It's big, powerful and very capable. If you're after the very best Samsung Galaxy S21 model and money is no object, the Ultra is the one for you. It's a big upgrade over the S20 Ultra, fixing the focus issues and improving battery life. It is very pricey though, especially when the regular S21 has become more affordable.

Great screen thanks to WQHD+ and 120Hz; Much-improved design with an attractive finish; Far more versatile camera than the iPhone 12 Pro Max;

Expensive, with many cheaper phones offering the same features; Big and heavy; No charger included;

An Android that earns its “ultra” title with an incredible camera array allowing you to capture moments other phones will simply miss

Awesome camera zoom capability; Smooth; ultra-bright screen; Supports the S-Pen like a Galaxy Note

No charger: a cheap move; Some alternatives last longer between charges; UK Exynos version not as powerful as upcoming Snapdragon phones

Samsung shifted its annual Galaxy S series launch about a month to the left this year, and given the challenges we all faced in 2020, it is nice to see 2021 start off with some fresh phones from Samsung with a significant price drop.

Lovely design with matte finish back; 5G support for all bands; Advanced multiple cameras; S Pen support; Competive pricing; High end internal specifications

No MST support

It was always going to be tough for the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra to follow the fantastic phone that is the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, at least as far as the experience is concerned. Yet, Samsung clearly has taken pains to find those specific points on the spec sheet, which needed an upgrade.

The S21 Ultra is a good phone for those who want an Android flagship that does everything and does everything better than everyone else. It is also a phone for those who need a camera that can capture those great selfies as well as the tiger in the bush during a Ranthambore safari.

Awesome camera zoom capability; Smooth, ultra-bright screen; Supports the S-Pen like a Galaxy Note;

No charger: a cheap move; Some alternatives last longer between charges; UK Exynos version not as powerful as upcoming Snapdragon phones;

However sweet the new design is, the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G and S21+ 5G don’t have the spec sheet highlights we’ve come to expect from Samsung’s top S Series phones. To get that true S Series experience, you have to buy the Galaxy S21 Ultra, which goes all-out on power, screen, camera, and battery tech to satisfy hardcore fans. But at $1,200, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is a considerable investment, certainly when compared to the $800 Galaxy S21 that we’ve already reviewed. Plus, it faces serious competition from both outside — the iPhone 12 Pro Max, for example — and inside (the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and the Galaxy Z Fold 2). I’m a week into living with the S21 Ultra, so consider this a very detailed early look rather than our definitive review at this stage. Both I and Mobile Editor Andrew Martonik will be adding our continued thoughts about the phone to this article over the coming weeks, building out our final review. But even after seven days, the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s extraordinary abilities...

Highly capable, versatile camera; Beautiful AMOLED screen; Elegant new design; Long battery life; Latest software from Google and Samsung; Price is down from last year;

Shaky Wi-Fi connectivity; Intermittent charging problems; Top-heavy design affects balance; No MicroSD card slot;

Awesome camera zoom capability; Smooth, ultra-bright screen; Supports the S-Pen like a Galaxy Note;

No charger: a cheap move; Some alternatives last longer between charges; UK Exynos version not as powerful as upcoming Snapdragon phones;

Samsung has addressed many of the pain points that last year’s S series Ultra model had and made key improvements to the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G to refine the overall experience. There are also a ton of value-added features that make it a more well-rounded device.