Huawei Pura X Max vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
The Verdict
The Huawei Pura X Max and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the cheaper of the two at $1,199 versus $1,600, a difference of about $401. The Huawei Pura X Max is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Huawei Pura X Max stands out for exceptional 4000-nit peak brightness for excellent outdoor visibility, 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 Huawei Pura X Max if…
- →Exceptional 4000-nit peak brightness for excellent outdoor visibility
- →Variable aperture main camera (f/1.4-2.0) adapts to lighting conditions
- →Fast 100W wired charging and wireless charging support
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
Huawei Pura X Max
Pros
- Exceptional 4000-nit peak brightness for excellent outdoor visibility
- Variable aperture main camera (f/1.4-2.0) adapts to lighting conditions
- Fast 100W wired charging and wireless charging support
- Lightweight at 221g despite large 6.9-inch display
- IP68 dust and water resistance rating
Cons
- Limited availability in Western markets
- No microSD card slot for storage expansion
- Price premium for flagship features
- Heating concerns reported under sustained load
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 | Huawei Pura X Max | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50MP f/1.4-2.0 variable aperture | 108 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 20MP f/2.2 | 40 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | 12MP f/2.0 3.5x optical | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom |
| Ultrawide | 40MP f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | — | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Periscope | — | 10 MP, f/4.9, 10x optical zoom |
| Design | ||
| Colors | Black, White, Champagne Gold | — |
| Weight | 221g | — |
| IP rating | IP68 | — |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 6010mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging Speed | 100W wired | — |
| Wireless Charging | — | |
| Charging | — | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | — | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.9 inches | 6.8 inches |
| Type | OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, LTPO |
| Brightness | 4000 nits peak | — |
| Resolution | 2992 x 1344 | 3200 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | — | 1500 |
| Performance | ||
| RAM | 12GB | — |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite | — |
| Storage | 256GB/512GB | — |
| Software | — | Android 11, One UI 3.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | — | 227 g |
| Material | — | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | — | IP68 |
| Dimensions | — | 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | — | 12 GB |
| Storage options | — | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | — | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | — | Adreno 660 |
| Chipset | — | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | — | |
| NFC | — | |
| USB | — | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | — | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | — | 5.2 |
Want to compare a third product?
Add another product for a 3-way comparison.
Related Comparisons
Explore more in phones, see all Huawei products or all Samsung products. View full details for the Huawei Pura X Max or the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.