Samsung had announced its new Galaxy S21 flagship series of smartphones today, as you can see in our initial coverage. We’re here to take a closer look at the Galaxy S21 series specifications.
We’ll list the main specs in the table below this paragraph, while we’ll talk in more detail about them in the rest of the article. The Galaxy S21 and S21+ actually have a lot in common, so we’ll talk about them first, and then about the Galaxy S21 Ultra.
| Samsung Galaxy S21 / S21+ | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra | |
| Screen size | 6.2-inch / 6.7-inch FullHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display (120Hz adaptive refresh rate) | 6.8-inch WQHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display (120Hz adaptive refresh rate) |
| Screen resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 3200 x 1440 |
| SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 or Samsung Exynos 2100 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 or Samsung Exynos 2100 |
| RAM | 8GB (LPDDR5) | 12GB/16GB (LPDDR5) |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB, non-expandable | 128GB/256GB, non-expandable (expandable in some countries) |
| Rear cameras | 12MP (f/1.8 aperture, 1.8um pixel size, OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF) 12MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1.4um pixel size, 120-degree FoV) 64MP (f/2.0 aperture, 0.8um pixel size, OIS, PDAF, Hybrid Optic 3X, 30X Space Zoom) | 108MP (f/1.8 aperture, OIS, 0.8um pixel size. Produces 12MP images with 2.4um pixel size) 12MP (ultrawide, Dual Pixel AF, 120-degree FoV, f/2.2 aperture, 1.4um pixel size) 10MP (telephoto, Dual Pixel AF, OIS, f/2.4 aperture, 1.22um pixel size, optical zoom 3x) 10MP (telephoto, Dual Pixel AF, OIS, f/4.9 aperture, 1.22um pixel size, 10x optical zoom, 100x Space Zoom) |
| Front cameras | 10MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1.22um pixel size, 80-degree FoV, Dual Pixel AF) | 40MP (f/2.2 aperture, 80-degree FoV, 0.7um pixel size, PDAF) |
| Battery | 4,000mAh / 4,800mAh, non-removable, fast battery charging, Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, Wireless PowerShare | 5,000mAh, non-removable, fast battery charging, Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, Wireless PowerShare |
| Dimensions | 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9mm / 161 x 75.6 x 7.8mm | 165 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm |
| Weight | 171 grams / 202 grams | 229 grams |
| Connectivity | 5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C | 5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C |
| Security | In-display fingerprint scanner (ultrasonic) | In-display fingerprint scanner (ultrasonic) |
| OS | Android 11 One UI 3.0 | Android 11 One UI 3.0 |
| Price | Starts at $799.99 / 999.99 | Starts at $1,199.99 |
| Buy | Samsung | Samsung |
The Samsung Galaxy S21 & S21+ share many of their specifications
The Samsung Galaxy S21 comes with a 6.2-inch fullHD+ (2400 x 1080) Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O display. That display offers an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, and supports HDR10+ content.
The Galaxy S21+’s display is exactly the same, but it’s bigger. It measures 6.7 inches, everything else is the same, though. Both displays are also flat, unlike the Ultra’s panel. The Galaxy S21 panel provides 421ppi, while the Galaxy S21+ offers 394ppi.
Both smartphones are fueled by the Snapdragon 888 in some markets, while the Exynos 2100 is included in other markets. Both of those are 5nm 64-bit octa-core processors, and both are quite powerful.
The Galaxy S21 and S21+ include 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB / 256GB of internal storage. Both phones come with stereo speakers tuned by AKG. Both phones also support 5G connectivity, and are IP68 certified for water and dust resistance.
Below their displays, you’ll find Qualcomm’s second-gen 3D Sonic in-display fingerprint scanner. AN NFC chip is also included here, in case you were wondering.
Their battery capacities are different, of course
A 4,000mAh battery sits inside the Galaxy S21, while a 4,800mAh unit is included in the Galaxy S21+. Both smartphones support fast wired charging (UFS PD 3.0, AFC, and QC2.0 compatible), and also Fast Wireless Charging 2.0.
Their camera setups are completely identical. Both smartphones include a 64-megapixel, and two 12-megapixel cameras on the back. On top of that, a 10-megapixel camera is included on the front.
A main 12-megapixel camera comes with an f/1.8 aperture lens, 1.8um pixel size, OIS support, and Dual Pixel AF. A 12-megapixel ultrawide unit offers an f/2.2 aperture lens, 1.4um pixel size, and 120-degree FoV.
A 64-megapixel telephoto camera comes with PDAF, Hybrid Optic 3X, OIS, an f/2.0 aperture, and 0.8um pixel size. 30X Space Zoom is also a part of the package. A 10-megapixel front-facing camera features Dual Pixel AF, an f/2.2 aperture lens, 80-degree FoV, and 1.22um pixel size.
The Galaxy S21 measures 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9mm, and weighs 171 grams. The Galaxy S21+, on the other hand, measures 161.5 x 75.6 x 7.8mm, and weighs 202 grams.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra leads the pack
The Galaxy S21 Ultra is positioned as the company’s most powerful smartphone. Some of its specifications are identical to the ones in the Galaxy S21 and S21+, but there are some significant differences. Most of them are visible in the display and camera sections.
The Galaxy S21 Ultra features a 6.8-inch Edge WQHD+ (3200 x 1440) Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O display. This panel is curved, and it also comes with an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. HDR10+ content is also supported. We’re looking at 515ppi here.
The SoC situation is the same as in the Galaxy S21 and S21+. It is fueled by both the Snapdragon 888 and Exynos 2100, it only depends on in which market you end up buying the device.
Both 12GB & 16GB RAM variants are available
Samsung has decided to offer three variants of the device. The most affordable one includes 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The middle-of-the-road one offers the same RAM setup, and 256GB of internal storage. The most expensive one comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
A 5,000mAh battery is included in the package. It supports fast wired charging (USB PD 3.0, AFC, and QC2.0), and Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 as well. Android 11 comes pre-installed here with One UI 3.0 skin, same as on the other two phones.
The Galaxy S21 Ultra is IP68 certified, and it does come with stereo speakers tuned by AKG. NFC is also a part of the package here, as you’d expect it to be. The same goes for an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, the same one as in the other two models.
A very powerful camera setup is included
The Galaxy S21 Ultra features four cameras on the back, and one on the front. Its main camera sensor comes from ISOCELL, it is a second-gen 108-megapixel sensor. It offers PDAF, an f/1.8 aperture lens, OIS, 0.8um pixel size, and it provides 12-megapixel results with 2.4um pixel size. You can, of course, shoot 108-megapixel images as well, if you want.
A 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera includes an f/2.2 aperture, 1.4um pixel size, 120-degree FoV, and Dual Pixel AF. One of the 10-megapixel cameras comes with an f/2.4 aperture, 1.22um pixel size, OIS, Dual Pixel AF, and can shoot 3x optical images.
A second telephoto camera is a 10-megapixel unit as well. That unit comes with an f/4.9 aperture, 1.22um pixel size, Dual Pixel PDAF, and it can utilize 10x optical zoom for pictures. 100X Space Zoom images are also an option when it comes to this smartphone. A laser autofocus sensor is also included on the device.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra measures 165 x 75.6 x 8.9mm, while it weighs 229 grams. It is by far the heaviest S21 series smartphone.