The Samsung Galaxy S21 series has just been released at the Galaxy Unpacked 2021 event. Three models were announced: The Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra.
So, what you must know about Samsung’s latest flagship smartphone? Quite a lot, actually. Here are 10 things you need to know before you make that (expensive) purchase.
10 Things you Should Know About Samsung Galaxy S21
1. An adaptive refresh rate of 120Hz
Every model in the Samsung Galaxy S21 series with a high refresh rate display at 120hz. However, this does not mean that all 3 displays are similar. Instead, the Galaxy S21 and S21+ are going for Full HD+ resolutions on an AMOLED panel, while the Galaxy S21 Ultra features a Quad HD+ resolution on an edge display.
The phone will automatically adjust the refresh rate of your display to optimize battery usage, which will depend on what’s being shown.
2. The toughest Gorilla – Glass Gorilla Glass Victus
According to manufacturer – corning, Victus glass will survive a drop onto “hard, rough surfaces” from heights of about 2m
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra uses Gorilla Glass Victus. Please note that it’s only the Samsung Galaxy S21+ and S21 Ultra that comes with glass backs; the base model Galaxy S21 uses a plastic back.
3. Powered by Exynos Chipset.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 series are all powered by the Exynos chipset; however, markets (such as the U.S.) will get the Snapdragon 888.
Talking about performance, the Exynos high-performance core is clocked a little bit higher at 2.9GHz versus Snapdragon 888’s 2.84GHz.
4. Support for S Pen (Pro)
Samsung has finally extended the S Pen support beyond the Galaxy Note series! Actually, there are two S Pen variants for the first time: S Pen Pro and a regular S Pen.
The Samsung Ultra comes with support for the S Pen, and with this S Pen Pro, you can use Samsung’s iconic stylus to do things like creating sketches, take notes, and even remotely control your camera.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra doesn’t come with a dedicated slot for the stylus. You’ll have to buy a case with an S Pen slot—which would add some to the heft of the phone, and certainly piss off those of you who prefer phones naked.
5. No charger in the box
Remember when Samsung made fun of Apple recently? Yes, the same one. The Samsung Galaxy S21 series comes without a charger in the box. You will have to buy a Samsung charger separately.
Samsung Galaxy S21 series will make use of the USB Power-Delivery standard, so you can just pick up a third-party USB-C charging brick. Funny how people are made to eat their words, isn’t it?
6. WIFI 6 And 5G To Be Offered as Standard
The Samsung galaxy s21 is 5G enabled, as expected. Wi-Fi 6 is also offered on all 3 models, you’ll need a Wi-Fi 6-compatible router to take full advantage it.
Mind you, phone manufacturers have already started introducing mid-range 5G phones in recent months. If you’re going to pay this much for a phone, 5G is expected for sure.
7. Again, 108MP On the Galaxy S21 Ultra
On Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, you’ll get the now-familiar 108MP “pro sensor”. The rest of the quad-camera rear setup comes with a 12MP ultra-wide shooter with a Dual Pixel AF, a 10MP telephoto lens that gives 3x optical zoom, and a second 10MP telephoto lens with a 10x optical zoom.
Get ready to be able to zoom up to 100x with the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s Space Zoom.
8. No Ultra-Wideband support on the Galaxy S21
The Ultra-Wideband is only supported on the Galaxy S21 Ultra and the Galaxy S21+.
UWB is a wireless communication protocol (short-range) that works via radio waves. It operates at very high frequencies, and it can be used to capture directional and spatial data.
Nearby Share app, is enhanced by UWB, according to Samsung. Meanwhile, UWB is also built into the SmartThings Find the app, which helps you to precisely locate other UWB-equipped devices.
Sadly, you won’t have this improved functionality on the standard Galaxy S21.
9. Improved Night Mode
The Bright Night sensor is Samsung’s biggest leap yet in low-light photography. Night Mode in Samsung galaxy s21 has been improved with noise-reduction and 12MP Nona-binning technology, Samsung promises quick shots and an “excellent quality” with the Galaxy S21 series—even in night landscapes or dimly-lit rooms.
10. No expandable storage… not even on the Galaxy S21 Ultra
Sadly, the phone series does not have expandable storage on any models, unlike its predecessors — this means that you’ll have to live with the maximum capacity of 512GB for the Galaxy S21 Ultra and 256GB on Galaxy S21 and S21+.
