T3 - UK (2021-03)

MARCH 2021 T3 71

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Combined, these two mean that
navigation around the phone is super
rapid and very intuitive. Moving
between apps is especially rapid,
something also helped by the return
of Samsung’s Edge Screen, and
loading happens instantaneously.

Return of the S-Pen
The standout feature of the S21 is
that it now supports digital stylus
use. However, it does not come with
a digital stylus, and unlike the Note
series phones the stylus cannot be
charged and stored inside the phone.
Samsung’s solution to this is to
introduce a new S-Pen case, an
optional extra that protects the phone
and holds a stylus, as well as enabling
any stylus from its previous Note
range to work with the phone. You
can also buy new styli separately.
The result? The stylus works in
exactly the same way as on the
Galaxy Note phones. When the tip
approaches the screen the contextual
stylus menu panel appears, and
allows you to access features such as
note taking, illustrating, and remote
image taking.
The inability to dock the stylus
in the phone, charge it, or carry it
around highlights how essential the

extra spend on a compatible case will

be if you genuinely want to make use

of this feature.

Samsung’s really got this stylus

functionality worked out, though,

and in truth no other maker offers

anything like it. With the flagship S

series now offering both of the Note’s

historic strengths – a very large

screen and stylus functionality – it

really does seem like the bell is tolling

for the business-focused line.

Overall, we welcome the addition

of stylus functionality to the S range,

but can’t shake the feeling that it isn’t

particularly well or cleverly

implemented right now.

Despite this, it is impossible for us

not to recommend the Samsung

Galaxy S21 Ultra. It’s a hyper-

premium handset that delivers

across the board, from internal

hardware to camera system, screen

space and fidelity to battery life, and

even with advanced features like

reverse wireless charging and the

laptop-aping DeX Mode.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra also

makes history in offering support for

a digital stylus, which up until now

has been the preserve of the Galaxy

Note series. Indeed, the fact that the

S21 Ultra now works with an S-Pen

really adds a new dimension to the

Galaxy S range and finally removes

any reason why an enthusiast would

wait for the top-spec Note each year.

The phone remains, despite a price

cut, very expensive, but this is a

handset that has more powerful

specs and performance than many of

today’s laptops, and will easily last

not just a year or two, but perhaps as

much as half a decade.

And when you take that into

consideration, suddenly its high

price is easier to swallow.

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Find the best deals on the Samsung Galaxy

S21 Ultra at bit.ly/t3s21ult

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LARGE AND IN CHARGE

Thanks to a hearty

5,000mAh battery, the S21

Ultra will retain juice all the

day – really useful if you

want to take advantage of

its reverse wireless charging.