Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs Galaxy S24 Ultra – Which One is Right for You?

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra was released in January 2021 as Samsung’s flagship phone for that year. It featured a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, up to 16GB of RAM, and a 5,000 mAh battery.

The camera system was also very advanced, with a 108MP main camera, two 10MP telephoto lenses, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a laser autofocus sensor.

In January 2023, Samsung released the Galaxy S24 Ultra as the successor to the S21 Ultra. S24 Ultra has an updated processor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, allowing for increased performance and efficiency.

The display is slightly larger at 6.9 inches and brighter at 1850 nits peak brightness. The battery capacity remains the same at 5,000 mAh, but charging has been improved to support up to 45W wired charging.

Highlights show

Factors to consider when deciding whether to upgrade

When deciding whether to upgrade from the S21 Ultra to the S24 Ultra, some key factors to consider include:

Performance upgrades – S24 Ultra has a newer, faster processor
Display enhancements – Screen is slightly larger and brighter on the S24 Ultra
Camera improvements – S24 Ultra has small camera optimizations
Battery life – Capacity remains the same but charging is faster
Price difference – S24 Ultra is more expensive than the S21 Ultra was at launch
Software support – S21 Ultra is nearing the end of software support updates

Looking at these factors can help determine if the upgrades and improvements are worthwhile for each user or if sticking with the S21 Ultra may still meet their needs.

Specifications

	Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra	Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Display	6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED Curved WQHD+ 3,200 x 1,440 Adaptive 120Hz refresh rate HDR10+ certified	6.8-inch Dynamix AMOLED 2X Display 3,120 x 1,440 Adaptive 120Hz refresh rate HDR10+ certified
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 or Samsung Exynos 2100	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
RAM	12 or 16GB	12GB
Storage	128, 256, or 512GB	256GB, 512GB, or 1TB
Battery	5,000mAh 25W wired charging 15W wireless charging Reverse wireless charging	5,000mAh 45W wired charging 15W wireless Wireless PowerShare
Cameras	Rear: – Wide-angle: 108MP, ƒ/1.8, 0.8µm with OIS and phase-detection AF – Telephoto: 10MP, ƒ/2.4, 1.22µm with OIS, dual-pixel AF, and 3x optical zoom – Telephoto: 10MP, ƒ/4.9, 1.22µm with OIS, dual-pixel AF, and 10x optical zoom – Ultra-wide: 12MP, ƒ/2.2, 1.4µm with dual-pixel AF and a 120-degree FoV – Laser AF sensor 10x optical zoom 100x “Space Zoom” Front: – 40MP, ƒ/2.2, 0.7µm, with phase-detection AF	Rear: – Wide-angle: 200MP, ƒ/1.7, Super Quad Pixel AF, OIS – Main telephoto: 50MP, ƒ/3.4, 5x optical zoom, Quad Pixel AF, OIS – Second telephoto: 10MP, ƒ/2.4, 3x zoom, Dual Pixel AF, OIS – Ultra-wide: 12MP, ƒ/2.2, Dual Pixel AF, 120-degree FoV Laser AF 100x Space Zoom Front: – 12MP, ƒ/2.2, Dual Pixel AF
Connectivity	4G LTE support 5G (sub-6GHz, SA and NSA, mmWave) Wi-Fi 6E support Bluetooth 5.2	4G LTE 5G (incl. sub-6GHz TDD/FDD) Wi-Fi 7 Bluetooth 5.3
S Pen support	Yes	Yes
Operating system	One UI 3.1 Android 11	One UI 6.1 Android 14
Water resistance	IP68	IP68
Security	Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, face unlock	Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, face unlock
Colors	128 GB in Phantom Silver and Phantom Black 256 and 512GB in Phantom Black Phantom Titanium, Phantom Navy, and Phantom Brown	Titanium Black, Titanium Yellow, Titanium Violet, and Titanium Gray
Dimensions and weight	75.6 x 165.1 x 8.9mm 229g	79 x 162.3 x 8.6mm 232g
MicroSD	No	No

Price and Availability

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra launched for $1,199 in the US for the base 128GB model. The S24 Ultra starts at a launch price of $1,299 for the base 256GB model. So at launch, the S24 Ultra is $100 more expensive than the S21 Ultra was when it first came out.

Here is the launch pricing:

S21 Ultra 128GB – $1,199
S21 Ultra 256GB – $1,249
S21 Ultra 512GB – $1,379
S24 Ultra 256GB – $1,299
S24 Ultra 512GB – $1,399
S24 Ultra 1TB – $1,599

As you can see, storage tiers have changed slightly but the S24 Ultra commands more of a premium over the S21 Ultra at launch. However, two years after launch, the current pricing for the S21 Ultra is around $700 used up to $900 new in good condition.

Availability of Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra became widely available for purchase on February 17th, 2023, which marked the global launch date across various regions. In the US, major carriers like Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and various retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, and Samsung.com all sell the device.

Compared to the S21 Ultra launch, supply constraints seem less of an issue with the S24 Ultra. Samsung prepared well for demand this time around.

With pre-order periods ahead of launch, they were able to align production and shipping so units arrived for those who pre-ordered right on launch day.

Should You Upgrade?

While the S24 Ultra is an iterative update over the S21 Ultra, there are a few compelling upgrades and new features that may make it worthwhile for some users to upgrade. Here is an overview:

Processor – S24 Ultra has the newest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset which benchmarks around 30% faster than the Snapdragon 888 in the S21 Ultra.
Display – The screen is slightly larger at 6.9 inches diagonal and gets brighter up to 1850 nits peak brightness.
Camera – There is a new 200MP main sensor and small tuning improvements for better detail and low-light shots.
Charging Speed – 45W wired charging allows the S24 Ultra battery to go from 0 to 100% charge in under an hour.
Storage – S24 Ultra starts at 256GB and has a 1TB option. The S21 Ultra maxed out at 512GB.

These upgrades show the refinements made to an already excellent smartphone. Whether or not you should upgrade depends on if you need any of these improved features.

Consider when deciding whether to upgrade

As with any tech upgrade, there are tradeoffs to consider when deciding if upgrading from the S21 Ultra to the S24 Ultra is worthwhile for your needs. Here are some factors to think about:

What condition is your S21 Ultra in? If it’s still in great shape, upgrading may not make sense.
Do you need more processing power and a better chipset? The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 brings real performance gains.
How important are battery life and charging speed? The 45W charging is a big upgrade here.
Do you need more camera megapixels or zoom capabilities? The 200MP sensor and 10x optical zoom are nice but subtle upgrades.
Can you afford the $300+ price difference between devices? Upgrading is an investment.
Do you plan to keep your next phone for 2-3 more years? Future-proofing has value.

Weighing factors like these will determine if upgrading to the S24 Ultra makes sense for your personal needs and budget right now. The S21 Ultra likely still has life left as an excellent device as well.

Faster Charging at 45W

One of the most notable features of the Galaxy S24 Ultra is its support for significantly faster 45W wired charging. Last year’s S21 Ultra was limited to 25W charging, which was still reasonably quick. However, 45W takes things to the next level in terms of rapid charging.

45W charging can take the S24 Ultra battery from 0 to 100% charge in under 1 hour. That’s around 40 minutes faster than the S21 Ultra would take to fully charge.

Having a phone charge from empty to full in under an hour is extremely convenient. It means even if you forgot to charge overnight, you can plug in while getting ready in the morning and have a nearly full phone battery when heading out the door. Topping up throughout the day can also be very quick with 45W speeds.

The fast charging support does come with some caveats, however. While the initial charging rate is very fast, it does taper off towards the end from 80 to 100 percent.

And for optimal battery health over time, it’s still best not to frequently charge to 100%. Faster charging also leads to more heat, but Samsung has implemented various technologies to keep heat manageable during 45W charging sessions.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

200MP camera
ProVisual Engine
Up to 1TB of storage
New AI tools

(256 GB) at Amazon

(512 GB) at Amazon

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Excellent performance
Big, bright, 120Hz display
Versatile camera system
Great battery life

View at Amazon

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is the S24 Ultra camera a big upgrade over the S21 Ultra?

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra camera is a slight upgrade but isn’t radically better than the already excellent S21 Ultra camera system. You now get a 200MP main sensor versus 108MP and some tuning improvements for better detail and low-light performance. However casual users may not notice huge differences.

Are battery life and charging speeds better on the S24 Ultra?

The battery capacity remains the same at 5,000 mAh but yes, charging speeds see a major upgrade. The S24 Ultra supports 45W charging which can fully charge from 0 to 100% in just under an hour. That’s a big jump up from 25W speeds.

Does the S24 Ultra have big performance upgrades?

Yes, the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset brings a noticeable speed and performance boost of around 30% over the S21 Ultra’s processor. If you use heavy apps or games, this upgrade will be very welcome.

Is the S24 Ultra worth $300+ more than the S21 Ultra?

That depends on your budget and if you value the upgrades enough to justify the additional cost. For many, the S21 Ultra still has fantastic performance and camera quality. But the charging speed, performance boosts, and refinements of the S24 Ultra are compelling for people who want the latest and greatest.

Should I wait for the S25 Ultra instead of upgrading to S24 Ultra?

The S25 Ultra isn’t expected until early 2024, over a year away. The S24 Ultra will still be an excellent device and get Android updates for years. Unless you specifically want what rumors suggest for the S25 Ultra, upgrading now to the S24 Ultra lets you enjoy the upgrades today.

How long will the S24 Ultra get software support and updates?

Samsung has committed to providing 4 major Android OS updates to the S24 Ultra. So you can expect to get supported with major updates for the next 4+ years if you buy the S24 Ultra now, likely up through Android 17/18.

Is it difficult to transfer data from my S21 Ultra to the S24 Ultra?

Not at all. Using the Samsung Smart Switch, you can easily transfer all your apps, photos, videos, settings, and more from your old S21 Ultra to your new S24 Ultra in just a few minutes. The migration process is pretty seamless.

Where can I buy the S24 Ultra? Is it widely available?

The S24 Ultra is now widely available unlocked directly from Samsung.com as well as all major carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and TMobile. Retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, and Amazon also sell the device with several color and storage options.