Here’s everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy S21 series, launching in January
Samsung’s flagship smartphones for 2020 were some of the best Android smartphones this year, and we have high hopes for the company’s upcoming Galaxy S21 series. As per recent reports, the company will unveil the Galaxy S21 series in January next year, a few weeks before its usual Galaxy S series launch schedule. Ahead of the official reveal, we’ve seen several leaks and rumors about the upcoming devices, giving us a good look at their design and specifications. In case you’ve not been keeping up with our coverage of the devices, here’s everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Plus, and Galaxy S21 Ultra so far.
Samsung Galaxy S21 series: Release Date and Announcement Date
Samsung has inadvertently confirmed that the Galaxy S21 series will be unveiled on January 14th and that the devices are expected to go on sale in India on January 29th. Global retail availability is expected around January 22, 2021.
Your experiences are about to get even more epic on January 14, 2021.
Watch #SamsungUnpacked live on https://t.co/D6nxws2O4T pic.twitter.com/IVKmxn3Epv— Samsung Mobile (@SamsungMobile) January 3, 2021
Samsung has opened pre-order reservations for the Galaxy S21 series in the U.S. weeks ahead of the official announcement. If you want to be one of the first people in the region to get your hands on the Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, or S21 Ultra, you can now register for a pre-order notification in the Samsung Shop app. You also get $50 in accessory credit when you reserve your pre-order. The ‘reserve’ wording may be a little confusing, but you don’t need to put any money down to make the reservation, nor are you even required to pre-order a Galaxy S21 when pre-orders do go live.
- Reserve your pre-order for the upcoming Galaxy S21 line of smartphones and save! A free and straightforward e-mail sign-up lets you save $50 on accessories on your new device.
Once you’ve registered, Samsung will notify you as soon as the devices are available for pre-order. All users who pre-order a Galaxy S21 series device via the app will receive $60 in instant credits towards accessories for their new device.
Samsung Galaxy S21 series: Ultra, Plus, and Regular variants
Much like the previous generation, the Galaxy S20, the Galaxy S21 series will also have three devices in it at launch. There will be the regular Galaxy S21, followed by the Galaxy S21 Plus, and topping off with the premium flagship Galaxy S21 Ultra.
If you want an updated flagship from Samsung, the regular variant is the choice for you, as it will feature an updated SoC with a relatively modest package. It’s going to be the most accessible way to get a new Galaxy 2021 flagship in the first half of the year without abusing your wallet.
The Galaxy S21 Plus will be the middle-child in the lineup, and the option that would make sense for most people. It will pack in most of the needed features at a relatively-not-obscene price tag, giving users the sweet medium.
The Galaxy S21 Ultra will obviously be the overkill option. It would make sense for users who want the absolute best within conventional smartphone realms, and do not intend to flinch from spending top dollar for it. It will be the most premium and feature-packed device from the South Korean company (outside of foldables and luxury special editions), so it’s the phone to get for those looking to make a statement while still holding something recognizable as a smartphone.
Design
Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen plenty of leaked CAD renders, live images, and even promotional videos of the Galaxy S21 series. These leaks gave us a good look at the device’s design.
Galaxy S21 (Regular)
For the regular Galaxy S21, the design is almost the same as the Galaxy S20. The only major differences between the two devices are the new camera island, which flows over the device’s left edge and blends seamlessly with the frame, and the flat display. This new camera module design is consistent across the Galaxy S21 lineup, and it comes in a couple of different finishes, which depends on the base colorway of the device.
Speaking of colors, leaked official press renders of the Galaxy S21 suggest that Samsung will be offering the device in four color variants — Phantom Violet Phantom Gray, Phantom White, and Phantom Pink. Out of these, the Phantom Violet and Phantom Pink colorways will feature a copper-colored frame and camera module, the Phantom Black colorway will feature a black frame and camera module, and the Phantom White colorway will have a silver frame and camera module. All variants of the Galaxy S21 will have a plastic back, much like the Galaxy Note 20 from earlier this year.
Galaxy S21 Plus
In terms of design, the Galaxy S21 Plus won’t differ much from the base variant. It will feature the same design elements, including the new camera module, but it will have a slightly larger footprint. However, the device will differ from the regular Galaxy S21 in terms of material choice.
Samsung will offer a glass back on the Galaxy S21 Plus, unlike the glasstic back on the base variant. Additionally, Samsung won’t offer as many color variants for the Galaxy S21 Plus, and it will only be available in Phantom Silver, Phantom Black, and Phantom Violet at launch.
Galaxy S21 Ultra
The top-of-the-line Galaxy S21 Ultra will also feature a similar camera island design, but it will be much larger than the camera island on the other two variants. This is due to the fact that it will include a total of 4 camera sensors. Unlike the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus, the Galaxy S21 Ultra will feature a curved display. The display is also a QHD+ display as against the FHD+ display on the other two phones. And for the first time ever, a Samsung flagship will be able to run on QHD+ resolution at the maximum 120Hz refresh rate, finally catching up with the rest of the Android flagships that already did the same in 2020.
As with the Galaxy S21 Plus, the Galaxy S21 Ultra will feature a premium glass back. But the device will only come in two color variants —Phantom Black and Phantom Silver.
Samsung Galaxy S21 series: Specifications
These are the expected specifications for the Samsung Galaxy S21 series. Note that these are not final specifications, and are based on leaks and reasonable guesstimates. We’ll keep them updated, but know that these may change by the time the phones are actually released.
| Specifications | Samsung Galaxy S21 | Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra |
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| Build |
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| Dimensions & Weight |
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| Display |
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| SoC |
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| RAM & Storage |
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| Battery & Charging |
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| Security | Ultrasonic In-Display Fingerprint Scanner | Ultrasonic In-Display Fingerprint Scanner | Ultrasonic In-Display Fingerprint Scanner |
| Rear Camera(s) |
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| Front Camera(s) | 10MP, f/2.2, 1.22µm, Dual Pixel PDAF | 10MP, f/2.2, 1.22µm, Dual Pixel PDAF | 40MP, f/2.2, 0.7µm, Dual Pixel PDAF |
| Port(s) | USB 3.2 Type-C | USB 3.2 Type-C | USB 3.2 Type-C |
| Audio | Stereo speakers | Stereo speakers | Stereo speakers |
| Connectivity |
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| Software | Samsung One UI 3.1 based on Android 11 | Samsung One UI 3.1 based on Android 11 | Samsung One UI 3.1 based on Android 11 |
| Other Features |
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| Colors |
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The baseline for performance is set, with all three of the flagships in this series coming in with the top-end Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 in the USA and select other regions, and with the Exynos 2100 internationally. There should be plenty of RAM and storage onboard, though microSD card expansion is not yet known. The rear and front camera setup remains the same on the regular and Plus variant, while the Ultra gets a complete overhaul. Between the regular and Plus variant, the differentiating factor would be the slightly larger size and the difference in plastic back and glass back.
The camera setup on the Galaxy S21 Ultra is expected to be significantly better, with a second-gen 108MP primary camera, the same 12MP wide-angle camera as the other two variants, a 3x telephoto sensor, and a 10x optical “super” telephoto sensor. The new telephoto sensors will feature 130% larger pixels and dual-pixel autofocus, and with the 10x telephoto sensor, Samsung will be reviving its 100x Space Zoom feature. As per the latest leak, all three devices in the Galaxy S21 lineup will offer 8K video capture capability at 30 frames per second, and 4K video capture at 50 frames per second. The devices will be able to capture Full HD video at 240 frames per second.
The leaks further reveals that all three devices will feature stereo speakers, NFC, Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi 6, and IP68 dust and water-resistance. However, only the top of the line model will offer extras like S Pen support.
Samsung Galaxy S21 series: Price
As for pricing, reports suggest the following:
- Samsung Galaxy S21:
- 128GB: €849
- 256GB: €899
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus:
- 128GB: €1,049
- 256GB: €1,099
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra:
- 128GB: €1,349
- 256GB: €1,399
- 512GB: €1,529
The pricing for the base model is lower than what the Galaxy S20 launched within Europe, but the higher-end model is more expensive than the Galaxy S20 Ultra possibly because of the improved camera hardware and S Pen support. In all, there’s a wider price bracket to cover with the coming flagship series.
Samsung Galaxy S21 / Galaxy S21 Plus / Galaxy S21 Ultra XDA Forums
Reports also suggest that Samsung might not offer a charger with the Galaxy S21 series in some regions.
Samsung Galaxy S21 series Software: One UI 3.1 with Android 11
The new Galaxy S21 series is expected to come with One UI 3.1 based on Android 11. Samsung has already given us a good look at the One UI 3.0 update and its highlighting points, and the same has already rolled out to several devices in the company’s lineup. The South Korean company is likely to reserve a few tricks up its sleeve for the Galaxy S21 series though in the form of the incremental One UI 3.1 update, and leaked previews have given us a glimpse of some of them.
Here’s what’s allegedly coming to One UI 3.1 based on Android 11 for the Galaxy S21 series:
- Seamlessly work between tablet and phone: Pick up where you left off on other devices signed in to your Samsung account. Just tap the icon that appears on the Recents screen on your other device. The video claims the supported apps include Samsung Internet and Samsung Notes. Users will also be able to copy text, images, and more.
- New call background videos that play when you are receiving a call
- S Pen compatible (S21 Ultra, Note, and Tab) devices: Air View and Air Command
- Choose between Google Discover or Samsung Free for feed
- Records front and rear simultaneously and switch layout
- Director’s View: Swap between different cameras when taking a photo while getting a multi-camera view on the viewfinder
- Portrait video
- Eye comfort shield: Keep your eyes comfortable by limiting blue light and using warmer colors. Using it at night can make it easier to fall asleep
- Unlock with Bixby Voice
We’ll have to wait for Samsung’s announcement to get the complete picture. And even then, there are bound to be smaller features and changes that will not be highlighted. We’ll be sure to take an in-depth look at the new software release once we get our hands on the same.
Samsung Galaxy S21 series: Official Cases
Samsung will offer a bunch of official cases for the Galaxy S21 series, including flip cases, clear cases, protective cases, premium Kvadrat cases, and more. Leaked renders of some of these official cases have also surfaced online ahead of the Galaxy S21 series launch, and here’s what they look like:
Out of the lot, the flip cases, silicone cases, and leather cases will be offered in a couple of different colorways. But the protective cases and Kvadrat cases will only come in two color options. Additionally, the leak suggests that the Kvadrat cases will be limited to the Galaxy S21 Plus and Galaxy S21 Ultra.
S Pen support on the Galaxy S series and the end of the Galaxy Note?
Historically, the S Pen had been the defining feature of the Samsung Galaxy Note series, clearly differentiating the product lineup towards productivity-focused pro-consumers. Some of Samsung’s tablets have come with support for S Pen, but by and large, the S Pen has been part of the Note identity.
But with the rise of foldables as the new forte for productivity-focused pro-consumers, and with the S-series also closing the gap in terms of other features, there’s little left for the Note and its own identity. Many rumors suggested that the Note lineup is dead. But Samsung had to come clean and reaffirm the existence of the Note series for another year, with the rider that some signature Note features will make their way on to other devices. This is the signal needed to reaffirm all rumors of the S Pen support coming over to the S series with the Galaxy S21 Ultra.
With the Galaxy S21 Ultra, the S Pen will reportedly be sold separately and stored separately. There’s no housing cavity within the device to store the stylus. Instead, Samsung will offer a couple of case options that will make it easier to store the stylus when not in use and charge it up as well.
The rest of the three phones, the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus, have not been rumored to come with S Pen support, indicating that Samsung will lock the feature to the top of the line model only. Note that this is not a software-lock, but a limitation on hardware as the needed digitizer components will not be present on the other two phones.
Will there be a Galaxy S21 FE or Galaxy S21 Mini?
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE was a runaway hit in a year of widespread economic recession and rising smartphone pricing, thanks to its relatively affordable price tag for a pseudo-flagship. There’s good reason to believe Samsung is considering a successor simply because the predecessor was pretty successful, though there have been no leaks or rumors to this end just yet. If a Galaxy S21 FE comes into existence, it will be in the second half of the year.
As for the Galaxy S21 Mini, this is a form factor that many would hope Samsung takes considering the positive reception to the iPhone 12 Mini. Samsung has done “mini” flagships before, like the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini, Galaxy S4 Mini, and Galaxy S5 Mini, so a “mini” flagship would not be out of place for the S series at all. There’s no indication that Samsung is indeed working towards a Galaxy S21 Mini. But if they do, it should hopefully follow along with the same principles as Apple followed for its mini: all of the flagship in just a smaller size. Samsung has three devices in its Galaxy S21 lineup, which then begs the question: which of the three forms the base for expectations for the Galaxy S21 Mini? If the South Korean company uses the regular variant as the base, then the resultant phone would be similar in concept to early A-series and M-series smartphones, with just a flagship processor. And we aren’t sure if that alone would be enough reason to convince everyone looking for a small-footprint device, especially with Exynos 2100 at the helm.
What are your thoughts on the Galaxy S21 series? Do you think that they’ll live up to the hype? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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