Some phones age like milk. Others age like cheese. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra lands somewhere in between, which is why people still search for it years after launch. In 2021 it was a huge, camera-obsessed flagship. Today it often shows up as a used or refurbished deal. A deal only counts if the phone still does the job, so this guide covers specs, prices, gaming behaviour, water resistance, durability and software support.

Quick Overview of the Galaxy S21 Ultra

Samsung unveiled the S21 series on 14 January 2021, and the Ultra reached shelves on 29 January. It was the first S-series phone to support the S Pen, although it has no built-in slot, so Samsung sold cases to carry the stylus.

The chipset depends on where you live. Buyers in the US, South Korea and China got the Snapdragon 888, while most other markets got the Exynos 2100. Both use a 5nm process. Remember this detail, because it matters later in the gaming section.

Colour choices were Phantom Black and Phantom Silver, while Samsung.com also sold Phantom Titanium, Phantom Navy and Phantom Brown in some countries. Storage and memory came in three flavours, from 12GB RAM with 128GB up to 16GB RAM with 512GB.

Key Specifications

Display and Design

The 6.8-inch screen uses an adaptive refresh rate that scales up to 120Hz. That keeps scrolling smooth and saves battery when you only read. Gorilla Glass Victus protects the front, and the fingerprint sensor sits under the glass.

The phone is big. At 227 g and 8.9 mm thick, it will remind small-handed users of its presence.

Camera Setup

Four rear cameras do the heavy lifting. The 108MP main sensor handles everyday shots, the ultrawide widens the frame, and two 10MP telephoto lenses cover zoom, including a periscope lens with 10x optical reach. Video goes up to 8K at 30fps or 4K at 30 and 60fps.

A MightyGadget reviewer found its low-light results far ahead of the Xiaomi Mi 11, even though both phones use a similar sensor. Just remember that 8K clips eat storage like a hungry teenager.

Gaming and Performance Testing

Performance depends on which chip sits inside your phone. GSMArena ran a sustained CPU throttling test on both versions:

The same GSMArena testing found GPU-heavy workloads very comparable between the two. So the gap shows up mostly in long, CPU-heavy sessions.

MightyGadget tested the Exynos model and described gaming as flawless in normal play. Its 3DMark Wild Life stress test told a different story, with performance dropping by over a third across a 20-minute run. Short sessions feel great. Marathon sessions warm the phone and slow it down.

There is one more catch. In 2022, Android Authority reported that Samsung’s Game Optimizing Service may limit the performance of around 10,000 apps to save battery, while benchmark apps did not appear on that list. In plain words, a benchmark score and a real gaming session can disagree.

For long gaming nights, the Snapdragon version is the safer pick. Lower the graphics settings a notch, and skip charging while you play.

Battery Life and Charging Performance

The Galaxy S21 Ultra has a 5,000 mAh battery with 25W wired and 15W wireless charging. The 25W charger does not come in the box, so you need to buy one separately. Samsung says the phone reaches 50% in about 30 minutes.

Independent tests back that up. DXOMARK recorded a full charge in 1 hour 28 minutes on the Snapdragon model and 1 hour 33 minutes on the Exynos model. SamMobile got 1 hour 12 minutes in airplane mode. Wireless charging is much slower, and DXOMARK needed 2 hours 9 minutes to reach 100% on the Exynos version.

Battery life holds up well for such a large screen. DXOMARK measured a little over 56 hours of mixed use on the Snapdragon model, which is more than two days. A five-minute top-up from below 50% added over three hours of use. MightyGadget measured 12 hours 46 minutes in the PCMark Work 3.0 test on the Exynos model.

Treat these numbers as best-case results from new phones. Batteries age, so a used unit will not match them, and heavy gaming drains the battery much faster than casual use. Heat also slows charging, and some owners on Samsung’s community forum reported slower charging in warm rooms.

Water Resistance and Water Testing

The S21 Ultra carries an IP68 rating. Samsung’s specifications describe protection against dust and immersion in fresh water up to 1.5 metres for up to 30 minutes. That covers rain, spills and a surprise drop in the sink.

Real-world tests add some context. The YouTube channel Photo Owl Time Lapse kept a standard Galaxy S21, not the Ultra, submerged at about 50 cm for roughly 12 days. According to GSMArena, the phone kept working. Reports said it showed a moisture warning after 117 hours and the screen briefly stopped responding.

The Ultra itself took part in a National Geographic expedition, where explorer Malaika Vaz filmed tiger sharks. She used a protective case, and Notebookcheck noted that the IP68 rating does not cover that kind of diving.

A stunt is not a guarantee, so treat the rating as a safety net. Seals also age, and a 2021 phone has had years of bumps and temperature swings. Skip the pool selfies.

Durability and Build

The front uses Gorilla Glass Victus, the back is glass, and the frame is aluminium. Glass on both sides looks premium and also cracks as a team. A good case and a screen protector are cheap insurance.

When you inspect a used unit, check the frame for dents, scan the screen for lines or dead pixels, and test every camera lens. It takes five minutes and can save a very annoying week.

Software Support in 2026

Software is the real weak spot. Samsung kept its promise of four major Android updates, but the clock has now run out.

In February 2026, Samsung left the S21 series out of its security update list. That means regular software support has ended, although Samsung may still issue an emergency fix for a critical vulnerability. For banking apps and sensitive work, that matters.

Price: Launch, Market and Trade-In

At launch, the phone started at $1,199.99 in the US. Here is how the three variants were priced:

Today the market looks very different. In Pakistan, the price tracker WhatMobile lists the phone at Rs. 242,999 in 2026, while other aggregators show much higher figures. Prices vary by shop, storage, condition and PTA status, so compare several sellers before paying. If you are comparing used flagships, the phone reviews and price guides on PHR Phone Hub are a handy next stop.

Trade-in values move with condition, storage and country, and no single number fits everyone. Check a few offers before you sell or swap.

Smart Buying Checklist

Before you pay for a used S21 Ultra, run through a few simple checks:

• Confirm the chipset version, because the Snapdragon model handles long sessions better.
• Ask about battery health and how the phone charges with a 25W charger.
• Test the cameras, including the 10x periscope lens, plus the speakers and fingerprint sensor.
• Look closely at the screen edges and the frame for cracks, dents or lines.
• Check that the phone is not blocked and, if you live in Pakistan, that it is PTA approved.

A fair price, a clean unit and a clear return window beat a flashy discount every time.

Is the Galaxy S21 Ultra Worth Buying Today?

It depends on the price and on your tolerance for risk. The display, cameras and build still impress, and the phone feels like a flagship in daily use. Against that, security patches have stopped and the battery has aged.

If the used price is low and you accept the update situation, it can be a strong value pick. If you handle banking, work data or long gaming sessions, a newer phone with active support is the smarter move.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.Is the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra waterproof?

It is water resistant, not waterproof. The IP68 rating covers fresh water up to 1.5 metres for 30 minutes. A standard S21 survived a 12-day tank test, but that is a stunt, and aging seals can weaken protection.

2.Is the Galaxy S21 Ultra still getting updates?

No. Its last major update was Android 15 with One UI 7 in May 2025, and Samsung removed the series from its regular security list in February 2026. Emergency fixes remain possible for critical issues.

3.Which version is better for gaming, Snapdragon or Exynos?

The Snapdragon 888 version held 77% of its CPU performance after 60 minutes, compared with 56% for the Exynos 2100. GPU-heavy loads looked similar, so the gap matters most in long sessions.

4.What is the Galaxy S21 Ultra price in Pakistan?

WhatMobile lists it at Rs. 242,999 in 2026, although other aggregators show higher numbers. Check local shops, storage size, condition and PTA status before buying.

5.Does the Galaxy S21 Ultra support the S Pen?

Yes, it was the first S-series phone to support the S Pen. It has no built-in slot, so you need a separate case to carry the stylus.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra still offers a sharp 120Hz display, a versatile camera system, IP68 protection and a premium glass-and-aluminium build. Gaming works well in shorter sessions, especially on the Snapdragon version. The trade-offs are clear: security updates have ended, and a four-year-old battery deserves a health check. Buy it cheap, inspect it carefully, and it can still serve you well.