In 2021, Samsung adheres to the same classification of models as in 2020. The S21+ is the main flagship, the base S21 is its cheaper version with minimal differences, and the S21 Ultra is, in fact, a completely different smartphone, but with a similar design and processor.

s22 ultra vs s21 ultra specs

All new models received a design called Contour-Cut – part of the frame seems to float on the back panel, forming a metal frame for the camera block. The lenses are slightly recessed into the metal, which should increase the impact resistance and reliability of the design. At the same time, the plate around the lenses is not connected to the frame, but is glued to the joint, and when buying from the official site, you can choose the color of the camera frame to your taste.

The rear panel of the S21+ is made of frosted Gorilla Glass, the frame is aluminum. Three colors are available in Russia: silver, black and lilac with gold.

The base S21 also has a metal frame and camera bezel, but the “back” is plastic – the same matte polycarbonate is used as in the S20 FE. Lilac, gray, pink and white variants will appear in stores.

The screens differ only in diagonal – 6.2 inches for the S21 and 6.7 inches for the S21 +. In both cases, Full HD + resolution, dynamic frequency up to 120 Hz, there is support for HDR 10+. The displays are completely flat, only the Ultra version has a minimal rounding.

All models of the S21 line have a dual SIM tray, but lack a Micro-SD slot, even a combo one. Headphone jack is not provided.

The camera, according to the sensations, shoots no worse than in the S20, but not much better – the camera modules here seem to be the same: 12 MP main, 12 MP “wide” and 48 MP zoom lens with a triple optical zoom. The manufacturer claims that a more powerful processor with an improved AI module allowed for improved autofocus, white balance matching, noise reduction and night mode, but it was impossible to test all this in a well-lit showroom.

Characteristics of S21 and S21+:

Screen: 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X Full HD+

Exynos 2100 processor

RAM: 8 GB

128 or 256 GB of permanent memory

Android 11 with One UI 3.0 shell

Main camera: 12 MP main, 12 MP wide and 48 MP 3X zoom

Battery: 4000 mAh (S21), 4800 mAh (S21 +)

Dimensions S21: 71.2 x 151.7 x 7.9 mm, 169 grams

Dimensions S21+: 75.6 x 161.5 x 7.8 mm, 200 grams

Galaxy S21 Ultra

The S21 Ultra isn’t much bigger than the S21+, but it does feel a lot bulkier due to the weight and thicker feel. It is worth noting that the camera block has become noticeably thinner and looks neater than the Galaxy S20 Ultra and Note20 Ultra.

The S21 Ultra will come in silver and black colors, and the back panel is covered with matte Gorilla Glass Victus, like the Galaxy Note20 Ultra. Only this smartphone from the entire new line has retained a slight curve at the edges of the front glass and an increased QHD + resolution.

Samsung claims that a redesigned 108MP main sensor and a more powerful processor have greatly improved photo and video quality, but we haven’t been able to verify this. According to the company’s technical specialist, the sensor is designed to combine pixels into groups of 9 at the “iron” level, capturing the maximum amount of color information.

In a branded case for the S21 Ultra, the camera block completely merges with the surface – for other devices, the cases are designed in a similar way

The S21 Ultra’s camera is capable of taking photos in 12-bit color and takes 12-megapixel photos by default, but 108-megapixel mode can be enabled separately in the settings.

The S21 Ultra is the first smartphone outside of the Note line to support the S-Pen. For the stylus to work, there is an additional layer from Wacom under the OLED panel, so any stylus from the Galaxy Note and Galaxy Tab tablets will work with the S21 Ultra. Perhaps pens from Wacom tablets will also work, but this is not certain.

The stylus for the S21 Ultra is not included, it must be purchased in addition to the case-book, which has a built-in holder. There is no way to attach a pen to a smartphone without a case.

Specifications S21 Ultra

Screen: 6.8″ 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED X2 QHD+, 1500 nits brightness

Exynos 2100 processor

RAM: 12 GB or 16 GB

128, 256 or 512 GB of permanent storage

Android 11 with One UI 3.0 shell

Main camera: 108 MP (new)

Ultra wide camera: 12MP (120˚)

Zoom camera: 10 MP 3X + 10 MP 10X (periscope), hybrid zoom 100X

TOF sensor and laser autofocus

Battery: 5000 mAh

Dimensions S21 Ultra: 75.6 × 165.1 × 8.9 mm, 227 grams

S21 line performance

The entire new line is shipped to Russia with Exynos 2100 processors – these are 5-nanometer chips similar to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 in layout and architecture, they are even produced at the same factory. Only the integrated graphics, the AI ​​block, the 5G modem and the rest of the body kit differ, the cores themselves are the same.The main advantage of switching to a new process technology was increased energy efficiency – the Exynos 990 had problems with spontaneous overheating and throttling in games, but I did not notice this on the Galaxy S21

This is a non-final sample of the S21, so production model results may vary. But already from this test it is clear that the performance of the new graphics accelerator is much higher than that of the previous generation.

Especially for the heating test, I shot a video in 8K resolution for five minutes – the case around the chip got a little warm, but this cannot be compared with how the S20 Ultra and Note20 Ultra behaved during the testsThe battery is also consumed quite moderately – in an hour and a half of photo and video shooting, downloading and launching games, and in general active research of the system, the base S21 was discharged from 87 to 75%. However, this was a pre-release sample, so the data of the final devices may differ.

Prices for Samsung Galaxy S21 

Sales start February 5th. Smartphones come with only a Type-C cable for charging and a clip for SIM cards – the power supply, headphones and other accessories were removed from the box.

Galaxy S21 – 80 thousand rubles for the 256 GB version and 75 thousand rubles for the 128 GB version.

Galaxy S21 + – 95 thousand rubles for the 256 GB version and 90 thousand rubles for the 128 GB version

Galaxy S21 Ultra – 128 thousand rubles for the 512 GB version, 115 thousand rubles for the 256 GB version and 110 thousand rubles for the 128 GB version

Accessories

When connected to Galaxy smartphones, the headphones can be switched to a “smart” mode, in which they will detect that the owner is talking to someone, automatically pause the music and activate the external sound boost mode. I tested this function on a demo – it works well, it only takes a couple of words, but every other time, so the real usefulness needs to be checked on the final devices with the final firmware.

Buds Pro will go on sale on February 5 for 18 thousand rubles.

“Smart” beacon tag allows you to search for lost things – with the help of Bluetooth 5.0, Galaxy smartphones can determine the position of the tag in the room. Smart Tag also allows you to find devices outside the range of the owner’s smartphone – it periodically sends a signal about its location, which is automatically picked up by all Galaxy smartphones in the area and transmitted to the server. Thus, if you forgot your backpack on a bus or a cafe, you can always track its current location if there is at least one person with a Samsung phone next to it, which is not such a rarity.

In the US, Smart Tag operates in the Ultra Wide Band (UWB) range with increased positioning accuracy and range,  it is banned at the request of the military and other departments.