Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G vs. S21 Ultra 5G: A Deep Dive Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing battery life and a more robust, traditional smartphone experience, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is the clear winner. Its significantly longer endurance rating (114h vs 75h) and brighter display outweigh the Z Fold3’s innovative form factor for most daily tasks.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66 - Europe | 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 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International | 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-G998U1 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL) |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G998B | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, August 11 | 2021, January 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, August 27 | Available. Released 2021, January 29 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | Unfolded: 158.2 x 128.1 x 6.4 mmFolded: 158.2 x 67.1 x 14.4-16 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 | 271 g (9.56 oz) | 227 g (Sub6), 229 g (mmWave) (8.01 oz) |
| IPX8 water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) Stylus support | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Stylus support | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1768 x 2208 pixels (~374 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~515 ppi density) |
| Size | 7.6 inches, 179.9 cm2 (~88.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 112.1 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak) | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak) |
| Cover display: Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 6.2 inches, 832 x 2268 pixels, 25:9 ratio | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | 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 SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - InternationalQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - USA/China |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Mali-G78 MP14 - InternationalAdreno 660 - USA/China |
| OS | Android 11, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 | Android 11, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, 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 |
| Triple | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, 12mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm | - |
| Video | 4K@60fps, 1080p@60/240fps (gyro-EIS), HDR10+ | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 4 MP, f/1.8, 2.0µm, under display Cover camera: 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm | 40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.7µm, PDAF |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, 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), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung DeX (desktop experience support) Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | 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 | 25W wired 11W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless | 25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4400 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Green, Thom Browne Edition, Wooyoungmi Edition | Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Titanium, Phantom Navy, Phantom Brown, Navy |
| Models | SM-F926B, SM-F926B/DS, SM-F926U, SM-F926U1, SM-F926W, SM-F9260, SM-F926N | SM-G998B, SM-G998B/DS, SM-G998U, SM-G998U1, SM-G998W, SM-G998N, SM-G9980 |
| Price | € 453.57 / $ 367.74 / £ 449.99 | $ 240.01 / C$ 353.20 / £ 202.99 / € 264.99 |
| SAR | 0.73 W/kg (head) 1.22 W/kg (body) | 0.77 W/kg (head) 1.02 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.04 W/kg (head) 1.44 W/kg (body) | 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 75h | Endurance rating 114h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -25.6 LUFS (Very good) | -25.5 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 635918 (v8), 752218 (v9) GeekBench: 12719 (v4.4), 3239 (v5.1) GFXBench: 38fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 657150 (v8) GeekBench: 3518 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
- Innovative foldable design for enhanced multitasking
- Large, immersive inner display
- S Pen support (sold separately)
- Unique form factor and premium feel
- Significantly shorter battery life
- Crease visible on the inner display
- Lower durability compared to traditional smartphones
- Higher price point
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
- Exceptional battery life (114h endurance)
- Brighter and more color-accurate display
- Versatile camera system with superior zoom capabilities
- More durable and robust design
- Conventional smartphone design
- No foldable display
- Larger and heavier than some competitors
- S Pen support not integrated
Display Comparison
The Z Fold3 boasts a foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, while the S21 Ultra features a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. The S21 Ultra achieves a measured peak brightness of 1023 nits, surpassing the Z Fold3’s 922 nits, resulting in better outdoor visibility. While both utilize AMOLED technology, the Z Fold3’s foldable nature introduces a crease, a trade-off for its larger screen real estate. The S21 Ultra’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio, typical of AMOLED panels, delivers deep blacks and vibrant colors. The Z Fold3’s inner display, while innovative, is more susceptible to damage and lacks the same level of scratch resistance as the S21 Ultra’s Gorilla Glass Victus.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer versatile camera systems, but the S21 Ultra excels in zoom capabilities. While both feature photo and video recording, the S21 Ultra’s superior sensor size and optical image stabilization (OIS) provide better low-light performance and sharper images. The Z Fold3’s under-display camera on the inner screen is a novel feature, but image quality is noticeably inferior to the S21 Ultra’s front-facing camera. The S21 Ultra’s 108MP main sensor captures more detail than the Z Fold3’s, and its 10x optical zoom lens offers significantly greater reach. The 2MP macro cameras on both devices are largely superfluous and offer limited practical benefit.
Performance
Both phones utilize the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G chipset (in USA/China variants), but the S21 Ultra’s international variant features the Exynos 2100. The S21 Ultra’s Exynos 2100 variant has a slightly higher peak CPU clock speed (2.9 GHz vs 2.84 GHz) compared to the Z Fold3’s Snapdragon 888, though real-world performance differences are minimal. Both devices feature 12GB of RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking. However, the Z Fold3’s larger surface area and more complex cooling system may lead to slightly better sustained performance under heavy load, mitigating potential thermal throttling. The S21 Ultra’s optimized software and more efficient display contribute to better overall power efficiency.
Battery Life
The S21 Ultra’s 114-hour endurance rating significantly outperforms the Z Fold3’s 75-hour rating. This difference is primarily due to the S21 Ultra’s larger battery capacity and more efficient display. Both devices support 25W wired charging, 15W/11W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. However, the S21 Ultra’s superior battery life means users will rely on charging less frequently. The Z Fold3’s foldable design necessitates a dual-battery configuration, which may contribute to its lower endurance.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G if you demand ultimate multitasking capabilities, a large, immersive display for media consumption and productivity, and are willing to accept compromises in battery life and durability for a cutting-edge foldable experience. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G if you prioritize camera versatility, all-day battery life, a brighter and more color-accurate display, and a more conventional, durable smartphone design.