In 2021, the title of best smartphone is very hotly contested. Apple has a claim, Samsung is doing amazing things, OnePlus continues to innovate, and so on. We've tested loads of handsets to find the very hottest handsets out there and Samsung's new Galaxy S21 Ultra should be top of the pile for Android lovers.
The first thing you'll notice about the S21 Ultra is the screen. It's absolutely enormous – 6.8-inches – and packs a 120Hz refresh rate, making literally anything appear silky smooth. It's something even the iPhone 12 Pro Max doesn't have.
As we found in our five star Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review, there's pretty much nothing this phone doesn't have and can't do. The internals are high-end, including up to 12GB RAM, a whopping 5,000mAh battery (which lasts all day and all night), and up to 512GB internal storage. It's premium in every sense of the word.
- Samsung Galaxy S21 vs. Galaxy S20: Which is right for you?
- Samsung Galaxy S10 to S21: The perfect upgrade?
All of the powerful hardware goes towards making Android 11 – complete with Samsung's now-ubiquitous One UI skin – run smoothly and efficiently. We didn't have a single problem opening, running, or using any apps during our testing and the whole experience is basically iPhone-like in its fluidity.
The final thing we'll touch on before getting to the deals is the camera system. In a first, Samsung has decided to include a 40MP front camera and a quad-camera setup on the back with an Ultra Wide 12MP sensor, a 108MP camera, and two 10MP telephoto cameras. The results are stunning in every setting and you can even shoot 8K video if that's your thing.
The best Samsung Galaxy S21 deals (US)
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra (128GB) | Unlocked
$1,199.99 $1,149.99 from Best Buy
The S21 Ultra is only a few weeks old and Best Buy has already knocked $50 of the price of an unlocked, 128GB model, making this one of the best deals in the world for a brand new top-tier smartphone. If you're in the market for the best Android smartphone in the world, look no further.
The best Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra deals (UK)
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra | Vodafone | 24 months | 100GB data | £100 upfront | £51/month | Buy at Carphone Warehouse
Anyone looking for an S21 Ultra in the UK can get a great deal from Vodafone right now. 100GB data paired with a low upfront fee and a relatively cheap monthly rate for a brand new flagship device.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the best smartphone going for anyone that wants an Android device and it's not even particularly close. A huge amount of power, amazing camera system, all-day battery life, and loads more besides.
- The best Android smartphones
- The best rugged smartphones for outdoors
Upgrade to smarter living
Get the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products straight to your inbox.
Max Slater-Robins has written for T3 now on and off for over half a decade, with him fitting in serious study at university in between. Max is a tech expert and as such you'll find his words throughout T3.com, appearing in everything from reviews and features, to news and deals. Max is specifically a veteran when it comes round to deal hunting, with him seeing out multiple Black Friday campaigns to date.
-
Latest DJI Neo drone firmware update unlocks faster tracking speed
Finally, the little drone can follow you at a decent speed
By Matt Kollat Published
-
Amazon's Black Friday sales start earlier than ever – kickoff date announced
Amazon will slash the prices of 1,000s of products for more than a week, with many deals starting already
By Rik Henderson Published
-
I'm a retro gaming expert and you can get one of my favourite handhelds for under £50 / $55
1,000s of classic games in a Game Boy style handheld at its lowest price yet
By Rik Henderson Published
-
Arcade1Up has amazing pre-Black Friday deals on its retro coin-op cabinets and pinball machines
Save £100s / $100s on Arcade1Up cabinets in the build up to Black Friday
By Rik Henderson Published
-
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 drops to its lowest-ever price — but Prime Day is almost over!
Looking for a top smartwatch? Look no further than this Amazon Prime Day deal
By Bryony Firth-Bernard Published
-
These ridiculously good Beats are less than $100 in Prime Day sale
The Beats Solo 4 headphones have NEVER been this cheap, thank you Amazon!
By Bryony Firth-Bernard Published
-
Killer SSD storage solution is just $0.07 per GB in early Amazon Prime Big Deal Days deal!
Looking to overhaul your storage setup? This is a perfect way to do it
By Sam Cross Published
-
Amazon gives Garmin’s toughest adventure watch a (very) healthy discount
It’s only on for a limited time though, so be quick!
By Bryony Firth-Bernard Published
-
This top Garmin watch rarely gets discounted – now it’s got $100 off!
The Forerunner 965 is Garmin’s best multisport watch (in our humble opinion)
By Bryony Firth-Bernard Published
-
An iPhone 15 Pro Max for just $0.01? It could only be Amazon Prime Day
If you're looking for a bargain deal on the latest flagship iPhone, this is it
By Sam Cross Published