The Galaxy S21 is likely to be the neatest telephone Samsung has ever made. Like the iPhone 12, it doesn’t have the perfect specs or the most important display. But it delivers the place it counts, at a worth that’s very attainable for a telephone with a full complement of 5G, a high-end digital camera, and the newest Snapdragon processor. At $800, $29 lower than the iPhone 12, and simply $100 greater than the Google Pixel 5 and Galaxy S20 FE, the S21 is already a powerful contender for smartphone of the yr.
Update 1/29: The Galaxy S21 is offered for buy at Amazon.com, Best Buy, Samsung.com, and different retail shops.
Android and Galaxy lovers will moan and wail over the issues which might be lacking, which is admittedly a fairly prolonged checklist: 12GB of RAM, QuadHD+ decision, expandable microSD storage, MST fee assist, earbuds, a glass again, and a charger. But if you happen to aren’t the form of one who dives deep into spec sheets, the S21 provides you with every little thing you want in a 2021 smartphone at a worth that gained’t make your eyes water.
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A very unique design
Samsung’s smartphone design has change into considerably predictable lately, as bezels shrank and digital camera arrays grew. But the S21 is one thing really completely different with an Apple-like stage of consideration to design.
The fringe of the S21 extends into the digital camera array.
The footage right here don’t actually do it justice. Samsung integrated the digital camera array into the steel band that connects the display to the again, which serves each to attenuate the bump and make it stream higher into the general design of the telephone. It’s one of many solely digital camera modules I’ve seen that doesn’t really feel prefer it was tacked on, and it makes the telephone really really feel like a cohesive unibody enclosure.
The digital camera design isn’t nearly appears. Where the S20 was extremely top-heavy and somewhat clunky to carry, the S21 feels a lot lighter regardless of truly weighing greater than its predecessor (171 grams vs 163 grams). The new digital camera array provides a little bit of steadiness to the S21 and makes it rather more nice to carry for longer durations of time.
Michael Simon/IDGThe Galaxy S21
Also serving to the burden distribution is the selection of supplies. You in all probability wouldn’t comprehend it to have a look at it, however the S21 is product of “reinforced polycarbonate” to maintain prices down. It nonetheless feels extra premium than the Pixel 4a as a consequence of its weight, and the feel feels nearer to aluminum or frosted glass than the plastic materials it’s.
An ideal display even with sacrifices
Around the entrance, the S21 has the identical 6.2-inch show because the S20, surrounded by very skinny bezels. The display is flat right here fairly than curved, however the visible distinction is minor. The telephone is definitely barely narrower (151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9mm vs 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9mm) consequently, making it simpler to carry and a bit much less vulnerable to unintended touches.
Michael Simon/IDGThe 120Hz refresh charge on the S21 is adaptive now to avoid wasting battery.
Also much less accident-prone is the fingerprint sensor. Samsung continues to be utilizing an ultrasonic scanner constructed into the show, but it surely’s greater and quicker than the earlier sensor within the S20. The distinction is noticeable and lower down dramatically on my errant scans. It’s not fairly as constantly correct because the bodily sensor within the Pixel 5, and I’d a lot want a 3D facial scanner, however when it really works, it feels nearer to a premium biometric.
Like the S10e and S20 FE, the S21’s display tops out at Full HD (2400×1080), the bottom for the standard S21 in a while. Much just like the plastic again, nonetheless, you’ll want very discerning eyes to see the deficit of pixels. Otherwise, it’s simply as vibrant, vibrant, and speedy as earlier than, and it’s a bit extra environment friendly too. The S21 has the identical speedy 120Hz refresh charge because the S20, however a brand new “Adaptive” setting dials it again to 48Hz when not in use. You can even nonetheless set it to 60Hz, however I’m rather more snug with recommending it keep on 120Hz now.
Also new to the S21 show is an adaptive blue mild filter that mechanically adjusts the display’s colours primarily based on the time of day. It’s just like Apple’s Night Shift and an upgraded model of Samsung’s personal blue mild filter that has shipped for years. If you’ve already been utilizing it, it gained’t make all that a lot of a distinction besides now it’s known as “Eye Comfort Shield.”
Michael Simon/IDGThe again of the S21 is plastic, however you gained’t actually discover that.
Even with a considerably gimmicky new function and decrease decision, the S21 continues to be top-of-the-line smartphone screens I’ve ever used. If you examine them aspect by aspect as I did, you may inform that the Ultra is a bit superior, however the compromises Samsung made with the S21 are acceptable and unnoticeable even if you happen to spend many hours your display every day.
Quick and long-lasting
The Galaxy S21 makes use of the newest Snapdragon processor, the 888, so efficiency is as you’d anticipate: glorious. Even with “just” 8GB of RAM (4GB fewer than the S20), apps, animations, and transitions fly across the display.
That has largely to do with Qualcomm’s super-speedy 5nm system-on-chip. Benchmarks posted a modest improve over the S20’s 865 chip, however there are many enhancements that gained’t present up in the usual assessments. Most notably, the chip now has an built-in 5G modem to ship better energy effectivity. Samsung can be utilizing UFS 3.1 storage for noticeable quicker learn/write speeds:
S20 (UFS 3.0)
Sequential learn: 1,592.46 MBps
Sequential write: 662.75 MBps
Random learn: 45,172.27 IOPS
Random write: 33,764.08 IOPS
S21 (UFS 3.1)
Sequential learn: 1,861 MBps
Sequential write: 782.63 MBps
Random learn: 75,319.69 IOPS
Random write: 67,353.96 IOPS
These are the form of year-over-year enhancements you anticipate from a Samsung flagship. They matter much less if you happen to’re coming from an S20 and even an S10, however upgrading from an S8 shall be a noticeable enchancment. Smartphones have been quick sufficient for a few years now, however small issues could make an enormous distinction in how briskly they really feel, like W-Fi 6 and 5G, each of that are on board.
Michael Simon/IDGThe distinction in colours between the digital camera array and the again is sort of good on the S21.
A few notable issues are lacking. The MFT chip that allow you to use Samsung Pay at older bank card terminals is gone, and the ultra-wideband chip mandatory for exactly finding Samsungs’s SmartTags isn’t right here both (you’ll get it on the S21+ and S21 Ultra although). You additionally gained’t be capable of increase the 128GB of base storage with a microSD card like in Galaxies previous—that slot is gone. But just like the display, these are acceptable sacrifices that few customers are prone to discover.
The S21 has the identical 4,000mAh battery because the S20, however the built-in modem in addition to the adaptive, lower-resolution show assist it final somewhat longer. In benchmarks, I approached 10 hours, and in common use, I not often needed to fear about charging till the top of the day. I put it someplace between the iPhone 12 and 12 mini, which is to say the battery life is superb.
The Galaxy S21 ships with One UI 3.1 primarily based on Android 11, making it the earliest telephone Samsung has shipped with the newest model of Android. Samsung gives a dizzying array of customization and personalization choices, however even if you happen to go away the inventory settings as-is, it’s one of many higher Android skins.
Michael Simon/IDGThe ultrasonic fingerprint sensor on the S21 is quicker than it’s ever been.
You’ll nonetheless should take care of Bixby and occasional advertisements for Samsung apps and merchandise, however you can also make the identical criticisms concerning the iPhone 12. Plus you’re assured to get three full generations of updates, so the S21 will get Android 14, the identical promise Google makes with the Pixel 5. Hopefully, main updates shall be delivered faster by then, however both method, shopping for a premium Samsung telephone is not a guessing recreation on the subject of Android assist.
Still an excellent digital camera
For the primary time shortly, the Galaxy S21 has the very same digital camera {hardware} because the Galaxy S20, with 12MP large and ultrawide lenses and a 30X hybrid optical Space Zoom telephoto lens. Like Apple and Google, nonetheless, Samsung has achieved work behind the scenes to spice up the standard, so the pictures you snap with the S21 shall be a bit higher than they’d be from the S20.
Michael Simon/IDGThe fringe of the S21 extends into the digital camera array.
With the exception of zoomed pictures, nonetheless, the pictures I took with the S21 nonetheless aren’t fairly pretty much as good as those I took with the iPhone 12. The variations come right down to small bits of element right here, white steadiness there. Samsung has undoubtedly refined the S21’s photo-taking talents, however there’s nonetheless room for enchancment.
Michael Simon/IDGIn this shot of a flower, the S21 (left) blew out the colours and element a bit whereas the iPhone 12 (middle) and Pixel 5 (proper) dealt with the intense surrounding mild effectively.
Most notably, the S21 tended to brighten pictures excessively even when night time mode wasn’t activated, which regularly led to blown-out particulars and washed-out colours. As you may see within the picture above, a number of the particulars of the stamen and the petals are misplaced as a consequence of overexposure. You can even see some slight struggles with night time mode beneath as in comparison with the iPhone 12 and Pixel 5. Again, these are excessive examples which might be very nitpicky. Overall, the colour accuracy and focus is sharp, and it was very straightforward to snap fast pictures with glorious outcomes.
Michael Simon/IDGIn darkish pictures, the S21 tended to overly brighten pictures so that they misplaced some element as seen right here on this shot. All three telephones did extraordinarily effectively capturing a really darkish scene however the S21 (left) missed a little bit of the element that the iPhone 12 (middle) and Pixel 5 (proper) grabbed.
However, as you’ll see in my upcoming S21 Ultra assessment, the variations are fairly noticeable. It’s irritating that telephone makers are reserving the perfect cameras for telephones with the most important screens, but when images is essential to you, you must undoubtedly think about the Ultra, even at a $400 premium.
Should you purchase a Galaxy S21?
When you boil it down, the Galaxy S21 isn’t all that completely different from the S20. It has the identical dimension display and the identical digital camera, together with much less RAM and a decrease decision. You’re additionally giving up a microSD card slot.
Michael Simon/IDGThe Galaxy S21 has a design that’s really distinctive.
But these modifications gained’t be all that noticeable to most customers, and it comes with a pleasant $200 worth lower over the S20. At $800, the Galaxy S21 is without doubt one of the greatest premium smartphone bargains I’ve seen in years. You’re additionally unlikely to discover a Snapdragon 888 telephone for much less till the second half of 2021.