Samsung Galaxy S21

Samsung Galaxy S21

Company type	Product line
Industry	Consumer electronics
Predecessor	Samsung Galaxy S20
Founded	January 14, 2021 (2021-01-14)
Headquarters	Suwon , South Korea
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Smartphones
Owner	Samsung Electronics

Overview

The Samsung Galaxy S21 lineup represents a series of premium Android smartphones engineered, promoted, and produced by Samsung Electronics as a continuation of the Galaxy S family. This series follows the Samsung Galaxy S20 generation. The initial trio of models was introduced during Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event on 14 January 2021, while the Fan Edition variant was revealed at CES on 3 January 2022. Notably, the S21 marks the final Galaxy S device to utilize the traditional "SM-G9xx" model numbering system, which had been in place since the Galaxy S5, before Samsung transitioned to the "SM-S123X" format starting with the Galaxy S22.

Comprising four models—the standard Galaxy S21, the larger Galaxy S21+, the premium Galaxy S21 Ultra, and the mid-tier Galaxy S21 FE—the series introduces several enhancements. These include upgraded hardware specifications, displays featuring a 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate, advanced camera capabilities with support for 8K video recording (7680×4320) in the first three variants, and an ultra-high zoom range of 30–100x exclusive to the Ultra model.

The initial three devices became available in markets such as the United States and Europe on 29 January 2021, with the Fan Edition launching worldwide on 7 January 2022. At debut, pricing started at $699.99 for the Galaxy S21, $799.99 for the S21+, $999.99 for the S21 Ultra, and $1079.99 for the S21 FE.

Following this generation, the Galaxy S21 series was succeeded by the Galaxy S22, which was announced on 9 February 2022.

S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra

Samsung introduced the initial trio of devices during their Galaxy Unpacked presentation on 14 January 2021. These models succeeded the 2020 editions and featured a significant redesign, particularly in the rear camera assembly, which was slimmed down and integrated with the side buttons to create a cohesive look across the S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra. Among these, only the base variant adopted a polycarbonate (plastic) back panel. The standard model's specifications closely resembled those of the S20. The S21+ mirrored the regular S21 in both design and technical aspects, with only minor variations, following its predecessor, the S20+. Positioned as the flagship within this series, the S21 Ultra acted as the premium option succeeding the S20 Ultra. Notably, it was the first in the Galaxy S lineup to offer limited S Pen compatibility. Sales for the S21 series ceased following the launch of the Galaxy S22. These devices became available on 29 January 2021.

S21 FE

The "Fan Edition" variant was revealed at Samsung's CES event on 3 January 2022. Serving as the successor to the S20 FE, this model continued Samsung's tradition of offering mid-tier alternatives within their Galaxy S lineup. The S21 FE retained much of the original S21’s design and hardware but incorporated subtle modifications to justify its more affordable price point. Initially slated for an October 2021 release running One UI 3.1, its launch was postponed due to the ongoing 2020–2023 global chip shortage. Ultimately, it arrived on 11 January 2022 equipped with One UI 4.0. The device features a 4500mAh battery supporting 25W wired and 15W wireless charging, a matte aluminum frame, and a plastic camera housing instead of metal as seen on other models. Its display measures 6.4 inches with a resolution of 1080x2340 pixels and includes an optical fingerprint sensor. Being released in 2022, it is set to receive One UI 8 updates, unlike other members of this series.

Lineup

The series consists of four models, starting with the Galaxy S21 as the most affordable option, featuring a smaller display and a polycarbonate (plastic) rear panel. Later, the Galaxy S21 FE was introduced at an even lower price point, also utilizing polycarbonate for both its back and camera bump instead of metal. Compared to the Galaxy S20+, the Galaxy S21+ closely matches the S21 in specifications but stands out with a larger screen, increased battery capacity, and a glass back rather than plastic. The Galaxy S21 Ultra offers a significantly bigger display and battery alongside numerous enhancements over the other variants. Notably, it includes a sophisticated camera system highlighted by a 108 MP main sensor equipped with laser autofocus and a higher resolution 1440p screen. The S21 Ultra is the first Galaxy S series model to support the S Pen, which is sold separately and offers limited features. It is important to note that unlike the "Fan Edition" model, the "Ultra" variant will not receive One UI 8 updates.

Design

The design language of the Galaxy S21 lineup closely follows that of its predecessor, featuring an Infinity-O screen with a centered circular cutout at the top for the front-facing camera. The backs of the S21 and S21 FE are made from reinforced polycarbonate (plastic), similar to what is found on the S20 FE and Note 20. In contrast, the S21+ and S21 Ultra incorporate Gorilla Glass Victus on their rear panels. The rear camera module is seamlessly integrated into the body of each phone except for the S21 FE, where it is constructed from reinforced polycarbonate and set into the back cover with a metallic frame. Exclusive color variants of the S21 Ultra feature a carbon fiber finish surrounding the camera array.

	Galaxy S21 FE	Galaxy S21	Galaxy S21+	Galaxy S21 Ultra
Base colors	Template:Color icon White Template:Color icon Graphite Template:Color icon Lavender Template:Color icon Olive	Template:Color icon Phantom White Template:Color icon Phantom Gray Template:Color icon Phantom Violet Template:Color icon Phantom Pink	Template:Color icon Phantom Silver Template:Color icon Phantom Black Template:Color icon Phantom Violet	Template:Color icon Phantom White Template:Color icon Phantom Gray
Online exclusive colors	—	—	Template:Color icon Phantom Gold Template:Color icon Phantom Red	Template:Color icon Phantom Titanium Template:Color icon Phantom Navy Template:Color icon Phantom Brown

Chipsets (SoC)

The Galaxy S21 lineup consists of four distinct models, each equipped with different hardware configurations. For the international and South Korean versions, the devices are powered by the Exynos 2100 system-on-chip. Conversely, models distributed in the U.S., Canada, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan incorporate the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset. In the case of the S21 FE, Snapdragon 888 powers the U.S., Canadian, Chinese, and European variants, while markets such as South Korea, India, Brazil, and Australia receive versions with Exynos 2100.

Display

All S21 devices showcase "Dynamic AMOLED 2X" panels that support HDR10+ and feature "dynamic tone mapping" technology. Except for the S21 FE, which employs an optical in-display fingerprint scanner, the rest utilize a second-generation ultrasonic fingerprint sensor beneath the screen. Notably, the S21 Ultra supports a 120 Hz refresh rate at a 1440p resolution—a capability that surpasses its predecessor’s limitation to 120 Hz only at 1080p.

Model	Screen size	Resolution	Maximum refresh rate	Variable refresh rate	Design
S21 FE	6.4"	2340x1080	120 Hz	60 Hz / 120 Hz	Flat edges
S21	6.2"	2400x1080		48 Hz to 120 Hz
S21+	6.7"
S21 Ultra	6.8"	3200x1440		10 Hz to 120 Hz	Curved edges

Storage

Models	Galaxy S21		Galaxy S21+		Galaxy S21 Ultra		Galaxy S21 FE
	RAM	Internal Storage	RAM	Internal Storage	RAM	Internal Storage	RAM	Internal Storage
Option 1	8GB	128GB	8GB	128GB	12GB	128GB	6GB	128GB
Option 2	8GB	256GB	8GB	256GB	12GB	256GB	8GB	128GB
Option 3	-	-	-	-	16GB	512GB	8GB	256GB

The Galaxy S21 and S21+ each come with 8 GB of Random-access memory and offer storage capacities of either 128 GB or 256 GB. The S21 Ultra is available with either 12 GB or an expanded option of 16 GB of RAM, paired with storage choices of 128 GB, 256 GB, or up to 512 GB for the highest-tier model. Meanwhile, the S21 FE provides configurations including 6 GB or 8 GB of RAM alongside either 128 GB or 256 GB internal storage. Notably, none of these models include a microSD card slot, a feature that was available in the previous S20 generation.

Batteries

The Galaxy S21, S21 FE, S21+, and S21 Ultra are equipped with fixed batteries rated at 4000 mAh, 4500 mAh, 4800 mAh, and 5000 mAh respectively. Each device supports wired charging via USB-C at a maximum of 25W utilizing USB Power Delivery. Additionally, they offer Qi wireless charging capabilities up to 15W. These models also enable reverse wireless charging for other Qi-enabled gadgets through a feature called "Wireless PowerShare," delivering power at up to 4.5W from the phone’s battery.

Connectivity

All variants in the lineup are compatible with both standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) 5G networks. The Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 FE support Wi-Fi 6 alongside Bluetooth 5.0, whereas the Galaxy S21 Ultra advances connectivity with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2. Both the S21+ and S21 Ultra integrate Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology for close-range communication akin to NFC—distinct from Verizon’s marketing term "Ultra Wideband" for 5G mmWave. Samsung leverages UWB for its "SmartThings Find" service and the accompanying Samsung Galaxy SmartTag+ accessory.

Cameras

Comparison of Camera Specifications in Galaxy S21 Series

Model		Galaxy S21 & S21+	Galaxy S21 Ultra	Galaxy S21 FE
Wide	Specifications	12 MP, f/1.8 aperture, 26 mm focal length, 1/1.76" sensor size, Dual Pixel Autofocus (DPAF), Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)	108 MP, f/1.8 aperture, 24 mm focal length, 1/1.33" sensor size, Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF), OIS	12 MP, f/1.8 aperture, 26  mm focal length, 1/1.76" sensor size, Dual PDAF, OIS
	Sensor Model	Samsung S5K2LD or Sony IMX555	Samsung S5KHM3	Samsung S5K2LD or Sony IMX555
Ultrawide	Specifications	12 MP, f/2.2 aperture, 13  mm focal length, 1/2.55" sensor size, fixed focus	12 MP, f/2.2 aperture, 13  mm focal length, 1/2.55" sensor size, DPAF	12 MP, f/2.2 aperture, 15  mm focal length, 1/3.1" sensor size, fixed focus
	Sensor Model	Samsung S5K2LA	Sony IMX563	Samsung S5K3L6
Telephoto	Specifications	64 MP, f/2.0 aperture, 29  mm focal length, 1/1.72" sensor size, PDAF, OIS	10 MP, f/2.4 aperture, 70  mm focal length, 1/3.24" sensor size, DPAF, OIS	8 MP, f/2.4 aperture, 76  mm focal length, 1/4.5" sensor size, PDAF, OIS (3x zoom)
	Sensor Model	Samsung S5KGW2	Samsung S5K3J1	SK Hynix HI-847
Periscope Telephoto	Specifications	N/A	10 MP, f/4.9 aperture, 240  mm focal length, 1/3.24" sensor size, DPAF, OIS	N/A
	Sensor Model		Samsung S5K3J1
Front-facing	Specifications	10 MP, f/2.2 aperture, 26  mm focal length, 1/3.24" sensor size, DPAF	40 MP, f/2.2 aperture, 26  mm focal length, 1/2.8" sensor size, PDAF	32 MP, f/2.2 aperture, 26  mm focal length, 1/2.74" sensor size, fixed focus
	Sensor Model	Sony IMX374	Samsung S5KGH1	Sony IMX616

The camera configurations on the Galaxy S21 and S21+ largely mirror their predecessors but gain from enhanced software algorithms and image processing improvements. Both models feature a triple camera setup consisting of a 12 MP wide-angle lens, a telephoto lens with a 64 MP sensor offering up to three times hybrid zoom capability, and a 12 MP ultrawide lens. Similarly benefiting from upgraded software is the S21 FE which houses a comparable arrangement: a 12 MP wide sensor paired with an 8 MP telephoto lens providing three times optical zoom and a 12 MP ultrawide camera.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra introduces an upgraded HM3 main sensor at an impressive resolution of 108 MP with advanced features including support for 12-bit HDR imaging—an improvement over the previous HM1 variant found in earlier models. It is equipped with two telephoto lenses at 10 MP each delivering optical zoom levels of three and ten times respectively alongside a single ultrawide camera at 12 MP.

For selfies and video calls the front cameras vary by model: the standard S21 and S21+ include a 10 MP sensor; the S21 FE upgrades to a higher-resolution 32 MP front shooter while the Ultra model boasts a substantial leap to a 40 MP front-facing camera.

Video capabilities include support for recording in HDR10+ format across all devices in the series as well as compatibility with the HEIF. Additionally the ultrawide cameras on the Galaxy S21 series (except Ultra) can capture video at up to 4K resolution at a frame rate of 60fps; the Ultra supports this frame rate on all its cameras.

Regarding component manufacturers most sensors are produced by Samsung except for the following exceptions: the ultrawide camera on the Galaxy S21 Ultra and the front-facing camera on both the Galaxy S21 and S21+ use Sony sensors; meanwhile the telephoto lens on the Galaxy S21 FE is supplied by SK Hynix.

Controversy over Moon photography

It was revealed by users that the Scene Optimizer feature on Samsung Galaxy S21 and subsequent models employs artificial intelligence to recognize the Moon and enhance images by adding details that the camera hardware itself cannot capture, using a database of previously taken moon photographs. Samsung, however, contested this claim by stating their AI enhancement algorithm is designed to enrich moon photos with additional detail.

Video recording capabilities

The Galaxy S21 lineup supports various video recording formats:

• 8K at 24 frames per second (excluding the FE model)
• 4K at 30 or 60 frames per second
• 1080p at 30, 60, or 240 frames per second
• 720p at 960 frames per second (with 480fps footage interpolated to 960fps on the S21 Ultra)

High-resolution video frames can be extracted as individual still images, effectively serving as photographs.

Software environment

The initial trio of S21 models launched with Android 11 running One UI 3.1 alongside Google Mobile Services, featuring Samsung's proprietary One UI interface. Although the S21 FE was initially intended to ship with the same Android and One UI versions, delays resulted in all devices receiving updates to Android 12 with One UI 4.0. All models incorporate Samsung Knox technology for enhanced factory reset protection (FRP), with an enterprise-specific variant also available.

On 15 November 2021, the first three devices in the S21 series received updates to Android 12 and One UI 4. On 28 July 2022, Samsung introduced a "repair mode" feature for the Galaxy S21, which safeguards user data privacy when devices are handed over for servicing.

During the Galaxy Unpacked event on 9 February 2022, Samsung declared that flagship models released between 2021 and 2023, along with mid-range devices from 2022 through 2024, would receive four major Android OS upgrades plus five years of security patches; the Galaxy S21 lineup was included in this commitment.

The rollout of One UI 5 based on Android 13 commenced for the S21 series on 7 November 2022.

By January 2024, the Galaxy S21 devices had been upgraded to One UI 6 built on Android 14.

Starting May 2025, the Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra will support updates to Android 15 alongside One UI version 7. Subsequent updates will no longer include these models but will continue for the S21 FE exclusively, as it initially launched with a more recent software version.

Reception

In his review for The Verge, Dieter Bohn commended the S21 Ultra for its vibrant display, swift performance, impressive battery endurance, and notable enhancements to the camera system, comparing it favorably to the iPhone 12 Pro Max's camera capabilities. Nonetheless, he mentioned that the device's glass back is somewhat more prone to minor scratches. David Imel of Android Authority described the Galaxy S21 Ultra as a "powerhouse smartphone" and highlighted its camera setup as among the finest available on Android devices. Meanwhile, Matt Swider from TechRadar offered a positive evaluation, praising its "captivating design" and labeling it "Samsung's most attractive phone to date," along with lauding the camera’s exceptional power. However, he criticized the high price point, absence of a microSD card slot, and questioned the stylus support since the S Pen is sold separately and lacks a dedicated storage space on the phone itself.

The omission of both a charger and expandable memory has drawn criticism, particularly since the previous Galaxy S20 model included microSD support. Back in 2018, Samsung released a series of commercials titled "Ingenious" for the Galaxy S9, humorously mocking iPhone users over their lack of expandable storage and an audio jack, features that were present on Samsung’s device but have since been removed from all Galaxy phones.

Following Apple's lead in recent years, Samsung chose not to bundle wall chargers or earphones with the Galaxy S21 lineup. The company explained this decision by emphasizing their commitment to reducing e-waste and preventing redundant packaging of accessories. However, achieving the device’s maximum charging speed may require purchasing a separate charger, which introduces additional packaging and transportation impacts on the environment.

See also

• List of longest smartphone telephoto lenses