Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra
Compare Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra side by side: Exynos 2100 / Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 for…

Samsung
Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
$1,199
5categories won

Samsung
Galaxy S27 Ultra
$1,399
15categories won
2 categories tied · 22 scored in total · add a third phone
Which one wins?
Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra takes the overall win
The Samsung Galaxy S27 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 S27 Ultra. Choose the Galaxy S27 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.
Galaxy S27 Ultra takes battery honors offering 5,500 mAh alongside 65W charging.
Galaxy S27 Ultra provides greater sustained gaming output with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 for Galaxy and 24GB RAM.
Both camera setups are closely matched for daily street photography and low-light shooting.
Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $1199 vs $1399.
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 S27 Ultra: specifications compared
Display
| Specification | Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Galaxy S27 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 | 3500 nitsWinner |
Performance
| Specification | Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Galaxy S27 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 / Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| Process node | 5 nm | 2 nmWinner |
| AnTuTu score | 870,000 | 3,200,000Winner |
| Geekbench multi | 3800 | 10800Winner |
| Maximum RAM | 12 GB | 24 GBWinner |
| Maximum storage | 128GB | 2TBWinner |
Camera
| Specification | Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Galaxy S27 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | 108 MP | 200 MPWinner |
| Rear cameras | 4 | 4 |
| Optical zoom | 10xWinner | 3x |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 50 MPWinner |
| Selfie camera | 40 MPWinner | 16 MP |
| Max video | 8K at 24fps / 4K at 60fps all cameras | 8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps |
Battery and charging
| Specification | Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Galaxy S27 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5,000 mAh | 5,500 mAhWinner |
| Wired charging | 25 W | 65 WWinner |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 25 WWinner |
Design
| Specification | Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Galaxy S27 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 227 g | 218 gWinner |
| Thickness | 8.9 mm | 8.2 mmWinner |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Build | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus front and back | Grade 5 Titanium frame, Ceramic Glass front and back |
Software and support
| Specification | Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Galaxy S27 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Android 11 | Android 17 |
| OS updates | 4 years | 7 yearsWinner |
| Security updates | 5 years | 7 yearsWinner |
Connectivity and value
| Specification | Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Galaxy S27 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 | $1,399 |
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
The Galaxy S21 Ultra debuted Samsung's seamless Contour-Cut camera housing, simultaneously running 1440p QHD+ resolution alongside a buttery 120Hz refresh rate backed by 12GB to 16GB of RAM.
- Display
- 6.8"
- Chipset
- Exynos 2100 / Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
- Main camera
- 108MP
- Battery
- 5,000mAh
Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra
The Galaxy S27 Ultra unites a cutting-edge 200MP Gen4 sensor with a mechanical variable aperture (f/1.4 to f/2.4), dual 50MP telephotos, 2nm Snapdragon compute, and an integrated S Pen within Grade 5 titanium.
- Display
- 6.9"
- Chipset
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 for Galaxy
- Main camera
- 200MP
- Battery
- 5,500mAh
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