Samsung Galaxy S21 5G

The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G, launched on January 29, 2021, presents itself as a solid, albeit slightly dated, contender in the smartphone market. Measuring 151.7mm in height, 71.2mm in width, and 7.9mm in depth, and weighing 169g, it achieves a comfortable in-hand feel.

Build Quality

The device is constructed with a focus on robustness and aesthetics, employing Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for screen protection. Its materials feel premium, although it's not a foldable phone, with a sleek, non-removable design. The range of colors - Phantom White, Phantom Gray, Phantom Violet, and Phantom Pink - caters to diverse preferences.

Screen Quality

The Galaxy S21 5G boasts a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, translating to a pixel density of 421 ppi. Its 120Hz refresh rate offers fluid visuals, and HDR10+ support enhances the dynamic range of content. The panel can reach a peak brightness of 1300 nits, contributing to good outdoor visibility. Features like Always-On Display and a hole-punch notch are present, with the screen also being scratch-resistant and multi-touch capacitive. Its aspect ratio is 20:9.

Camera Performance

The camera system is a key highlight. The rear setup includes a 12MP standard lens with a Sony IMX555 sensor (f/1.8, 1.80µm pixels, 1/1.76” sensor size), a 12.2MP wide-angle/macro lens with a Sony IMX563 sensor (f/2.2, 1.40µm pixels, 1/2.55” sensor size) and a 64MP telephoto/portrait lens using a Samsung Bright S5KGW2 ISOCELL sensor (f/2.0, 0.80µm pixels, 1/1.72” sensor size). The front-facing camera is a 10MP unit with a Sony IMX374 sensor (f/2.2, 1.22µm pixels, 1/3.2” sensor size). The primary camera can record video at up to 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps, and offers a variety of shooting modes, including 1080p at up to 240fps, and slow motion at 720p@960fps, with HDR and electronic image stabilization (EIS) across all resolutions. The camera's capabilities include optical image stabilization (OIS) on the telephoto lens, plus features like phase detection autofocus (PDAF) and 3x hybrid zoom.

Software Experience

The device ships with Android 11, with potential upgrades to Android 15. It includes NFC support and is powered by the Exynos 2100 (5 nm) chipset with an octa-core CPU (1x2.9 GHz Cortex-X1, 3x2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A55) and Mali-G78 MP14 GPU. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, and GPS with multiple satellite systems. It supports dual SIM functionality (Nano SIM + Nano SIM). The phone runs on a stock android experience with the additional Samsung One UI layer.

Battery Performance

A 4000 mAh Li-Polymer battery fuels the phone, supporting 25W fast charging and 15W wireless charging, with the added ability for 4.5W reverse wireless charging. Notably, a charger is not included in the box.

Value for Money

The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is positioned in the medium price range. It offers a range of storage options, including 8GB of RAM coupled with either 128GB or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, with no expandable storage option. Prices vary across different regions and retailers, for example, the 8GB/256GB configuration prices vary between $187 and $317. For this price point, it offers a very capable device, with a high-quality screen, excellent cameras, and good build quality. Its value proposition remains strong, especially in the secondary market. The phone does not include some of the more recent features such as a variable refresh rate or 65W charging.