Galaxy S21: Lower prices, a wider array of features means more buying options – CNET

Following its 2020 recipe, albeit with a few ingredient substitutions, Samsung virtually announced the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Plus and Galaxy S21 Ultra. The new S21 series brings a bunch of updates, refinements and new features, but overall it isn’t a drastic change from the S20 series until you get to the price. Samsung trimmed the starting prices on all S21 series phones by $200. The Galaxy S21 starts at $800, the Galaxy S21 Plus at $1,000 and the Galaxy S21 Ultra at $1,200. 

Samsung said that it was able to lower prices partly because the components for the phones cost less. You could also argue that a portion of the $200 price difference between the S21 and S20 series comes from the S20 and S20 Plus being priced too high. This was likely a result of Samsung pushing the S20 series too far into premium territory.

For the S21 and S21 Plus, Samsung reined in features and specs and made smart tradeoffs that pulled the phones off the top shelf and back down to reality. That doesn’t mean every change is fair. Going from 12GB of RAM on the S20 and S20 Plus to 8GB on the S21 and S21 Plus will be a significant sting to some people. I don’t think having 8GB of RAM will necessarily cause an obvious dip in performance, but it might affect how long you’d own either phone for as apps eventually get more demanding.

Then there’s the Galaxy S21 Ultra, which aside from the omission of a wall charger (none of the Galaxy S21 phones have chargers or wired headphones), has either the same or in some cases improved specs and features over last year’s S20 Ultra and yet still got a $200 price reduction. On paper, the S21 Ultra seems like a more refined version of the S20 Ultra. Perhaps the reduced price speaks less about the value of the S21 Ultra and more to the fact that the S20 Ultra was grossly over-priced. 

However Samsung got here, these low prices reflect the reality that the world has been in a pandemic for over a year which has caused millions of us to struggle financially. For a lot of people, just knowing that the new S21 series is more affordable than the S20 family might be enough to upgrade.

A curious side effect of all of this is that the phones in the S21 series have more things to distinguish them from each other than the S20 family. And this is good for consumers looking to have a range of choices and prices for their next phone. In terms of appeal and value, there’s more distance between the S21 and the S21 Ultra than there was between the S20 and S20 Ultra.

Should you buy the Galaxy S21?

Out of the three phones, the S21 has the biggest potential audience. If you have a tight budget, then it’s probably the one for you. On paper, it’s also the no-brainer “you’re due for an upgrade” phone from your cellular provider. When you look at the three new phones, the S21 doesn’t seem as complex or intimidating as the other two. And there are a lot of people out there that want a phone that’s simple and straightforward. Looking at its specs and features, the S21 seems to be the “good value for the money” phone that you get and keep until it’s time for your next upgrade.

Should you buy the Galaxy S21 Plus?

A curious side effect of its lower price and spec changes is that the S21 Plus has a new appeal. It’s not only for people who want an S21 but with a larger battery or bigger screen. But it’s also the “Goldilocks” phone for those who don’t want a basic or entry-level device and at the same time aren’t willing to consider a top of the line phone because the cost is too high.

The S21 Plus should also attract buyers who worry about dropping their phone or having it fall into the toilet. Unlike the plastic back on the S21, the Plus and Ultra have the incredibly durable and scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass Victus on the back. And while there is no evidence to suggest the S21 Plus is more durable than the S21, it might “seem” like it is to certain people. CNET will soon run drop and scratch tests on the new Galaxy phones. I should also note that all three phones have a dust and water resistance rating of IP68 and can survive being submerged in 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes.

Should you buy the Galaxy S21 Ultra?

The S21 Ultra has several different types of people who will likely buy it. First are those who want the absolute best specs and features. Then, there are those who don’t care as much about the features but just want it as a status symbol. Camera nerds like myself will be drawn to the S21 Ultra because of the improvements and upgrades Samsung made to the camera system. And with the addition of S-Pen support (it’s the first Galaxy S phone to get it) the S21 Ultra might catch the eye of Galaxy Note users looking for a different option.

What about the Galaxy S20 FE edition?

When I first saw the specs for the Galaxy S21, I thought, “Is this a Galaxy S21 FE?” Of course it wasn’t. But by bringing the S21 down in price, it’s only $50-100 more (depending on the carrier) than the Galaxy S20 FE. Obviously in terms of price, the S20 FE will save you more. It also comes in more color options, has a bigger battery and a microSD card slot for expandable storage that the S21 doesn’t. On the other hand, the S21 has more RAM, a newer processor, slightly better specced cameras and a newer design. In a way the positives and negatives of the two cancel each other out. To break the tie, I’ll remind you the S20 FE comes with a wall charger and the S21 doesn’t. Both will appeal to people looking for a great value. But on paper, the S20 FE offers a bit more value for the dollar than the Galaxy S21.

On the whole, I think Samsung made a bunch of smart moves with the Galaxy S21 lineup. It gives more people more options for their next phone. But look, it’s one thing to compare specs and features. I’m excited to get my hands on the phones and do a full review. 

Galaxy S21 specs compared to Galaxy S21 Plus, Galaxy S21 Ultra, Galaxy S20 FE

	Galaxy S21	Galaxy S21 Plus	Galaxy S21 Ultra	Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
Display size, resolution	6.2-inch Flat FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2,400×1,080 pixels	6.7-inch Flat FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2,400×1,080 pixels	6.8-inch Edge WQHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 3,200×1,440 pixels	6.5-inch super AMOLED; 2,400×1,080 pixels
Pixel density	421 ppi	394 ppi	515 ppi	405ppi
Dimensions (Inches)	2.80 x 5.97 x 0.31 in	2.97 x 6.35 x 0.30 in	2.97 x 6.50 x 0.35 in	6.29 x 2.97 x 0.33 inches
Dimensions (Millimeters)	71.2 x 151.7 x 7.9mm	75.6 x 161.5 x 7.8mm	75.6 x 165.1 x 8.9mm	159.8 x 75.5 x 8.4mm
Weight (Ounces, Grams)	6.03 oz; 171g	7.12 oz; 202g	8.07 oz; 229 g	6.7 oz; 190g
Mobile software	Android 11	Android 11	Android 11	Android 10
Camera	64-megapixel (telephoto), 12-megapixel (wide-angle), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide)	64-megapixel (telephoto), 12-megapixel (wide-angle), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide)	108-megapixel (wide-angle), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide), 10-megapixel (3x telephoto), 10-megapixel (10x telephoto)	12-megapixel (standard), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide), 8-megapixel (3x telephoto)
Front-facing camera	10-megapixel	10-megapixel	40-megapixel	32-megapixel
Video capture	8K	8K	8K	4K
Processor	Snapdragon 888 64-bit Octa-Core Processor 2.8GHz (Max 2.4GHz +1.8GHz)	Snapdragon 888 64-bit Octa-Core Processor 2.8GHz (Max 2.4GHz +1.8GHz)	Snapdragon 888 64-bit Octa-Core Processor 2.8GHz (Max 2.4GHz +1.8GHz)	Snapdragon 865 (5G) Samsung Exynos 990 (4G)
Storage	128GB/256GB	128GB/256GB	128GB/256GB, 512GB	128GB
RAM	8GB	8GB	12GB, 16GB	6GB
Expandable storage	Up to 1TB	Up to 1TB	Up to 1TB	Up to 1TB
Battery	4,000mAh	4,800mAh	5,000mAh	4,500mAh
Fingerprint sensor	In-screen	In-screen	In-screen	In-screen
Headphone jack	No	No	No	No
Special features	IP68 rating, 5G-enabled, 30X Space Zoom, 10W wireless charging	IP68 rating, 5G-enabled, 30X Space Zoom, 10W wireless charging	IP68 rating, 5G-enabled, 100X Space Zoom, 10W wireless charging, 10x optical zoom	IP68 rating, 5G-enabled, 30W fast charging, 15W fast wireless charging
Price off-contract (USD)	$800 (128GB)	$1,000 (128 GB)	$1200 (128 GB)	$699
Price (GBP)	£769	N/A	N/A	£599 (4G) £699 (5G)