Surface Duo vs. Galaxy S21 Ultra: A Clash of Concepts
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing camera quality, raw performance, and a refined software experience, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is the clear winner. However, the Surface Duo carves a niche for those seeking a truly unique, productivity-focused device willing to compromise on processing power.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Microsoft Surface Duo | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 19 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 | 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 |
| 5G bands | - | 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-G998U1 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL) |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G998B | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, August 12. Released 2020, September 10 | 2021, January 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, January 29 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5) | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | Unfolded: 186.9 x 145.2 x 4.8 mm Folded: 145.2 x 93.3 x 9.9 mm | 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm (6.5 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | 250 g (8.82 oz) | 227 g (Sub6), 229 g (mmWave) (8.01 oz) |
| Stylus support | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Stylus support | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1800 x 2700 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~515 ppi density) |
| Size | 8.1 inches, 195.4 cm2 (~144.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 112.1 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak) |
| Folded position display: 5.6 inches, AMOLED, 1350 x 1800 pixels (4:3) | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (1x2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A55) - InternationalOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) - USA/China |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - InternationalQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - USA/China |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Mali-G78 MP14 - InternationalAdreno 660 - USA/China |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12 | Android 11, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | Laser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| 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 |
| Single | 11 MP, f/2.0, 23mm (wide), 1.0µm, PDAF | - |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, HDR | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | Uses main camera | 40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.7µm, PDAF |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX Adaptive | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), dual accelerometer, dual gyro, proximity, dual compass | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 3577 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | White | 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 |
| Price | About 650 EUR | $ 240.01 / C$ 353.20 / £ 202.99 / € 264.99 |
| SAR | - | 0.77 W/kg (head) 1.02 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.71 W/kg (head) 1.58 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 12GB RAM | - | $ 384.99 |
| 256GB 12GB RAM | - | $ 998.00 |
| 512GB 12GB RAM | - | $ 1,179.99 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 459.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 114h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.5 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 657150 (v8) GeekBench: 3518 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Microsoft Surface Duo
- Unique dual-screen form factor for enhanced productivity
- Compact and portable design when folded
- Excellent for reading and multitasking
- Outdated Snapdragon 855 chipset
- Inferior camera system
- Slower charging speeds
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
- Powerful Exynos 2100 or Snapdragon 888 5G chipset
- Exceptional camera system with advanced features
- Bright and vibrant display
- Larger and heavier design
- Higher price point
- Less innovative form factor
Display Comparison
The S21 Ultra boasts a single 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a measured peak brightness of 1023 nits, offering exceptional visibility even in direct sunlight. In contrast, the Surface Duo features two 5.6-inch displays, totaling 11.2 inches of screen real estate when unfolded. While the Duo offers more overall screen area, each individual panel suffers from larger bezels and lacks the S21 Ultra’s superior color accuracy and brightness. The S21 Ultra’s infinite contrast ratio further enhances visual fidelity, a feature absent in the Surface Duo’s display technology.
Camera Comparison
The S21 Ultra’s camera system is a clear standout. While the context data only states 'Photo / Video', the S21 Ultra is known for its versatile quad-camera setup, including a high-resolution main sensor and advanced image processing. The Surface Duo’s camera capabilities are comparatively limited, lacking the optical image stabilization (OIS) and advanced features found on the S21 Ultra. The S21 Ultra’s superior lens apertures allow for better low-light performance, and its video recording capabilities are significantly more advanced.
Performance
The Galaxy S21 Ultra, equipped with either the Exynos 2100 (International) or Snapdragon 888 5G (USA/China) built on a 5nm process, significantly outperforms the Surface Duo’s Snapdragon 855 (7nm). The S21 Ultra’s Cortex-X1 prime core, clocked at 2.9 GHz (International) or 2.84 GHz (USA/China), provides a substantial CPU performance boost. The Duo’s older chipset, while capable, struggles with demanding tasks and shows its age in graphically intensive applications. The S21 Ultra’s LPDDR5 RAM also contributes to faster app loading and smoother multitasking compared to the Duo’s unspecified RAM type. Thermal management is also likely superior on the S21 Ultra due to the newer, more efficient chipset.
Battery Life
The Galaxy S21 Ultra’s endurance rating of 114 hours suggests excellent battery life, despite a relatively standard battery capacity. Its 25W wired charging with Power Delivery 3.0 support allows for faster charging speeds than the Surface Duo’s 18W wired charging. The S21 Ultra also offers 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Surface Duo. While the Surface Duo’s dual-screen design may impact battery consumption, the smaller battery and slower charging speeds put it at a disadvantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Microsoft Surface Duo if you need a portable workstation for reading, note-taking, and running multiple apps simultaneously, and value the innovative dual-screen experience. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G if you prioritize a top-tier camera system, blazing-fast performance for gaming and demanding tasks, and a vibrant, high-brightness display for content consumption.