In depth comparison and review of Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G and Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. Compare sizes, cameras, batteries, memory, and other important specifications and features to easily choose the right phone for you. Our goal is to help you uncover differences between the products and find the phone that will best fit your needs.
DESIGN AND DIMENSIONS | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
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Product Type | Smartphone | Smartphone | |
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Manufacturer Model Number | SM-G988B/DS | SM-G991U1 | |
Form Factor | Touch | Touch | |
Height | 166.9 mm | 151.7 mm | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G has greater height than Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. |
Width | 76 mm | 71.2 mm | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G has greater width than Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. |
Depth | 8.8 mm | 7.9 mm | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is narrower than Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G. |
Weight | 220 g | 171 g | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is lighter than Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G. |
Body Colour | Cosmic black | Cosmic grey | Cloud white | Phantom grey | Phantom white | |
Protection | Dustproof, splashproof, water-resistant | Dustproof, splashproof, water-resistant | |
Waterproof (Water-resistant) | Yes | Yes | Both phones are waterproof. |
IP rating | IP68 | IP68 | |
SAR Value | 1.557 W/kg (body), 0.66 W/kg (head) | 1.58 W/kg (simultaneous), 1.11 W/kg (wireless router), 1.08 W/kg (body), 0.74 W/kg (head) | |
Connector Type | USB Type-C - 24 pin USB-C | USB Type-C - 24 pin USB-C | |
SIM Card Type (Size) | Nano SIM, Electronic SIM card (e-SIM) | Nano SIM, Electronic SIM card (e-SIM) | |
SIM Card Qty | Dual-SIM | Dual-SIM | |
SIM Card Configuration Details | Nano SIM + nano SIM/microSD | - |
DISPLAY | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
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Display Type | OLED display | OLED display | |
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Display Technology | Infinity-O Dynamic AMOLED 2X | Infinity-O Dynamic AMOLED 2X | |
Screen Size (Display Size) | 6.9" | 6.2" | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G has larger screen size than Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. |
Screen Resolution (Display Resolution) | 3200 x 1440 pixels | 2400 x 1080 pixels | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G has better screen resolution than Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. |
Display Format | QHD+ | Full HD+ | |
Pixel Density | 511 ppi | 421 ppi | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G has better pixel density than Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. |
Colour Depth | 16.7 million colours | 16.7 million colours | Both phones have the same color depth. |
HDR | Yes | Yes | Both phones have HDR. |
HDR Technology | HDR10+ | HDR10+ | |
Display Enhancement Technology | - | Eye Comfort Shield | |
Display Refresh Rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | Both phones have the same refresh rate. |
Display Features | Edge Screen, DCI-P3 Wide colour gamut, AOD(Always On Display), Edge Lighting | AOD(Always On Display), Video Wallpaper | |
Display Protection (Screen Protector) | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus (scratch resistant glass) |
PROCESSOR | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
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Processor Type (CPU) | Samsung Exynos 990 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 | |
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Clock Speed | 2.73 GHz | 2.84 GHz | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has higher clock speed than Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G. |
Processor Core Qty | 8-core | 8-core | Both phones have the same number of phone cores. |
64-bit Architecture | Yes | - | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G has 64-bit architecture. |
MEMORY | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
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RAM | LPDDR5 SDRAM - 12 GB | LPDDR5 SDRAM - 8 GB | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G has more RAM than Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. |
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Internal Memory Size (Storage Capacity) | 128 GB | 128 GB | Both phones have the same internal memory capacity. |
User Memory | 104 GB | 101.2 GB | |
Supported Flash Memory Cards (Expandable Memory) | microSDHC, microSDXC - up to 1 TB | - |
CAMERA | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
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MAIN CAMERA |
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Number of Main Cameras | 4 | 3 | |
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Sensor Resolution | 108 Megapixel | 12 Megapixel | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G has better camera resolution than Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. |
Sensor Size | 1/1.33" | 1/1.76" | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has better camera sensor size than Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G. |
Lens Type | Wide-angle lens | Wide-angle lens | |
Lens Aperture | F/1.8 | F/1.8 | Both phones have the same camera lens aperture. |
Field of View (FoV) | 79 degree(s) | 79 degree(s) | Both phones have the same lens field of view. |
Pixel Size | 0.8 μm | 1.8 μm | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has larger camera pixel size than Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G. |
Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) | Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) | Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) | Both phones have optical image stabilization. |
Focus Adjustment | Automatic, manual | Automatic | |
Laser Auto Focus | - | Yes | |
Optical Zoom | 10x | 3x | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G has better optical zoom than Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. |
Digital Zoom | 100x | 30x | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G has better digital zoom than Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. |
Self-Timer Delay | Yes | Yes | |
Special Effects | HDR, Bokeh effect, Grid Line, Motion photos, video bokeh effect | Face retouch, Grid Line | |
HDR Mode | - | Auto HDR mode | |
Camera Modes | Panorama, Slow motion mode, Pro mode, HYPERLAPSE, Super Slow-mo, Flowers, Greenery, Trees, Sky, Beaches, Watersides, Snow, Backlit, Text, Food, Face, Baby, Person, Dog, Cat, People, Sunset, Sunrise, City, Waterfall, Scenery, Stage, Vehicles, Drinks, Animal, Shoes, Indoor, Clothes, Night view, Live focus video, Night, Mountain, Pro Video mode, Single Take | Panorama, Slow motion mode, Pro mode, HYPERLAPSE, Super Slow-mo, Flowers, Greenery, Trees, Sky, Beaches, Watersides, Snow, Backlit, Text, Food, Face, Baby, Person, Dog, Cat, People, Sunset, Sunrise, City, Waterfall, Scenery, Stage, Vehicles, Drinks, Animal, Shoes, Indoor, Clothes, Night view, Portrait, Night, Motion Photo, Mountain, Single Take, Pro Video, Portrait video, Director's View | |
Face Recognition (Face ID) | Face detection | - | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G has face detection. |
White Balance | Custom, automatic | - | |
Light Source | High CRI LED flash | High CRI LED flash | |
Video Resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 60 fps, 1280 x 720 (720p) at 30 fps, 3840 x 2160 (4K) at 60 fps, Super slow motion video 1280 x 720 (720p) at 960 fps, Slo-mo video 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 240 fps, 7680 x 4320 (8K) at 24 fps | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 60 fps, 1280 x 720 (720p) at 30 fps, 3840 x 2160 (4K) at 60 fps, Super slow motion video 1280 x 720 (720p) at 960 fps, Slo-mo video 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 240 fps, 7680 x 4320 (8K) at 24 fps, Hyperlapse 4K video support at 30 fps, Super Steady 1080p video support at 60 fps | |
Camera Features (Functions) | Quick Launch, Playback zoom, Phase Detect Auto-Focus (PDAF), blink detection, VDIS (Video Digital Image Stabilisation), Live Focus, Tracking AF, Video location tags, Quick Share, location tags, Hyperlapse video support 1080p, Scene Optimiser, Full view, Flaw detection, Shot suggestions, AR Emoji, blur detection, HDR10+ recording, Floating shutter button, Super steady, Quick Measure, Space Zoom, 33MP still photos while playing 8K video, 100x Super Resolution Zoom, 10x Hybrid Optic Zoom, 3D Scanner | Playback zoom, Motion photo, blink detection, QR-code scanner, VDIS (Video Digital Image Stabilisation), Tracking AF, Video location tags, Scene Optimiser, Lens smudge, Flaw detection, Shot suggestions, blur detection, HDR10+ recording, Super steady, Super Speed Dual Pixel AF, Quick Measure, Zoom-In Mic, HEIF image capture, Space Zoom, Take 33MP still photos while playing 8K video, Hybrid Optic Zoom 3x, Super Resolution Zoom up to 30x, Digital zoom up to 12x for video, AR Doodle, HEVC (High Efficiency Video coding) support, Microphone Control (Pro Video only) |
SECOND CAMERA |
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Sensor Resolution (2nd Camera) | 12 Megapixel | 12 Megapixel | Both phones have the same second camera resolution. |
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Lens Type (2nd Camera) | Ultra wide-angle lens | Ultra wide-angle lens | |
Lens Aperture (2nd Camera) | F/2.2 | F/2.2 | Both phones have the same second camera lens aperture. |
Field of View (2nd Camera) | 120 degree(s) | 120 degree(s) | Both phones have the same second camera lens field of view. |
Pixel Size (2nd Camera) | 1.4 μm | 1.4 μm | Both phones have the same second camera pixel size. |
THIRD CAMERA |
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Sensor Resolution (3rd Camera) | 48 Megapixels | 64 Megapixel | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has higher resolution third camera than Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G. |
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Sensor Size (3rd Camera) | - | 1/1.72" | |
Lens Type (3rd Camera) | Telephoto lens | Telephoto lens | |
Lens Aperture (3rd Camera) | F/3.5 | F/2.0 | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has better third camera lens aperture than Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G. |
Field of View (3rd Camera) | 24 degree(s) | 76 degree(s) | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has larger third camera lens field of view than Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G. |
Pixel Size (3rd Camera) | 0.8 μm | 0.8 μm | Both phones have the same third camera pixel size. |
Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) | - | Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has optical stabilisation of the third camera. |
FOURTH CAMERA |
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Sensor Resolution (4th Camera) | 0.3 Megapixel | - | |
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Lens Aperture (4th Camera) | F/1.0 | - | |
Camera Functions (4th Camera) | DepthVision camera | - |
FRONT CAMERA |
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Number of Front Cameras | 1 | 1 | |
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Sensor Resolution (Front) | 40 Megapixels | 10 Megapixel | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G has better front camera resolution than Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. |
Lens Aperture (Front) | F/2.2 | F/2.2 | Both phones have the same front camera lens aperture. |
Field of View (Front) | 80 degree(s) | 80 degree(s) | Both phones have the same front lens field of view. |
Pixel Size (Front) | 0.7 μm | 1.22 μm | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has larger front camera pixel size than Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G. |
Focus Adjustment | Automatic | Automatic | |
Camera Features (Front) | Phase Detect Auto-Focus (PDAF) | Dual Pixel AF |
BATTERY AND CHARGING | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
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Battery Capacity (Battery Size) | 5000 mAh | 4000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G has larger battery capacity than Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. |
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Fast Charging Technology | Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0, Adaptive Fast Charging, Samsung Super Fast Charging | Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0, Adaptive Fast Charging, Power Delivery 3.0 | Both phones have fast charging technology. |
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | Both phones can be charged wirelessly. |
Wireless Charging Standards | WPC, Qi, Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, Wireless PowerShare | WPC, Qi, Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, Wireless PowerShare | |
Talk Time | 1500 minutes | 1800 minutes | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has longer battery life when making calls than Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G. |
Run Time Details | Talk (LTE): up to 1500 min Active online usage (LTE): up to 17 hrs Active online usage (Wi-Fi): up to 18 hrs |
Talk (LTE): up to 1800 min Active online usage (LTE): up to 14 hrs Active online usage (Wi-Fi): up to 15 hrs Playback (wireless video): up to 19 hrs Playback (wireless audio): up to 72 hrs |
CELLULAR | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
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Technology | WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM | CDMA2000 1X / GSM / WCDMA (UMTS) | |
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Mobile Broadband Generation | 5G | 5G | Both phones have the same mobile network generation. |
Operating System | Android 10 | Android 11 | |
User Interface | Samsung One UI 2 | - | |
Intelligent Assistant | Bixby | Bixby | |
Payment Technology | Samsung Pay | Samsung Pay | |
Navigation | GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo |
COMMUNICATIONS | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
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Data Transmission | GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, FDD-LTE, TDD-LTE, 5G NR FR1 | FDD-LTE, TDD-LTE, 5G NR FR1, 5G NR FR2 | |
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2G Band | 850 GSM, 900 GSM, 1800 GSM, 1900 GSM | 850 GSM, 900 GSM, 1800 GSM, 1900 GSM, 800 CDMA2000 1X, 1900 CDMA2000 1X | |
3G UMTS Band | Band 1, Band 2, Band 4, Band 5, Band 8 | Band 1, Band 2, Band 4, Band 5, Band 8 | |
3G UMTS Frequency | 2100, 1900, 1700, 850, 900 | 2100, 1900, 1700, 850, 900 | |
4G LTE Band | Band 1, Band 2, Band 3, Band 4, Band 5, Band 7, Band 8, Band 12, Band 13, Band 17, Band 18, Band 19, Band 20, Band 25, Band 26, Band 28, Band 32, Band 38, Band 39, Band 40, Band 41, Band 66 | Band 1, Band 2, Band 3, Band 4, Band 5, Band 7, Band 8, Band 12, Band 13, Band 14, Band 18, Band 19, Band 20, Band 25, Band 26, Band 28, Band 30, Band 38, Band 39, Band 40, Band 41, Band 46, Band 48, Band 66, Band 71 | |
4G LTE Frequency | FDD 2100, FDD 1900 PCS, FDD 1800+, FDD 1700 - 2110 AWS, FDD 850, FDD 2600, FDD 900, FDD 700a, FDD 700c, FDD 700b, FDD 800 lower, FDD 800 upper, FDD 800 DD, FDD 1900+, FDD 850+, FDD 700 APT, FDD 1500 L, TDD 2600, TDD 1900, TDD 2300, TDD 2500, FDD 1700 - 2110 AWS-3 | FDD 2100, FDD 1900 PCS, FDD 1800+, FDD 1700 - 2110 AWS, FDD 850, FDD 2600, FDD 900, FDD 700a, FDD 700c, FDD 700 PS, FDD 800 lower, FDD 800 upper, FDD 800 DD, FDD 1900+, FDD 850+, FDD 700 APT, FDD 2300 WCS, TDD 2600, TDD 1900, TDD 2300, TDD 2500, TDD 5150, TDD 3600, FDD 1700 - 2110 AWS-3, FDD 600 | |
5G NR Band | N1, n3, n5, n7, n8, n28, n77, n78, n40 | N41, n71, n260, n261 | |
5G NR Frequency | FDD 2100, FDD 1800, FDD 850, FDD 2600, FDD 900, FDD 700APT, TDD TD 3700, TDD TD 3500, TDD 2300 | TDD TD 2500, FDD 600, TDD 39GHz, TDD 28GHz | |
Wireless Interface | IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, ANT+/ANT, IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax | IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax | |
Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 | |
NFC | Yes | Yes | Both phones have an NFC reader for mobile payments. |
Messaging Services | SMS, MMS | - |
MEDIA | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
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Supported Digital Audio Standards | WAV, WMA, AAC, PCM, AMR, MP3, FLAC, XMF, OGG, MIDI, APE (Monkey's Audio), M4A, DSF, DSD, MXMF, OGA, 3GA, AWB, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA, DFF, MID, DSD64, DSD128 | WAV, AAC, PCM, AMR, MP3, FLAC, XMF, OGG, MIDI, APE (Monkey's Audio), M4A, DSF, MXMF, OGA, 3GA, AWB, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA, DFF, MID, DSD64, DSD128 | |
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Supported Digital Video Standards | MKV, FLV, AVI, WMV, ASF, 3GP, M4V, WebM, 3G2, MP4 | MKV, FLV, AVI, 3GP, M4V, WebM, 3G2, MP4 | |
Sound Enhancements | Dolby Digital Plus sound, Dolby Atmos sound technology, Surround sound, stereo speakers tuned by AKG, Dolby Digital sound | Dolby Digital Plus sound, Dolby Atmos sound technology, Surround sound, stereo speakers tuned by AKG, Dolby Digital sound |
FEATURES | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
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Phone Functions | Speakerphone, voice control, call timer, conference call, flight mode, voice dialing, vibrating alert | Speakerphone, voice control, call timer, conference call, flight mode, voice dialing, vibrating alert | |
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Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity sensor, barometer, gyro sensor, hall sensor, RGB sensor, geomagnetic sensor | Accelerometer, ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, barometer, gyro sensor, hall sensor, geomagnetic sensor | |
Security Devices | Fingerprint reader (under display), face recognition | Fingerprint reader (under display), face recognition | |
Additional Phone Features | Smart Select, MU-MIMO technology, Fast Charging, Samsung KNOX, High AOP Mic, Smart View, Live message, Samsung DeX support, Bixby Vision, Secure Folder function, Dual Audio, Bixby Routines, Intelligent Performance Enhancer, AR Doodle, Bixby key, 3D Scanner | MIMO technology, Screen Write, notification flashlight, Smart Select, Fast Charging, Samsung KNOX, Smart View, Live message, Screen off memo, Samsung DeX support, Bixby Vision, TalkBack, Dual Audio, Bixby Routines, Intelligent Performance Enhancer, Bixby key, Bluetooth Scalable Codec, Samsung Knox Vault, Private Share function, Enhanced Game Booster, Air Command |
OTHERS | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
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Included Accessories | Power adapter, SIM card removal tool, USB-C cable, headset (tuned by AKG), clear cover case, protective film | SIM card removal tool, USB-C to USB-C cable | |
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Compliant Standards | VDE, IP68, SGS | VDE, IP68, HAC (Hearing Aid Compatible), SGS Eye Care Display Certification | |
Max Depth of Water Resistance | 1.5 m | 1.5 m |