Galaxy S21 Ultra and Edge Plus are high-end mobile options from Samsung and Motorola for those who want to be ready for 5G. Also, to support the new networks, the smartphones have powerful technical data, including a quad-camera system, a generous 5,000mAh battery, and high-speed displays. In the following lines, compare the similarities and differences of the devices.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs Motorola Edge Plus
| Specifications | Galaxy S21 Ultra | Motorola Edge Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | January 2021 | July 2020 |
| Current price | from $999 | from $999 |
| Screen | 6.8 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Screen resolution | QuadHD+ (3200 x 1440 pixels) | Full HD+ (2340 x 1080 pixels) |
| Processor | Exynos 2100 (octa-core up to 2.9GHz) | Snapdragon 865 (octa-core up to 2.84GHz) |
| RAM | 12 or 16GB | 12GB |
| Storage | 256 or 512GB | 256GB |
| Memory card | No support | No support |
| Main camera | Quadruple Camera: 108, 10, 10, and 12 MP | Quadruple Camera: 108, 8, 16 MP, and ToF sensor |
| Front Camera | 40 MP | 25 MP |
| Operating system | Android 11 | Android 10 |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Dimensions and weight | 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm; 227 grams | 161.1 x 71.4 x 9.6 mm; 203 grams |
| Colors | Black, White, Silver, Gray, Pink, or Violet | Dark grey |
Screen and Design
In terms of display, the two phones have similar dimensions: it is 6.8-inch 2x Dynamic AMOLED in the S21 Ultra and 6.7-inch OLED in the Motorola. Also, both brands bet on high-speed screens, although Samsung leads by offering a 120Hz display in front of the screen that updates 90 times per second (90Hz) in the Edge Plus.
The resolution, on the other hand, is different, with the Samsung delivering 3200 x 1440 pixels (density of 515 pixels per inch), while the Edge Plus is Full HD+ at 2340 x 1080 pixels (385 pixels per inch density). Although the Galaxy’s screen is denser, the chance that you will notice a difference in definition between the two is small.
In design, both phones feature a screen with curved edges, which encroach on the side of the phone – although the curvature is much more pronounced on the Motorola. Among the apparent differences, the two brands found distinct places for the selfie camera: centered on the S21 Ultra and moved to the top left corner on the Edge Plus.
Another difference is that Samsung already comes from the factory with the new Gorilla Glass Victus glass, which promises to survive scratches better – the Edge Plus is coated with Gorilla Glass 5. While Motorola offers no guarantee against water, Samsung has IP68 certification to survive accidents and submersion. In colors, the Edge Plus comes only in dark gray, while the S21 Ultra offers editions in black, white, pink, gray, silver, or violet.
Cameras
On both phones, you can find 108 MP main cameras leading a quad-camera setup.
On the S21, the 108 MP camera comes mounted on a wide lens with a focal aperture at f/1.8; there is a periscopic camera with 10 MP resolution (f/4.9) and ensures 10x optical zoom; a 10 MP telephoto lens with f/2.4; and an ultra-wide with 12 MP resolution and aperture at f/2.2. As is common in high-end devices, there are image enhancement features via artificial intelligence, and support for a variety of photography modes, including automatic bokeh and manual modes.
The Edge comes with a triple system whose 108 MP camera is the main one. On the Motorola, the sensor repeats Samsung’s specifications, with the same f/1.8 aperture and lens in the wide profile. In addition to this camera, the phone comes with an 8 MP telephoto lens (f/2.4) for 3x optical zoom and an ultra-wide macro with 16 MP. Finally, the Edge Plus even comes with a ToF sensor for precise distance perception, collecting useful information for portrait mode photogeneration.
When it comes to taking videos, there are also differences. The Galaxy can record 8K video at 24 frames per second, while the Edge Plus captures 6K at 30 frames per second.
For selfies, both phones provide a single sensor: on the Galaxy S21 Ultra, the camera has a 40 MP resolution (f/2.2), while Motorola comes with a 25 MP camera (f/2.0).
Performance and Storage
The Galaxy S21 Ultra comes with the Exynos 2100 processor, developed by Samsung itself in a 5nm process. It is an eight-core chip with speeds of up to 2.9 GHz on one of its cores (three others run at 2.8 GHz and four at 2.2 GHz). Motorola’s option, on the other hand, is powered by a Qualcomm-developed 7nm Snapdragon 865.
The Snapdragon has eight cores as well, but differs in speeds: one of the cores reaches 2.8GHz, three of them speed up to 2.4GHz, and the remaining four work at 1.8GHz to save power.
When it comes to RAM count, the S21 Ultra can have 12 or 16GB, while the Edge Plus comes in a single version with 12GB. The same goes for storage: while the Motorola only has a 256GB edition, the Galaxy can be found with 256 or 512GB capacity: neither offers a MicroSD slot.
Battery
The Galaxy S21 Ultra comes with a 5,000mAh raw capacity battery. Although it supports fast, two-way wireless charging technology – you can use the Galaxy to recharge other devices wirelessly – the smartphone comes from the factory without a charger in the box: you’ll have to get one on your own.
The Motorola Edge Plus, on the other hand, is sold with its charger and has a battery that is also 5,000mAh raw capacity. The device supports fast-charging up to 25 Watts.
System Version
Older on the market, the Edge Plus comes out of the box with Android 10 installed, and although it is confirmed to receive the update to version 11 of the system, this has yet to happen. On the flip side, the Galaxy S21 Ultra already comes out of the box with Android 11 installed and Samsung’s One UI.
Additional Features
In terms of connectivity, both devices offer support for 5G networks. On Wi-Fi, the S21 Ultra supports Wi-Fi 6E standard, while the Motorola guarantees Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), while Bluetooth is 5.2 on the S21 and 5.1 on the Motorola.
On both devices, there is NFC network technology for the use of proximity payment services using the cell phone. While both support Google Assistant, the S21 lets you use the Bixby assistant, plus the Samsung DeX platform to turn the phone into a desktop.
Both devices offer under-screen fingerprint scanning technology. However, the Galaxy takes a slight edge because it uses an ultrasonic trigger sensor, which promises to be more accurate and has the ability to perceive your fingers even with a scratched screen, something that may end up impossible on the Motorola, which uses an optical sensor.
Another difference with the S21 Ultra is the UWB chip, which allows unlocking and starting in cars compatible with the technology. The smartphone also supports Samsung’s S Pen.
Price and Availability
The Galaxy S21 Ultra is available for purchase on Amazon in 128GB, 256GB, and 512Gb storage at a price starting at $999.
The Edge Plus debuted in the market in July 2020 currently, you can find it for sale for $999 on the Motorola Official store.
- Buy Galaxy S21 Ultra
- Buy Motorola Edge Plus
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