Samsung has big launch plans to unveil in 2021. Those exciting launches include expanding their foldable lineup and making the devices “more accessible.”
Making the new phones more accessible is likely to code for lower prices and put emphasis on the camera and video capabilities. As per Samsung’s official announcement, its next flagship smartphones are expected to be the Galaxy S21 family of devices, succeeding the Galaxy S20 range launched in the first half of 2020. Of this category, we’re expecting to see the following Samsung Galaxy S21 models.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Series
- Samsung Galaxy S21 — 128GB, 256GB
- Galaxy S21 Plus — 128GB, 256GB
- Galaxy S21 Ultra — 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Samsung Galaxy S21 was likely to be formally announced on January 14th, but thanks to various previous leaks. So, let’s have the details.
Design & Display
In November 2020, we heard the big rumors to lay bare the Samsung S21 series. According to the report, there will be three versions/screen sizes:
- 6.2-inch FHD + screen
- 6.7-inch FHD + screen
- 6.8-inch WQHD + screen
Samsung is rumored to have been working on the “perfect phone design” for over a year. It hasn’t released any official information or images itself, but some reliable leaks from Ice Universe appear to show the S21 in all its glory.
The most recent leak – courtesy of WinFuture – shows the handset comes in a range of different muted colors. It is seen that the standard S21 will come in phantom violet, phantom pink, phantom grey, and phantom white, while the S21 Plus will come in phantom grey, phantom black, and phantom violet color schemes.
However, most analysts believe the S21 will more likely resemble a refined version of the S20. Slimmer bezels, a matte glass back, and a central punch hole are tipped to be the order of the day. The rear is likely to feature a protruding camera bump, similar to that of the iPhone 12.
There is some debate over whether the screen would be flat or curved. Some leakers say that the S21 will have a flat-screen. The recently leaked ‘official’ teaser videos appear to confirm that the S21 and S21 Plus will sport flat screens framed by super-slim bezels. But the trailers suggest that the S21 Ultra will get a curved display.
It is also said that the rough dimensions of the Galaxy S21 will be 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9mm. That would make the S21 a touch wider than the S20.
We now have a full hands-on video of the Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus in action. You can see the entire design of the phone, front and back, and the speed of the software interface.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Leaks on Cameras
Talking about the camera arrays, the Galaxy S21’s camera shapes up to be a bit similar to what we saw on the Galaxy S20, but with some prime upgrades to the most premium model.
The Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus will once again have triple cameras in the back. They’ll be sporting an ultrawide 12MP sensor, a 12MP main sensor, and a 64MP telephoto lens. The highest-end Galaxy S21 Ultra will pack a second-generation version of the 108MP sensor found in the S21 Ultra and Note 21 Ultra, with a new 3x optical telephoto sensor and a 10x optical “super” telephoto sensor. 
The phones can record videos from both the front and rear cameras simultaneously. They are all rumored to support 4K video recording at 60fps and 8K recording at 30fps.
That should lead to a big bump in zoom quality. And according to Android Police, Samsung will be bringing back 100x Space Zoom while introducing laser autofocus on the S21 Ultra to avoid some of the focus problems from last year’s model.
For Samsung’s part, the company is promising “super-intelligent, pro-grade camera and video capabilities in 2021,” based on a post from TM Roh, president of Samsung Electronics.
Samsung’s Previous Models Had a Higher Resolution
It is a big rumor that Samsung has reduced the screen resolution significantly. The previous models used a native resolution of an impressive 3200 x 1440 pixels. However, both panels can run at 60 to 120 Hertz to offer a very smooth display of the content if desired.
Samsung also promises a maximum brightness of up to 1300 candela, so that the screens should also be easy to read outdoors. The panel cover has a Gorilla Glass 7. It results in better resistance to knocks and scratches. The optional S-Pen support is only available on the Ultra model. Samsung is also installing ultrasound-based fingerprint readers under the display.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Might be Cheaper than the S20
There is also the possibility that Samsung will drop the base price of the Galaxy S21, perhaps in response to the drop in sales of mobile phones across the board because of the coronavirus pandemic. South Korean leaker Landsk claims that the S21 will start at $899, the S21 Plus at $1,099, and the S21 Ultra $1,250. It would mark a $100 price drop compared to the launch price of the regular S20 in March 2020.
As for release dates for the S21 series, Samsung usually updates the Galaxy S line in February or March each year. But this has been no ordinary year, and several sources say that Samsung may move up the release schedule one month to January 2021.
A different leak outed a second Unpacked 2021-bound accessory this weekend: the Galaxy Buds Pro may put Samsung on equal footing with the AirPods Pro when it comes to true wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation and support for Dolby Atmos. The source of the leak? Samsung’s own website.
To get the more authentic information on the S21 series, stay tuned until the official announcement. There’s plenty to look forward to in the year 2021, and team RepairDesk is excited to see what new year 2021 brings.
