Samsung has addressed many of the pain points that last year’s S series Ultra model had and made key improvements to the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G to refine the overall experience. There are also a ton of value-added features that make it a more well-rounded device.

At $1,199 / £1,149, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra needs to be excellent, and it is. Powerful internals, a class-leading 10x zoom and a number of fun value adds, not least of all S Pen support give it some standout charm.

The Galaxy S21 is a tank. It’s a big, heavy (8.04 ounces versus its predecessor’s 7.7), blunt instrument of a phone. It’s quintessential Samsung, really — the handset you purchase when too much isn’t quite enough.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is definitely one of the most expensive non-foldable flagships on the market. It is €100 cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra and €50 cheaper than the iPhone 12 Pro Max when those were released.

Daring ; bold design; AMOLED WQHD+ 120 Hz screen is sublime; Improved Exynos 2100 chipset; Versatile camera module; Fantastic 10x zoom; Great battery life and performance; Fluid OneUI 3.1 interface is feature-rich

Exynos 2100 does not outperform the Snapdragon 888 SoC; No charger included; No microSD slot; 25-watt fast charging only; S-Pen is nearly redundant; Expensive (although cheaper than the S20 Ultra)

The S21 Ultra is a good phone for those who want an Android flagship that does everything and does everything better than everyone else. It is also a phone for those who need a camera that can capture those great selfies as well as the tiger in the bush during a Ranthambore safari.

In many ways, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is a by-the-book upgrade — it’s faster, its cameras are more polished, and its software is a little cleaner. Calling it a thrill would be a stretch.

Surprise, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is launching a month earlier than anticipated, and that’s good news if you’re eager to own the very best of what Samsung can pack into a smartphone. It wowed us with a huge screen, five cameras and the best zoom on any readily available Android phone. Caution: while it's cheaper than last year’s ‘Ultra’ phone, it remains pricey for average consumers, and it doesn’t come with a microSD card slot nor does it include a charger.

The best camera zoom; Mesmerizing design; S Pen support;

Expensive at any level; No microSD card slot; Just 128GB of storage to start

It's big, powerful and very capable. If you're after the very best Samsung Galaxy S21 model and money is no object, the Ultra is the one for you. It's a big upgrade over the S20 Ultra, fixing the focus issues and improving battery life. It is very pricey though, especially when the regular S21 has become more affordable.

Great screen thanks to WQHD+ and 120Hz; Much-improved design with an attractive finish; Far more versatile camera than the iPhone 12 Pro Max;

Expensive, with many cheaper phones offering the same features; Big and heavy; No charger included;

The Galaxy S21 Ultra is a no-holds-barred uber-flagship with sizeable proportions and a high price, but for your money, you get the most uncompromisingly capable smartphone on the market right now

Best camera phone to date; Excellent performance; Lighter than expected; Great battery life; Beautiful display;

No charger may irk some; Loss of microSD slot; It's big; Price;

The clear flagship in the S21 family - and a better performer than the smaller S21 and S21+ models, thanks to its better cameras - the Ultra is the pick for those who want all the best that Samsung offers. Its great display, stacks of power and performance, is only tempered slightly by battery life that's quick to drain when put under pressure.

Great new finish and improved design; Powerful internal hardware; Adaptive refresh rate; S Pen stylus support; Camera performance; Stands apart from rest of S21 range;

No microSD card slot; Undeniably expensive; Camera setup more confusing than it needs to be; Battery life isn't great under pressure;