The Galaxy S21 is coming sooner than you think and here's what we know
Andrew	Dec 8th, 2020 publishUpdated Sep 12th, 2021, 1:46 pm
It's only been a few months since the Galaxy Note 20 lineup was announced, but Samsung is already gearing up for its launch of the 2021 flagship. The Galaxy S21 lineup is said to be in production already, but there are a lot of changes in store for Samsung in the next year or so.
Galaxy S21 Lineup Spec Breakdown
Galaxy S21 Galaxy S21+ Galaxy S21 Ultra
Display 6.2-inch FHD+ 6.7-inch FHD+ 6.8-inch WQHD+
Refresh Rate 120Hz 120Hz 120Hz Adaptive
Processor Snapdragon 888 / Exynos 2100 Snapdragon 888 / Exynos 2100 Snapdragon 888 / Exynos 2100
Battery 4,000mAh 4,800mAh 5,000mAh
Rear Cameras 12MP Primary, 12MP Ultrawide, 64MP Telephoto 12MP Primary, 12MP Ultrawide, 64MP Telephoto 108MP Primary, 12MP Ultrawide, 10MP Optical (3x), 10MP Optical (10x)
Colors Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink, Phantom Gray, Phantom White Phantom Silver, Phantom Black, Phantom Violet Phantom Black, Phantom Silver
The best displays
It should come as no surprise, but Samsung will again be releasing three different variants of the Galaxy S21, with the standard version arriving with the S21 Plus and S21 Ultra. This comes as a bit of a surprise considering that the S20 Ultra seemed like nothing more than an over-sized gimmick with its enormous display and 100X zoom camera.
There will be three different display sizes, with the S21 coming in with a 6.2-inch display, while the S21 Plus sports a 6.7-inch display. This leaves the biggest display for the Galaxy S21 Ultra, with a 6.8-inch display. Resolutions for these displays do vary, as the Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus are "limited" to an FHD+ resolution, while the Ultra will feature a WQHD+ resolution.
All three devices will feature the super-popular 120Hz refresh rate that has become commonplace for Galaxy devices. However, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is the only device to feature the same LTPO display as the Note 20 Ultra, which provides an adaptive refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz. There is a reason for this, but we'll touch more on that in a bit.
Powering the flagships
While we have seen quite a few CAD renders and leaks regarding the Galaxy S21 lineup, we don't know everything that will be included under the hood. What we do know is that Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 888 will be at the helm for all three models. Those not in the US will likely have to deal with Samsung's Exynos 2100 chipset, which should be a better performer than its predecessor, but only time will tell.
There has not been any mention as to how much RAM will be paired with the Snapdragon 888, but it would be safe to assume to see at least 6GB or 8GB in the base model S21. 5G will also be on board with all three, although only the S21 Plus and Ultra are said to feature Verizon's 5G Ultrawide (UW) band. This leaves the standard Galaxy S21 out of the fray, but we aren't sure if Verizon is going to avoid this model altogether or not just yet.
Other sensors that are to be included is Wi-Fi 6, along with Bluetooth 5.1. But the S21 Ultra is rumored to feature Wi-Fi 6E, which is said to be 2x faster than the standard Wi-Fi 6 chip.
The final question, and perhaps most important, is how big the batteries will be for Samsung's next flagship lineup. The Galaxy S21 will be equipped with a 4,000mAH cell that leaves us just feeling meh. The S21+ and S21 Ultra, however, will have much larger batteries, with the former sporting a 4,800mAh battery and the latter coming with a 5,000mAh cell. Samsung is definitely leaving the S21 behind in some regards, perhaps to provide a lower price point compared to the two larger models.
Take all the pictures
When it comes to the camera systems for the Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus, there really isn't too much to write home about. Although the camera array will look different in these new devices, the rumors state that Samsung is likely using the same sensors from the Galaxy S20 and S20+. These devices will feature a12MP primary sensor, along with a 12MP ultrawide camera, and a 64MP telephoto lens.
The fun comes in when you start looking at the Galaxy S21 Ultra, as there are a total of four cameras on this model. The primary camera has been improved and features a 108MP sensor, similar to that of the S20 Ultra and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, but this is the second generation sensor from Samsung. The 12MP ultrawide camera is the same found on the smaller S21 models, but the Ultra also includes a 10MP 3x telephoto and a 10x "super" telephoto lens. Samsung has also learned from its mistakes and will be including laser autofocus with the S21 Ultra.
Extra features and omissions
There have been plenty of rumors about Samsung cannibalizing the Galaxy Note line with the S21 lineup, and it seems that the plans are in place. The Galaxy S21 Ultra is said to support the S Pen, although it won't be included. There won't even be a lot in the phone for you to place the S Pen, instead, Samsung will be opting to release a case that is capable of keeping the S Pen with your new phone.
After Apple announced that the iPhone 12 would be launched without a charging brick in the box, there were a lot of jokes and memes regarding that omission. Samsung even jumped in on the fun, but it seems that the company will be joining Apple with the S21 lineup. A recent leak shows that the S21 lineup has passed through Brazil's FCC equivalent, ANATEL, and none of the S21 models will include a charging brick in the box.
When is the Galaxy S21 launching?
Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra 👀
Announcement: January 14, 2021
Pre-order: January 14, 2021
Launch: January 29, 2021
Black, White, Grey, Silver, Violet and Pink
— Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) November 3, 2020
If you're waiting (im)patiently for the launch of the Galaxy S21 lineup, you won't have to wait too much longer. Rumors point that Samsung could introduce these devices in early January 2021, with the launch to commence later in the month.
Pricing for these devices is a bit different, as there's really no way to tell where in the price bracket these devices will be launched. After seeing the success of the Galaxy S20 FE, combined with the disappointing sales of the Galaxy S20 lineup, it would be tough for Samsung to launch the Galaxy S21 at $999. We could see a $899 launch price for the S21 with $100-$200 increments from there.
Sources: Android Police, Voice (@onLeaks)
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