Samsung Galaxy S21

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The Samsung Galaxy S21 is an entry-level phone in the Samsung S range. It comes with a plastic rear rather than a glass one, but the camera specs and many other features offer a premium experience.

6.2" screen · Exynos 2100 chip · Dynamic AMOLED 2X display · 1080 x 2400 at 421 ppi · 64MP rear camera · 5G ready

The Samsung Galaxy S21 is the entry level device for the S21 range of phones. It comes in a choice of four Phantom colours and can be purchased with either 128GB or 256GB internal storage.

The camera is one of the flagship features of the Samsung Galaxy S21 with a trio of rear cameras including a 64MP telephoto lens. There is also a 10MP front-facing camera for selfies.

Economies have been made on the design of the Samsung Galaxy S21 including the plastic back rather than a full glass case, although this change has lowered the price of the device.

Specifications

	Samsung Galaxy S21
Screen size	6.2"
Display	Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Pixel resolution	1080 x 2400 at 421 ppi
Dimensions	Height: 5.97" Width: 2.80" Depth: 0.31"
Weight	169g
Chip	Exynos 2100
Battery	4,000mAh
Resistance	IP68 rated for dust and water resistance
Operating system	Android 11
Camera	Rear: 2 x 12MP (wide and ultrawide), 64MP (telephoto) Front: 10MP (wide)
Video recording	8K video recording at 24 fps, 4K recording at up to 60 fps, 1080p recording at up to 240 fps, 720p recording at 960 fps
Biometrics	Ultrasonic fingerprint
Storage	128GB, 256GB
Colours	Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink
5G ready	Yes

Camera

The Samsung Galaxy S21 comes with a triple rear camera. This unit has three lenses: a 12MP 26mm wide lens with an aperture of 1.8, a 12MP 13mm ultrawide lens with an aperture of 2.2, and a 64MP 29mm telephoto lens with an aperture of 2.0.

Video recording on the rear camera is available in 8K at 24 fps. The Samsung Galaxy S21 also offers 4K recording at 30 fps or 60 fps, 1080p recording at 30 fps, 60 fps or 240 fps and 720p recording functionality at 960 fps.

On the front of the Samsung Galaxy S21 the selfie camera is a single 10MP wide lens with an aperture of 2.2. It can record video in 4K at 30 fps or 60 fps and 1080p at 30 fps.

These camera specs are in line with the previous model, but the design of the camera unit has changed.

Display

The Samsung Galaxy S21 diverges from its predecessor by dropping the screen resolution on the 6.2" display to Full HD+. Many users will not notice the drop from Quad HD, but owners of the predecessor may be frustrated by the switch.

When comparing Samsung Galaxy S21 deals to rival handsets, it's worth checking if they have the same 120Hz refresh rate as the Samsung Galaxy S21. This allows the screen to refresh 120 times per second, maintaining brightness when playing games or browsing.

Storage

Two storage options are available with the Samsung Galaxy S21: 128GB and 256GB.

Customers looking at Samsung Galaxy S21 mobile phone deals alongside other handsets should note there is no expandable storage with the Samsung Galaxy S21, so the amount of storage they choose at purchase is the maximum they can have on the device.

Bear in mind that cloud storage can be an effective replacement for device storage instead of paying for the more expensive model.

Design

The Samsung Galaxy S21 is a smaller device than others in the range and comes in a choice of four colours: Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Pink and Phantom Violent. All of these colours are available in the UK.

One major change compared to its predecessor is that the Samsung Galaxy S21 has a plastic rear instead of a glass one. While this plastic has been designed to feel like glass, users may still feel the difference.

The frame of the Samsung Galaxy S21 is made from aluminium while the glass front is made from Gorilla Glass Victus for extra strength and durability.

FAQs

Does the Samsung Galaxy S21 support 5G?

Yes, the Samsung Galaxy S21 is a 5G ready phone. If customers are at 5G tariffs, it's important to compare Samsung Galaxy S21 mobile phone deals across different networks to see which has the cheapest 5G service and whether they are charging a premium for access to 5G. In addition, customers should check 5G coverage in their area as the technology is not yet widespread.

Is the battery on the Samsung Galaxy S21 any good?

While the 4,000mAh battery on the Samsung Galaxy S21 can last a full day with moderate use, it may need an additional charge during the day if customers are undertaking intensive tasks.

The 120Hz refresh rate can drain the device's battery, so some customers may prefer to turn it off on days they are trying to conserve power.

Can you expand storage on the Samsung Galaxy S21?

No, there is no microSD slot available on the Samsung Galaxy S21. This means the amount of storage a customer purchases with the device will be the maximum available.

A Samsung Galaxy S21 comparison with other Android devices shows the handset is an outlier here and many other phones support microSD expansion.

Does the Samsung Galaxy S21 come with a charger?

No, Samsung made the decision not to ship a charging block with the Samsung Galaxy S21.

They say most customers will already have a compatible charging block, although it does mean those who don't already have one will need to buy one, pushing up the upfront handset costs up further.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Deals