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.

At $1,199 / £1,149, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra needs to be excellent, and it is. Powerful internals, a class-leading 10x zoom and a number of fun value adds, not least of all S Pen support give it some standout charm.

The Galaxy S21 is a tank. It’s a big, heavy (8.04 ounces versus its predecessor’s 7.7), blunt instrument of a phone. It’s quintessential Samsung, really — the handset you purchase when too much isn’t quite enough.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is definitely one of the most expensive non-foldable flagships on the market. It is €100 cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra and €50 cheaper than the iPhone 12 Pro Max when those were released.

Daring ; bold design; AMOLED WQHD+ 120 Hz screen is sublime; Improved Exynos 2100 chipset; Versatile camera module; Fantastic 10x zoom; Great battery life and performance; Fluid OneUI 3.1 interface is feature-rich

Exynos 2100 does not outperform the Snapdragon 888 SoC; No charger included; No microSD slot; 25-watt fast charging only; S-Pen is nearly redundant; Expensive (although cheaper than the S20 Ultra)

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.

In many ways, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is a by-the-book upgrade — it’s faster, its cameras are more polished, and its software is a little cleaner. Calling it a thrill would be a stretch.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G offers best in class specifications, an 8K video capable camera suite and a breathtakingly beautiful display. If money is no object and you want the best, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is the gold standard in smartphones today.

The best WQHD 120Hz panel that money can buy; Excellent cameras; Great performance with Exynos 2100; Good battery life; IP68 dust and water resistance; Brilliant design

No microSD card slot; No 3.5mm audio jack; Expensive

The Galaxy S21 Ultra is indisputably the best Android phone you can buy right now. But it's still too big and too expensive for all but a small...

Gorgeous screen and overall design; Excellent camera with killer telephoto abilities; Great battery and performance

Big and heavy; No MicroSD card slot

Android phones often try to market specs, with companies throwing everything but the kitchen sink at their flagship phones. But the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra may be the first phone that’s throwing the right specs at you — right, in the sense that they go a long way in justifying the price.

It’s sometimes a little hard to get excited about yet another chunky looking phone from Samsung but the Galaxy S21 Ultra, the latest and greatest from the Korean manufacturer this year, does get some things right.