Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G Vs Galaxy S24+

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, released in early 2021, and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus, launched in early 2024, represent different generations of Samsung's premium smartphone offerings. While both devices operate on the Android platform with Samsung's One UI, the S24 Plus introduces significant advancements in software longevity, processing power, and display technology, reflecting three years of innovation in the mobile industry. The S21 Ultra 5G, however, still holds its own with a robust camera system and a slightly larger display.

When considering the long-term usability of these devices, software support and physical durability are key factors.

• Software Longevity: The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G launched with Android 11 and has received major OS updates, typically extending for about four years, meaning its official major OS update cycle is nearing its end around Android 14. In contrast, the Galaxy S24 Plus launched with Android 14 and benefits from Samsung's commitment to seven years of OS and security updates, projecting support until approximately 2031. This extended support means the S24 Plus will remain current with the latest features and security patches for a significantly longer period.
• Physical Durability: Both devices feature an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, indicating protection against immersion in water. The S24 Plus incorporates an Armor Aluminum frame and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for enhanced protection, while the S21 Ultra 5G also uses robust glass protection.
• Repairability: The Galaxy S24 Plus has demonstrated a high repairability score, with components like the battery and back panel designed for easier replacement. While specific repairability scores for the S21 Ultra 5G are less commonly cited, older flagship models generally present more challenges for component replacement.

The performance of a smartphone is largely determined by its internal components and how efficiently they handle daily tasks and demanding applications.

• Processing Power: The Galaxy S24 Plus features a more recent generation processor, which translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and more efficient handling of graphically intensive games and AI-driven features. Users will experience a noticeable improvement in overall system responsiveness compared to the S21 Ultra 5G's capable, but older, processor.
• Battery Behavior: The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is equipped with a 5000 mAh battery, which provided good endurance for its time, often lasting a full day for moderate use, though heavy usage with its high-resolution, high-refresh-rate display could lead to more frequent charging. The Galaxy S24 Plus has a 4900 mAh battery, slightly smaller on paper, but benefits from a more power-efficient processor and an LTPO display that can dynamically adjust its refresh rate down to 1Hz, contributing to impressive battery life that users report can extend to 1.5 to 2 days with moderate use.
• Storage and RAM: Both devices offer ample storage options, typically starting from 128GB or 256GB, with the S21 Ultra 5G also having a 16GB RAM option, while the S24 Plus comes with 12GB of RAM. For most users, 12GB of RAM in the S24 Plus is sufficient for seamless multitasking, and the newer processor architecture often optimizes RAM usage more effectively.

The visual experience is a primary consideration for many smartphone users, and both devices offer high-quality displays with some notable differences.

• Display Technology and Resolution: Both the S21 Ultra 5G and S24 Plus feature Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays, known for vibrant colors and deep blacks. The S21 Ultra 5G has a 6.8-inch display with a resolution of 3200 x 1440 pixels, while the S24 Plus has a 6.7-inch display with a resolution of 3120 x 1440 pixels. Both offer excellent clarity for viewing content.
• Brightness and Refresh Rate: The S24 Plus boasts a significantly higher peak brightness of 2600 nits, making it more visible in bright outdoor conditions compared to the S21 Ultra 5G's 1500 nits. Both phones offer an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz for smooth scrolling and responsiveness. However, the S24 Plus utilizes LTPO technology, allowing its refresh rate to scale down to 1Hz, which contributes to better power efficiency.
• Viewing Experience: The slightly larger screen of the S21 Ultra 5G might offer a marginally more expansive viewing area, but the S24 Plus compensates with superior brightness and more advanced adaptive refresh rate technology for a consistently smooth and power-efficient visual experience.

Both smartphones offer advanced camera systems designed to capture high-quality photos and videos, though with different configurations and capabilities.

• Rear Camera System: The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G features a versatile quad-camera setup, including a 108MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide, a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a 10MP periscope telephoto with 10x optical zoom, allowing for impressive long-range photography. The Galaxy S24 Plus comes with a triple-camera system, comprising a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. While the S21 Ultra 5G offers greater zoom flexibility, the S24 Plus benefits from newer sensor technology and advanced image processing.
• Photography Performance: The S21 Ultra 5G was praised for its detailed images and improved autofocus over its predecessor, particularly its zoom capabilities. The S24 Plus, with its updated sensors and AI-enhanced features, delivers excellent photo quality in various conditions, with users reporting crisp details and vibrant colors, even matching the performance of other contemporary flagship phones.
• Front Camera and Video: The S21 Ultra 5G has a 40MP front camera, while the S24 Plus features a 12MP front camera. Both are capable of high-quality selfies and video calls. For video recording, both support 8K video at 24fps from their main lenses, and 4K at 60fps across multiple lenses.