Samsung also has the first unpacked event of the year 2021 reserved for the S-Class and the smartphone portfolio expanded three times: Galaxy S 21, S 21 + and S 21 Ultra will be on the market this month – and they’ll be a little cheaper than the Galaxy S 20 last year.

The Samsung Galaxy S 21 costs with 128 GByte memory at the start 849 Euro, with 256 GByte will be 899 Euro due. The bigger Galaxy S 21 + costs in both memory variants 200 euros more. For the top model Galaxy S 25 Ultra calls Samsung between 1249 and 1429 euros. It is with 128, 256 or 512 GByte memory available. For comparison: the predecessor Galaxy S 16 with 5G had an RRP of 999 Euro, the S 20 + tasted 1099 Euro. The Galaxy S 20 Ultra had a starting price of 1249 euros and went up to 1549 Euro. Samsung is turning the price screw down at least a bit.

Samsung is once again pursuing a two-pronged approach with the processor. In the USA the Snapdragon 888 is in the S 21 , in this country it is the self-developed Exynos 2100. It is manufactured in a 5-nanometer process and is based on the ARM Cortex-X1 core, which is up to 2.9 GHz. Whether the octa-core chip with 64 – Bit architecture can close the gap to the Snapdragon in terms of performance and energy efficiency, which the predecessors had, corresponding tests have yet to show.

The Galaxy S 21 has a 6.2 inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels and a maximum refresh rate of 120 Hertz. The S 21 + accommodates the same resolution at 6.7 inches. Both screens are completely flat and have no curved edges. The display of the Galaxy S 21 Ultra is slightly curved on the long sides, measures 6.8 inches and represents 3200 x 1440 pixels. Here, too, are up to 120 Hertz possible.

Samsung Galaxy S 21 in different colors

(Image: Samsung)

Many cameras in the big hump The camera hump of the Galaxy-S 21 – Samsung has redesigned smartphones, it now flows smoothly into the housing frame. Most of the cameras are in the Galaxy S 20 Ultra: A main camera with a new 108 – Megapixel sensor is accompanied by two telephoto lenses with 3x and 10 x-zoom and each 10 Megapixels and an ultra wide angle with 12 Megapixels. The selfie cam snaps with a maximum resolution of 40 megapixels. The Galaxy S 21 and that21 + must start with a 12 – Megapixel main camera get by. The ultra wide angle lens is identical to the Ultra, the 3x telephoto optics has a 64 – Megapixel sensor, in order to be able to offer further enlargement via crop without too great loss of quality. The front camera takes photos with Megapixels. 8K video recordings support all three models, but they are a real memory hog.

Another special feature is the new S-Pen for the Galaxy S 21 Ultra. For the first time, Samsung is equipping a smartphone outside of the Note series with a pen. However, it is not stowed in the smartphone, but in a special case. The S-Pen for the S 21 Ultra does not have a Bluetooth interface and therefore does not serve as a remote control for the smartphone like the Galaxy Note.

Samsung Galaxy S 21 Ultra with S-Pen

(Image: Samsung)

When it comes to the rest of the equipment, Samsung makes no compromises and puts pretty much everything in the new smartphones that the technology shelf has to offer. 8 GByte RAM for S 20 and S 21 +, 12 or full 16 GByte in Ultra, internal memory between 128 and 512 GByte, fast Wifi 6, dual SIM plus eSIM, Bluetooth 5.2, UWB, ultrasonic fingerprint sensor – there is hardly anything left to be desired. The smartphones also all support 5G mobile communications. The battery in the Galaxy S 21 has a capacity of 4000 mAh, in the S 21 + are 4800 mAh, in the S 21 Ultra smooth 4800 mAh. Charging is wireless via Qi with a maximum of 12 Watt or via USB-C cable with up to 25 Watt.

Cutbacks in three places Because prices are falling, Samsung has put the red pencil on some points. First of all, the memory is not expandable in any of the three models, a MicroSD card does not take a Galaxy S 21 on. Second, as expected, Samsung no longer packs a charger in the box. Although this saves resources, it may cause additional costs. The 25 – Watt power supply unit with USB-C connection costs at least 35 Euro. And thirdly, Samsung added the base model of the Galaxy S 21 there is no glass on the back, just matt polycarbonate. If you like it more noble at this point, you have to go to the S 21 + or Ultra grab. All three models start with Android 11.

Samsung Galaxy S 21 +

(Image: Samsung)

Together with the Galaxy S 21 Samsung is launching the new Galaxy Buds Pro in-ear headphones and the small Bluetooth tracker SmartTag. The Galaxy Buds Pro offer active noise cancellation (ANC) and have three microphones, 11 Millimeter woofers and 6.5 millimeter tweeters. The battery should allow up to eight hours of playback with one charge (five hours with active ANC). The price for the headphones is 229 Euro .

Promotions for pre-orderers of the Galaxy S 21 The new smartphones can be pre-ordered from now on, the delivery of the first copies should start at the end of January. Pre-order the Galaxy S 20 and S 21 + get the Galaxy Buds Live and the Galaxy SmartTag as an encore, with the S 21 Ultra are the new Galaxy Buds Pro and also a SmartTag in the bundle. Who is with his new Galaxy S 21 to 15. Registered with the payment service Samsung Pay in February, you will also receive a voucher for selected accessories worth 50 Euro.

(sht)