Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+ and S21 Ultra (2021): Family Guide

Samsung Galaxy model archive · 2021

Galaxy S21 introduced the Contour Cut camera design and continued the three-model flagship structure. The Ultra also brought S Pen compatibility into the S line, but that did not make every S21 a Note replacement.

Official Samsung product image. Image source: Samsung.

Introduced 14 January 2021. Filed under the original announcement date. This retrospective was prepared in November 2026; shop availability may have followed later.

Generation at a glance

6.2-inch S21 and 6.7-inch S21+
Adaptive 120Hz displays
S21 Ultra adds two telephoto cameras
S Pen support on Ultra, without a built-in pen silo

S Pen support needs a precise explanation

There is an important difference between supporting a pen and housing one inside the phone. S21 Ultra was a step towards the Note-style experience, while the regular S21 and S21+ followed a different brief. This is also a generation where the camera tiers should be compared carefully: Ultra offers a different collection of lenses, rather than merely enlarging the same camera package. Start with what you want to photograph and whether a stylus is genuinely useful.

Which version is which?

The January 2021 family comprises S21, S21+ and S21 Ultra. S21 FE followed in January 2022 and is covered separately. A compatible S Pen and a place to carry it are separate considerations on S21 Ultra. Do not assume that an S22 Ultra case or pen-storage arrangement applies to this earlier model.

Looking at one today

Try all camera views, fingerprint unlocking and the display at your normal reading size. If you want pen input, test a compatible pen before buying the phone for that purpose. Inspect the camera enclosure and ask about battery and screen repairs. Compare models using the same storage capacity and warranty terms; a low Ultra price is less useful if it hides an expensive repair.

Before choosing an older phone, check the exact model on Samsung’s current security-update list and confirm local network compatibility.