One of the more controversial features of the S20 Ultra was Samsung’s Space Zoom feature that allows you to get close to distant subjects. In our review, we found that the tool is problematic and defective, mostly due to the low quality of the images of more than 10x. The company wants to rectify this with the S21 Ultra by introducing a new dual-lens system to give ‘greater clarity with each shot’. One offers 3x optical zoom, while the other acts up to 10x optically, and the phone will automatically switch between them depending on the distance you shoot.
Samsung
Samsung has also introduced a software feature called Zoom Lock to help you keep your subject in frame even when your hands are shaking at a high zoom level. The company also improved its Night mode and made it possible to take 4K video at 60 frames per second from all the sensors, including the selfie camera up front.
The S21 Ultra screen is 6.8 inches slightly smaller than last year’s model (6.9 inches), but you probably won’t see the difference. What’s more striking is Samsung’s new design with a 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 hangs from the rest of the surface. It looks like someone is sliding a protective rectangular cap on the phone.
Samsung
Unlike the smaller S21 and S21 +, the Ultra is only available in Phantom Black and Phantom Silver color options, although Samsung has said that more colors such as Phantom Titanium, Phantom Navy and Phantom Brown “will be available exclusively on Samsung.com” , depending on the market. The other flagships also offer additional pink and purple variants, and on top of that is the “contour cut” in striking blush shades. On the silver and black units, the corner portions are more subtle because they are in matching shades with the rest of the body.
Off the surface, the S21 Ultra is powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 888 chip in the US and the Exynos 2100 in other parts of the world. Those who have not used the US versions of Samsung’s previous flagships have long complained about the performance delta in Exynos models, and this remains a point of frustration for them. Fortunately, Samsung announced this week that the Exynos 2100 will be a 5-nm system on the chip on the ARM that will consume 20 percent less power than its predecessor. If these claims are true, the Exynos models of the S21 may not be as disappointing as previous models.
The S21 Ultra is also one of the first smartphones to support the new WiFi 6E standard for greater bandwidth and faster internet connections. It also has an ultra-broadband capability to enable it to unlock compatible car doors or send messages to UWB-friendly phones in the area. Finally, the S21 Ultra starts with 12 GB RAM and 128 GB storage, and if you want more of each, you can only choose the Phantom Black model. The silver edition sticks to the configuration, while you can use up to 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage for the black taste.
If you pre-order the S21 Ultra before January 28, you get a free Galaxy Smart Tag and $ 200 Samsung credit. Otherwise, the new flagship will be available on January 29 via retail and service provider channels, as well as unlocked via Samsung.