Google Pixel 10 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
The Verdict
The Google Pixel 10 and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Google Pixel 10 is the cheaper of the two at $699 versus $1,199, a difference of about $500. The Google Pixel 10 is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Google Pixel 10 stands out for tensor g5 with on-device gemini ai, while Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is praised for 100x space zoom with 10x optical telephoto. Use the side-by-side spec table below to compare cameras, displays, battery life and connectivity in detail and decide which one fits your priorities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Google Pixel 10 if…
- →Tensor G5 with on-device Gemini AI
- →7 years of updates
- →Best-in-class computational photography
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra if…
- →100x Space Zoom with 10x optical telephoto
- →108 MP main sensor with excellent detail
- →S Pen support (first S-series to do so)
Pros & Cons
Google Pixel 10
Pros
- Tensor G5 with on-device Gemini AI
- 7 years of updates
- Best-in-class computational photography
- Clean Android 16 experience
Cons
- No telephoto camera
- Only 30W wired charging
- 12MP ultrawide is basic
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Pros
- 100x Space Zoom with 10x optical telephoto
- 108 MP main sensor with excellent detail
- S Pen support (first S-series to do so)
- 1440p 120Hz LTPO adaptive display
- 5000 mAh battery with all-day endurance
Cons
- Heavy at 227 g
- Snapdragon 888 can overheat under load
- S Pen sold separately, no silo slot
- Slow 25W charging for the class
- No charger or earbuds in the box
Full Specifications
| Spec | Google Pixel 10 | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 16 | Android 11, One UI 3.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 187 g | 227 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 152 x 72 x 8.6 mm | 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.7, OIS | 108 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 10.5 MP, f/2.2 | 40 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Periscope | — | 10 MP, f/4.9, 10x optical zoom |
| Telephoto | — | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4500 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 30W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W wireless | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.3 inches | 6.8 inches |
| Type | OLED, LTPO | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, LTPO |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 | 3200 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2700 | 1500 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Mali | Adreno 660 |
| Chipset | Google Tensor G5 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.2 |
Want to compare a third product?
Add another product for a 3-way comparison.
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in phones, see all Google products or all Samsung products. View full details for the Google Pixel 10 or the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.