The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is my 2021 crush, here’s why

As the year ends soon, the best smartphone of 2021 in my eyes came out almost eleven months ago. This is the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Here is what appealed to me about him.

the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra was released very early in France, in January 2021. In a smartphone market where launches are linked at a breakneck pace, this flagship can almost be considered old.

The term is intentionally cruel and exaggerated, but it allows to emphasize this phenomenon where the approach of a new smartphone tends to eclipse its predecessor. So, while we talk a lot about Samsung galaxy s22 (and in particular of the Ultra version), the Galaxy S21 Ultra could be forgotten quite quickly.

And yet, the flagship of Samsung has this little je ne sais quoi that gives it a special status in my eyes. Almost a year after testing it for Frandroid and despite the plethora of devices I have had the opportunity to sift through since, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is still the smartphone that marked me the most in 2021.

It is this feeling that I would like to support in the following lines, as the imminent end of the year 2021 prompts me to take stock of the situation.

A glass ceiling on smartphones

Finding the best smartphone of 2021 is far from an easy task. Obviously, your choice will depend on your criteria, your budget and your possible affinities with a particular brand. Whether at Apple, Google, Xiaomi, Oppo or OnePlus, very convincing references are not lacking.

It must also be said that bad smartphones are becoming increasingly rare. Some models are priced too high compared to the competition, others require a few notable concessions, but it seems a little more unlikely every day to get a real bad deal on buying a phone.

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This finding is not surprising: the smartphone market – apart from foldable models – has consolidated over a decade and is now very mature. This is particularly felt in the premium segment where the classic device will have beautiful finishes, a well-calibrated OLED screen refreshed to 120 Hz, a neat software experience, a powerful chip (Snapdragon 8 or equivalent), at least three photo sensors at the back, a compatibility 5G and not too slow charging power.

In other words, it always becomes more difficult for builders to properly cultivate their differences. It is precisely on this point that the Galaxy S21 Ultra has succeeded in my opinion.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra at a glance

I’ll start with the real flaw of the Galaxy S21 Ultra: its charge limited to 25 W, without being cadaverous, is pale next to some solutions developed by Oppo or Xiaomi. In addition, some rightly regret the heavy weight of the beast. On the other hand, on the rest, the device is very convincing in many respects.

The feeling in the hand is excellent, the matte black version is a superb success, the screen quality is at the top and the power deployed is very good. Furthermore, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has been updated and therefore take advantage ofAndroid 12 with One UI 4 interface still very attractive and intuitive.

This is no surprise, but the S21 Ultra is therefore always up to date on these points. But where does it really manage to stand out? At the photo level. In this area, it has lost nothing of its splendor and pleases with its versatility. This is evidenced by the many photo and video comparisons that my colleague Arnaud makes on the youtube channel by Frandroid. The Galaxy S21 Ultra is still very relevant.

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It even surpasses the excellent iPhone 13 Pro Max in several exercises.

Convenient function vs gadget option

Personally, it was the 10x optical zoom that struck me the most. Not only because this shooting mode is technically very successful on the Galaxy S21 Ultra (when you enjoy good light conditions), but also and above all because this option is not a gimmick. It comes in handy in many everyday situations. This is not yet another hollow feature out of the hat of a brand as we can often see – even at Samsung.

Here, the technical prowess makes sense. Unlike the digital x100 zoom that we will draw three or four times for fun, the optical x10 zoom is useful for capturing a sharp detail, a scene at a certain angle, or simply to read what is there. on a sign in the distance.

In my case, it was the 10x zoom that allowed me to take the photo that I remember best and that I most often took out to re-look at it (and flatter my ego as a Sunday photographer in search of of compliments).

This photo of the Sacré-Coeur Basilica perched on the hill of Montmartre shows how the building towers above the buildings of surrounding Paris. From where I was at the time, this imposing, almost overwhelming effect was only possible thanks to the 10x zoom.

As an example, here is the same scene captured from the same location, but in ultra wide angle, wide angle and x3 optical zoom.

The impact is not the same, the memory is not as vibrant. And this example shows the versatility enjoyed by the Galaxy S21 Ultra in photos. In addition to classic shots and the x3 optical zoom, the x10 zoom is not another toy, but a real weapon of seduction. And you can add to that the very good portrait and night modes of the device.

You will understand, in my eyes, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is undoubtedly the best smartphone of the year. A favorite.

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