Last yr’s Galaxy S20 lineup was such an enormous change that Samsung launched a brand new naming scheme to hammer residence how consequential the improve was. This yr, the Galaxy S21 sequence refines that imaginative and prescient at a lot decrease costs.
Samsung has launched three Galaxy S21 fashions in very comparable sizes. The S21 and S21+ have 6.2-inch and 6.7-inch screens like their S20 predecessors, whereas the S21 Ultra is barely smaller, 6.8 inches versus the S20 Ultra’s 6.9-inch display. The prime and backside bezels are a bit slimmer as properly to create a near-all-screen look, however all three fashions are basically the identical dimension as final yr’s:
Galaxy S21
S21: 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9mm
S21+: 161.5 x 75.6 x 7.8mm
S21 Ultra: 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9mm
Galaxy S20
S20: 151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9mm
S20+: 161.9 x 73.7 x 7.8mm
S20 Ultra: 166.9 x 76.0 x 8.8mm
They additionally weigh fairly a bit greater than final yr’s fashions, even the S21, which is product of a “specially reinforced polycarbonate material” (plastic) versus the Gorilla Glass Victus glass overlaying the S21+ and S21 Ultra:
Galaxy S21
S21: 171 grams
S21+: 202 grams
S21 Ultra: 229 grams
Galaxy S20
S20: 163 grams
S20+: 186 grams
S20 Ultra: 222 grams
The further weight is probably going as a result of digital camera module, which is in contrast to something you’ve seen on a smartphone. Rather than a floating rectangular or sq. array within the prime left nook, just like the iPhone or earlier Galaxy telephones, the digital camera module on the S21 is much less of a bump and extra of a bulge, seamlessly extending from the steel facet body. It even has a reputation: Contour Cut Camera housing.
Inside the array, you’ll discover the most important improve for the S21. While you’ll nonetheless discover a triple-camera within the S21 and S21+ and a quad-camera within the S21 Ultra, the entire system has gotten an improve:
Galaxy S21/Galaxy S21+
Camera 1: Ultra Wide (120-deg) 12MP, f/2.2
Camera 2: Wide 12MP, F/1.8, OIS
Camera 3: Telephoto (Hybrid Optic 3X) 64MP, f/2.0 OIS, 30X Space Zoom
S21 Ultra
Camera 1: Ultra Wide (120-deg) 12MP, f/2.Camera 2:
Camera 2: Wide 108MP, F/1.8, OIS
Camera 3: Telephoto (Optical 3X) 10MP, f/2.4, OIS
Camera 4: Telephoto (Optical 10X) 10MP, f/4.9, 100X Space Zoom
That’s not a misprint. The S21 Ultra is Samsung’s first dual-telephoto lens, which ought to present an enormous enhance over the S20 Ultra’s considerably janky zoom capabilities. Like its predecessor, the S21 Ultra can zoom as much as 100X due to Samsung’s Space Zoom tech, however the addition of a 10X optical zoom lens ought to make an enormous distinction.
The S21’s shade palette is considerably muted this yr.
Night pictures must also see a major enhance. While all three telephones have “enhanced processing” when taking pictures in low mild, the S21 Ultra additionally brings improved noise discount and 12MP nona-binning expertise to ship what Samsung says is its “biggest leap yet in low-light photography.”
A slew of different enhancements reduce throughout the entire S21 fashions: 8K Snap, which helps you to pull out nonetheless pictures out of your 8K movies; Director’s View, which lets you see and swap amongst every of the cameras whereas taking pictures video; 60 fps Super Steady, multi-mic recording, enhanced portrait mode; and extra Single Take choices, together with slow-motion vids.
The standard upgrades
The S21 lineup can be utilizing the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, debunking hypothesis that Samsung would be using its new Exynos 2100 chip as a substitute. It ought to be a lot quick, however Samsung’s imprecise description outlined it as “the latest and most advanced smartphone chipset yet in a Galaxy for greater speed, energy efficiency, and advanced computing capabilities to support 5G connectivity and on-device AI.”
SamsungThe Galaxy S21 has a plastic again however nonetheless appears very luxurious.
While the three display sizes on the S21 are largely the identical as these on the S20, Samsung has tweaked issues a bit. Most notably, S21 and S21+ have “flat” Full HD+ (1080p) shows, leaving the S21 Ultra as the only mannequin with a curved “Edge” display with QuadHD+ (1440p) decision. The S21 Ultra additionally affords the next max brightness (1,500 nits) than the S20, together with a 50-percent improved distinction ratio and a brand new Eye Comfort Shield characteristic that “automatically adjusts the blue light based on the time of day, content you’re viewing, and your bedtime.”
As has been rumored, Samsung is bringing the S Pen to the Galaxy S line for the primary time. It’s not fairly the Note expertise, although: Only the S21 Ultra helps the stylus, and also you’ll must deliver your individual as a result of Samsung isn’t together with one within the field (although it should provide a number of instances that embody S Pen slots, and you’ll already hear the third-party case makers scrambling to make extra). It additionally doesn’t help any of the Bluetooth-enabled “Air” gestures on the Note 20—the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s S Pen is strictly for taking notes.
SamsungYou can lastly use an S Pen on the Galaxy S21 Ultra.
Like final yr, all fashions have 120Hz shows, however this yr they’ve adaptive refresh charges so the influence on battery life ought to be diminished. On the S21 Ultra, you’ll have the ability to use the 120Hz show with Quad HD+ decision together with a wider 10Hz to 120Hz adaptive refresh vary than the S21 and S21+ (48Hz to 120Hz) to eke out a little bit further juice from the battery.
Speaking of the battery, the S21 and S21 Ultra have the identical capacities as their S20 counterparts—4,000mAh and 5,000mAh, respectively—whereas the S21+ will get a lift to 4,800mAh from the S20’s 4,500mAh battery. You’re additionally getting much less RAM (8GB vs 12GB) with the S21 and S21+ versus the S20, whereas the S21 Ultra nonetheless begins at 12GB of RAM with a max of 16GB on the 512GB mannequin. Sadly, nevertheless, Samsung has dumped the expandable reminiscence slot, so what you get inside your telephone is it.
You get Wi-Fi 6E with the S21 Ultra (and common Wi-Fi 6 on the S21 and S21+) and Ultra Wide Band help with the S21+ and S21 Ultra for pinpoint location monitoring that increase the brand new $30 SmartTags Bluetooth trackers. All three fashions get the total complement of 5G, together with Android 11 within the type of One UI 3.
Inside the field, you’ll discover the telephone and a cable, and that’s it. Following Apple’s considerably controversial transfer to dump the charger with the iPhone 12, Samsung is following swimsuit, eradicating each the earbuds and the charger from the S21’s field.
But the S21 line is a bit cheaper than the S20. Samsung has shaved off $200 from each the S21 and S21+, bringing them all the way down to $800 and $1,000, respectively, and $100 off the Ultra for a beginning worth of $1,300. The Galaxy S21 is accessible for preorder right this moment in violet, pink, grey, and black, the S21+ in violet, silver, and black, and the S21 Ultra in black and silver. All preorders via Samsung.com will get a free SmartTag and as much as $200 in Samsung credit score.