[ad_1]
When you buy through our links, we can earn money with our affiliate partners. Learn more.
- Regardless of which new Galaxy S21 model you buy, you’ll get the same basic Galaxy S21 experience.
- That means 8K video recording, at least a triple-lens camera system, and top performance.
- But some models of the Galaxy S21 may be more suitable for you than others, and you’ll want to make a decision based on the specs, features, and prices that appeal to you the most.
- Galaxy S21 phones are available to pre-order today and will be available to buy starting January 29 from Samsung, retailers like Best Buy, and carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.
As Samsung likes to say, there is a Galaxy for everyone.
In fact, there are three different Galaxy S21 models at your disposal, in case you’re interested in upgrading to a new smartphone.
The important thing to know about these three new Galaxy S21 models is that they come with the same performance and top features, but the larger and more expensive models have some extras. Either way, you won’t miss out on much if you like smaller phones, or your budget doesn’t allow for the $ 1,200 Galaxy S21 Ultra.
Don’t worry about losing performance, there are no big differences between the 3 models
All Galaxy S21 models use the Snapdragon 888 processor, ensuring that they can run whatever app or game you throw at them. The only big difference is the additional amount of RAM in the Galaxy S21 Ultra. RAM is the type of memory that keeps the applications you use regularly open in the background, so you can switch between them quickly and smoothly.
You’ll get the smooth 120Hz display on all models
All three Galaxy S21 models have displays with a 120Hz refresh rate. That is, they will all look and feel fast and smooth as you swipe the Android OS and scroll down your apps. The main difference is that the Galaxy S21 Ultra has a sharper screen, but this update doesn’t make much of a difference on a screen the size of a smartphone.
All three phones also come with Samsung’s recently added Eye Comfort Shield feature that automatically adjusts the display’s color temperature based on the time of day. The screen will have a brighter and cooler hue that will change to a warmer hue as the day progresses.
Don’t worry too much about camera differences
All three models record video at up to 8K resolution at 24 frames per second, or 4K resolution video at 60 frames per second. And you will also get a triple camera system at a minimum as well. Some of the extras you get with the Galaxy S21 Ultra, in particular, won’t make much of a difference unless you need them for a specific use.
We’ve broken down a few key criteria below that can help determine which Galaxy S21 model will best suit your needs. You do not need to complete all the criteria for each model below to make a decision. However, if there is a criterion that stands out, you may have found your winner, just consider their price tags as well.
Samsung
You like medium phones with medium screens
The Galaxy S21 is the smallest and lightest of the bunch with a 6.2-inch screen and weighing 171g, and it’s the most manageable if you prefer to use your phones with just one hand.
Your budget is less than $ 1,000
The Galaxy S21 costs $ 800 below the dreaded $ 1,000 mark.
Also note that you can often trade in your old phone to get some credit for the Galaxy S21. The amount of credit you get depends on the age of your current phone and the type of condition it is in.
You don’t want or need the 10x zoom lens on the Galaxy S21 Ultra
With the Galaxy S21, you still get a triple lens camera system that includes a standard wide lens, an ultra-wide lens, and a 3x zoom lens that goes up to 30x digital zoom.
You are not interested in using your phone as a digital key for your car
The Galaxy S21 Plus and S21 Ultra have Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology that can allow phones to act as digital car keys. So far, only Ford, BMW, and Audi cars will receive support for Samsung’s UWB digital key system.
Samsung
You like bigger phone screens and you don’t care about bigger phone sizes
The Galaxy S21 Plus has a 6.7-inch screen that will make it difficult for smaller hands to reach the top of the screen with just one hand. It’s heavier at 202g, which makes it less safe when used with one hand.
You want a great battery life
We haven’t fully tested the battery life of the Galaxy S21 Plus yet, but I can assume from experience that its 4,800 mAh battery will do a good job of keeping battery life concerns at bay for at least a day of solid use. .
You have a budget of $ 1,000
The Galaxy S21 Plus starts at $ 1,000, but also keep in mind that you can often trade in your old phone to get some credit for the Galaxy S21 Plus. The amount of credit you get depends on the age of your current phone and the type of condition it is in.
You don’t want or need the 10x zoom lens on the Galaxy S21 Ultra
With the Galaxy S21 Plus, you still get a triple-lens camera system that includes a standard wide lens, an ultra-wide lens, and a 3x zoom lens that goes up to 30x digital zoom.
You are considering purchasing a new Ford, BMW or Audi vehicle and you want to use your phone as a digital key.
Unlike the Galaxy S21, the S21 Plus comes with UWB technology that will allow the phone to act as a digital key. However, it is still unclear which models from each automaker will support UWB digital keys.
Samsung
You want a big phone with a big screen
The Galaxy S21 Ultra has a 6.8-inch screen and it’s not much larger than the Galaxy S21 Plus. It’s also the sharpest display in the bunch at 1440p compared to the 1080p displays on the S21 and S21 Plus.
At 229g, it’s the heaviest of the bunch and among the heaviest phones you can buy.
You want the best possible battery life
Like the Galaxy S21 Plus, we haven’t tested the S21 Ultra’s battery life yet, but it’s typical for bigger phones to have the best battery life because they tend to have bigger batteries, though they also have bigger screens. to feed.
The Galaxy S21 Ultra has a 5,000 mAh battery with a screen that is only 0.1 inches larger than the Galaxy S21 Plus, which by convention should add a couple of hours to the S21 Ultra’s battery life over the S21 Plus. . That would especially be the case if you plan to keep the S21 Ultra’s display at 1080p resolution rather than the sharper 1440p resolution, which consumes more power.
You can pay $ 1,200 for a smartphone
Again, keep in mind that you can often trade in your old phone to get some credit for the Galaxy S21 Ultra that takes you under the $ 1,000 mark. The amount of credit you get depends on the age of your current phone and the type of condition it is in.
You want the best of the best in Samsung camera technology
The Galaxy S21 Ultra has a quad-lens camera setup with different camera hardware than the regular S21 and S21 Plus.
The standard wide lens is 108 megapixels compared to the 12 megapixel shooter on the other two models. That huge increase in megapixels allows you to take incredibly sharp photos, but it will also allow for better low-light photography.
The Galaxy S21 Ultra has two zoom lenses, both 10 megapixels. One zoom lens has a 3x optical zoom, while the second has a 10x optical zoom, allowing you to zoom further while maintaining better clarity, sharpness, and quality.
The ultra-wide lens is the same 12-megapixel camera as the other two models.
And finally, only the Galaxy S21 Ultra has a 12-bit RAW file option in Pro mode, which should be the best editing experience.
You take a lot of selfies
The Galaxy S21 Ultra has a 40-megapixel selfie camera compared to the 10-megapixel selfie cameras on the S21 and S21 Plus. On top of that, the S21 Ultra’s selfie camera has phase detection for better autofocus, resulting in faster selfie taking and a greater chance that your selfies will be in focus.
You are specifically looking for Wi-Fi 6 support
Wi-Fi 6 support can be a nice feature if you also have a Wi-Fi router that supports Wi-Fi 6, but is by no means absolutely necessary.
Wi-Fi 6 is a bit faster, but its benefits will mainly be felt if your home has much of devices connected to W-iFi or if you live in a congested area, as it will help with interference from all your devices as well as interference from neighboring Wi-Fi signals.
Switch between a large number of apps on a regular basis
The Galaxy S21 Ultra starts out with 12GB of RAM compared to 8GB for the other two models. That extra RAM means you’ll be able to switch between the apps you use often more quickly, as the apps won’t need to close while you use others, thus eliminating the wait time when reopening apps. For reference, 8GB of RAM in a smartphone is absolutely fine for the vast majority of people.
You’ve always liked the idea of using the Note series S Pen, but you never wanted to get a Note
The S Pen comes to the Galaxy S21 Ultra, giving users much (but not all) of the functionality of the S Pen combined with the Galaxy Note series. That means taking notes and having more precise controls over certain delicate tasks like editing a photo or certain games. Just keep in mind that the S Pen for Galaxy S21 Ultra is optional and you’ll probably want to buy the special case that comes with a storage sleeve.
Samsung’s new Galaxy S21 phones are available to pre-order today and will be widely available to buy starting January 29 on Samsung’s website, online retailers like Best Buy, and carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.
