Following our full review of the Galaxy S21 Ultra, I planned to follow up on my own thoughts after an extra week with Samsung's latest flagship. I knew I would be talking about the size of the phone, which is colossal, and the battery life, which is just as immense. But I'm skipping all that, for now, because I'm in love with the Galaxy 21 Ultra's camera.
I received the Galaxy S21 and S21 Ultra for review, so that I could experience both the entry point and the high end of the range. I chose to review the former first, because it is the phone that attracts people and is priced to appeal to the wider market. I was disappointed with its cameras as they hadn't improved significantly over the Galaxy S20 series. Then I switched to the Galaxy S21 Ultra, and it made me immediately forget about the S21 base
Notable quality improvements
Galaxy S21 Ultra's main and ultra-wide cameras don't appear particularly impressive, or different from that of the S20 Ultra, but the details are very important. The 108-megapixel main camera is an updated version of the latest-generation sensor and critically is now supported by a laser autofocus module, solving the horrific focus-seeking issues of the S20 Ultra. The ultra-wide camera measures 12MP, with the same focal length as the S21, but it's an entirely different sensor, supported by autofocus.
The results are fantastic. The main camera takes sharp, bright and colorful photos. And that just leaves it in its 12MP output (using 9-1 pixel binning), skipping the full 108MP resolution - it doesn't need to be. With such a large sensor, you also get exceptional low-light photos, even without a night mode triggering a long exposure. And during the day, this huge sensor gives you unbelievable natural background blur, preventing you from using false portrait mode.
The ultra-wide is admittedly not as sharp as the main camera - how could it be? - but it's great anyway. Samsung tuned it really well, producing the same kind of colorful, eye-catching shots as the main camera. And the most important role it plays is to give you versatility in the types of photos you can take - it's a great counterbalance to the zooms I'll talk about in a moment. And with autofocus - a rarity for ultra-wide cameras - you can actually shoot interesting close-ups that have a drama that you just can't get with a main camera.
I'm not about to talk about zoom cameras and it looks like I'm not alone, but that shouldn't make you look past the actual quality improvements of these main cameras. The zoom does not matter if these are the only great shots you can get - you need the whole package.
It's all about the zoom, baby
The main and ultra-wide cameras are very similar to Note 20 Ultra, so they don't make the S21 Ultra special. But what changes the game are the new zoom capabilities. A year after we've generally laughed at Samsung for failing to live up to its "Space Zoom" hype, it seriously delivered with the S21 Ultra camera, thanks to hardware improvements and Software.
You obtain of them Zoom cameras - a 3X and 10X optical zoom of the primary lens - which is smart because it can leverage different lens components for each to meet the needs of the situation. They are otherwise identical in their sensor, and both have OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), which is important at 3X and definitely necessary at 10X to combat hand shake. Samsung adds dramatically improved digital stabilization, making it easier to shoot crisp photos up to 30X without even thinking twice before slowing down the shot.
And shoot, you will. Captured with their native 3X and 10X zooms, daylight photos are generally indistinguishable from the main camera. Samsung's processing again gives colorful, crisp and pleasing photos. And because it is real optical zoom, you get that true zoom look with a narrower field of view that is significantly different from just digital zooming on the main sensor.
The quality available at 30X is shocking to me, having complained about the mismanagement of the last generation beyond 10X. With a tripod (or leaning the phone on something), you can easily get crisp photos at 50X, although you really start to see the limits of the camera afterwards. If you have a very distant subject, a 100X photo may be acceptable, but we're just not there yet.
The 3X and 10X shots are amazing and you can capture them just as easily as the main camera.
Zoom cameras aren't just for distant subjects. The 3X camera in particular is ideal for close-ups to get more detail and reduce the focus of the scene. It takes a bit more work, but even the 10X camera can be used on relatively close subjects; not for taking a macro shot, per se, but for achieving that appropriate "telephoto" look for looking up from a truly unique perspective.
Being able to reach all the way from the ultra-wide camera to 30X zoom with the same phone, and achieve excellent quality at both extremes, makes the Galaxy S21 Ultra stand out. You might think you're happy with your 2X or 3X optical zoom on your current phone, but as soon as you have that level of zoom capability and quality, available at your fingertips, you're going to be hooked.
The rest of the Galaxy S21 Ultra experience
Okay, I won't go through this whole article without talking about the rest of the Galaxy S21 Ultra experience.
The S21 Ultra is a really massive phone. Tall, wide and heavy. I've always struggled with the bigger phones from Samsung, struggling with the fact that they're uncomfortable to use with one hand and are often so big they're uncomfortable in a pants pocket - but I always end up hooking me because they offer the features and specifications that I want. My S21 Ultra has already taken a drop on concrete partly because it is so difficult to control. I really, really wish Samsung could get that camera quality in a smaller device, because I hate having to make that compromise.
The S21 Ultra is a complete package; it starts with the camera, but is supported by the rest of its features.
But at least you get something for that size. The camera is, of course, the main victory. But you also get battery life - lots of battery life. I ended up most days with 40% to 50% battery remaining which is fantastic and means I just don't think about the battery all day long. Leave all of the features on, it doesn't matter - I know I'll always get there. You get a gorgeous display as well, although that's hardly surprising anyone who's seen a Samsung in the past few years. There is not a single complaint to be found here.
Size aside, this is a no-compromise phone. Samsung has gone to great lengths to give us everything we expect from an "Ultra" device. It starts with the camera, which is Samsung's best to date. But it's backed by a full set of features and capabilities that make sure you're happy even when the viewfinder isn't open.
Editor's recommendations
https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/samsung-galaxy-s21-ultra-zoom-camera-incredible/
