S21 vs S23 Ultra: Is the Upgrade Worth It?
Stuck between the Samsung Galaxy S21 and the newer Galaxy S23 Ultra? You’re not alone. Choosing between these two powerhouses can be a tough call, especially with the rapid advancements in smartphone technology.
This comparison dives deep, dissecting the key differences to help you make the best decision. We’ll explore everything from the camera capabilities and processing power to the battery life and overall user experience.
The S21 was a flagship in its time, but the S23 Ultra promises significant upgrades. Prepare to discover which phone truly reigns supreme and fits your needs and budget.
Specs at a Glance
| Feature | s21 | s23 ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Display Size | 6.2 inches | 6.8 inches |
| Processor | Exynos 2100 / Snapdragon 888 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB / 12GB |
| Main Camera | 12MP + 12MP + 64MP | 200MP + 12MP + 10MP + 10MP |
| Front Camera | 10MP | 12MP |
| Battery | 4000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging Speed | 25W | 45W |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| S Pen Support | No | Yes |
| Display Technology | Dynamic AMOLED 2X | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Operating System | Android 11, upgradable | Android 13 |
Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
Display
- S21: Features a vibrant Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Offers excellent color accuracy and smooth scrolling. However, it may not be as bright in direct sunlight compared to newer models.
- S23 Ultra: Boasts a brighter and more refined Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. Offers improved outdoor visibility and better energy efficiency. The sharper display provides a more immersive viewing experience.
- Winner: S23 Ultra
Processor
- S21: Powered by either a Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100 processor (depending on the region), offering fast performance for most tasks. May experience some throttling under heavy loads.
- S23 Ultra: Equipped with a custom-tuned Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, providing significant performance improvements. Offers smoother multitasking and handles demanding games with ease.
- Winner: S23 Ultra
Camera System
- S21: Features a versatile triple-lens camera system with a 12MP main, 12MP ultrawide, and 64MP telephoto lens. Delivers good image quality in various lighting conditions. Telephoto zoom capabilities are decent but not exceptional.
- S23 Ultra: Features a significantly upgraded camera system, including a 200MP main sensor, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto (3x optical zoom), and 10MP telephoto (10x optical zoom). Offers exceptional detail, improved low-light performance, and impressive zoom capabilities.
- Winner: S23 Ultra
Battery Life
- S21: Offers a battery capacity of 4000mAh. Battery life is decent but may not last a full day with heavy usage. Charging speed is relatively fast.
- S23 Ultra: Boasts a larger 5000mAh battery, providing significantly improved battery life. Can easily last a full day and often longer with moderate use.
- Winner: S23 Ultra
Design and Build Quality
- S21: Features a sleek design with a plastic back (on base model) or glass back (on higher end models) and a metal frame. Offers a comfortable grip and is available in various colors.
- S23 Ultra: Showcases a more premium design with a boxier shape, glass back, and Armor Aluminum frame. The built-in S Pen adds to the functionality and design.
- Winner: S23 Ultra
Software and Updates
- S21: Launched with Android 11 and has received software updates. Will eventually reach the end of its update cycle.
- S23 Ultra: Ships with Android 13 and benefits from Samsung’s commitment to providing software updates for several years, ensuring it stays up-to-date with the latest features and security patches.
- Winner: S23 Ultra
Performance in Games
- S21: Offers good gaming performance, but can experience thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions.
- S23 Ultra: Gaming is a joy, with significantly improved thermals and performance leading to smoother and longer gaming sessions.
- Winner: S23 Ultra
S Pen Integration
- S21: Does not have S Pen support.
- S23 Ultra: Features a built-in S Pen, offering enhanced productivity and creative capabilities, allowing for note-taking, drawing, and precise control.
- Winner: S23 Ultra
Winner by Category
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Display Size | s23 ultra |
| Processor | s23 ultra |
| Main Camera | s23 ultra |
| Battery Life | s23 ultra |
| S Pen Support | s23 ultra |
| Charging Speed | s23 ultra |
| Value | s21 |
What They Have in Common
- Water Resistance: Both phones are rated IP68, offering excellent protection against water and dust. This allows for worry-free use in various environments.
- Display Technology: Both devices feature Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays, providing vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent viewing angles. You can expect a premium visual experience on either phone.
- 5g Connectivity: Both the Galaxy S21 and S23 Ultra support 5G connectivity, enabling fast download and upload speeds where 5G networks are available. This enhances streaming, gaming, and overall online performance.
- Wireless Charging: Both phones support wireless charging, providing a convenient way to top up your battery without plugging in a cable. This adds flexibility to your charging routine.
- Samsung Ecosystem: Both phones are part of the Samsung ecosystem, offering seamless integration with other Samsung devices and services, such as SmartThings and Samsung Health.
- High-Quality Build: Both phones boast premium build quality, featuring durable materials and a refined design. They are designed to withstand everyday wear and tear.
S21 vs S23 Ultra Buying Guide
Performance & Processing Power
The Samsung Galaxy S21, powered by either a Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100 processor (depending on the region), offers impressive performance for everyday tasks and gaming. However, the S23 Ultra takes a significant leap forward. It features the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, providing substantially faster processing speeds, improved graphics rendering, and enhanced power efficiency. This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive overall user experience, especially when dealing with demanding applications and games. The S23 Ultra’s performance is noticeably superior, making it a better choice for power users.
Camera Capabilities
The S21’s camera system, while capable, is outmatched by the S23 Ultra. The S21 offers a versatile triple-lens setup, producing excellent photos in good lighting conditions. The S23 Ultra boasts a significantly upgraded camera system, including a 200MP main sensor, offering unparalleled detail and clarity. Its enhanced zoom capabilities, improved low-light performance, and advanced image processing capabilities, including better night mode, are substantial upgrades. The S23 Ultra is the clear winner for photography enthusiasts and those seeking the best possible image quality and video recording, offering a truly professional-grade experience.
Display Quality & Features
Both phones feature high-quality displays, but the S23 Ultra again takes the lead. The S21’s display is vibrant and sharp, with a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and animations. The S23 Ultra enhances this with a brighter, more color-accurate display and adaptive refresh rate technology. This results in smoother visuals and improved power efficiency. The S23 Ultra also offers a larger screen size and improved outdoor visibility, making it more enjoyable for media consumption and general use. The S23 Ultra’s display offers a superior overall viewing experience.
Battery Life & Charging
The S21’s battery life is decent, but the S23 Ultra offers a significant improvement. The S23 Ultra packs a larger battery and benefits from the more power-efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, resulting in significantly longer battery life. The S23 Ultra can easily last a full day of heavy use, while the S21 may require charging before the end of the day. Both phones support fast charging, but the S23 Ultra’s improved battery capacity gives it a clear advantage in terms of endurance, making it a better choice for users who prioritize battery life.
Design & Build Quality
Both phones feature premium designs, but the S23 Ultra offers notable refinements. The S21 features a sleek, modern design with a metal frame and Gorilla Glass Victus. The S23 Ultra maintains a premium build, often made with Armor Aluminum, but adds a more refined aesthetic, including a built-in S Pen stylus. The S23 Ultra’s design also incorporates a larger display and slightly different proportions. The build quality is excellent for both, but the S23 Ultra’s design is more premium, offering additional functionality and a more modern appearance, albeit at a larger size.
Software & User Experience
Both phones run Samsung’s One UI, offering a feature-rich and customizable Android experience. The S23 Ultra, however, benefits from a newer version of One UI, often with enhanced features, smoother performance, and longer software support. The S23 Ultra will receive software updates for a longer period, ensuring it remains up-to-date with the latest features and security patches. Furthermore, the S23 Ultra includes exclusive software features and improved integrations with the S Pen, enhancing productivity and creativity. The S23 Ultra offers a more polished and future-proof software experience.
Who Should Buy What?
Buy s21 If…
- You are on a tighter budget and want a flagship experience at a lower price point.
- You prefer a more compact phone size for easier one-handed use.
- You are satisfied with excellent performance and a great camera system.
- You don’t need the latest processor or the added features of the S23 Ultra.
Buy s23 ultra If…
- You want the absolute best camera system on a smartphone, with incredible zoom capabilities.
- You desire the integrated S Pen for note-taking, drawing, and precise navigation.
- You prioritize the latest and most powerful processor for maximum performance.
- You want a larger display and the longest battery life possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference in performance?
The S23 Ultra has a significantly more powerful processor (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy) compared to the S21 (Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100). This results in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better graphics performance, especially for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. The S23 Ultra is optimized for speed and efficiency.
How does the camera compare between the two phones?
The S23 Ultra’s camera system is vastly superior. It boasts a 200MP main sensor, offering dramatically improved detail, low-light performance, and zoom capabilities. The S23 Ultra takes sharper photos and videos, and offers more advanced features such as enhanced night mode and professional-grade video recording, making it the superior camera phone.
What about battery life?
The S23 Ultra offers significantly better battery life due to its larger battery and more power-efficient processor. While the S21 provides decent battery life, the S23 Ultra can easily last a full day of heavy usage, providing a longer usage time between charges. This is a major advantage for users who need a phone that lasts.
Is the display quality different?
Both phones have excellent displays, but the S23 Ultra’s is superior, offering a brighter, more color-accurate display with an adaptive refresh rate for smoother visuals and improved power efficiency. The S23 Ultra display provides a more immersive and energy-efficient viewing experience. It also features a larger screen size.
What are the design differences?
The S23 Ultra has a more refined design, often with more premium materials like Armor Aluminum, and includes a built-in S Pen stylus for added functionality. The S21 offers a sleek design as well, but the S23 Ultra’s design is more modern and feature-rich. The S23 Ultra’s design is also slightly larger to accommodate the larger screen and S Pen.
What about software updates?
The S23 Ultra will receive software updates for a longer period than the S21, ensuring it stays current with the latest features and security patches. It also runs a newer version of Samsung’s One UI, offering improved performance and exclusive features. This ensures a longer lifespan for the phone.
Which phone is better for gaming?
The S23 Ultra is the clear winner for gaming. Its more powerful processor, improved graphics, and larger display with adaptive refresh rate provide a significantly better gaming experience. It offers smoother frame rates, faster loading times, and a more immersive overall experience, optimized for mobile gaming.
Final Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra offers significant improvements over the S21 in nearly every aspect, including performance, camera capabilities, battery life, and display quality. While the S21 remains a capable phone, the S23 Ultra delivers a more premium and feature-rich experience, making it the superior choice for users seeking the best Android experience available. The S23 Ultra’s enhanced features and cutting-edge technology solidify its position as the top choice.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra