This year's range of the latest Samsung phones is part of the Galaxy S21 series with the Galaxy S21, S21 + and S21 Ultra.
In this article, we're going to go through the general offerings for releasing variants in Malaysia and highlighting some standout new features.
camera
S21 & S21 +:
- 10MP selfie camera,
- Triple lens with a 12 MP wide, 12 MP ultra wide and 64 MP telephoto camera,
- 30x zoom,
- 8K video footage,
- 60fps super steady video.
S21 Ultra:
- 40MP selfie camera,
- Quad camera setup with 108 MP wide, 12 MP ultra wide and two 10 MP telephoto cameras, one with 3x zoom and the other with 10x zoom.
- 100x room zoom,
- 8K video material with the main sensor, all cameras can record 4K and 60fps.
The quad camera setup of the S21 Ultra
For the reasons above, their differences are pretty self-explanatory, so we'll highlight a few other features instead. Samsung has introduced what is known as a Director's View that appears tailored to the rise of TikTokers and vloggers over the pandemic.
Basically, you can film with both the front and the rear camera. So when you log, you can film an object and your reactions simultaneously in real time. You can also switch between rear cameras on the screen to get the angle you want throughout the shoot.
The director's view
A major change to the camera design is now a much thinner camera bump with a ridge that flows seamlessly into the side of the phone. Overall, it's much easier on the eyes and less irritating for those who choose to work without cover.
battery
S21: 4,000 mAh.
S21 +: 4,800 mAh.
S21 Ultra: 5,000mAh.
All variants support 25 W fast wired charging and 15 W fast wireless charging as well as wireless reverse charging. Experience has shown that the Galaxy Z Fold 2 already took 2 hours to recharge the discharged 4,500 mAh battery. So expect the S21 + and S21 Ultra to possibly last even longer.
processor
For international versions, all three variants have an Exynos 2100 processor for more efficiency compared to the Exynos 990 processor of the S20 series.
display
S21: 6.2 "Full HD + Dynamic AMOLED 2X, adaptive refresh rate of 120 Hz (48-120 Hz),
S21 +: 6.7 "Full HD + Dynamic AMOLED 2X, adaptive 120 Hz refresh rate (48 Hz-120 Hz),
S21 Ultra: 6.8 ”Quad HD + Dynamic AMOLED 2X, adaptive refresh rate of 120 Hz (10-120 Hz).
Users can no longer choose between high resolution and high refresh rate on the display of the S21 Ultra. The adaptive refresh rates for all phones also mean that the screen adapts to what is displayed on the screen.
For example, if you are only reading an online article, the update rate will automatically decrease and once you open a game it will increase again. In the long run we can see this will save your battery usage and your battery life.
For all S21 variants, Samsung has introduced a newer iteration of a blue light filter called Eye Comfort Shield, which automatically adjusts the blue light to the time of day, the content displayed and the time of bed.
For the first time, the S series will have an S pen, but only for the S Ultra. It does not come with the phone and can only be purchased with a cover for the S Ultra at this time.
warehouse
S21 & S21 +: 8 GB RAM and 256 GB internal storage.
S21 Ultra: 12 GB RAM and 256 GB internal storage or 16 GB RAM and 512 GB internal storage.
body
(From left) The S21 Ultra in phantom black, the S21 in phantom white and the S21 + in phantom violet
S21: Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame. Comes in 4 colors: phantom gray, phantom white, phantom purple, phantom pink.
S21 +: Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame. Comes in 3 colors: phantom black, phantom silver, and phantom purple.
S21 Ultra: Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frame. Comes in 2 colors: phantom black, phantom silver.
All variants have a water resistance rating of IP68, which means that the phone can withstand immersion in water 1.5 m deep for 30 minutes.
Pricing
S21: RM3,699.
S21 +: RM4,299.
S21 Ultra: RM5,299 (12 GB RAM, 256 GB storage), RM5,899 (16 GB RAM, 512 GB storage).
Samsung has opened pre-orders for the phones here, and those who buy the S21 and S21 + will get a free Galaxy Buds Live and Galaxy Smart Tag. Whoever buys the S21 Ultra receives a free Galaxy Buds Pro and a Galaxy Smart Tag.
The Galaxy Smart Tag
The Smart Tag is a Smart Object Tracker that you can keep in your wallet, attach to your car keys, or even your pet. This can be paired with Samsung's SmartThings app, which has a proximity indicator that guides you to the object.
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The Galaxy Buds Pro are the latest Samsung wireless earbuds priced at RM799. These are available in Phantom Violet, Phantom Black and Phantom Silver. While the case is similar to that of the Galaxy Buds Pro, the earbuds themselves appear to be a new take on the Buds + design.
Samsung stated that the ANC has been improved for the Pro and blocks up to 99% of the external noise. The ambient sound mode now also offers Voice Detect.
For example, if you had them and someone passing by was talking to you, the earbuds would automatically turn down the volume of your audio playback so you could have a chat. According to Samsung, it does this by recognizing the wearer's voice, which ensures that the feature isn't triggered accidentally.
Overall, it has to be said that Samsung has impressed with new features to improve the overall Android experience.
- You can find out more about the S21 series here.
- Here you can read our previous articles on Samsung.
