Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+: Powerful Flagships With Compromises
This year, Samsung released a trio of flagship smartphones, all boasting impressive cameras, powerful internals, and sleek new designs. But the top-tier Galaxy S21 Ultra, while powerful, is expensive. This left many wondering: Can the more affordable Galaxy S21 and S21+ still deliver a flagship experience without breaking the bank? We put both to the test to find out.
Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+: Design and Build
The Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21+ are practically twins, differing primarily in screen size and materials. Both sport Samsung’s signature edge-to-edge displays, with flat panels instead of the curved displays found on the Galaxy S21 Ultra. The S21+ boasts a 6.7-inch display while the Galaxy S21 offers a more manageable 6.2-inch screen.
Beyond size, the materials differentiate the two models. The Galaxy S21+ features a premium glass-metal sandwich design with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus on both the front and back. In contrast, the Galaxy S21 has a plastic back despite also featuring Gorilla Glass Victus on the front. This difference is evident in their feel – the S21+ feels more luxurious, while the S21’s polycarbonate back helps in preventing fingerprints. However, at these price points, a glass back on the Galaxy S21 would have been a much appreciated design choice.
Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+: Specifications and Software
Samsung has maintained nearly identical core hardware for both smartphones, making the Galaxy S21 an excellent choice for those seeking a powerful, compact device without sacrificing performance. Both models are powered by the Exynos 2100 5G SoC, built on a 5nm fabrication process, matching the performance of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888. They come standard with 8GB of RAM and offer storage choices of 128GB and 256GB. It’s important to note that neither model offers expandable storage.
Both phones feature full-HD+ displays with 120Hz refresh rates. While this is a step down in resolution compared to their predecessors (Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S20+, which boasted quad-HD+ displays), the Galaxy S21 Ultra remains the only phone in the lineup offering such high resolution. Both Galaxy S21 models are equipped with ultrasound in-display fingerprint sensors, conveniently placed and easy to use.
Out of the box, the Galaxy S21 and the S21+ run Android 11 with Samsung’s One UI 3.0, offering a smooth and intuitive user experience. Features like Samsung’s Edge Panel, which provides quick access to app shortcuts, enhance usability. While pre-installed bloatware is kept minimal, you can still find apps from Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and Netflix. During our testing, we received occasional notifications from My Galaxy and Galaxy Shop apps promoting offers and news.
Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+: Performance
The Galaxy S21 and S21+ deliver excellent performance, despite the full-HD+ displays. The crisp AMOLED panels offer vibrant contrast and excellent responsiveness. The 120Hz refresh rate dynamically adapts, providing smooth scrolling and transitions for a great user experience. If you’re concerned about battery life, you can manually lock the refresh rate to 60Hz.
We put the phones through a series of demanding tests, including multitasking and app loading, and they responded flawlessly. The Galaxy S21+ achieved a score of 595,576 on AnTuTu, while the Galaxy S21 scored 536,273. On PC Mark Work 2.0, the S21+ scored 13,302 points, while the S21 scored 13,603. In 3DMark Slingshot, the S21+ managed 7,360 points, with the S21 scoring 7,578 points. Given the shared hardware, these scores reflect similar levels of performance between the two devices.
We tested Call of Duty Mobile on the Galaxy S21+ at the "Very High" settings for both Graphics and Frame Rate. We observed no lag or stutter during gameplay. After 15 minutes, we saw a 4 percent battery drop, which is reasonable for such demanding gaming. The phone’s back remained barely warm to the touch.
Battery life differentiates the two models due to the S21+’s larger battery. In our testing, the Galaxy S21+ lasted approximately a day and a half, while the Galaxy S21 needed a charge after a full day of use. In our HD video loop test, the Galaxy S21+ ran for 16 hours and 34 minutes, while the Galaxy S21 lasted 14 hours and 6 minutes.
Both phones lack a charger in the box, so we used an 18W charger for our testing. The Galaxy S21+ reached 33 percent charge in 30 minutes, 67 percent in an hour, and took a little over an hour and a half to fully charge. The Galaxy S21 charged more quickly due to its smaller battery, achieving 39 percent in 30 minutes, 79 percent in an hour.
Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+: Cameras
Samsung implemented the same camera sensors across the Galaxy S21 and S21+. As a result, both phones offer similar photographic capabilities. They feature a triple camera setup, comprising a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, a 12-megapixel wide-angle camera, and a 64-megapixel telephoto camera. Both phones also sport a 10-megapixel front camera for selfies. While they lack the "Space Zoom" capabilities of the Galaxy S21 Ultra, the 30X Space Zoom offered here should suffice for most users.
We were impressed by the Galaxy S21+’s camera performance during our testing. It consistently locked focus and metered light accurately. Daylight shots captured excellent dynamic range and detail, with legible text even at distances, including on moving vehicles. The phone skillfully captured detail in shadows with excellent color accuracy. The ultra-wide-angle camera provides a wider field of view while minimizing distortion.
The telephoto camera offers hard stops at 3X, 4X, 10X, 20X, and 30X zoom levels, with the ability to pinch and zoom to any magnification level in between. Digital zoom extends up to 30X, and the camera app displays a preview as you zoom beyond 20X. Photos captured at 30X zoom still retained decent detail, even at that high magnification.
Close-up shots were crisp and detailed, and the phone applied a soft background blur for artistic effect. Portrait shots featured exceptional edge detection and allowed for various filter choices. You can even adjust the blur level before capturing a portrait.
Low-light photos taken with the Galaxy S21+ exhibited minimal noise, with brighter areas offering better detail than shadows. Activating Night mode crops the frame slightly, helping to minimize shakes. The mode brightened images and enhanced shadow details.
Samsung boasts 8K video recording capabilities for the Galaxy S21 series, stabilized at 24fps. Although there’s no time limit on recording, the phone heavily crops the frame for stabilization at this resolution. For more stable footage, you can choose to shoot at either 4K or 1080p resolutions. The Super Steady mode effectively stabilized footage during walking and pacing. Low-light video stabilization was also impressive at lower resolutions.
The 10-megapixel front-facing camera captured sharp and detailed selfies. The phone focused quickly and effortlessly captured self-portraits. The front camera also supports portraits and even detected our face accurately while wearing a mask. Edge detection for portrait shots was exceptional, and we could customize the blur level before taking a selfie. Low-light selfies remained sharp, with minimal noise.
Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+: Verdict
Samsung has re-evaluated the positioning of its three Galaxy S21 models. If you seek the absolute pinnacle of the Galaxy S21 experience, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is undoubtedly the champion, offering the most advanced camera features, a higher-resolution curved-edge display, and exceptional power. Its size might be a deterrent for some.
When considering the Galaxy S21+ and Galaxy S21, the key differences boil down to size, battery life, and build materials. The S21 is specifically for those who desire a smaller, powerful phone. However, the S21+’s larger size and higher price tag might be more appealing to others. The absence of a glass back on the Galaxy S21 at this price point feels like a compromise, especially compared to the S21+.
Ultimately, choose the Galaxy S21 if you crave a powerful, compact device. On the other hand, if you’re happy with a larger phone and prefer the premium glass build of the S21+, it might be the better choice. No matter your choice, Samsung’s Galaxy S21 series offers impressive flagship features, even in the more affordable options.
