The Samsung S21 Ultra Is the Best Phone for Streaming Video and You Can Buy It Today
The big news from the most recent additions to the Samsung S21 Galaxy family of smartphones is the Galaxy S21 Ultra. With a 6.8-inch power efficient AMOLED display, a fine-looking design and top-of-the-line hardware, the Ultra is also graced with five (yes, five!) cameras. A striking culmination of Samsung’s years of hard work to create a luxurious and feature-rich handset—you can finally get your hands on this beauty with today’s long-awaited launch.
Price and Availability: The Samsung S21 Ultra is available starting today, January 29, on multiple platforms, like Samsung where you can trade your old phone in for up to $700 credit, and Amazon for $1200. But you can save an extra $50 if you purchase it at Best Buy for $1150.
Why We Chose It: The Galaxy S21 Ultra is a sleek, beautifully crafted phone which smashed our expectations for the Samsung Ultra series. Also known as a phablet, the massive AMOLED HD display and 3200×1400 resolution played right into our obsession for streaming, well, everything. Endowed with a 6.8-inch curved screen, this smartphone is the perfect size to watch all our favorite videos, movies and TV shows at home or on-the-go.
We’re not gonna lie, this son-of-a-gun is heavier than your average smartphone. But with its rounded edges and contour cut back cameras, it’s also quite chic. We received the matte Phantom Black to review, but you can get it in Phantom Silver, Navy, Titanium or Brown if so inclined. The screen on the Galaxy S21 also happens to be wrapped in upgraded Gorilla Glass for anyone with butterfingers, which, yes, we are thank you.
Who It’s For: With its gigantic screen, 120Hz refresh rate and AMOLED HD display, the S21 Ultra is the best phone for anyone who prioritizes watching content and/or playing games over other smartphone functions. And because it also works with Samsung’s S Pen stylus (sold separately) it’s also a great choice for illustrators, graphic designers and digital artists.
Why You Need It: Deciding on a gigantic phone is a commitment. And the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is on the spectrum of, “is that a phone in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?” big. But once you get used to the size, you can also enjoy all the perks that come with it, like dual telephoto lenses, larger batteries and even support for WiFi 5G and the upcoming 6E.
What you’ll love about Samsung’s flagship phone is the bright, sharp and smooth picture the S21 Ultra affords with its dynamic 120Hz refresh rate. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find another phone with a better display. From the richness of colors to the broad viewing angles, you can enjoy the smooth action of Cobra Kai and run games like Hitman Sniper with super clarity.
Another stand-out for the Galaxy S21 Ultra are the cameras, which are anchored by the 108MP wide sensor and 12MP ultra-wide camera. The dual optical zoom lenses of 3X and 10x are wild, and you can even steady your far-away shot using the Zoom Lock feature.
If you’re shooting video, you can record either 8K or 4K video, and a vlogger mode lets you record on both the back and front cameras at the same time. We also loved the Super Steady mode, which lets you capture level footage even when you’re on the move.
What Others Are Saying: But don’t just take our word for it. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has gotten rave reviews from other respected sources as well. A reviewer at The Verge was hard-pressed to find major faults, calling it “the best Android phone right now.” The folks at CNET are also happy with the upgrades Samsung made on the S21 Ultra, claiming “Overall, the S21 Ultra is a major update both in terms of hardware and software features over the S20 Ultra. And when you factor in a lower price, it all kind of makes sense.”
Final Conclusion: Yes, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is big. But it’s also a sleek, feature-rich Android phone with all the bells and whistles. If you’re looking for a phone that can double as a screen to watch movies and TV as well as play games, you won’t find anything better on the market right now.