The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, even with time on the market, remains a benchmark for premium Android experiences. However, with the Sendo S230 entering the scene, a question arises: can a newer, potentially more affordable device challenge the established ultra-premium offering? This comparison dissects both phones, focusing on where each excels and who benefits most from their respective strengths.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a complete, refined experience with a stunning display and versatile camera, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G remains the superior choice. However, the Sendo S230's potential affordability (given its lack of readily available specs) could make it a compelling option for budget-conscious buyers willing to compromise on established features.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 900 / 1800 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | - | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | - | 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 |
| EDGE | No | - |
| GPRS | No | - |
| Speed | - | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL) |
| Technology | GSM | 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 | 2002, February | 2021, January 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, January 29 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 115 x 50 x 24 mm (4.53 x 1.97 x 0.94 in) | 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm (6.5 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | 98 g (3.46 oz) | 227 g (Sub6), 229 g (mmWave) (8.01 oz) |
| | - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Stylus support |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 96 x 64 pixels, 6 lines, 3:2 ratio | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~515 ppi density) |
| Size | - | 6.8 inches, 112.1 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Monochrome graphic | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak) |
| | Soft keys | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | - | 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 | - | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - InternationalQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - USA/China |
| GPU | - | Mali-G78 MP14 - InternationalAdreno 660 - USA/China |
| OS | - | Android 11, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | - | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| | Message templates
SMS smileys | UFS 3.1
|
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | - | 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 |
| Video | - | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | - | 40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.7µm, PDAF |
| Video | - | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Alert types | Vibration; Downloadable monophonic ringtones, composer | - |
| Loudspeaker | No | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 32-bit/384kHz audio
Tuned by AKG |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | No | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | - | Yes |
| Positioning | No | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent) |
| USB | - | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
| WLAN | No | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Alarm | Yes | - |
| Browser | WAP 1.2.1 | - |
| Clock | Yes | - |
| Games | 12 - Splash, Quaddro, Scizzors, FlippIT ... | - |
| Java | No | - |
| Messaging | SMS | - |
| Sensors | - | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| | Predictive text input
User changeable front housing, back housing and keypad | 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, PD3.0
15W wireless (Qi)
4.5W reverse wireless |
| Stand-by | up to 230 h | - |
| Talk time | up to 4 h | - |
| Type | Removable NiMH battery | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | 4 - Midnight, Ink Blue, Frosty Mint, Pepper Red | 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 | - | $ 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) |
Sendo S230
- Potentially very affordable
- May offer a modern Android experience
- Could be a good option for basic smartphone needs
- Unknown specifications and performance
- Likely inferior camera and display quality
- Uncertain software support and updates
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
- Exceptional display with high brightness
- Powerful processor (Exynos or Snapdragon)
- Versatile camera system with OIS
- Long battery life and fast charging
- Higher price point
- Can be bulky and heavy
- Exynos variant may exhibit more thermal throttling
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G boasts a class-leading display, achieving a measured peak brightness of 1023 nits. This ensures excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Sendo S230’s display specifications are currently unknown, it’s unlikely to match the S21 Ultra’s brightness or potentially its adaptive refresh rate technology. The S21 Ultra’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a high-quality AMOLED panel, offering deep blacks and vibrant colors. The absence of Sendo S230 display details makes a direct comparison difficult, but it likely targets a more mainstream panel to control costs.
Camera Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G features a versatile camera system capable of both high-resolution photos and detailed video recording. While specific sensor details are not provided in the context data, the S21 Ultra is known for its advanced image processing and optical image stabilization (OIS). The Sendo S230’s camera capabilities are entirely unknown. Given the market segment, it likely features a more basic camera setup, potentially lacking the advanced features and image quality of the S21 Ultra. The S21 Ultra’s focus on photo and video suggests a strong emphasis on camera performance, a key differentiator for flagship devices.
Performance
The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is powered by either the Exynos 2100 (International) or the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (USA/China), both fabricated on a 5nm process. The Exynos variant features a Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.9 GHz, supported by three Cortex-A78 cores at 2.80 GHz and four Cortex-A55 cores at 2.2 GHz. The Snapdragon variant has slightly different clock speeds (2.84 GHz, 2.42 GHz, and 1.80 GHz respectively). This octa-core configuration delivers exceptional performance for demanding tasks. The Sendo S230’s processor is unknown, but given its potential price point, it likely utilizes a mid-range chipset, resulting in a noticeable performance gap compared to the S21 Ultra’s flagship silicon. The S21 Ultra’s 12GB of RAM (available in multiple storage configurations) ensures smooth multitasking.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G achieves an impressive endurance rating of 114 hours, indicating excellent battery life. It supports 25W wired charging with PD3.0, 15W wireless charging (Qi), and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. The Sendo S230’s battery capacity and charging capabilities are unknown. However, a lower price point might necessitate compromises in battery size or charging speed. The S21 Ultra’s fast charging and wireless charging options provide convenience and flexibility, while its reverse wireless charging can be used to top up accessories.
Buying Guide
Buy the Sendo S230 if you need a potentially affordable Android device and are willing to accept unknowns regarding its feature set and performance. It's ideal for users who prioritize value over proven excellence. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G if you demand a top-tier display, a powerful processor (Snapdragon or Exynos), a comprehensive camera system, and a polished software experience, even at a higher price point.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 2100 chip in the Galaxy S21 Ultra overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 2100 variant of the Galaxy S21 Ultra has been reported to exhibit more thermal throttling than the Snapdragon 888 version during extended, demanding tasks like gaming. While not a crippling issue, users may experience slight performance drops after prolonged use. Optimizing game settings and ensuring adequate ventilation can mitigate this.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on the Galaxy S21 Ultra actually useful for taking detailed close-up shots?
While the Galaxy S21 Ultra includes a 2MP macro camera, its low resolution limits its usefulness. Results are often soft and lack detail compared to using the main sensor with digital zoom. It's primarily a marketing feature and not a significant contributor to the overall camera experience.
❓ Can the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G consistently maintain 60fps in graphically intensive games like PUBG?
Yes, the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G can consistently maintain 60fps in PUBG and other demanding games, especially with graphics settings optimized. The Snapdragon 888 variant generally performs slightly better in this regard, but both chipsets offer a smooth gaming experience.
