
| Main Camera | 50MP + 48MP + 12MP | 108MP + 12MP + 10MP + 10MP |
| Front Camera | 11.1MP | 40MP |
| Video Recording | 4K @ 60fps | 8K @ 24fps |
| Battery | 5003 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 23W Wired, 23W Wireless | 25W Wired, 15W Wireless |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Operating System | Android 12 | Android 11 (Upgradable) |
| Storage Options | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
Design and Build Quality
- Pixel 6 Pro: Features a distinctive design with a camera bar and a glass back. It boasts a premium feel with an aluminum frame. Some users may find the camera bar design polarizing.
- S21 Ultra: Offers a more conventional design with a contour-cut camera housing and a glass back protected by Gorilla Glass Victus. The design is generally considered sleek and premium.
- Winner: S21 Ultra
Display
- Pixel 6 Pro: Equipped with a 6.7-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and QHD+ resolution. Offers vibrant colors and smooth scrolling. The curved edges can lead to accidental touches for some.
- S21 Ultra: Features a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate and QHD+ resolution. It’s known for its excellent brightness, color accuracy, and overall picture quality.
- Winner: S21 Ultra
Cameras
- Pixel 6 Pro: Boasts a 50MP main lens, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 48MP telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom. It excels in computational photography, delivering stunning image quality and features like Magic Eraser.
- S21 Ultra: Comes with a 108MP main lens, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and two 10MP telephoto lenses with 3x and 10x optical zoom respectively. It offers versatile zoom capabilities and excellent overall performance.
- Winner: Pixel 6 Pro
Performance
- Pixel 6 Pro: Powered by Google’s Tensor chip, offering excellent performance for everyday tasks and AI-related features. However, it can sometimes lag behind the competition in raw processing power.
- S21 Ultra: Utilizes either a Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100 processor (depending on the region), providing top-tier performance for gaming and demanding applications.
- Winner: S21 Ultra
Battery Life
- Pixel 6 Pro: Features a 5003mAh battery, providing all-day battery life for most users. Battery life can vary depending on usage.
- S21 Ultra: Equipped with a 5000mAh battery, generally offering all-day battery life. It can also vary depending on usage.
- Winner: Tie
Software and Updates
- Pixel 6 Pro: Runs on a clean Android experience with guaranteed timely software updates and feature drops directly from Google.
- S21 Ultra: Runs on Samsung’s One UI, which offers a feature-rich experience. Samsung also provides a good update schedule.
- Winner: Pixel 6 Pro
Special Features
- Pixel 6 Pro: Includes unique features like Magic Eraser for photo editing and Live Translate.
- S21 Ultra: Features S Pen support, offering a stylus experience, and DeX for desktop-like productivity.
- Winner: S21 Ultra
Price and Value
- Pixel 6 Pro: Generally offers excellent value for its features and performance, often priced competitively.
- S21 Ultra: Typically priced at a premium, reflecting its top-tier specs and features.
- Winner: Pixel 6 Pro
Winner by Category:
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Overall Software Experience | Pixel 6 Pro |
| Camera Versatility | S21 Ultra |
| Display Quality | Tie |
| Performance | Tie (Depends on Processor Variant) |
| Battery Life | Tie |
What They Have in Common:
- Water Resistance: Both phones boast an IP68 rating, offering excellent protection against dust and water submersion. This means users can confidently use their devices in various environments without worry.
- 5g Connectivity: Both the Pixel 6 Pro and the S21 Ultra support 5G connectivity, ensuring fast data speeds and improved network performance where 5G service is available.
- Wireless Charging: Both devices feature wireless charging capabilities, allowing users to conveniently charge their phones without the need for cables. They also support reverse wireless charging.
- High-Quality Displays: Both phones feature vibrant, high-resolution displays with fast refresh rates, providing smooth scrolling and an immersive viewing experience for content consumption and gaming.
- Large Battery Capacity: Both phones are equipped with large battery capacities, designed to provide all-day battery life for typical usage scenarios, ensuring users can stay connected without frequent charging.
Pixel 6 Pro Vs S21 Ultra Buying Guide
Performance
The Pixel 6 Pro, powered by Google’s Tensor chip, offers a unique computational photography experience and excellent AI capabilities. Its performance is smooth for everyday tasks and gaming. The S21 Ultra, featuring a Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100 (depending on the region), delivers blistering speed and handles demanding applications with ease. The S21 Ultra’s raw processing power gives it a slight edge in intensive tasks, though the Pixel 6 Pro’s software optimization makes it feel responsive.
The Tensor chip excels in machine learning, enhancing photo processing and voice recognition. The S21 Ultra’s CPU/GPU combination is superior for graphically intense games. Both phones offer excellent performance, but it depends on the usage case.
Camera
The Pixel 6 Pro boasts a versatile camera system with a 50MP main sensor, ultrawide lens, and a 48MP telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom. Its computational photography prowess shines, delivering stunning images with exceptional dynamic range and detail. The S21 Ultra features a 108MP main sensor, ultrawide lens, and two telephoto lenses (3x and 10x optical zoom), offering incredible zoom capabilities. It excels in low-light conditions.
The S21 Ultra’s zoom is its standout feature, while the Pixel 6 Pro excels in color accuracy. Both phones offer excellent video recording, though the Pixel 6 Pro features unique modes like Magic Eraser. Ultimately, both cameras are top-tier, and the best choice depends on your photography style.
Display
The Pixel 6 Pro features a vibrant 6.7-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a curved design. The colors are rich, and the screen is bright, making it ideal for media consumption. The S21 Ultra also sports a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate, known for its exceptional brightness, vibrant colors, and smooth scrolling.
The S21 Ultra’s display offers slightly higher peak brightness. Both displays provide a fantastic viewing experience, but the S21 Ultra’s panel is often considered the best in the market, although the Pixel 6 Pro is excellent as well.
Battery Life
The Pixel 6 Pro houses a 5003mAh battery, providing all-day battery life with moderate usage. Its battery life is generally good, but it can vary depending on usage. The S21 Ultra features a 5000mAh battery and offers solid battery performance, often lasting a full day even with heavy use.
The S21 Ultra can sometimes last a bit longer, especially with its more efficient display. Both phones support fast charging and wireless charging. Battery life is quite comparable between the two devices.
Software & Features
The Pixel 6 Pro runs on stock Android 12, offering a clean, bloatware-free experience with timely software updates and exclusive features like Call Screen and Now Playing. The S21 Ultra runs on Samsung’s One UI, built on Android, offering a feature-rich experience with extensive customization options. It also has a lot of bloatware.
The Pixel 6 Pro excels in software updates and streamlined user experience. The S21 Ultra excels with its many features and customization. The choice depends on user preferences and their desire for a clean or feature-rich interface.
Design & Build Quality
The Pixel 6 Pro features a unique design with a prominent camera bar and a premium glass and metal build. It has an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. The S21 Ultra offers a more traditional design with a sleek, minimalist aesthetic, also with a premium glass and metal build. It also boasts an IP68 rating.
The Pixel 6 Pro has a more eye-catching design. The S21 Ultra might be more familiar. Both phones have excellent build quality. The build quality and design will come down to personal preference.
Who Should Buy What?
Buy Pixel 6 Pro If…
- You prioritize a clean, bloatware-free Android experience with guaranteed software updates directly from Google.
- You value Google’s advanced computational photography and unique camera features.
- You appreciate a distinctive design and a user interface optimized for the Google ecosystem.
- You want a phone that integrates seamlessly with other Google services and devices.
Buy S21 Ultra If…
- You desire a versatile camera system with exceptional zoom capabilities and high-resolution video recording.
- You prefer a phone with a more feature-rich user interface and extensive customization options.
- You need the flexibility of expandable storage and a slightly larger display.
- You want a phone with a wider range of available accessories, including the S Pen stylus support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which phone has the better camera?
Both phones have excellent cameras. The Pixel 6 Pro excels in computational photography and ease of use, delivering consistently great results with its main and ultrawide lenses. The S21 Ultra boasts superior zoom capabilities and exceptional performance in low-light environments, thanks to its multiple telephoto lenses. The best choice depends on your photographic needs.
Which phone has better battery life?
Battery life is comparable between the Pixel 6 Pro and the S21 Ultra, with both providing all-day performance for most users. The S21 Ultra might get a slight edge in some use cases, but both phones offer excellent battery performance. Factors like screen brightness and usage patterns can influence battery life on either device.
Which phone is faster?
The S21 Ultra, with its Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100 processor, often shows a slight edge in raw processing power, particularly in graphically intensive tasks and complex applications. The Pixel 6 Pro’s Tensor chip, while not quite as powerful, is optimized for AI and machine learning tasks, making it feel very responsive. Both phones are very fast.
Which phone has a better display?
The S21 Ultra’s Dynamic AMOLED 2X display is often considered among the best in the industry, offering exceptional brightness, vibrant colors, and smooth 120Hz refresh rate. The Pixel 6 Pro’s display is also excellent, with a high refresh rate and vibrant colors. The S21 Ultra has a slight edge in overall display quality.
Which phone has better software?
The Pixel 6 Pro runs stock Android, offering a clean, bloatware-free experience with guaranteed timely updates. The S21 Ultra runs Samsung’s One UI, built on Android, which provides a feature-rich experience with extensive customization options. The best choice depends on your preference for a clean or feature-rich interface.
Which phone has better build quality?
Both phones boast premium build quality with glass and metal construction and IP68 water and dust resistance. The Pixel 6 Pro offers a unique design with a prominent camera bar, while the S21 Ultra has a more traditional, sleek aesthetic. Build quality is excellent on both, so the decision relies on design preference.
Which phone is cheaper?
The prices of both the Pixel 6 Pro and S21 Ultra fluctuate depending on the retailer and any ongoing promotions. Generally, the S21 Ultra may be slightly more expensive, particularly at launch. However, both phones are premium devices, and their prices can vary based on storage configurations and the deals available at the time of purchase.
Final Verdict
Both the Pixel 6 Pro and S21 Ultra are outstanding smartphones, each with its own strengths. The Pixel 6 Pro excels with its computational photography, clean software experience, and unique design. The S21 Ultra impresses with its top-tier display, versatile camera system, and raw processing power. The choice depends on individual priorities, but both offer a premium experience.
Winner: S21 Ultra