Ultra-powerful, ultra-expensive.
Best Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra plans in Australia
For those who want the ultimate Samsung Galaxy experience, the S21 Ultra is as good as it gets. Where the S21 Plus is simply a larger version of the S21, the S21 Ultra is in its own class, sporting more storage options, bigger RAM, a slightly bigger screen and, most importantly, Samsung's best camera setup yet.
Before we get into the deets, here's a quick summary of the key specs differences between the three S21 models.
If the S21 Ultra's premium price tag seems a bit steep, we've also rounded up the best plans for the Galaxy S21, and plans for the Galaxy S21 Plus.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra plans on Telstra
Telstra used to offer the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra but it has since stopped doing so. If you're after something similar, the Galaxy S23 Ultra might be more your speed.
In our review of Telstra's mobile plans, they scored big on included features, such as data-free streaming of AFL, AFLW, NRL, Netball and the Hyundai A-League. There's also the Telstra Plus rewards program, which allows you to trade points earned by simply being a customer for goodies like speakers, gaming accessories, smartwatches and more.
You can see how Telstra compares when it comes to Galaxy S23 Ultra plans using the widget below.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra plans on Optus
Optus has made some great strides in recent years to make their network more attractive than ever. All their Samsung S21 Ultra plans come with generous full-speed data inclusions and (finally) no excess data charges in Australia, plus the usual unlimited talk and text. With coverage for up to 98.5% of the population, it's just behind the big T, but with the added bonus that 5G access is included in all plans - not just those above a certain price point.
For sports lovers, if you opt for a Medium or higher Optus Choice Plan, you'll also get an discount on Optus Sport included at no extra cost. As we discovered in our standalone review, Optus Sport is fantastic if you're a big soccer fan, but kind of useless if you're after any other sports.
Unfortunately, like Telstra, Optus hasn't got the most stellar customer reviews with a dismal average of 1.4 stars on Product Review. However, they do have a bunch of contact options for when you do have an issue.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra plans on Vodafone
Like Telstra, Vodafone no longer offers the Galaxy S21 Ultra on a postpaid plan. However, the provider does still offer last year's Galaxy S22 Ultra. It may not have the same perks and coverage as Telstra and Optus, but Vodafone's Samsung phone plans certainly shouldn't be ruled out.
Their plans typically represent great value and are packed with juicy perks, like discounts for bundling multiple plans, bonus data, a tiered-speed infinite data system ranging from 2Mbps to 25Mbps. Vodafone also covers a massive 96% of the population, and its 5G rollout is well underway, with access included for all plans - even prepaid.
As with the other big telcos, Vodafone's customer reviews aren't amazing at an average of just 1.6 stars on Product Reviews - marginally better than Telstra and Optus' scores. You can check out how it rates when it comes to Galaxy S22 Ultra plans if you take a look at the widget below.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra plans on Woolworths Mobile
In the years since the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra first launched, Woolworths Mobile has rebranded to Everyday Mobile by Woolworths. As part of this rebrand, it no longer offers phone plans for devices like the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Still, it is a pretty competitive MVNO when it comes to bang for buck. Check out the widget below for a sense of how it compares to other Telstra MVNOs.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra design and display
The Galaxy S21 Ultra is one big, beautiful beast. It sports a massive 6.8-inch AMOLED Quad HD+ display (slightly smaller than the mammoth S20 Ultra) with an adaptive 120Hz screen refresh rate and the same 1440x3200 resolution as its predecessor. One major change from the S20 Ultra, however, is the addition of S Pen support. The S21 Ultra won't come with an S Pen, but one can be purchased separately, along with a specialised case. The Ultra is also 25 per cent brighter than the S20, with a 50 per cent improved contrast ratio.
Like its lower-spec siblings, the S21 Ultra features Samsung's new Eye Comfort Shield, which limits blue light exposure by automatically adjusting throughout the day and depending on the content you're watching.
The S21 Ultra comes in two colours: Phantom Silver and Phantom Black, however, three more colours (Phantom Titanium, Phantom Navy and Phantom Brown) are also available exclusively through the Samsung website.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra camera
Like last year's S20 Ultra, the biggest selling point of the Galaxy S21 Ultra is undoubtedly its pro-spec camera setup. It's likely to be the first thing you notice about the device, given the massive and decidedly unsubtle rear camera bump, which houses a massive 108MP main lens, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP 10x optical and 10MP 30x optical lenses, along with laser autofocus.
It's the first time a Galaxy phone will have the ability to shoot 4K video at 60fps across all lenses - including the selfie camera. For the pro photographer, there's also a 12-bit RAW file option for more detailed editing, 100x Space Zoom, improved Bright Night sensor and Night Mode software.
As with last year's lineup, the S21 selfie camera is getting the same upgrade from its little siblings, boasting a huge 40MP front-facing hole-punch lens.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra battery life
The battery capacity of the Galaxy S21 Ultra is the same as that of its predecessor: 5,000mAh. This means battery life should be quite similar to last year's model, however, the introduction of a next-gen 5G chipset and adaptive 120Hz refresh rate may increase longevity, given a common complaint of the S20 Ultra was that 5G and static 120Hz were massive drains on juice.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra outright price
Don't want to be locked into a telco? Check out the outright price of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra below. In a pleasant surprise, Samsung has actually dropped the price of the Ultra from last year's S20, shaving $50 off the starting price.
When you receive your shiny new device, all you need to do is insert your existing SIM card or check out one of the popular SIM-only plans below.