Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S23+
The Verdict
Samsung's Galaxy S21 Ultra commands a premium with its 6.8-inch display, superior 108 MP main camera with periscope zoom, and additional telephoto lens for versatile zooming. However, the Galaxy S23+ delivers compelling value at $200 less, featuring the newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor that outperforms the aging 888 chipset significantly. S23+ offers faster 45W charging versus 25W, brighter 1750-nit display, and more current Android 13 software. Display resolution favors S21 Ultra at 3200x1440, but S23+ achieves better real-world brightness. Camera quality remains comparable despite different megapixel counts, with S23+ improving night photography through computational advances. S21 Ultra justifies cost only for users prioritizing periscope zoom capability and higher resolution. For most buyers, S23+ provides superior everyday performance, faster charging, and modern software at meaningful savings. Recommendation: Choose S23+ unless professional 10x zoom is essential.
Who Should Buy
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)
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23+ if…
- →Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy delivers top-tier performance
- →Bright 1750-nit display is excellent in direct sunlight
- →4700 mAh battery provides strong all-day endurance
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
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
Samsung Galaxy S23+
Pros
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy delivers top-tier performance
- Bright 1750-nit display is excellent in direct sunlight
- 4700 mAh battery provides strong all-day endurance
- Four years of OS updates and five years of security patches
- Versatile triple camera with 3x optical zoom
Cons
- Only 8 GB RAM at the $999 price point
- FHD+ resolution instead of QHD+ on the 6.6-inch display
- 45W charging is slower than Chinese competitors
- No expandable storage or microSD slot
- Design is very similar to S22+ with minimal visual changes
Full Specifications
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra | Samsung Galaxy S23+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 11, One UI 3.1 | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 227 g | 195 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm | 157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 108 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Front camera | 40 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps |
| Periscope | 10 MP, f/4.9, 10x optical zoom | — |
| Telephoto | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 4700 mAh |
| Charging | 25W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W wireless | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.8 inches | 6.6 inches |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, LTPO | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 3200 x 1440 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1500 | 1750 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 740 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.3 |
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.
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