Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus Review, Pros and Cons – With the start of 2021, Samsung is ready to present its next flagship series, the Galaxy S21 series including – Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, and S21 Ultra. Of course, these models have the most demanding 5G capacity with highly improved specifications compared to their predecessors. In addition, one of the biggest updates is trend-setting pen support.
We will be mainly paying attention to the Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus smartphones, which are slightly cheaper than the superior S21 Ultra variant. So, without wasting time, we should go straight to the full review of the Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus smartphones.
Table of Contents
Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus Review
Highlights
- Samsung S21 and S21 Plus run on the latest OneUI 3.0 based on Android 11.
- Both are rated IP68 premium, as well as the extraordinary stylus holder.
- Each device will hit the market in a wide range of original and premium colors.
- Both models are powered by the latest 5 nm Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100 chipsets for incredible performance and long battery backup.
- Dynamic AMOLED FHD+ display with HDR10+ and 120Hz refresh rate will definitely increase your media consumption.
Design and Display
The Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus feature a spectacular design with a unique style camera module that differs entirely from the rear layout. Although the screen on both phones does not appear to be curved, it must appear robust and compact. The company is planning to launch several strong colors, such as Phantom Black, Phantom Pink, Phantom Violet, and more. The Phantom Violet stands out because its camera module is painted pink, while the rear panel appears in violet, which contributes to the overall construction.
Initially, an Infinity-O notch is covered in the displays of the S21 and S21 Plus measuring 6.3 and 6.7 inches, respectively. Packed with extremely fine bezels, the two devices offer 2X Dynamic AMOLED with a smoother refresh rate of 120 Hz and HDR10+ to offer exceptional contrast and colors. You would have no problem carrying the S21 series devices outdoors, as they incorporate a maximum brightness of 1600 nits. For resistance to scratches and drops, the front glass is made with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus.
Memory and Internal
On the one hand, both the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus will be upgraded to the Exynos 2100 chipset in international markets, including India and other Asian countries. On the other hand, the Snapdragon 888 chipset will specifically equip them in the USA, Korea, and China.
Based on an excellent and efficient 5 nm architecture, SoCs need no introduction when it comes to faster and more fluid UI performance. In addition, the devices retain the ability to play 3D games like PUBG Mobile or COD Mobile at their highest graphics settings.
Coming to the custom UI, the devices boot into OneUI 3.0 running on Android 11 OS. In fact, OneUI is considered one of the cleanest UI after Stock Android. In addition, you can see an updated quick panel, improved Samsung Dex, improved Bixby assistant, etc.
Turning to the memory partition, the Galaxy S21 offers two memory variants, that is, 8 GB of RAM with 128 GB of internal storage and 12 GB of RAM with 256 GB of internal storage. Now, the next flagship of the Galaxy S21 Plus comes online with 12 GB of RAM and the only thing that varies is the internal storage. The company allows users to purchase three variants of UFS 3.1 storage – 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB. It is not new that these memory chips are highly powerful and also faster compared to mid-range phones.
Camera
Interestingly, the camera hardware on both devices is identical in terms of megapixels and performance. Each comes with a 12 MP primary snapper, an impressive 64 MP telephoto lens, and finally, an ultra-wide 12 MP sensor again.
Thanks to the Samsung team for incorporating several interesting features like 8K video recording, 960fps slow-motion, OIS for super-stable videos, HDR10 +, etc. In addition, the large main sensor kicks in for phenomenal low-light photography. With this professional-grade camera system, you can capture breathtaking photos with excellent highlights, dynamic range, and shadows.
Likewise, they limited the selfie camera to 10 MP for each but did not fall into the resolution. Samsung’s optimizations and post-processing will change the whole game, so you will get very clear and fabulous photos. Even in the selfie module, you can see the 4K video recording feature that looks amazing.
Battery and Others
The S21 consumes power from a large 4500 mAh Li-Po battery, however, the Plus variant has an advantage with a larger 4800mAh Li-Po battery. These two batteries feature a 25W fast charger with support for Power Delivery 3.0 and 15W wireless charging. The next big draw is the AKG tuned stereo speakers that can literally soothe your ears if you love to listen to music. You should have no problem taking your phone outdoors, even in the rain, with IP68 dust and water resistance.
For now, we have no information on the prices of the two devices and we guarantee that you will be updated as soon as we receive the same. But the S21 is expected to be priced lower than the galaxy S20 according to some reports.
Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus specifications Detail
Down below you can see the full specifications of the Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus smartphones.
| Specifications | Samsung Galaxy S21 | Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus |
| Network | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G | Same |
| Announced | January 2020 | Same |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Same |
| Dimensions | 5.97 x 2.80 x 0.31 inches | 6.36 x 2.98 x 0.31 inches |
| Weight | 169/171 g | 200 g |
| Size | 6.2 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Display | Dynamic AMOLED 2X Always-on display HDR10+ 120Hz 1300 nits brightness 20:9 ratio ~421 PPI density | Same |
| Protection | Gorilla Glass Victus IP68 dust/water resistant | Same |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels | Same |
| OS | Android 11, OneUI 3.1 | |
| Chipset | 5nm – Exynos 2100 (Global) 5nm – Snapdragon 888 5G (USA/China) | Same |
| CPU | Octa-core 1×2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 3×2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 4×2.2 GHz Cortex-A55 (Global) Octa-core 1×2.84 GHz Kryo 680 3×2.42 GHz Kryo 680 4×1.80 GHz Kryo 680 (USA/China) | Same |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 (global) Adreno 660 (USA/China) | Same |
| Card slot | No | Same |
| RAM | 8GB | Same |
| Internal | 128GB, 256GB UFS 3.1 | Same |
| Camera | 12MP (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS 64MP (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 1.1x optical zoom, 3x hybrid zoom 12MP (120° ultrawide), Super Steady video LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama Max – 8K@24fps HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS | Same |
| Selfie | 10MP (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF Dual video call, Auto-HDR Max – 4K@30fps | Same |
| Loudspeaker | Yes (stereo speakers) | Same |
| 3.5mm jack | No 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | Same |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Same |
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | Same |
| GPS | Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | Same |
| NFC | Yes | Same |
| Infrared port | No | Same |
| Radio | FM radio (Snapdragon model) | Same |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, USB On-The-Go | Same |
| Sensors | Under display fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro proximity, compass, barometer Samsung DeX, ANT+ | Same |
| Battery | Li-Po 4000 mAh battery Fast charging 25W, Power Delivery 3.0, Fast Qi/PMA wireless charging 15W Reverse wireless charging 4.5W | Li-Po 4800 mAh battery Fast charging 25W, Power Delivery 3.0, 15W wireless charging Reverse wireless charging 4.5W |
| Colors | Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink | Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink, Phantom Gold, Phantom Red |
| Expected Price | $479 (Rs 54,999) approx | $620 (Rs 45,000) approx. |
Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus Pros and Cons
Down below you can see the list of pros and cons (advantages and disadvantages) of the Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus smartphones.
Pros
- Impressive 2X dynamic AMOLED display.
- Jaw-dropping photos in low light.
- Stereo speakers.
- Pen holder.
- IP68 dust and water resistance.
- Corning Gorilla glass Victus.
- Last OneUI 3.0 based on Android 11.
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging.
- gyro-EIS & OIS with 8K video recording.
Cons
- Fast Charging support of only 25W.
- No 3.5 mm connector.
- The Snapdragon chipset is not available on the global market.
- A little heavy in weight.
- Only 10 MP selfie camera
Conclusion
In short, the Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus will start the main battle in early 2021. In addition, one of the USPs can be the support of the attractive Stylus, which is a kind of downside. Plus, you get the next level of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus screen protector that allows for greater durability. In a nutshell, the main series S21 will become the star of the show in the main segment.
