Samsung Galaxy S21 Series Officially Launched – Here's Everything You Need to Know
by Aiman MaulanaJanuary 14, 2021
It's 2021 and we already have the first major smartphone launch as the Samsung Galaxy S21 series has officially been launched. Here's everything you need to know about the new flagship smartphones. Just as rumours have suggested, there are three new models here; the Samsung Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+
Let's start off with the Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+. Both devices are essentially the same except for the display size as the former is rocking a 6.2-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with adaptive refresh rate (48Hz to 120Hz) whereas the latter has the same display enlarged to 6.7-inches. Moreover, the display has the Eye Comfort Shield feature, which uses AI to reduce blue light emissions. For added protection, both devices have an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.
Both smartphones are powered by the 5nm Exynos 2100 SoC with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. They also have the same triple-camera setup which consists of a 12MP f/1.8 wide angle camera with Dual Pixel PDAF and OIS, a 64MP f/2.0 telephoto camera with 3x hybrid zoom, and a 12MP f/2.2 120° ultrawide camera with Super Steady video.
Furthermore, it has Unlimited Super Steady up to 60FPS for more stable videos, can record videos up to 8K resolution as well as take 8K snapshots from the recorded footage. The selfie camera is a 10MP f/2.2 shooter. What makes video recording even more interesting here is the new Multi-Mic recording feature, which can take sounds from both the smartphone's microphone as well as the Galaxy Buds Pro, essentially making it like a lavalier mic of sorts.
On the subject of power, the Samsung Galaxy S21 still retain the same battery capacity as its predecessor at 4,000mAh but the Galaxy S21+ will see a bump to 4,800mAh. It will support 25W charging via USB-C and 15W wireless charging, with USB Power Delivery 3.0 and Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 standards. Just as earlier reports have revealed, it will not come with a charger inside the box, but there will be a USB-C cable included.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 will be available in Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink, Phantom Grey, and Phantom White, whereas the Galaxy S21+ will be available in Phantom White and Phantom Black. Retail prices will be revealed in the local launch in the near future.
Now for the main event, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. The display size has slightly decreased from its predecessor but has seen notable improvements as it's now a 6.8-inch WQHD+ Super Smooth Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. There is adaptive refresh rate but it's better than its siblings as it can go even lower from 11Hz to 120Hz, effectively making it more energy-efficient. Additionally, the high refresh rate works in WQHD+ resolution, the brightness is 1,500 nits, and it has a contrast ratio of 3,000,000:1.
It is also powered by the same 5nm Exynos 2100 SoC, but you have the option of either a 12GB RAM / 256GB storage or 16GB RAM / 512GB storage. It will also come with Wi-Fi 6E, Dual Bluetooth connectivity, 5,000mAh battery, and S Pen support. However, the S Pen is sold separately and it will require the official Samsung protective case to store it, and the S Pen doesn't support Air Gestures here. It's worth noting that this smartphone also has an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.
Unlike the other two devices, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has a quad-camera setup consisting of a 108MP f/1.8 wide angle camera with Laser AF, a 120° 12MP ultra-wide camera with Super Steady video, a 10MP f/4.9 periscope telephoto camera with 10x optical zoom, and a 10MP f/2.4 telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. You can also shoot 4K 60FPS video using all the lenses, so it's not limited to just the main camera itself. The selfie camera is a 40MP f/2.2 wide angle shooter.
Interestingly, they've improved on the Space Zoom feature with the dual lens zoom allowing for up to 100x zoom, and the camera is able to intelligently stabilize the camera using AI so it's easier to take zoomed shots. In addition to that, it has a feature dubbed as "Best Night Mode", where they use Nona Binning technology to effectively convert 9 noisy pixels to 1 big and clean pixel for an overall clearer shot at the cost of resolution. For charging, it supports Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, USB Power Delivery 3.0, and QuickCharge 2.0.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra will be available in Phantom Black and Phantom Silver. Retail prices will be revealed in the local launch in the near future.
That's not all folks as Samsung also unveiled the new Galaxy Buds Pro, which is essentially the upgraded version of the bean-esque Galaxy Buds Live we saw previously. It features 11mm woofers, 6.5mm tweeters, and a triple microphone system consisting of a high SNR mic and two external mics. The earbuds themselves will have a 61mAh battery capacity whereas the charging case will hold 472mAh, which should yield about close to 4 full charges.
Noise cancelling is also available and it's said to be their most intelligent ANC yet as it can adjust the noise cancellation and let in environmental sounds accordingly without you having to adjust it yourself. Apart from that, it supports auto switching between Galaxy devices, 360 Audio for a 3D soundstage, and a water resistance rating of IPX7.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro will be available in Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, and Phantom Violet. Retail prices will be revealed in the local launch in the near future.
If you want to check out our review of the Galaxy Buds Live, click right here.
SmartThings Find
Another notable change that Samsung wants to do this time around is the SmartThings Find feature. The idea here is that if you ever lose any item, you can easily locate them again. In the case of Galaxy devices, it's easier to find it even if it's offline.
In the case of items that cannot be connected online, there is the Galaxy SmartTag. The idea here is to attach it to any item, be it house keys, or even your bag, to make it easier to find. It can even beep to let you know where it is if you are nearby. It uses a CR2032 coin battery that is expected to last a very long time, although no battery life estimates were given.
Pokdepinion: Still thinking whether I should trade up my S20 Ultra to the new S21 Ultra or just wait for the Z Flip 2.
Smartphone, Gadget, News
5nm, Android, Event, Exynos, Exynos 2100, gadget, global, launch, Malaysia, S Pen, Samsung, Samsung Galaxy S21, Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, Smartphone, tech
Aiman Maulana
Jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one. YouTuber, video editor, tech head, and a wizard of gaming. What's up? :)
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