Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Teardown Guide for DIY Repairs
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 13 Steps
What’s better than a Max? Well, ask Samsung and they’ll probably shout ‘Ultra!’—and they’ve got a good reason to. Enter the Galaxy S21 Ultra, back and better than ever. It’s not just a minor upgrade, it’s a full-on powerhouse. Curious if it’s all about the specs or if there’s more to it? The best way to find out is to dive right in and tear it down! For more repair fun and to keep up with the latest, check out our YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter. And if you’re looking to stay in the loop, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter. Need a hand with your own device? You can always schedule a repair.
Step 1
– Think of this as comparing the latest phone specs—is it really a step up or just a shiny new mask? If you’ve checked out our teardown of the S20 Ultra and it feels like déjà vu, you’re not imagining things. Let’s take a closer look to see if the specs really match up or if it’s just a numbers game. From the stunning 6.8″ Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED display to the powerful Snapdragon 888 chip with 12 GB of RAM (or 16 GB if you’re feeling fancy), and storage options up to 512 GB, this device packs a punch. The 5,000 mAh battery keeps you going all day, and with five cameras—including a 108 MP wide-angle and a 40 MP selfie shooter—there’s plenty to explore. If you need help with any repairs, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 2
– Let’s kick things off by unpacking the phone—yep, that means the box and all the accessories. You’ll find the usual suspects: a cable and a wall charger.
– This year’s Galaxy S-series is rocking a sleeker vibe with edges that are less rounded, but don’t worry—it’s not a dramatic change like what Apple did with the iPhone.
– Over at the camera bump, it’s now seamlessly flowing right into the Ultra’s aluminum edge, making for a smooth look and feel.
– Camera bumps aren’t going anywhere, but sadly, expandable storage is a thing of the past—the S21 series has ditched the microSD tray.
– Joking aside, this isn’t a shocker from Samsung, and hey, it’s a small win for cutting down on e-waste.
One thing we really appreciate about the new design is the matte finish on the glass rear panel. It doesn’t feel quite like glass, but it offers a sleek, premium plasticky feel that many find appealing. And yes, you read that right—there’s no charger included in the box. Seems like Samsung is following the trend set by others, even if they gave a hard time about it last year. If you need any help with your device, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 3
– Before diving into the repair, let’s take a peek inside with some high-tech imaging, thanks to our friends at Creative Electron. Curious what secrets the phone reveals compared to the S20 Ultra’s X-ray view? Next, notice how the vibration motor and SIM card tray have swapped spots at each end—this clever change makes room for a slightly bigger earpiece speaker. The periscope telephoto camera also appears larger, probably to support extra optical zoom levels. Lastly, the wireless charging coils got a little upgrade: the outer coils are now thinner, longer, and sport a few more windings, which can help boost efficiency over a larger area. The inner coils now feature a two-gauge setup—the finer windings might make charging smaller items like Galaxy Buds more efficient. If you need assistance with any step, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 4
The new camera bump’s contours make this procedure trickier. We worked out a lateral pick maneuver, but it still required more patience than we’d like. Remember, taking your time and being gentle can make all the difference in a successful repair.
– We’re diving in like a seasoned pro—time to bring on the heat and a little slicing action to separate that rear panel. We’ve got this!
– Now that the heat’s done its job, let’s carefully make our cuts around the edges to free the panel.
– Success! The rear panel is off, and no cables were left behind. Smooth sailing from here!
Tools Used
Step 5
– The large adhesive gasket in this device does double duty, securing both the back cover and the camera bump. Want to get creative? The bump can be carved off separately, opening up some fun DIY customization options. Once you remove the back panel, you’ll get a good look at how massive this phone is compared to our tiny Minnow Driver Kit. Inside, you’ll notice the internals are a slight upgrade over last year’s S20 Ultra, with small tweaks to the wireless charging coil and upper antenna assemblies. Also, the earpiece speaker now comes out together with the antenna assembly—an updated design first seen in the Note 20—no more separate attachments like in previous models such as the S20 Ultra.
Unlike the S20 Ultra, the glass camera lenses are designed to be replaced individually, which is actually pretty handy. The small size of the device doesn’t mean sacrificing repairability—sometimes, smaller gadgets are easier to handle. Just take your time and follow the steps carefully. If you run into trouble, you can always schedule a repair with Salvation Repair for expert help.
Step 6
– Once we carefully remove the motherboard, we head straight for the camera setup. Here, we encounter a familiar face from the S20 Ultra – the 12 MP ultra-wide lens.
– Also returning is the trusty 108 MP ƒ/1.8 wide-angle camera, though it’s slimmed down a bit this time, going from a 26 mm to a 24 mm equivalent focal length. Perfect for those summer shots!
– The periscope telephoto camera is back too, but with a fresh new look. It may have given up some features to make room for some cool upgrades:
– A big change to the camera setup: The DepthVision camera from the S20+ and Ultra is now gone, making space for a 10 MP ƒ/2.4 70 mm telephoto camera as the new companion for the periscope.
– There’s also a brand new laser AF module in the mix, and it’s pretty awesome at focusing. Think of it like a mini golf rangefinder—maybe you could even use it for a round of golf?
– Seems like DepthVision wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Now, Samsung’s using software processing to take care of things instead.
The camera specs changed quite a bit: the image resolution took a step down from 48 MP to 10 MP, and the zoom went from 4x to 10x optical—focal length increased from 103 mm to 240 mm. The sensor size shrank from 1/2.0″ to 1/3.24″, but the pixels got larger, going from 0.8 μm to 1.22 μm, meaning each pixel can capture more light. Plus, the aperture slowed down from ƒ/3.5 to ƒ/4.9, letting in less light. If you followed all that, you’re doing great—keep up the good work!
Step 7
– Ever wondered what’s hiding under the hood of this phone? Let’s dive in and see what makes it tick:
– Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chilling under the Samsung K3LK4K40CM-BGCP 12 GB LPDDR5 RAM
– Samsung flash storage KLUDG4UHDC-B0E1 128 GB keeping everything in check
– Qualcomm SMR526 5G modulator bringing the speed
– Maxim MAX77705C power management IC handling the juice
– Qualcomm QPM5825 power management IC keeping everything balanced
– Qualcomm QDM5872 and QDM4820 Front-End Module running the show
– Cirrus Logic CS35L40 audio amplifier IC pumping up the sound
Step 8
– This right board kind of resembles a quirky dinosaur with some interesting chips to check out: the Qualcomm SDR868 RF transceiver, the WACOM W9020 IC (that tiny secret behind the S Pen) acting as the digitizer controller, the Qualcomm PM8350C power management IC, the Qualcomm PM8350 power management IC, the Samsung SM3080 power management IC, the Qualcomm QET5100 envelope tracker IC, and the Cirrus Logic CS35L40 and CS40L25 audio amplifier ICs. Take your time to identify these components and get ready for the next steps. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 9
– IC identification, continued:
– STMicroelectronics STM32G071K8T6 32-Bit ARM Cortex-M0 Microcontroller with 64 KB Flash – A solid microcontroller to keep things running smoothly.
– Renesas (formerly Integrated Device Technology) P9320S Wireless Power Receiver – The magic that gets your device charging wirelessly. Pretty neat, right?
– NXP Semiconductor SN110T Secure Element – The little hero that keeps everything secure and encrypted, making sure your data stays safe.
– Samsung 0444D1 Bluetooth Module (likely) – This is the part that makes your device wirelessly talk to your headphones, speakers, and all that good stuff.
– ON Semiconductor NCP59744 3A LDO Regulator – Regulates power like a pro, keeping your device running without any hiccups.
– Skyworks SKY77368-11 Power Amplifier Module – Boosting your signal so everything works loud and clear. No more dropped connections.
– Broadcom (Formerly Avago) AFEM-9146 RF Front End Module (likely) – The key player in getting those radio signals and wireless connections flowing perfectly.
Step 10
– We get it—you’re curious about what’s hiding on that board. Here’s a rundown of the sensors you’ll find: the STMicroelectronics LSM6DSL 3-axis accelerometer and gyroscope (probably), the LPS22HH pressure sensor from STMicroelectronics, Austria Micro Systems’ ambient light, color, and proximity sensor, and the Knowles SPH0655LM4H-1 MEMS microphone (most likely). Knowing what’s lurking inside helps you understand the magic behind your device. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 11
Just a quick heads-up: you’re working with a 5000 mAh battery here, humming along at 3.88V for 19.40 Wh. For the detail fans, last year’s battery ran at 3.86V and 19.30 Wh—so a tiny bump up this time around!
– Familiarity can sometimes lead to taking things for granted, like when we pull out our isopropyl alcohol to carefully remove the battery. Speaking of familiar sights, this power pack looks quite similar to some others out there, which can be a bit confusing. For example, the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s battery packs a respectable 14.13 Wh, but the Note 20 Ultra’s hefty 17.46 Wh pack might make you do a double take. Interestingly, the battery in this device is very close to the one used in the S20 Ultra, with just a few minor tweaks. If you need help during this process, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 12
With the added surface area, you’re not only getting more space to work with your fingers, but also gathering more data with each scan. Plus, software improvements make it all run smoother, so you can relax and focus on getting the job done.
– Get ready to explore the new Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra! First off, check out the larger in-screen fingerprint sensor—it’s about 77% bigger than the one on the S20, making unlocking your device smoother than ever. Unlike the previous models, the S21 Ultra doesn’t have a modular display cable like the S21 did, so replacing the screen involves a bit more finesse. We’ll peek through a cutout to see the display chip—no need to unglue the entire screen here. Also, note that the SIM card reader has moved from the top of the device to the bottom, now connected to the daughterboard next to the USB-C port—so handle that area carefully. Lastly, there’s a new antenna tucked into the corner, possibly UWB technology, marking the first Galaxy S device to include this feature. Keep these updates in mind as you work through your repair, and if you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 13
– Samsung is all about pushing the envelope with their smartphones, but this year feels more like a tune-up for the Galaxy series—holding on to what’s working and ditching what didn’t quite hit the mark, leading to a more polished device.
– That said, the repairability of the S21 Ultra hasn’t exactly leveled up from past models…
