The Samsung Galaxy S21 has Samsung’s newest update with replacing 2020’s Galaxy S20 in the company’s line-up. The Galaxy S21 isn’t a re-imagining of its predecessor, with the changes being quite modest.
Price
The Samsung Galaxy S20 has 12GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, with a price of $999 / £899 / AU$1,499. The 4G version of the phone with 8GB of RAM was also available for £799 / AU$1,349 in some regions.
The Galaxy S21 is more affordable and costs $799 / £769 / AU$1,249 for 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. There’s no 4G version of this phone. The S21 remains an expensive phone, but less than its predecessor.
Design
The Samsung Galaxy S21 doesn’t bring the redesign of the Galaxy S20, with the difference being a slightly different-looking camera unit.
The second is the Samsung Galaxy S20 has a glass back with the Galaxy S21’s rear is made of ‘Glasstic’, or plastic to feel more similar to glass. This material is cheap and doesn’t feel as premium as glass as it is more durable and better for gripping in the hand.
Both phones have USB-C ports, plus power buttons and volume rockers mounted on the sides of the handsets, but no 3.5mm headphone jack. The Galaxy S21 review said that “it’s unlikely to feel as top-end as the Samsung Galaxy S20”. So, if you want a premium-phone and you should go for the S20 choice.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 was available in three colors which are blue, pink, and gray. The S21 brings back the gray color and also comes in white, violet, and slightly pink.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy S21 display is a downgrade from the Galaxy S20. Both phones have 6.2-inch displays, interrupted by punch-hole cut-outs at the top, 120Hz refresh rates, HDR10+, and in-display fingerprint scanners. The resolution of the S21 is lower than that of the S20.
The Samsung Galaxy S20’s screen resolution was 1440 x 3200, or Quad HD while Galaxy S21 is only 1080 x 2400, or Full HD+. The S21 videos look pretty and the lower price justifies the change.
The Galaxy S20 is better than it’s worth that the S20 uses its QHD resolution or the 120Hz refresh rate, not both at the same time. Users will be getting the same experience on the S21 as done on the S20.
Cameras
Samsung Galaxy S21 has identical cameras to the Galaxy S20 where a 12MP main unit, plus 64MP telephoto and 12MP ultra-wide snappers. It seems even the sensors and lenses are the same. Both handsets have 10MP front-facing cameras.
The changes with the Galaxy S21 come by the camera modes while the S2 upgrades in particular for video recording.
Samsung Galaxy S21 with better AI and a heavier intensity on the slow-motion recording to capture great pictures. There is the addition of slow-motion shooting to the mode. The user might not find the experience of shooting with the Samsung Galaxy S21 very different from the Galaxy S20.
Features and specs
The Samsung Galaxy S20 came running Android 10 but the Galaxy S21 to Android 11. A user going to update the S20 to the newer software while won’t get as many following updates as the S21. The chipset circumstance is rather confused. The Samsung Galaxy S20 uses the Exynos 990 processor in Europe and Asia, and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 elsewhere while the Galaxy S21 uses the Exynos 2100 in Europe and Asia and the Snapdragon 888 everywhere else.
Both versions of the chipsets are equal in terms of processing power and battery efficiency, although in a contest Snapdragon chipsets generally come out on top. Galaxy S21 uses an Exynos 2100 phone and the difference between the chipsets is less pronounced.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 came with 12GB of RAM and 128GB of storage while the Galaxy S21 is only available with 8GB of RAM and can be bought with 256GB of storage and also 128GB.
Battery
Both the Samsung Galaxy S21 and S20 include 4,000mAh batteries. It is expected the former to offer slightly better battery life. The difference isn’t likely to be huge.
The phones have 25W wired charging, as well as wireless powering and bilateral charging, the handset as a wireless charging pad to power up other devices. Overall, battery life and charging area where there are not many differences between the two devices.
Takeaway
The Samsung Galaxy S21 isn’t huge on its predecessor. It is a downgrade in more ways and a sideways step in other areas. The Galaxy S20 was more expensive at launch and has been terminated now. The Samsung Galaxy S20 was cheaper than the Galaxy S21 and better purchase. The Samsung Galaxy S21 is probably better value for money.
