If you’re a Samsung or Android fan, you probably wait for Samsung’s new flagship phone every year. Samsung is known for its hardware innovations and introducing new technologies with each new smartphone. And this year, they’ve done it again with their Samsung Galaxy S21 flagship smartphone.
Before we dive into the specs, keep in mind that there are three versions of this phone: Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra. The noticeable differences between the baseline and the plus models are the price tag, the battery capacity and the screen size. The S21+ is basically a larger version of the S21, so there isn’t much to compare in terms of major differences.
Since the baseline Galaxy S21 is what most people buy, and the S21 Ultra is the true flagship choice, we’ll cover both models here.
Samsung Galaxy S21
Body—the Samsung Galaxy S21 weighs almost 6oz, and unlike most modern flagship phones, it has a plastic back. The phone has an aluminum frame and IP68 dust and water resistance.
Display—this smartphone has a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, with a 120hz refresh rate, peak brightness of 1300 nits, and a resolution of 1080×2400 pixels (~421 ppi). The Gorilla Glass Victus display supports always-on technology and doesn’t support the S Pen.
Chipset and Storage—octa-core Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888, with 8GB of RAM. Storage options are 128GB and 256 GB. No SD card support.
Operating System—comes with Android 11 and Samsung’s One UI 3.1.
Main Camera—a three-camera system with a 12MP Ultra-Wide Camera, 12MP Wide-angle Camera, and a 64MP Telephoto Camera. The S21 has Space Zoom, with 3x Hybrid Optic Zoom, and 30x Super-Resolution Zoom. As for the video, this phone records 8K video at 24 fps (7680×4320) and 4K UHD video at 60 fps (3840×2160).
Battery and Charging—a non-removable Li-Ion 4000mAh battery that supports Fast Charging (wired), Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, and Wireless Power Share.
Network and Connectivity—5G, LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v 5.2, and NFC.
Ports—USB C connection. No 3.5mm jack.
Biometrics—facial recognition and fingerprint scanning via an ultrasonic in-display sensor.
Available Colors—Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Body—thanks to its large screen and glass back, the S21 Ultra is heavier than the baseline S21, weighing 8oz. The phone uses Gorilla Glass Victus on the front and the back and has the same IP68 water and dust resistance.
Display—the S21 Ultra rocks a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, with a 120hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 1500 nits. The resolution is much higher at 1440×3200 pixels (~515 ppi). The Gorilla Glass Victus display supports always-on technology and supports the S Pen (sold separately).
Chipset and Storage—octa-core Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888, with storage options of 128GB and 256 GB with 12GB of RAM, and a 512GB version with 16GB of RAM.
Operating System—comes with Android 11 and Samsung’s One UI 3.1.
Main Camera—a four-camera system with a 12MP Ultra-Wide Camera, 12MP Wide-angle Camera, and 2x 10MP Telephoto Cameras.
The S21 Ultra has Space Zoom, with 3x and 10x Dual Optic Zoom, and 100x Super-Resolution Zoom with Optical Image Stabilization. As for the video, this phone records 8K video at 24 fps (7680×4320) and 4K UHD video at 60 fps (3840×2160).
Battery and Charging—a non-removable Li-Ion 4000mAh battery that supports Fast Charging (wired), Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, and Wireless Power Share.
Network and Connectivity—5G, LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v 5.2, and NFC.
Ports—USB C connection. No 3.5mm jack.
Biometrics—facial recognition and fingerprint scanning via an ultrasonic in-display sensor.
Available Colors—Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Titanium, Phantom Navy, Phantom Brown.
The S21: A Worthwhile Upgrade?
The Samsung Galaxy S21 is a monster in terms of specs. With its new design and incredible performance, this model is an excellent opportunity for Samsung and Android fans who want to upgrade their phones.
The baseline S21 gives offers exceptional value for money, and the S21 Ultra arguably has the best hardware of any smartphone on the market. So, you can’t go wrong with either of these models.
Get My Smartphone Fixed
If you live in Federal Way, or want to do mail-in repair, we can check out your phone. We fix broken screens and can repair many hardware and software issues. Whether you’ve just dropped your new S21 in a puddle or have an older Samsung that needs repaired, bring it on buy or use this form for mail-in options. We’re here to help!
