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Samsung’s Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, announced in January 2021, was the Wi‑Fi 6E model in the Galaxy S21 family. Launch coverage described it as the world’s first Wi‑Fi 6E mobile phone, but Samsung’s own wording was more cautious: “one of the first smartphones” with Wi‑Fi 6E. The distinction matters because the feature’s availability depends on the phone’s regional variant, a 6 GHz-capable router and local regulations.
Which Samsung phone has Wi‑Fi 6E?
The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G supports Wi‑Fi 6E. Samsung announced the S21 series in January 2021 and said broad availability began on January 29, 2021. Within that family, the Ultra—not the standard Galaxy S21 or S21+—was the model identified with Wi‑Fi 6E support.
| Device detail | Samsung’s launch-era information |
|---|---|
| Model | Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G |
| Wi‑Fi feature | Wi‑Fi 6E support |
| Display | 6.8 inches |
| Typical battery capacity | 5,000 mAh |
| Broad availability | January 29, 2021 |
Was it really the world’s first Wi‑Fi 6E phone?
“World’s first” is best understood as the announcement-era claim, not a permanent industry ranking. EE Times reported the Galaxy S21 Ultra as the first Wi‑Fi 6E-enabled mobile phone and attributed the capability to Broadcom’s BCM4389 Wi‑Fi 6E/Bluetooth 5 combo chip.
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Samsung’s product announcement and a February 2021 follow-up used the narrower description “one of the first smartphones” supporting Wi‑Fi 6E. That wording avoids claiming an absolute global lead across every prototype, regional release or competing announcement.
#1 Best Overall
- The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra (Renewed) is a premium smartphone with a 6.8-inch AMOLED display, 120Hz refresh rate, and powerful camera system featuring a 108MP main lens and up to 100x zoom. It supports the S Pen, offers strong performance with 5G connectivity, and is ideal for users seeking flagship features at a better value.
What Wi‑Fi 6E adds
Wi‑Fi 6E extends Wi‑Fi 6 into the 6 GHz band. The additional band can provide cleaner spectrum for compatible devices, reducing congestion from older 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks. EE Times’ launch-era explanation described up to seven additional 160 MHz channels and 1,200 MHz of added bandwidth.
Those figures describe the Wi‑Fi 6E spectrum context at launch, not a guarantee that a Galaxy S21 Ultra owner can use every channel. Channel availability varies by country, regulatory rules, carrier configuration, router capability and local interference.
Rank #2
- Item Package Dimension- 6.9299999929314L X 5.6299999942574W X 1.3399999986332H Inches
- Item Package Weight - 0.78925489796 Pounds
- Item Package Quantity - 1
- Product Type - Cellular Phone
What you need to use the S21 Ultra’s 6 GHz connection
- A compatible phone variant: Samsung identifies Wi‑Fi 6E support on the Galaxy S21 Ultra, but specifications can vary by market and carrier.
- A Wi‑Fi 6E router or access point: A conventional Wi‑Fi 6 router can use 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz but does not provide a 6 GHz network.
- Configured 6 GHz service: The router must have its 6 GHz radio enabled and operate on channels permitted in your region.
- Suitable conditions: Range, walls, interference, firmware and network backhaul all affect the connection you actually receive.
If the phone connects only on 5 GHz, that does not necessarily indicate a handset fault; the access point, regional rules or network settings may simply not expose a usable 6 GHz network.
Does Wi‑Fi 6E make the Galaxy S21 Ultra faster?
It can offer a less congested path and wider channels when the entire network supports them, but the available evidence does not establish a specific real-world speed, range or battery improvement for the S21 Ultra. EE Times noted that the handset was not yet available for testing when it published its launch report. Samsung’s technical demonstration was a manufacturer presentation rather than an independent benchmark.
Rank #3
- The Galaxy S21 Ultra features a massive 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with Quad HD+ resolution, HDR10+ support, and an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate that scales dynamically to deliver ultra-smooth visuals while conserving battery life.
Samsung also cautions that actual speed may vary with market, carrier and user environment. Treat Broadcom and Samsung statements about potential Wi‑Fi 6E benefits as capability claims, not measured results for every handset.
Why the announcement mattered
The S21 Ultra arrived as Wi‑Fi 6E hardware was entering consumer devices. Broadcom supplied the BCM4389 connectivity platform, and Wi‑Fi Alliance chief executive Edgar Figueroa said the chipset’s interoperability testing demonstrated the industry’s momentum toward Wi‑Fi 6E. Samsung executive JM Choi similarly presented the feature as a step toward improved connectivity for Galaxy users.
Rank #4
- Display: 6.2" AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and 1300 nits brightness for vivid visuals and smooth scrolling.
- Camera: Rear dual camera system with 64MP main and 12MP ultrawide lenses for stunning photos and videos.
- Memory: 128GB internal storage and 8GB RAM for plenty of apps and files.
- Connectivity: 5G capable with support for GSM, CDMA, and Wi-Fi networks.
- Battery: 4000mAh battery provides all-day power for your daily needs.
In practical terms, the phone’s significance is compatibility with a newly opened band—not a promise of a fixed speed increase. The benefit appears only when the phone, access point and local spectrum rules line up.
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The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is the Samsung phone associated with the company’s January 2021 Wi‑Fi 6E debut. Calling it the “world’s first” reflects launch coverage; Samsung itself described it as one of the first smartphones. It supports 6 GHz Wi‑Fi through Wi‑Fi 6E, but using that band requires a compatible router and depends on regional availability. No independent handset test in the launch evidence proves a particular speed or battery gain.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The Galaxy S21 Ultra features a massive 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with Quad HD+ resolution, HDR10+ support, and an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate that scales dynamically to deliver ultra-smooth visuals while conserving battery life.
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