New year, new Samsung Unpacked, and a new device that marries the best of both worlds? Yes please!
Less than half a year after the launch of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 20, the Korean chaebol is kicking 2021 with a bang, by announcing a flagship smartphone – the Samsung Galaxy S21 – at the start of the year, and during the annual Consumer Electronics Show.
The tech giant normally uses this time to announce new TVs, home appliances and other electronics, aside from mobile devices, preferring to launch its flagship device sometime after the Mobile World Congress in February. However, this time around, Samsung is unveiling their new flagship device a month earlier than usual.
At first glance, Samsung’s continuation of its highly successful Galaxy series of smartphones looks like a straightforward announcement, but the company is shaking things up slightly not only with three versions of the device, but a high-end model that formally introduces the iconic S-Pen to the series.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Series 5G will be available as:
- Samsung Galaxy S21 5G
- Samsung Galaxy S21 + 5G
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G with a special new addition to the series: the S-Pen.
The S-Pen has been a tech accessory and feature previously only made available in Samsung’s highly lauded Note series that started out as a larger than usual smartphone. The addition of the S-Pen to the Samsung Galaxy S21 signals that things might be-a-changing for the Note series down the line, though it remains unknown.
The new enabled feature of the S-Pen means S21 Ultra owners need to buy the new S-Pen separately as it is not included by default with the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G. Instead, users would need to pay S$88 for it, which also comes with a case to hold the separate accessory, as unlike the Note series which comes with a crevice, there’s no way to store the pen into the S21 Ultra phone itself.
In the last few years, there was very little going against a merging of key features of the Galaxy S and Note series.
Powered by the new 5nm 64-bit Octa-Core Processor, the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G comes with a 6.2-inch Full HD 120Hz display, with a 64MP main camera as part of a triple-camera array, and powered by a 4,000mAh battery. It will come in four colours – Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink, Phantom Grey and Phantom White, and priced at S$1,248 for the 256GB model.
Next up is the Samsung Galaxy S21 + 5G, which is available in a larger Full HD 120Hz 6.7-inch display, the same 64MP triple camera array, but powered by a larger capacity 4,800mAh battery. It will be available in Phantom Black, Phantom Silver and Phantom Violet, and comes with 256GB of storage and priced at S$1,498.
The flagship model, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G set a new standard with the ‘Ultra’ branding, with a massive 6.8-inch Wide Quad HD 120Hz display, and an ultrasharp 108MP Quad camera and a whopping 5,000mAh battery to power through daily multitasking, gaming and of course, photography.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G will be available with 256GB and 512GB of storage for S$1,798 and S$1,998 respectively, and is available in Phantom Black and Phantom Silver.
With this new series, Samsung is also making a departure from previously seen features like the lack of a display with curved edges. The S21 and S21 + 5G will now have flat 120Hz Full HD screen and a 64MP triple camera.
Another major shift here is not something unique to Samsung, as it is following in Apple’s footsteps, by doing away with a bundled charger and headphones in the retail pricing. The good news is Samsung is not maintaining premium pricing, as the phones now start from S$1,248.
In comparison, the entry level Samsung S20 and S21 have a price difference of S$50, making the latest model cheaper in 2021.
Interestingly, Samsung seems to have also ended their partnership with AKG as well. In fact, their brand new Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro has no mention of the Samsung subsidiary.
All three models in the Samsung Galaxy S21 Series 5G will be available in Singapore from 14 January 2021 on Samsung’s official Shopee store.
In addition, the first 60 customers to pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G by 28 January on Samsung’s official Shopee store will receive an S$80 voucher. Customers who pre-order between 14 January, 11pm to 17 January, 1159pm are guaranteed to receive their order by 25 January or else they’ll get S$200 back.
In conjunction with the release of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Series 5G, Samsung is also releasing their Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro too. The Galaxy Buds Pro features intelligent active noise control which isolates external noise for an immersive sound experience and comes in three colours – Phantom Violet, Phantom Silver and Phantom Black. The Galaxy Buds Pro is priced at S$308 and every purchase is entitled to a complimentary Nukin case to protect your buds and a handy wireless charger pad.
Here are the recommended retail prices for the Galaxy S21 Series 5G:
Model | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 11 | Android 11 |
| Processor | 5nm 64-bit Octa-Core Processor | 5nm 64-bit Octa-Core Processor | 5nm 64-bit Octa-Core Processor |
| Memory | 8GB RAM | 8GB RAM | 12GB RAM |
| Storage | 256GB | 256GB | 256GB or 512GB |
| Display | 6.2-inch Flat FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O Display (2400×1080), 421ppi, HDR10+ certified Adaptive 120Hz refresh rate (48~120Hz) Eye Comfort Shield | 6.7-inch Flat FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O Display (2400×1080), 394ppi, HDR10+ certified Adaptive 120Hz refresh rate (48~120Hz) Eye Comfort Shield | 6.8-inch Edge WQHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O Display (3200×1440), 515ppi, HDR10+ certified Adaptive 120Hz refresh rate (10~120Hz) Eye Comfort Shield |
| Camera | Front 10MP dual pixel AF (f/2.2), Rear 12MP Ultra Wide (f/2.2), 12MP wide-angle dual pixel (f/1.8), 64MP Telephoto (f/2.0), Hybrid Optic 3X (f/2.0), 30X Space Zoom | Front 10MP dual pixel AF (f/2.2), Rear 12MP Ultra Wide (f/2.2), 12MP wide-angle dual pixel (f/1.8), 64MP Telephoto (f/2.0), Hybrid Optic 3X (f/2.0), 30X Space Zoom | Front 40MP (f/2.2), Rear 12MP Ultra Wide (f/2.2), 108MP Wide-angle (f/1.8), 10MP Telephoto 1 dual pixel, Optical 3X (f/2.4), 10MP Telephoto 2 dual pixel, Optical 10X (f/4.9(, 100X Space Zoom |
| Connectivity | 5G | 5G | 5G |
| Battery | 4,000 mAh | 4,800 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Dimensions | 71.2×151.7×7.9mm | 75.6×161.5×7.8mm | 75.6×165.1×8.9mm |
| Weight | 169g | 200g | 227g |
| Colours | Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink, Phantom Grey, Phantom White, | Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Violet | Phantom Black, Phantom Silver |
| Price (SGD, including GST) | S$1,248 | S$1,498 | S$1,798 – 256GB S$1,998 – 512GB |
| Availability (Singapore) | 22 January 2021 | 22 January 2021 | 22 January 2021 |
After such an exciting and unique launch of the Samsung Galaxy S21, all eyes are definitely on their Note series to wait and see if they will evolve.
Don’t judge a book by its cover, for behind all this makeup, is a geek just like you. To simply put it, superheroes, Star Wars, Harry Potter and all things gore and creepy makes this girly girl swoon.
Trinity Sun
Si Jia
