The Samsung Galaxy S21 is a beast of a phone in its own right.
David PhelanWhen Samsung announced its Galaxy S21 range, it’s no surprise that much of the focus was on the top-flight model, the Galaxy S21 Ultra. But do you really have to choose that model to have a decent handset? And are there benefits that the entry-level S21 has which the Ultra misses? Actually, yes. In this Samsung Galaxy S21 review, we’ll show there are more than enough compelling reasons to save a lot of money by choosing this one over its Ultra sibling.
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The phones in the S21 range have plenty of differences between them, and these include both objective upgrades (a better display or extra cameras, for instance) and personal taste (one person’s overly huge phone is someone else’s perfect fit).
We’ve already reviewed the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, so be sure to check out our full evaluation of one of 2021’s hottest launches if you haven’t already. If you’re curious about how the Galaxy S21 measures up, read on for the key differences you’ll want to consider.
Samsung Galaxy S21 In a Nutshell
Pros:
· Fetching, refined design
· Strong performance
· Very keen price
Cons:
· Lower Display resolution
· Limited camera compared to the Ultra
· No Ultra Wideband
Samsung Galaxy S21: Technical Specifications
Price $800 | Cameras: 12MP ultra wide, 12MP wide, 64MP telephoto, Processor: Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 (5 nm) | Display: 6.2-inch dynamic AMOLED 2x display, 120Hz, 1080 x 2400 pixels, 421 pixels per inch | Storage: No SD slot, 128GB or 256GB internal | Memory: 8GB | Battery size: 4,000 mAh | Dimensions: 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm | Weight 169g
Samsung Galaxy S21, left, Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, right.
David PhelanEasier to hold
The Galaxy S21 is not likely to be too big for your hand, while the Ultra just might be, and that’s not just down to the screen size. The S21 is 1mm slimmer from front to back. That may not sound like much, but you can feel the difference. Samsung has usefully designed these phones with curved edges for a comfier fit, a palpable design choice over the iPhone’s smooth edges.
Another thing to note in the design: the camera panel. This is one of the most distinctive features in the new phones, with the lenses sitting at top-left of the phone’s rea, and sloping off the edge. On the Ultra, the camera panel is very deep, much more so than on the S21. Now, much of that is down to physics: for a zoom lens, the focal length is longer which simply requires a thicker panel, but even so, this is another comfort win for the S21.
But there’s one way the Ultra really wins out: the way it feels. The glass back on the Ultra is classy and tactile, with the Samsung logo perceptible to the touch. The S21 has a plastic back which feels good, just not as good. But please note, this is one of the things that makes the S21 so light in weight, which is a definite plus.
Samsung Galaxy S21, left, Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, right. The S21 is more colorful.
David PhelanS21 is go for brilliant colors
The S21 Ultra looks great in its standard hues of Phantom Black and Phantom Silver. Not to mention that there are three colors exclusive to samsung.com: Phantom Titanium, Phantom Navy and Phantom Brown. All elegant and cool-looking. But how about, you know, something livelier? Turn to the S21. As well as Phantom White and Phantom Grey which are understated, there’s the sumptuous Phantom Pink and the cute lead color, Phantom Violet, which is just the right side of eye-catching without being garish.
Beautiful display despite stunted sharpness
There’s no denying it, the S21’s display is no match for the screen on the Ultra: there are just nowhere near as many pixels. Actually, there are fewer pixels per inch here than on last year’s Galaxy S20 (it had 563ppi, this has 421ppi). Spare a thought for Galaxy S21+ owners: their bigger screen has the same pixel count, meaning the pixel density is just 394ppi, which is lower than the iPhone 6 Plus managed more than six years ago.
That’s not to say the display doesn’t still look good—just not as good as the Ultra side-by-side. On the plus side, a lower resolution can help with battery life and raw performance, which is something gamers might come to appreciate. Both phones have a variable refresh rate which is higher than most rivals still, and you’ll notice the positive effects of that improvement more than the lower pixel count in most cases.
The camera panels on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra (front) and Samsung Galaxy S21.
David PhelanFewer cameras still snap excellent photos
Just because the S21 cameras are no match for the S21 Ultra doesn’t mean they’re no good. The ultrawide sensor is identical, with a 12MP resolution and a focal length that’s half the wide camera. The telephoto camera here has a much higher-resolution sensor with 64MP.
However, the pixel count doesn’t tell the whole story: there are two telephoto lenses on the Ultra and one includes a 10x optical zoom. Here, it’s 1.1x and the rest of the zoom comes from a digital process, which makes images grainier as it’s effectively a full image crop. Then there’s the main wide camera, which on the Ultra has a 108MP-resolution sensor versus just 12MP here.
In short, the Ultra’s cameras are way better but, then again, it’s one of the best camera phones ever. In general use, I found the S21 cameras to be decent, sometimes excellent, and only rarely did I feel disappointed by the results the phone delivered. Its only major sin is that it’s not as flexible as some of its contemporaries.
Samsung Galaxy S21 in Phantom Violet.
David PhelanPerformance might actually be better
The processor which powers the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and the Galaxy S21 are identical. In the U.S. and China, that’s the Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888, while those in other international waters get the Exynos 2100. Both are 5nm processors.
That means the entry-level phone boasts the same chip as the top-of-the-range model. Every other variable being the same, you might even expect better performance here as the lower-resolution screen on the S21 takes a lesser toll on the processor.
Performance doesn’t match tit-for-tat, though. The S21 Ultra has extra operating memory of 12GB or 16GB of RAM depending on which capacity you buy. Compare that to the S21, which tops out at 8GB. In practice, though, both phones are blazing-fast and there’s very little difference noticeable between the two, and 8GB of RAM is already overkill for a vast majority of smartphone users.
There are a few missing features on the S21, one of the biggest being support for ultra wideband, which the apt-named S21 Ultra bears. This is a neat connectivity improvement that allows the phone to more accurately pinpoint the location of compatible devices such as the Samsung SmartTag opposed to traditional triangulation.
Without UWB, the Samsung Galaxy S21 can only work with the SmartTag via Bluetooth. It’ll still work, but it’s just not quite as accurate. UWB is still fresh enough that there isn’t much compelling you to pay more for it at present, but we expect widespread adoption over the coming years for things like true wireless earbuds and other gadgets.
As for how all of this impacts battery life, it may not surprise you that the cell in the S21 Ultra is bigger and therefore lasts longer than the base Galaxy S21. Even so, the smaller display and resolution—combined with all of Samsung’s other usual optimizations—means the S21 is very economical with its battery. While the S21 Ultra lasts a full day with ease, the S21 still can also manage a full day with typical usage, just with less in the tank at the end of it.
It’s a lot cheaper
Here’s the final reason why you might want to plump for the S21—its $800 sticker is a much cheaper entry point to getting the latest tech. In fact, not only is it more affordable than the S21 Ultra, but it’s around $200 cheaper than last year’s Galaxy S20, which is pretty impressive in itself. And it’s a full $400 less than the Galaxy S21 Ultra, much more reasonable than the Ultra’s $1,200 price tag.
Samsung Galaxy S21 in Phantom Violet.
David PhelanVerdict
Long story short, the Samsung Galaxy S21 is a great phone. while it’s true the S21 Ultra is a lot better, you have to ask yourself—is it $400 better? Unless you want the biggest display or most advanced cameras, for most users the S21 is going to be a powerful, fast and effective phone that’s available in more colors and fits brilliantly in the hand.
The Link LonkFebruary 09, 2021 at 12:49AM
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Samsung Galaxy S21 Review: 6 Reasons You Don’t Need To Spend Thousands On The Ultra - Forbes
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