Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G • Unlocked vs Galaxy S24 Ultra • Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, released in early 2021, and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, launched in early 2024, represent different generations of Samsung's premium smartphone line. While both devices offer a high-end Android experience with large displays and versatile camera systems, the S24 Ultra introduces significant advancements in processing power, software longevity, and display technology. Both run on the Android operating system, with the S24 Ultra benefiting from a much longer commitment to software updates.

When considering the practical lifespan of these devices, several factors come into play, including their release timelines, software support, and physical durability.

• Release Timeline: The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G was released in January 2021, making it a device from an earlier generation. The Galaxy S24 Ultra, launched in January 2024, benefits from being a much newer model.
• OS Support Duration: The Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with an industry-leading commitment of seven years of major Android operating system upgrades and security updates, ensuring long-term software relevance. In contrast, the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G typically received four years of OS updates and five years of security updates from its release. This means the S24 Ultra will receive updates for a significantly longer period.
• Physical Durability: Both devices feature an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, indicating a high level of protection against environmental elements. The S21 Ultra is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, while the S24 Ultra features the newer Corning Gorilla Armor, which offers enhanced scratch resistance and anti-reflective properties. The S24 Ultra has also received a high repairability score of 9/10 in initial teardowns, similar to its predecessor, indicating a design that facilitates easier repairs for certain components.

The performance of a smartphone is crucial for daily tasks, from simple browsing to demanding applications and gaming. Both the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G and S24 Ultra are designed for high performance, but there are notable differences due to their generational gap.

• Processing Capabilities: The Galaxy S24 Ultra features a more advanced processor, which translates to smoother operation, faster app loading times, and more efficient handling of intensive tasks like high-fidelity gaming and complex multitasking. Users can expect a noticeable improvement in overall system responsiveness and sustained performance under heavy loads. The S21 Ultra, while powerful for its time, will show its age when running the latest demanding applications compared to the S24 Ultra.
• Battery Behavior: Both devices are equipped with a 5000 mAh battery. However, the S24 Ultra demonstrates significantly improved battery endurance in real-world usage, often lasting through a full day of heavy use and sometimes extending to two days of mixed usage. This improvement is largely attributed to the newer, more power-efficient processor and software optimizations. The S21 Ultra provides solid battery life, but typically requires more frequent charging for heavy users.
• Storage and RAM: Both models offer ample storage options, typically starting from 256GB and going up to 1TB for the S24 Ultra, and up to 512GB for the S21 Ultra. The S24 Ultra comes with 12GB of RAM across all configurations, which is well-suited for advanced multitasking and future-proofing. The S21 Ultra offered configurations with 12GB or 16GB of RAM.

The display is a primary interaction point, and both Ultra models offer premium viewing experiences, though the S24 Ultra brings several enhancements.

• Display Technology and Resolution: Both the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G and S24 Ultra feature large 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays with Quad HD+ resolutions (3200x1440 pixels for S21 Ultra, 3120x1440 pixels for S24 Ultra), providing sharp and vibrant visuals.
• Brightness and Outdoor Visibility: The S24 Ultra boasts a significantly higher peak brightness of 2600 nits, compared to the S21 Ultra's 1500 nits. This makes the S24 Ultra's screen exceptionally bright and easy to view even in direct sunlight.
• Refresh Rate and Smoothness: Both devices feature an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, which dynamically adjusts from 1Hz to 120Hz to provide smooth scrolling and animations while conserving battery life when static content is displayed.
• Screen Protection and Design: The S21 Ultra uses Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for screen protection. The S24 Ultra upgrades to Corning Gorilla Armor, which not only offers improved durability but also features advanced anti-reflective properties, significantly reducing glare and reflections, especially outdoors. Additionally, the S24 Ultra features a flat display, a departure from the curved edges of its predecessors, which some users find improves S Pen usability and reduces accidental touches.

Both the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G and S24 Ultra are equipped with advanced camera systems designed to capture high-quality photos and videos, but the S24 Ultra features newer sensor technology and improved processing.

• Rear Camera System: The S21 Ultra features a quad-camera setup with a 108MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide, and two 10MP telephoto lenses offering 3x and 10x optical zoom. The S24 Ultra also has a quad-camera system, but with a 200MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide, a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a 50MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom. The S24 Ultra's 50MP 5x telephoto lens offers higher resolution at that zoom level compared to the S21 Ultra's 10x optical zoom.
• Photography Performance: The S24 Ultra benefits from a larger main sensor and enhanced image processing, leading to improved detail, dynamic range, and color accuracy, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. Users report excellent clarity and vividness with the S24 Ultra's camera. Both devices offer strong low-light performance, with the S24 Ultra showing advancements in noise reduction and overall clarity.
• Video Recording: Both models are capable of recording video at up to 8K resolution. The S24 Ultra offers more frame rate options for 4K video, including 120fps, providing greater flexibility for video creators.
• Audio Experience: Both devices feature stereo speakers, providing a rich audio experience for media consumption. Neither device includes a 3.5mm headphone jack.