One of the most controversial features of the S20 Ultra was Samsung’s Space Zoom feature, which allows you to get close to distant subjects. In our analysis, we found that the tool was problematic and failed, mainly due to the low quality of the images above 10x. The company wants to fix some of this with the S21 Ultra, introducing a new dual telephoto lens system to provide “greater clarity in each shot”. One offers 3x optical zoom, while the other is up to 10x and the phone will automatically switch between them depending on the range you are shooting at.
Samsung
Samsung also introduced a software feature called Zoom Lock to help you keep your subject in the frame, even if your hands are shaking at a high zoom level. The company also improved its night mode and made it possible to record 4K video at 60 frames per second from all sensors, including the initial selfie camera.
At 6.8 inches, the S21 Ultra’s screen is slightly smaller than last year’s model (6.9 inches), but you probably won’t notice the difference. What’s more attractive is Samsung’s new design, with what it calls the Contour Cut camera housing for the four sensors at the rear. Instead of a black rounded rectangle module hanging in the upper left corner of the back of the phone, the entire corner is different from the rest of the surface. It looks like someone slid a rectangular protective cover over the phone.
Samsung
Unlike the smaller S21 and S21 +, Ultra is only available in the Phantom Black and Phantom Silver color options, although Samsung has said that more colors like Phantom Titanium, Phantom Navy and Phantom Brown will be “available exclusively on Samsung.com” depending on the market. The other flagships also offer additional variations of pink and purple, and in them, the “contour cut” is in attractive blush shades. In silver and black units, the corner sections are more subtle, as they are in shades that match the rest of the body.
In addition to the surface, the S21 Ultra is equipped with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 888 chip in the United States and the Exynos 2100 in other parts of the world. Those who used non-US versions of Samsung’s previous flagships have long complained about the performance delta on Exynos models and that remains a point of frustration for them. Fortunately, Samsung announced this week that the Exynos 2100 will be an ARM-based 5 nm chip system that will consume 20 percent less energy than its predecessor. If these statements are true, the Exynos models of the S21 may not be as disappointing as the previous models.
The S21 Ultra is also one of the first smartphones to support the new WiFi 6E standard for higher bandwidth and faster internet connections. It also has ultra-wideband capability that allows you to unlock compatible car ports or send messages to nearby UWB compatible phones. Finally, the S21 Ultra starts with 12 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, and if you want more of each, you can choose only the Phantom Black model. The silver edition is stuck in this configuration, while you can go up to 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage in the black flavor.
If you pre-order the S21 Ultra by January 28, you will receive a free Galaxy Smart Tag and $ 200 Samsung credit. Otherwise, the new flagship will be available through retail channels and operators, as well as unlocked by Samsung on January 29.