Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra: What It's Like Using A Premium Android Flagship Phone
It does not really come as a surprise anymore when a top smartphone maker introduces its flagship device with a price tag going north of Rs 1 lakh. After all, that is the new industry norm and the new benchmark for experiencing the best, both iOS and Android. That being said, how do you imagine running a phone that costs you in six digits? What do you expect from it? And more importantly, how do you find your best fit?
To come to a decision, the ideal way is to compare the device to the next best thing you can find. Such comparisons can tell you much about certain aspects like the camera quality, firepower, as well as the general design. They won¡¯t, however, be enough for you to justify your massive spending.
For that, you need to take off the covers and delve right into the smartphone - experience it firsthand, as they say. Since most of the smartphones are capable of performing most of the everyday tasks, it is ultimately the experience you will pay for in the long run.
In this regard, I tried out the new pinnacle of Android devices - Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Now there are no points for guessing that my overall experience with the smartphone was top-notch. But just what is it that makes the device so capable and worth its money? Let me share that, as well as some of its quirks with you here.
Need a quick impression of the Galaxy S21 Ultra? Read here
A week with the Galaxy S21 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
A quick background for those new to the device - Samsung launched its Galaxy S21 series in January this year. The new flagship among these is the Galaxy S21 Ultra that starts retailing at Rs 1,05,999 for the 12GB RAM, 256GB storage variant and goes up to Rs 1,16,999 for the one with 16GB RAM and 512GB memory.
On papers, the S21 Ultra offers you everything you can ask for in a smartphone, and more. It sports a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display, is backed by Samsung¡¯s latest Exynos 2100 processor, the latest Android 11 based One UI 3.1 and comes with a quad camera setup that boasts of a 100x space zoom. All in all, some never-seen-before promises from a smartphone.
One for the giants
All this is packed in a design that is arguably the most aesthetically pleasing one to have taken form in recent times. A tall, bold form factor with end to end display at the front that is bound to remind you of a device from the Note series. The only difference that comes off as substantial enhancement in terms of design - a reworked camera module at the back.
As you flip it over, you will notice that the Galaxy S21 Ultra features a contour-cut camera module that bonds with two edges of the device ever so neatly. On the plus, the camera bump does not stand out and the device does not wobble when kept face up. Downside - since the camera module is huge, it makes for an uneven weight distribution while you are holding the device.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
This uneven weight distribution also makes a single-handed use of the device difficult. Of course it comes with a one-hand mode that enables you to shrink the active display area for easy use, it still is difficult to hold with one hand. In short, people with small hands are bound to have a tough time operating it. It is even tougher to imagine it with a cover on.
But again, you cannot hold the big form factor against the device. The Galaxy S21 Ultra was meant to be big, as those wanting a smaller variant are supposed to opt for the Galaxy S21 or the Galaxy S21+.
Powerful performance
One thing that you likely would never be able to complain about in the S21 Ultra is its performance. During my use, I tested the device¡¯s ability to the maximum by carrying out my daily operations, using it for extensive games, multi-tasking with multiple apps running in the background and anything and everything that it would enable me to do.
Not once did the smartphone experience a lag or a delay in executing any of the commands. If you are able to play the biggest, most demanding of games without a hiccup is when you know that you have a really good smartphone in your hands.
Work made super-easy
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
It is understandable that you would not be buying a Rs 1 lakh plus smartphone just for playing games. You would expect such a device to be a powerhouse to improve your work efficiency to the max. The Galaxy S21 Ultra majors that and how.
Remember the smooth performance I mentioned even with multiple apps in the background? Now imagine that with your smartphone connected to multiple devices at once for easier-than-ever-before file sharing.
This enables you to work in what seems like a complete workplace in itself. You will instantly feel emailing photos and documents to yourself to be so outdated, as you work on all your gadgets simultaneously.
These connectivity options include Samsung Dex, Link to Windows, Nearby Share and options to call and text and even continue running your apps on other devices. Of course, these are in addition to the regular ones including, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity and even Android Auto for on the go tasks. The Galaxy S21 Ultra also gets S-Pen support for those wanting more out of the device. It does not, however, come with the phone and cannot be housed inside it either, unlike the Galaxy Note series.
With all that being said, the powerful performance, super efficient work output and the dreamy display, all come at a cost - a readily draining battery.
Battery woes
After you are done admiring the display on the S21 Ultra, the realisation kicks in that such a dynamic screen will eat up your battery rapidly. That it does, as the device¡¯s battery backup fights to last a single day on extensive use.
Now that Samsung has also withdrawn from offering the charging adapter in the box, using other chargers does not cut it for the S21 Ultra. It is only with a 25W charger that you can expect a decent charging time of around an hour for the smartphone. The smartphone takes hours to charge on any other adapter (once showed more than 5 hours to a full charge on the OnePlus Dash charger), including the wireless chargers.
S21 Ultra showing more than 5 hours to charge on an incompatible (OnePlus Dash) charger.
Tip - always use the device on Dark Mode.
A fast draining battery and a correspondingly slow charge is hence one of the biggest put off on the S21 Ultra. Such woes were previously restricted to Apple iPhones, while Android users mostly relished the substantial battery backups offered by the likes of OnePlus and others. The S21 Ultra changes that and not in the favour of Android.
Camera
What the device lacks in battery, it makes up for in camera quality - that is quite frankly, one of the best in the industry at this stage -- if not the best of the lot, having not tried the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The 108 MP primary camera is able to capture stunning images with unprecedented details, irrespective of the lighting conditions.
But of course, Samsung was always leaps ahead of the competition in low-light photography. What is new this time is the 100x Space Zoom that lets you click pictures of quite literally, space. I used the camera to capture an image of the moon and it is easy to say that it looks like an image taken straight through a telescope. Check out these Space Zoom clicks (and more) in the tweet below.
A thread
¡ª Sarthak Dogra (@SarthakDogra) February 4, 2021
Let me show you why none of the smartphones can match @SamsungMobile for its photography.
The following images have not been edited in any way pic.twitter.com/M3va0ex0B6
Note that this image was taken handheld. So how did I manage the extreme shakes in the camera focus at that zoom, you ask? Through a new feature called Zoom Lock that fixes the focus to the selected region and acts against the camera shakes that often mar the zoomed-in clicks.
When you are not focusing hundreds of meters ahead, the variety of modes on the camera module will blow your mind. The Galaxy S21 Ultra offers everything from Portrait mode to Portrait video, Super-slow motion capture as well as a Director¡¯s view with three different perspectives.
The ideal way, hence, is to keep the Screen Optimiser switched On that can adjust the modes as per the object and lighting conditions detected. It is an extremely smart option for portrait clicks, scanning documents, night photography and more, in case you are not sure of the ideal mode you want for your image.
Verdict
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
All in all, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is a masterpiece from Samsung that showcases some of the pinnacle technologies of Android devices. All that, however, comes at a price (that will make your jaw drop). Having said that, the S21 Ultra drops points in terms of desired longer battery life, ease of single-handed use and not everyone would approve of its rear camera module's aesthetic appeal.
So whether to buy it or not depends on the foremost reason you plan to get a new smartphone. Need the most advanced smartphone currently in the market with a great camera, powerful features and entertainment experience, go for it. But if you are looking for a primary device that will keep you company for two-days straight and will be quick and easy to work on - you might have better options available in the market, that too, at a lower price.
