Galaxy S21 5G vs Galaxy S23 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G, released in January 2021, and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, launched in February 2023, are both prominent Android smartphones from Samsung's flagship Galaxy S series. While both devices offer a premium Android experience, the S23 Ultra represents a later generation with advancements in camera technology, processing power, and overall battery endurance. Both operate on the Android platform, featuring Samsung's One UI for a consistent user interface.

The practical lifespan of a smartphone is influenced by its release date, software support, and physical durability. These two devices, separated by two years, offer different expectations in these areas.

• Software Longevity: The Galaxy S21 5G, released in early 2021, launched with Android 11 and is expected to receive four years of major OS updates and five years of security updates. The Galaxy S23 Ultra, released in early 2023 with Android 13, benefits from a longer support window, anticipating four major OS updates and five years of security patches from its launch. This means the S23 Ultra will receive software support for a longer duration.
• Repairability: The Galaxy S21 5G received a repairability score of 7.5 out of 10 from one assessment, noting its ease of disassembly and modular components, though the battery was found to be difficult to remove due to strong adhesive. The Galaxy S23 Ultra, while receiving a lower score of 4 out of 10 from another assessment, showed improvements in design for repair, including the presence of battery pull tabs, making battery replacement easier.
• Physical Durability: The Galaxy S21 5G features Gorilla Glass Victus on its display and a 'Glasstic' (plastic) back, offering a balance of protection and a less fragile rear panel. The Galaxy S23 Ultra incorporates Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both its front and back, providing enhanced scratch and drop resistance. Both devices carry an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

Performance differences between these two generations are notable, particularly in demanding applications and overall system efficiency.

• Processing Power: The Galaxy S21 5G is powered by a capable processor for its time, handling everyday tasks, multitasking, and most games smoothly. The Galaxy S23 Ultra features a more advanced, current-generation processor designed for enhanced performance and efficiency, resulting in faster app loading, smoother graphics for intensive gaming, and more responsive overall operation.
• Battery Endurance: The Galaxy S21 5G is equipped with a 4000 mAh battery, which generally provides a full day of moderate use, though heavy usage may require more frequent charging. The Galaxy S23 Ultra houses a larger 5000 mAh battery, combined with a more power-efficient processor, leading to significantly longer battery life, often extending beyond a full day even with heavy use.
• Storage and Multitasking: Both devices offer various internal storage options, but neither supports expandable storage via a microSD card. The Galaxy S21 5G typically comes with 8GB of RAM, sufficient for most multitasking needs. The Galaxy S23 Ultra offers configurations with 8GB or 12GB of RAM, providing more headroom for extensive multitasking and demanding applications.

The display experience on both devices is premium, though the S23 Ultra offers a larger and more refined panel.

• Display Technology and Size: The Galaxy S21 5G features a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, providing vibrant colors and deep blacks in a compact form factor. The Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts a larger 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, offering a more expansive viewing area.
• Resolution and Clarity: The S21 5G has a Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2400 pixels), which delivers sharp and clear visuals for everyday content. The S23 Ultra features a Quad HD+ resolution (3088 x 1440 pixels), providing a higher pixel density for even finer detail and clarity, particularly noticeable with high-resolution media.
• Brightness and Smoothness: Both phones offer a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate for smooth scrolling and responsive interactions. The S21 5G reaches a peak brightness of 1300 nits, ensuring good visibility in various lighting conditions. The S23 Ultra achieves a higher peak brightness of 1750 nits, enhancing outdoor visibility and HDR content viewing.

Both devices offer capable camera systems, but the S23 Ultra introduces significant advancements, particularly in resolution and zoom capabilities.

• Main Camera System: The Galaxy S21 5G features a versatile triple-camera setup with a 12MP main wide lens, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 64MP telephoto lens capable of 3x optical zoom. The Galaxy S23 Ultra elevates this with a 200MP main wide sensor, a 12MP ultrawide, and two 10MP telephoto lenses, offering 3x and 10x optical zoom for greater flexibility and detail at various distances.
• Photography Performance: The S21 5G delivers good everyday photos with accurate colors and effective stabilization. Its low-light performance is solid for its generation. The S23 Ultra provides enhanced detail, improved low-light performance, and better dynamic range, especially with its higher resolution main sensor. Users report that the S23 Ultra excels in zoomed-in shots and low-light photography.
• Video and Audio: Both devices are capable of recording high-resolution video, including 8K. The S21 5G offers features like Director's View for multi-camera recording. The S23 Ultra offers improved video stabilization and overall quality, with its advanced sensors contributing to clearer footage. Both provide good microphone quality for calls and recording, and dual speakers for media consumption.