Samsung Galaxy S9 vs S21 Ultra

53 out of 100

76 out of 100

Here we compared two flagship smartphones: the 5.8-inch Samsung Galaxy S9 (with Exynos 9 Octa 9810) that was released on February 25, 2018, against the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, which is powered by Exynos 2100 and came out 35 months after. On this page, you will find tests, full specs, strengths, and weaknesses of each of the devices.

Differences
Review
Specs
Benchmarks
Battery life
Camera
Comments

Key differences

An overview of the main advantages of each smartphone

Reasons to consider the Samsung Galaxy S9

Expandable storage via MicroSD card up to 400GB
10% higher pixel density (568 vs 515 PPI)
Weighs 64 grams less
Better grip in hands – the body is 6.9 mm narrower
Includes a 3.5 mm headphone audio jack port

Reasons to consider the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

The rear camera has a 10x optical zoom
Higher display refresh rate – 120 Hz
Comes with 2000 mAh larger battery capacity: 5000 vs 3000 mAh
Has a 1 inch larger screen size
82% better performance in AnTuTu Benchmark (833K versus 457K)
Shows 52% longer battery life (31:14 vs 20:36 hours)
Better camera quality (According to DxOMark rating)
Delivers 54% higher peak brightness (1023 against 663 nits)
Newer Bluetooth version (v5.2)
More recent OS version: Android 13 versus 10
More energy-efficient CPU – Exynos 2100
Uses a faster type of memory: LPDDR5 2750 MHz
Compatible with Wi-Fi 6 wireless networks

Review

Evaluation of Samsung Galaxy S9 and S21 Ultra crucial features

Display

Screen quality, color accuracy, brightness

Type	Super AMOLED	Dynamic AMOLED
Size	5.8 inches	6.8 inches
Resolution	1440 x 2960 pixels	1440 x 3200 pixels
Aspect ratio	18.5:9	20:9
PPI	568 ppi	515 ppi
Refresh rate	60 Hz	120 Hz
Adaptive refresh rate	No	Yes
Max rated brightness	658 nits	1500 nits
HDR support	Yes, HDR10	Yes, HDR10+
Screen protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 5	Gorilla Glass Victus
Screen-to-body ratio	83.6%	89.8%
Display features	- Always-On Display	- DCI-P3 - Always-On Display

Height	147.7 mm (5.81 inches)	165.1 mm (6.5 inches)
Width	68.7 mm (2.7 inches)	75.6 mm (2.98 inches)
Thickness	8.5 mm (0.33 inches)	8.9 mm (0.35 inches)
Weight	163 g (5.75 oz)	227 g (8.01 oz)
Waterproof	IP68	IP68
Rear material	Glass	Glass
Frame material	Metal	Metal
Colors	Black, Gold, Gray, Blue, Purple	Black, Silver, Gray, Blue
Fingerprint scanner	Yes, rear	Yes, in-display

Chipset	Samsung Exynos 9 Octa 9810	Samsung Exynos 2100
Max clock	2700 MHz	2840 MHz
CPU cores	8 (4 + 4)	8 (1 + 3 + 4)
Architecture	- 4 cores at 1.9 GHz: Cortex-A55 - 4 cores at 2.9 GHz: Exynos M3	- 4 cores at 2.2 GHz: Cortex-A55 - 3 cores at 2.81 GHz: Cortex-A78 - 1 core at 2.91 GHz: Cortex-X1
Lithography process	10 nanometers	5 nanometers
Graphics	Mali-G72 MP18	Mali-G78 MP14
GPU shading units	324	896
GPU clock	572 MHz	854 MHz
FLOPS	~370.6 GFLOPS	~1530.4 GFLOPS

CPU	141516	236566
GPU	136666	255535
Memory	82698	157504
UX	92188	183564
Total score	457170	833650

Max surface temperature	39.2 °C	40.8 °C
Stability	93%	69%
Graphics test	13 FPS	31 FPS
Graphics score	2272	5221

Web score	5108	-
Video editing	5490	-
Photo editing	9516	-
Data manipulation	5720	-
Writing score	6311	-

RAM size	4 GB	12, 16 GB
Memory type	LPDDR4X	LPDDR5
Memory clock	1794 MHz	2750 MHz
Channels	2	2

Storage size	64 GB	128, 256, 512 GB
Storage type	UFS 2.1	UFS 3.1
Memory card	MicroSD	No
Memory card max size	Up to 400 GB	-

Operating system	Android 8.0 (Can be upgraded to Android 10)	Android 11 (Can be upgraded to Android 13)
ROM	One UI 2,1	One UI 5.1
OS size	14 GB	26.4 GB

Capacity	3000 mAh	5000 mAh
Max charge power	15 W	25 W
Battery type	Li-Po	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Wireless charging	Yes, Qi/PMA (10 W)	Yes (15 W)
Reverse charging	No	Yes, (wireless)
Fast charging	Yes (40% in 30 min)	Yes (54% in 30 min)
Full charging time	1:35 hr	1:11 hr

Display tests
PWM	240 Hz	-
Response time	7 ms	-
Contrast	∞ Infinity	-

Battery life tests
Web browsing	06:04 hr	10:13 hr
Watching video	10:57 hr	15:32 hr
Gaming	02:42 hr	05:26 hr
Standby	70 hr	98 hr

Main camera
Matrix	12 megapixels	108 megapixels
Image resolution	4000 x 3000	12000 x 9000
Zoom	Digital	Optical, 10x
Flash	Dual LED	Dual LED
Stabilization	Optical	Optical
8K video recording	No	Up to 24FPS
4K video recording	Up to 60FPS	Up to 60FPS
1080p video recording	Up to 240FPS	Up to 60FPS
Slow motion	960 FPS (720p)	960 FPS (720p)
Angle of widest lens	-	120°
Lenses	1 (12 MP)	4 (108 MP + 10 MP + 10 MP + 12 MP)
Wide (main) lens	- 12 MP - Aperture: f/1.5 - 2.4 - Focal length: 26 mm - Pixel size: 1.4 micron - Sensor: 1/2.55", Samsung SAK2L3 (ISOCELL CMOS) - Phase autofocus - Optical stabilization	- 108 MP - Aperture: f/1.8 - Focal length: 26 mm - Pixel size: 0.8 micron - Sensor: 1/1.33", Samsung S5KHM3 (ISOCELL Plus CMOS) - Laser autofocus - Optical stabilization
Telephoto lens	-	- 10 MP - Aperture: f/4.9 - Focal length: 240 mm - Pixel size: 1.22 micron - Sensor: 1/2.65", Samsung S5K3J1 (ISOCELL CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) - Optical stabilization
Ultra-wide lens	-	- 12 MP - Aperture: f/2.2 - Focal length: 13 mm - Pixel size: 1.4 micron - Sensor: 1/2.55", Sony IMX563 (Exmor-RS CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel)
Camera features	- Bokeh mode - Pro mode	- Bokeh mode - Pro mode - RAW support
Samples	-	Photo samples of Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra from DxOMark

Selfie camera
Megapixels	8 megapixels	40 megapixels
Image resolution	3264 x 2448	7864 x 5200
Aperture	f/1.7	f/2.2
Focal length	25 mm	26 mm
Pixel size	1.22 microns	0.7 microns
Sensor type	ISOCELL CMOS	ISOCELL CMOS
Sensor size	1/3.6"	1/2.65"
Video resolution	1440p at 30 FPS	2160p (4K) at 60 FPS

Wi-Fi standard	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac)	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
Wi-Fi features	- Dual Band - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot	- Dual Band - Wi-Fi MiMO - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display
Bluetooth version	5	5.2
Bluetooth features	PBAP/PAB, PAN, OPP, MAP, LE, HSP, HID, HFP, DIP, AVRCP, A2DP	LE, A2DP
USB type	USB Type-C	USB Type-C
USB version	3.1	3.2
USB features	- Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG	- Charging - USB-Storage mode - USB-Host mode - OTG
GPS	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo
NFC *	Yes	Yes
Infrared port	No	No

Number of SIM *	2	2
Type of SIM card	Nano	Nano
Multi SIM mode	Standby	Standby
eSIM support *	No	Yes
Hybrid slot	Yes	No
LTE Cat *	18	24
5G support	No	Yes

Speakers	Stereo	Stereo
Headphone audio jack	Yes	No
FM radio	No	No
Dolby Atmos	Yes	Yes

Category	Flagship	Flagship
Announced	February 2018	January 2021
Release date	March 2018	February 2021
SAR (head)	0.362 W/kg	0.71 W/kg
SAR (body)	1.18 W/kg	1.58 W/kg
Sensors	- Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint	- Hall-effect sensor - Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint

Samsung Galaxy S9 vs S21 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S9 vs S21 Ultra

Key differences

Review

Value for money

Tests and specifications

Display

Design and build

Performance

Benchmarks

Memory

Software

Battery

Camera

DxOMark camera tests

Connectivity

Sound

Other

Conclusion