Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Usually, a review of a superpowered phone from Samsung consists of a bunch of promises and then a bunch of reality checks on those promises. With the Galaxy S21 Ultra, there are fewer caveats than before. The battery lasts beyond a full day. There’s a beautiful new design. It has the fastest speeds, best camera system, and nicest screen of any Android phone right now.

The screen is stunning, performance is good, battery life is excellent and the software is the latest available. But it is the much improved fingerprint scanner that makes the biggest difference to day-to-day usage – it’s fast, accurate and responsive in a way Samsung’s previous efforts just weren’t. If you want the best Android superphone the Galaxy S21 Ultra is it and will take some beating this year.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is about as capable as a smartphone can get without folding in half or rolling up (and those new form factors often have trade-offs). It has a high price, but it's justified compared to past Ultra models. Anyone who just wants a big Galaxy can save a lot and just get the S21+, but for killer camera zoom levels, a more premium construction, and S Pen support, the Galaxy S21 Ultra merits the increased price.

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 108 MP main camera isn’t always the most nuanced sharpshooter, but as a package, there’s plenty to love, provided you can handle its hefty size and price tag.

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 21 Ultra might not pack many dramatic upgrades, but it’s a polished powerhouse that’s remarkably competent on all fronts. Bear in mind, that doesn’t mean it’s perfect -- some of its features aren’t as immediately useful as we had hoped, and the loss of expandable storage could be tough for some power users to swallow. The Ultra’s price and size still might put it out of reach for some, but if you can justify the cost -- or don’t mind waiting for a deal -- the good far outweighs the bad here.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra is here earlier than anticipated, and that’s good news if you’re eager to own the best of everything that Samsung can pack into a smartphone. It wowed us with a big screen, five cameras and the best zoom on any readily available Android phone. But, while it’s cheaper than last year’s ‘Ultra’ phone, it’s pricey, and it doesn’t come with a microSD card slot or included charger.

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.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra is the best Android phone yet with dual zoom lenses, a stellar display and excellent battery life. The S Pen is just a bonus.

Samsung's Galaxy S21 line is an overall refinement of last year's models, but feature bloat still weighs these phones down.