Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Compare Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra side by side: Exynos 2100 / Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for…

Samsung

Galaxy S26 Ultra

$1,299

14categories won

3 categories tied · 22 scored in total · add a third phone

Information Gain

Which one wins?

MxMob Algorithmic Verdict

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra takes the overall win

Overall Pick

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra proves superior overall against the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, outperforming on battery endurance and daily usability. In camera testing, the two devices offer similar flexibility, while battery endurance leans towards the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Choose the Galaxy S26 Ultra if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G if its lower retail price better fit your budget.

🔋 BatteryGalaxy S26 Ultra

Galaxy S26 Ultra takes battery honors offering 5,000 mAh alongside 60W charging.

🎮 GamingGalaxy S26 Ultra

Galaxy S26 Ultra provides greater sustained gaming output with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy and 16GB RAM.

📸 CameraTie

Both camera setups are closely matched for daily street photography and low-light shooting.

🏷️ ValueGalaxy S21 Ultra 5G

Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $1199 vs $1299.

Category verdicts are computed algorithmically from verified technical specifications and hardware benchmarks. Rows where neither figure is objectively better — screen size preference, operating system choice, aesthetic build materials — are displayed for direct reference without scoring bias.

Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G vs Galaxy S26 Ultra: specifications compared

Display

Display comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Screen size	6.8"	6.9"
Resolution	1440 x 3200Winner	1440 x 3120
Pixel density	516 ppiWinner	498 ppi
Refresh rate	120 Hz	120 Hz
Peak brightness	1500 nits	2400 nitsWinner

Performance

Performance comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Chipset	Exynos 2100 / Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
Process node	5 nm	3 nmWinner
AnTuTu score	870,000	2,400,000Winner
Geekbench multi	3800	8900Winner
Maximum RAM	12 GB	16 GBWinner
Maximum storage	128GB	1TBWinner

Camera

Camera comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Main sensor	108 MP	200 MPWinner
Rear cameras	4	4
Optical zoom	10xWinner	5x
Ultrawide	12 MP	50 MPWinner
Selfie camera	40 MPWinner	12 MP
Max video	8K at 24fps / 4K at 60fps all cameras	8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps

Battery and charging

Battery and charging comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Capacity	5,000 mAh	5,000 mAh
Wired charging	25 W	60 WWinner
Wireless charging	15 W	25 WWinner

Design

Design comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Weight	227 g	214 gWinner
Thickness	8.9 mm	7.9 mmWinner
Water resistance	IP68	IP68
Build	Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus front and back	Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame

Software and support

Software and support comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Operating system	Android 11	Android 16
OS updates	4 years	7 yearsWinner
Security updates	5 years	7 yearsWinner

Connectivity and value

Connectivity and value comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G	Galaxy S26 Ultra
5G	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth)
Storage expansion	None	None
3.5mm jack	No	No
Launch price	$1,199Winner	$1,299