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The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra may be approaching two years old, but it's still a powerhouse. The S21 Ultra's cameras, display, and overall performance are as good now as when the phone was released in 2021. In addition, the wrap-around camera bump is arguably better looking than what we find on its successor, one of the best Android phones on the market.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs. Galaxy S21 Ultra: Is the upgrade worth it?
Moving on to faster pastures
When Samsung launched the Galaxy 21 Ultra a few years ago, it instantly became one of the best phones you could get. It was so good, that it negated the need to upgrade to the S22 Ultra a year later. It’s not that the S22 Ultra wasn’t an improvement over its predecessor, it's just that Samsung packs so much into its Ultra devices that a year's time isn't enough to make a substantial leap forward. Now that the S21 Ultra is two years older, and Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy S23 Ultra, it's time to see how they stack up in a head-to-head comparison. While these two devices are more similar than they are not, the Galaxy S23 Ultra brings some new enhancements to the table.
How to get the most out of your photos with Samsung Expert RAW
Unlock the full potential of your photography skills
Toward the end of last year, Samsung released a new app for the Galaxy S21 Ultra called Expert RAW. This app gives users complete control over the device cameras, much like Pro Mode, but with an added benefit: The RAW photos it outputs still benefit from multi-frame HDR. These can then be imported into an app like Lightroom, where you can use all that RAW data to tweak the image and get the look you want.
Samsung's advanced Expert RAW camera app will support these Galaxy phones
Support for up to 2 generations back on the Ultra models
Samsung has gained favor among smartphone photographers with the addition of the Expert RAW app to its Galaxy S21 Ultra, introducing some advanced features that exceed the capabilities of Pro Mode in the standard Camera app. While the Galaxy S22 announcement confirmed every model in the lineup would receive the app at launch, a Samsung forum moderator revealed Expert RAW would be supported on more devices. Just as the S22 is shipping to customers, Samsung has formalized the list of phones and dates they’ll receive official support for the latest Expert RAW app.
Expert Raw for the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra gets new feature alongside a couple of bug fixes
Increase your (unexpandable) storage savings
At the very pinnacle of the Samsung Galaxy series lies the Ultra devices (at least since the S20 Ultra), and they’ve got some of the best camera hardware on the market. But, in this era of computational photography, software matters just as much, if not more. Last year Samsung released the Expert Raw app for the S21 Ultra to give customers even better control over the photos they take, improving on the existing "Pro" camera mode. And now it's pushed out an update to address a few issues and even add a new feature.
Samsung resumes One UI 4 rollout for Galaxy S21, Flip3, and Fold3 after initial holdup
Android 12 is back on the menu
Unless you're rocking a Pixel phone or Samsung's latest flagships, major software updates don't come as quickly in the world of Android as many would like. Unfortunately, those early rollouts can sometimes include bugs. One UI 4 updates had to be halted recently after several issues arose, some of which even bricked some phones. It seems like Samsung has fixed the issues as the Android 12 rollout has now resumed for the S21 series, the Fold3, and the Flip3.
The Pixel 6 Pro is the first Google phone in years to tempt me away from Samsung
Am I switching back to the dark side?
Back in 2019, I switched from a Pixel to a Samsung phone. In the three years since, I haven't been tempted to go back — I've just really enjoyed what Samsung has offered. But that changed as we got closer to the launch of the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, as the rumors and leaks had me wondering if I'd be able to return to Google. I spent the last week using a Pixel 6 Pro as my main phone and the results surprised me.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is down to its lowest price again this Black Friday
Samsung's best non-folding phone is just $899 right now
Foldables may be the star of this year's Samsung lineup, but if you prefer a good old slab of glass for a flagship that doesn't flex or bend, the Galaxy S21 Ultra might be better suited for you. And during this Black Friday, it's down to its lowest price again on Amazon, $899 — that's $300 off.
Samsung wants to take on the iPhone with the Galaxy S21 Ultra's new camera app
The new Expert Raw app also seems to be testing a ProRAW competitor
With four separate cameras nestled in its camera bump, the Galaxy S21 Ultra comes close to being a DSLR in your pocket, at least on the hardware level. Sadly it's always fallen short of that potential when it comes to software. The photos the phone takes are great, don't get me wrong, but the pro mode has always been disappointing. Now that looks like it's all about to change, as Samsung releases its new Expert Raw camera app.
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Last year, Samsung released its most ambitious (non-folding) phone to date: the Galaxy S20 Ultra. It didn't go over especially well. A sky-high $1400 price tag and unremarkable camera performance torpedoed the phone outright in our final assessment, a rare miss for Samsung in the premium smartphone segment.
Google Pixel 6 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra: 2021's best phones go head to head
The battle of Android flagships
Google finally has a flagship Pixel phone that can compete with the best of what Samsung has to offer. In many ways, the Google Pixel 6 Pro is a more compelling device than the Galaxy S21 Ultra, mainly thanks to its more attractive price-to-performance ratio. However, Google doesn't just let the lower price tag of its Pixel phone do the talking. The Tensor chip, 50MP primary camera, massive battery, and excellent display ensures the Pixel 6 Pro is more than capable of taking on the Galaxy S21 Ultra.
Five great looking cases for your Galaxy S21, S21+, or S21 Ultra
Protect your shiny new investment in style
Samsung may have just launched a duo of hot new foldables for the 2021-2022 season, but the S21 series from earlier this year is still no slouch. Equipped with a Snapdragon 888 chip, impressive camera arrays, and a beautiful display, we even called it “the 2021 smartphone to beat (so far).” Here are just some of our favorite cases that’ll help you keep your S21 in good condition for years to come.
You'll FLIP for this great deal on an S-View case for the Galaxy S21 series
Get it? *elbow* Get it? *elbow*
Samsung's Galaxy S21 series are some of the best phones you can buy right now, but if you're like most of us, a device isn't complete until you have a case. Plenty of great options exist for all the S21 variants, but if you want to use Samsung's fancy S-View feature, an official Flip Cover is a must. Its usual price is pretty steep, but you can save $13 today on one no matter which S21 phone you own.As far as cases go, the Flip Cover is a solid option. It's not the most rugged offering you can buy, but if you're just looking for some day-to-day protection, it's a perfect choice. S-View is just icing on the cake, making it easy to check the time, date, and battery life without having to pick up your phone. Media controls, incoming phone calls, and notifications all sync up with the visible slot as well. Plus, the case comes in a multitude of colors, most of which are included in this sale.
Get a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra for $900 ($300 off) with this coupon
$250 in Samsung store credit, to boot
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is an extremely good phone. It's got great cameras, and thanks to its overkill specs, its performance is up there with any current Android device. If you've been itching for one but paying four figures for a phone rubs you the wrong way, consider this: you can pick one up direct from Samsung for $900 right now, plus an extra $250 in store credit.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 series, thanks to the Snapdragon 888, performs exceptionally well — it can play any Android game you throw at it. But if you were looking to indulge more in the cloud-gaming side of things, you'll be happy to know that these phones are now officially supported by Amazon Luna.It was only a few months ago that Amazon's cloud gaming service debuted for Android phones. The list, at launch, included a few devices from Google, OnePlus, and Samsung, including the Galaxy S10, S20, Note10, and Note20 series.[EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/amazonluna/status/1372631122849505283?s=20[/EMBED_TWITTER]Since Luna is still in early access, you'll need to request an invitation. The service offers two tiers currently. There's a $5.99/month Luna Plus tier that offers games like Metro Exodus, Control, and GRID. If you're looking for a larger selection to choose from, you can opt for the $14.99/month Ubisoft Plus subscription.Luna doesn't have a dedicated Android app, so you'll need to access it from the Chrome browser (version 86 or higher). You can pair your phone with Amazon's .99 Luna controller or use a PlayStation 4/Xbox One controller to play games.
You wanted to know more about the Galaxy Buds Pro, and we have the answers here
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Every Sunday, we assemble the latest headlines, editorials, and exclusive content into the Android Police Newsletter and send it out to thousands of readers around the world. If you're not one of those readers, you might be missing out on the most important stories of the week, as well as content you'll only find in the newsletter, like the exclusive Galaxy Buds Pro Q&A you'll find below and our free wallpaper extravaganza. Here's all the important stuff featured in the Android Police Newsletter from January 24, 2021.
Ask us anything about the Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra (Q&A)
Then subscribe to the Android Police Newsletter to see what we have to say
You may have heard that Samsung recently dropped its latest lineup of Galaxy smartphones dubbed the S21, S21 Plus, and S21 Ultra. While some of these devices have just begun to ship ahead of schedule, our Editor in Chief David Ruddock has been testing them out for a week, and he's ready to answer your questions.
Galaxy S21 users can apply custom backgrounds and snazz up video calls on Duo, Zoom, Teams, and Webex
Don't expect smooth results, though
Samsung always bakes new software features for its latest flagships, and this year's Galaxy S21 series is treated no differently. The smartphones were launched with One UI 3.1 that brought a bunch of new functionality, such as Google Discover on the homescreen and Director's View. There's another addition that's especially useful in a time where video calls have become the primary form of communication for a lot of us: custom video call effects.
Galaxy S21 vs. S21+ vs. S21 Ultra: What’s the difference?
Samsung is switching up its product strategy yet again
Samsung's Galaxy S21 series is finally here, and the lineup is a bit different than what many were expecting. There are three models, same as last year, but the changes between them (especially the Ultra vs. the others) are more substantial than with the S20 series. The cheaper phones take clear inspiration from the success of the Galaxy S20 FE, while the Ultra inherits features from the Note series.
Spigen’s stellar Galaxy S21 case collection has landed (Sponsored)
These latest cases are out of this world
After weeks of hands-on photos, spec leaks, and other teasers, Samsung's new Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, S21 Ultra, and Galaxy Buds Pro are finally here! Before your shiny new phone or fancy pair of buds show up at your door, you're going to want to pick up some solid protection that's built to last. Introducing Spigen's latest case lineup, precision tailored to fit the new Samsung Galaxy S21 series and Galaxy Buds Pro.