The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G remains one of the most ambitious flagships Samsung has produced, blending a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a quad camera system that pushes 108 MP imaging and dual telephoto reach. Announced on January 14, 2021 and released later that month, the device continues to be a strong reference point for buyers evaluating premium specs against today’s lineup.
This article focuses on the full specifications of the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, drawing on Samsung’s official product pages and datasheet to anchor the key figures. Rather than reviewing it as a brand-new launch, we look at how its hardware stacks up for shoppers eyeing a refurbished or late-cycle flagship in 2026.
Full Specifications
Network
| Technology: | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| 2G bands: | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| CDMA 800 / 1900 & TD-SCDMA | |
| 3G bands: | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| 4G bands: | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 – SM-G998U1 |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 – SM-G998B | |
| 5G bands: | 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave – SM-G998U1 |
| 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 – SM-G998B | |
| Speed: | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL) |
Launch
| Announced: | 2021, January 14 |
| Status: | Available. Released 2021, January 29 |
Body
| Dimensions: | 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm (6.5 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) |
| Weight: | 227 g (Sub6), 229 g (mmWave) (8.01 oz) |
| Build: | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame |
| SIM: | Nano-SIM + eSIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) Stylus support |
Display
| Type: | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak) |
| Size: | 6.8 inches, 112.1 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Resolution: | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~515 ppi density) |
| Protection: | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
Platform
| OS: | Android 11, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 |
| Chipset: | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) – InternationalQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) – USA/China |
| CPU: | Octa-core (1×2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3×2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×2.2 GHz Cortex-A55) – InternationalOcta-core (1×2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3×2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) – USA/China |
| GPU: | Mali-G78 MP14 – InternationalAdreno 660 – USA/China |
Memory
| Card slot: | No |
| Internal: | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 |
Main Camera
| Quad: | 108 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.33″, 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 72mm (telephoto), 1/3.24″, 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 10 MP, f/4.9, 240mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.24″, 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55″, 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video |
| Features: | Laser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Video: | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
Selfie camera
| Single: | 40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8″, 0.7µm, PDAF |
| Features: | HDR |
| Video: | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
Sound
| Loudspeaker: | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 3.5mm jack: | No |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG |
Comms
| WLAN: | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Bluetooth: | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| Positioning: | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| NFC: | Yes |
| Radio: | FM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent) |
| USB: | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
Features
| Sensors: | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support Circle to Search |
Battery
| Type: | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Charging: | 25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
Misc
| Colors: | Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Titanium, Phantom Navy, Phantom Brown, Navy |
| Models: | SM-G998B, SM-G998B/DS, SM-G998U, SM-G998U1, SM-G998W, SM-G998N, SM-G9980 |
| SAR: | 0.77 W/kg (head) 1.02 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU: | 0.71 W/kg (head) 1.58 W/kg (body) |
| Price: | € 293.32 / $ 255.00 / £ 238.75 |
Our Tests
| Performance: | AnTuTu: 657150 (v8) GeekBench: 3518 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
| Display: | 1023 nits max brightness (measured) |
| Camera: | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker: | -25.5 LUFS (Very good) |
| Battery (old): | Endurance rating 114h |
Price and Availability
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G offers a compelling combination of features and performance. While the base price is around €293, the actual cost may vary depending on your location and retailer. Below, you’ll find the approximate price of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G converted into various currencies. Please note that these are estimates based on recent exchange rates as of June 2, 2026 and may not reflect the exact price you’ll find at a retailer.
- United States: $341
- Japan: ¥54,475
- United Kingdom: £254
- Australia: A$476
- Canada: C$472
- Taiwan: NT$10,690
- Denmark: kr2.189
- Saudi Arabia: ﷼1,280
- South Korea: ₩515,475
- Germany: €293
- Brazil: R$1.716
- Vietnam: ₫8.913.306
- Kenya: KSh 44,197
- India: ₹32,407
- Indonesia: Rp 6.106.704
- Nigeria: ₦465,115
- Pakistan: ₨95,162
- Philippines: ₱21,086
- Bangladesh: ৳৪১,৮৯০
Value in Today’s Market
At its source-listed price of around €293, $255, or £238, the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G now sits firmly in mid-range territory while still offering flagship-grade hardware. For buyers who want a Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100 device with periscope zoom and a QHD+ AMOLED panel without paying current-generation prices, the value proposition is strong, especially via certified pre-owned channels.
Design and Build Quality
Measuring 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm and weighing 227 g (Sub6) or 229 g (mmWave), the S21 Ultra 5G is built around Gorilla Glass Victus on both sides and an aluminum frame. Samsung gave it an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance up to 1.5 m for 30 minutes, plus S Pen stylus support, a feature that previously belonged only to the Note line. Color options include Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Titanium, Phantom Navy, Phantom Brown, and Navy.
Display Experience
The 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display offers a 1440 x 3200 resolution at roughly 515 ppi, with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and HDR10+ support. Samsung lists a peak brightness of 1500 nits, and independent measurements clocked around 1023 nits in real-world use. The 20:9 aspect ratio and roughly 89.8% screen-to-body ratio make it one of the most immersive displays of its generation, and it remains highly competitive for HDR video and gaming today.
Performance and Chipset
Samsung shipped the S21 Ultra 5G with two chipsets depending on region: the 5 nm Exynos 2100 internationally and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G in the USA and China. Both pair an octa-core CPU with either the Mali-G78 MP14 or Adreno 660 GPU. With AnTuTu scores around 657,150 (v8) and GeekBench 5.1 around 3518, it still handles modern apps and games comfortably, particularly when paired with up to 16 GB of RAM and UFS 3.1 storage up to 512 GB.
Camera System
The quad rear setup is the marquee feature: a 108 MP f/1.8 wide with OIS, a 12 MP f/2.2 ultrawide, plus dual 10 MP telephoto modules at 3x and 10x optical zoom, the latter using a periscope design at 240 mm equivalent. Video recording goes up to 8K at 24fps, with 4K at 60fps, 1080p slow-motion at 240fps, and HDR10+ capture. The 40 MP f/2.2 selfie camera supports 4K at 60fps, an unusually high spec even by current standards.
Battery and Charging
A 5000 mAh Li-Ion battery powers the device, with 25W wired charging, 15W Qi wireless via PD3.0, and 4.5W reverse wireless. Samsung’s published endurance rating of 114 hours reflects strong all-day use. While charging speeds trail current flagships from Xiaomi, Realme, and OnePlus, the capacity and efficiency of the 5 nm platform keep stamina respectable in 2026 conditions.
Software and Updates
Originally launched on Android 11 with One UI, the S21 Ultra 5G is documented to receive up to four major Android upgrades, reaching One UI 6.1. Samsung’s policy adds value for long-term owners and brings newer features such as Circle to Search and continued security patches, although users should verify current update status against Samsung’s official support page before purchase.
Connectivity
The device supports 5G SA/NSA on Sub6 and mmWave (region dependent), Wi-Fi 6E with dual band, Bluetooth 5.2 with LE and A2DP, USB Type-C 3.2 with OTG, NFC, and Ultra Wideband (UWB). It also retains Samsung DeX and Samsung Wireless DeX for desktop-style productivity. Note that there is no 3.5 mm headphone jack and no microSD card slot, so storage must be chosen carefully at purchase.
Who Should Buy It
The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G fits buyers who want premium hardware, especially the 10x periscope camera and high-resolution AMOLED display, without paying flagship pricing. Long-time Samsung users upgrading from earlier Galaxy S or Note devices will appreciate the S Pen support, DeX, and ecosystem features. Heavy gamers and creators chasing the latest chipsets may instead lean toward newer Galaxy S25 Ultra or comparable 2025 flagships.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G remains a credible flagship-class option in 2026, with standout strengths in display, camera versatility, and build quality, balanced by aging charging speeds and no expandable storage. For shoppers prioritizing optics, long software support, and a premium screen on a tighter budget, it is a recommended pick — ideally a certified unit with verified condition and a confirmed update status from Samsung’s official channels.
Official references
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G Official Specs – Official Samsung specifications page for display, camera, battery, memory, dimensions, connectivity, and other hardware details.
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G Support and Manuals – Official Samsung support page with manuals, legal downloads, and product specifications for the unlocked Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G.
- Samsung Global Newsroom Launch Article – Official Samsung launch reference with feature claims and model context for the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G.
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Series Unlocked Datasheet – Official Samsung business datasheet summarizing Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G specifications, network support, charging, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, storage, and camera details.
- FCC Equipment Authorization Search – Primary U.S. regulator database for verifying FCC equipment authorization, RF compliance, and filings using FCC ID A3LSMG998U for the U.S. Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G variant.
