S20 Ultra vs S21 Ultra: is there such a big difference?

You might think these smartphones are similar, but their feature set is actually quite different. If you're in the market for a new phone and you've chosen to look these two Samsung devices, but you're not sure which one is best for you, we'll help you make the right choice.

Samsung S20 Ultra: a powerful, 5G-ready smartphone

On both of these models, you get Samsung's iconic edge-to-edge display and a range of colours to choose from. However, that's pretty much where the similarities end. The Samsung S20 Ultra is a very different beast to the Samsung S21 Ultra. One of the advantages of the S20 is a memory card slot that allows you to add up to 1TB of additional storage, which the S21 does not.

If you need a lot of storage space on the S21, you can overcome this problem by buying the version with 512GB (which is a lot). Performance is also a bit different, with the S20 having a Snapdragon 865 processor and the S21 having a Snapdragon 888.

This may not seem like much of a difference, but if you want a phone with superfast processing, the 888 chip is the one to spring for.

Samsung S21 Ultra: a higher price tag for a more powerful smartphone

The fact that the S21 Ultra costs more than the S20 will probably influence your decision. It also offers a smoother experience, a better camera and a more attractive design than the S20 (thanks to its flat camera rather than the S20's raised one).

The S21 has a more powerful processor, but both have the same storage capacity, up to 512GB. The S21's camera is capable of taking professional-quality photos thanks to its two telephoto lenses, compared to just one on the S20. Vloggers will be interested in the new dual recording feature which allows you to record with both the front and rear cameras at the same time.

The S21 also benefits from support for the S Pen, for taking Notes and drawing (but it's important to note that you need to buy the pen separately).

The S20 is slightly smaller, but you won't really notice that after a few weeks. If picture quality is important to you and you want a well-designed smartphone with exceptional performance, the S21 will suit you better.