Gear and gadgets:

Hardware we love, and we’re sure you will too.

ANOTHER YEAR, another new Galaxy smartphone from Samsung? Well yes, and no. Yes, because it’s been a year since Samsung launched the five-camera Galaxy S20 series, and no because this is so much more than another phone.

While there are three very nice-looking S21 smartphones in the range, the S21 Ultra 5G is the one you’ll want, for several reasons, especially if you’re a smartphone user who likes their device for business and leisure. The frosted (finger-print free, scratch-resistant) matt finish is beautiful, and the layout of the cameras on the back is sleek. Inside the Ultra 5G, you’ll find a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor. The S21 range is the first from Samsung to use this chipset, and it means much faster performance for the Ultra 5G.

Another big difference is this is the first nonNote device to support Samsung’s S Pen. It’s an amazing stylus, and using it for anything from drawing to signing documents is a cinch.

When it comes to camera capabilities, the

S21 Ultra 5G has optical zoom thanks to two dedicated telephoto cameras. Working together, you’ll be able to take sharper, closer photos and videos that are simply more stable. The two standout video modes – director’s view and vlogger’s view – completely flip things around, letting you shoot from all the cameras at the same time. It’s niche but oh-so fun, especially if you have aspirations of being a professional YouTuber. There are two things missing from the Ultra: microSD card support (sorry, you can’t add more storage) and no power brick in the box. Samsung does include a USB cable, but that’s it. Is it more sustainable? Yes. Do you have a wireless charger already? We hope so!

Samsung’s S21 Ultra 5G is a flagship phone worth its price tag. It’s a multi-media powerhouse that utilises cutting-edge technology to give you the very best Samsung experience yet.

RRP R27 999 samsung.com/za