Samsung Galaxy S21

The Samsung Galaxy S21 is the entry-level version in the S21 series that Samsung announced early 2021. The device gets a lower price, better performance and redesigned looks. Then again there are many similarities with the S20 from last year. There are also some things missing. Which ones exactly and whether that justify the lower price we will explain to you here.

Lower resolution, bigger fingerprint scanner

The Galaxy S21 5G features a 6.2-inch display up front, just like the S20. This year, the screen is flatter. Ideal for if you're not a fan of curved screen edges. It's still an Infinity-O Display so there's a punch-hole for the same 10MP selfie camera. There is one big difference and that is the resolution. It goes down from 3200x1400 to 2400x1080 pixels. In popular speech, this is also called Full HD+. We often see this resolution in these types of phones, but we do not often see a manufacturer provide a successor with a lower resolution. The S20 could not handle the smooth 120Hz in the highest resolution, which is why many opted for a lower resolution. So you can ask yourself if this lower resolution is a bad thing. The screen does have another plus; the fingerprint scanner is 77% larger. This means you don't have to be so precise to unlock your S21.

Same camera, new features

On the camera front, there seems little new under the sun as well. We still find a 12MP main camera with wide-angle lens, 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera with a 120° angle of view and a 64MP telephoto camera with 3x hybrid optical zoom. Digitally, you can even get 30x closer, something Samsung calls 'Space Zoom'. New to this is 'Zoom Lock' that keeps a subject in focus while zooming, no matter how much you move around. The appearance of the camera is also new. Samsung calls it 'Contour Cut Camera', and we will probably see this style more often. Furthermore, Samsung has improved the Portrait Mode, you can cut photos from an 8K video (8K Snap) and there is now the 'Director's View' with which you can edit images into a story.

Main Samsung Galaxy S21 Specifications

• Flat 6.2-inch Infinity-O Display with Full HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate
• 12+12+64MP camera with ultra wide-angle and 3x hybrid optical zoom
• Pro Grade video camera with 8K video, 8K Video Snap and smooth Super Steady Video
• 10MP selfie camera with autofocus and portrait mode
• Waterproof IP68 housing with updated look and Phantom colors
• Powerful performance thanks to Exynos 2100 processor at up to 2,9GHz
• 128 or 256GB non-expandable memory
• Fast wired and wireless charging + charging others (Wireless PowerShare)
• 5G and Dual SIM support (physical nanoSIM + built-in eSIM)

More memory, yet less space

Perhaps the biggest innovation is deep under the hood. It's the processor that provides powerful performance and fast operation. You get the same processor as the more expensive S21 Ultra. This one has access to 8GB of RAM memory which is more than enough for almost all cases. The Galaxy S21 is available in 128 or 256GB of storage memory. The latter is a new addition, and not without reason. You cannot expand the memory yourself anymore. A memory card slot is missing. A major break with the past. Still, 256GB (and maybe even 128GB) will be more than enough for most people. Another thing that is missing is a headphone port, but that was also missing from the S20. And while we are at it; the box lacks a charger. This trend started by Apple has now reached Samsung. Just like last year, fast charging is possible with a maximum of 25 Watts. If you still have that charger lying around, then at least you do not need to buy a new one.

Alternatives

Apart from the few improvements, the S21 is very similar to its predecessor. But it does have a memory card slot, a higher screen resolution and a glass back. If you can't live without that, it's always an idea to buy a S20 instead of this S21. The price will also be lower than this S21 in most cases.