Чем отличаются samsung galaxy s21, s21+ и s21 ultra?

Screen

If you want the biggest screen possible then you’ll want the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, as this has a 6.8-inch curved 1440 x 3200 (WQHD+) screen, while the other two models are both smaller and lower resolution – the Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus has a 6.7-inch flat screen, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 has a 6.2-inch flat display, and both have a 1080 x 2400 (Full HD+) resolution.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus is only Full HD+. (Image credit: Future)

All three phones have a refresh rate of up to 120Hz though, and in a first for Samsung, the Galaxy S21 Ultra supports that refresh rate while running at a QHD+ resolution, so you don’t have to choose between a high resolution and a high refresh rate.

All three phones also use ‘Dynamic AMOLED 2X’ displays and have an in-screen fingerprint scanner.

So if you’re choosing between the Galaxy S21 and the Galaxy S21 Plus it’s mostly a question of size, while for the best Samsung screen possible you’ll need to go for the Galaxy S21 Ultra. That said, we noted in our reviews that in most cases it’s hard to tell the difference in resolution between the Ultra and the rest of the range.

Дисплей Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+ и S21 Ultra

Дисплей защищен стеклом Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. Младшая модель (S21) получила диагональ экрана в 6,2 дюйма, средняя (S21+) – 6,7 дюйма, а экран S21 Ultra стала чуть меньше, чем у предыдущей «ультры» – 6,8 дюйма. Крупный размер – это хорошо, но и эргономика тоже важна. Две первые модели получили разрешение 2400 × 1080 точек (Flat FHD+), что меньше, чем у предыдущего поколения. Но в Samsung резонно решили не гнаться за красивыми цифрами и сконцентрироваться на качестве. А вот Galaxy S21 Ultra получил ультимативное разрешение 3200 × 1440 точек с плотностью точек 511 ppi. Это обусловлено и большей диагональю устройства, и его позиционированием. Конечно же, качество экранов улучшилось относительно предыдущего поколения. Хотя всего год назад это казалось невозможным.

Дисплеи новой серии отличаются относительно предшественников, поражая яркостью и углами обзора. Для тех пользователей, кто хочет получить лучший из имеющихся на рынке экранов, стоит рекомендовать модель S21 Ultra. Именно она ближайший год станет ориентиром для конкурентов.

Дисплеи новых флагманов называются Dynamic AMOLED 2X. Яркость экрана двух младших моделей составляет 1200 нит, а в S21 Ultra она достигает 1500 нит! Реализован 100% цветовой объем, что делает реалистичной цветопередачу даже ярким днем. Цвета остаются яркими и насыщенными, а контрастность достигает 3000000:1. Это позволяет проработать детали даже в наиболее темных и светлых участках кадра и максимально погрузиться в демонстрируемую картинку.

Частота обновления экрана достигает 120 Гц, причем в младших моделях она может меняться в диапазоне от 48 до 120 Гц, а в S21 Ultra – от 10 до 120 Гц. Это позволяет сделать скроллинг максимально плавным. А выбор частоты обновления осуществляется на основе потребляемого контента, что позволяет сэкономить заряд батареи.

В экран встроен ультразвуковой датчик отпечатка пальца, который стал срабатывать еще быстрее.

Экран получил новую систему защиты от синего излучения. Особая технология уменьшает его интенсивность, защищая глаза от напряжения и усталости. Это позволит максимально комфортно долго работать с телефоном, в том числе просматривая фильмы

Важно отметить, что впервые в линейке Galaxy S появилась поддержка пера S Pen. Но получил ее только S21 Ultra, в дисплей которого встроена панель Wacom, позволяющая распознавать нажатия стилуса

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus vs. Galaxy S21 Ultra: Specs

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Header Cell — Column 0	Galaxy S21 Plus	Galaxy S21 Ultra
Starting price	$999	$1,199
Display (Resolution; Max. refresh rate)	6.7 inches (2400 x 1080)	6.8 inches (3200 x 1400)
Display refresh rate	48 Hz to 120 Hz	10 Hz to 120 Hz
Chipset	Snapdragon 888	Snapdragon 888
RAM	8GB	12GB, 16GB
Storage	128GB, 256GB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Rear cameras	12MP main (f/1.8), 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 64MP telephoto (f/2.0) with 3x zoom	108MP main (f/1.8), 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 10MP 3x telephoto (f/2.4), 10MP 10x telephoto (f/4.9)
Front camera	10MP (f/2.2)	40MP (f/2.2)
Battery size	4,800 mAh	5,000 mAh
Battery life (Hrs:Mins)	9:41 (adaptive), 9:53 (60Hz)	10:07 (adaptive), 11 hours 25 min (60Hz)
Water Resistance	IP68	IP68
Size	6.4 x 2.9 x 0.3 inches (161.5 x 75.6 x 7.8mm)	6.5 x 2.9 x 0.4 inches (165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9mm)
Weight	7.05 ounces (202g)	8.08 ounces (228g)

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus vs. Galaxy S21 Ultra: Performance

On paper, the Galaxy S21 Plus and Galaxy S21 Ultra should deliver similar performance. Both run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 system-on-chip, the best silicon available for Android phones right now. In our Galaxy S21 benchmark testing, that largely proved to be true, though the S21 Ultra has a little extra oomph, thanks to the 12GB of RAM that comes in the base model. (If you opt for the 512GB version of the phone, you get 16GB of memory.) The Galaxy S21 makes do with 8GB of RAM.

Galaxy S21 Ultra (Image credit: Future)

Running Geekbench 5, the Galaxy S21 Ultra had the better scores, posting an 1,123 result in the single-core test and a 3,440 multicore result. That compares to respective scores of 1,116 and 3,300. In our real-world test — we have the phones transcode a 4K video to 1080p in Adobe Premiere Rush — the S21 Plus actually posted the best time at 1 minute to the S21 Ultra’s 1 minute and 2 second result. Essentially, both phones perform the same, though the extra memory should help the S21 Ultra better handle things like multitasking and app switching.

Another thing that’s identical on the two phones is 5G connectivity. Both the Galaxy S21 Plus and S21 Ultra support the same 5G bands and work on all 5G networks in the U.S., including Verizon’s high-speed Ultra Wideband offering. The S21 Ultra is the only new Samsung phone to support Wi-Fi 6E, an updated wireless standard that promises faster speeds and more bandwidth, provided you’ve got a compatible router.

Дополнительные возможности линейки Galaxy S21

Модем смартфонов серии Samsung Galaxy S21 умеет работать с сетями 5G, но в России это пока неактуально из-за отсутствия инфраструктуры. А S21 Ultra поддерживает Wi-Fi 6E, но и с этой технологией у нас поработать не удастся – частота 6 ГГц занята государством. А вот в других странах эти модули могут заработать на полной скорости.

У Galaxy S21+ и S21 Ultra есть поддержка технологии Ultra Wide Band (UWB) для быстрой передачи данных на близком расстоянии, схожей с NFC. Тем самым смартфоны становятся частью системы SmartThings, которая позволяет отслеживать фирменные гаджеты даже вне сети. Технология развивается в сотрудничестве Apple и Samsung, в скором будущем в продаже появятся и умные метки SmartTag.

Specs and features

All three Samsung Galaxy S21 models have the same chipset, but exactly what chipset you’ll get depends on what country you’re in. US models use the Snapdragon 888, while the UK and most other regions use the Exynos 2100, but both of those are very powerful.

In our reviews all three phones performed as well as you’d expect, ranking among the very beefiest of handsets.

The Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus also both have 8GB of RAM, coupled with 128GB or 256GB of storage, but the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra ups both types of memory, with 12GB or 16GB of RAM and a choice of 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of storage (the last of those sizes being the only one that comes with 16GB of RAM). None of the phones have a microSD card slot.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra supports a stylus. (Image credit: Future)

All three phones support 5G and run Android 11, with the main difference in features (beyond what’s covered above) being that the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra supports Samsung’s S Pen stylus, letting you use the phone like a Galaxy Note.

However, unlike with the Note range you have to buy the S Pen separately here, and there’s no slot for it in the phone (though there is in some covers).

Расцветки Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+ и S21 Ultra

Обновились и варианты расцветок, на этот раз яркие базовые цвета сменились более спокойными и благородными. Galaxy S21 можно увидеть в фиолетовом, розовом, белом и сером корпусе.

Цвета Samsung Galaxy S21

Galaxy S21+ представлен в фиолетовом, черном, серебряном цвете. Кроме того, пользователи могут выбрать еще две эксклюзивные расцветки: красный и розовый, правда доступны они только при покупке смартфона на официальном сайте Samsung.

Цвета Samsung Galaxy S21+

Топовый Galaxy S21 Ultra получил две базовые расцветки – черную и серебряную, а также три эксклюзивные: титановую, синюю и бронзовую.

Цвета Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Galaxy S21 vs. S21+ vs. S21 Ultra: Camera Quality

The biggest improvement in the S21 line is in the camera. We’ve come to expect some of the best smartphone cameras and crisp displays from Samsung, and although the Ultra is the undisputed champion here, the base model does not disappoint.

Image Credit: Artist/Samsung

The S21 and S21+ both have a 64-megapixel telephoto lens with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and 3x optical zoom. This equips them to take clear, focused pictures even if you can’t get up close or use a tripod. The iconic camera bump also houses a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens, also with OIS.

They also have a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens that promises «Super Steady Video» recording. These features make smooth video and clear pictures a breeze even if you don’t have accessories like tripods or gimbals.

But here is where the Ultra leaps ahead of the other S21 models. Bigger, faster, and stronger, the Ultra features improved focus, zoom, and picture quality. And of course, you can push it even further by adding one of the best camera apps. Let’s take a look at the specs.

The S21 Ultra has four cameras. The wide-angle lens leaps from 12 megapixels on the S21+ to 108 megapixels on the Ultra. The difference is like night and day, though the lens size did shrink by two millimeters. However, this isn’t enough to impact the quality to any noticeable degree.

The ultra-wide camera boasts the same 12-megapixel quality and 13-millimeter size as the other two models, but uses dual-pixel autofocus. A dual-pixel focus mechanism means that the camera uses two cameras to help find the focal point. The extra input helps the camera focus faster and more accurately.

Next to these are two 10-megapixel lenses. The massive 240-millimeter periscope telephoto lens allows for a close and crisp 10x optical zoom. Next to it is a slightly smaller 10-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. These lenses are both equipped with dual-pixel autofocus and OIS.

Video recording has the same industry-leading quality across all three devices. The selfie camera can record in 4K and 1080p at 60fps. The main camera’s video quality ranges from 8K at 24fps to 720p at 960fps and uses gyroscopic image stabilization.

Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Galaxy S21 Plus vs Galaxy S21 Ultra: price

The lowest price you’ll pay for a Galaxy S21 is $799 for the standard S21. The S21 Plus starts at $999, while the Galaxy S21 Ultra begins at $1,299. You can spend more on all three models if you want extra storage space, or extra storage and RAM capacity in the Ultra’s case.

Specifically, add on $50 if you want the 256GB model of any of the three new Galaxy S21 phones. So the 256GB Galaxy S21 would cost $849, for example. As for the 512GB Galaxy S21 Ultra, it costs $1,379, which is still $20 cheaper than what the Galaxy S20 Ultra debuted at last year.

All versions launched on January 29, and are available from all the main mobile carriers, as well as unlocked from other retailers.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus vs. Galaxy S21 Ultra: Design

Unlike the Galaxy S21 and its plastic back, the Galaxy S21 Plus and Galaxy S21 Ultra share a glass back featuring Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus. The result is a more premium feel for both larger phones, though S21 owners may have the last laugh if early Galaxy S21 drop tests are anything to go by.

From left to right, the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Plus and Galaxy S21 Ultra. (Image credit: Tom’s Guide)

Color options vary depending on where you get your phone. Carriers only offer the Galaxy S21 Ultra in Phantom Black and Phantom Silver, but at Samsung.com, you can find the phone in navy blue, titanium or brown. The S21 Plus features black, silver and violet options, with Phantom Red and Phantom Gold available exclusive at Samsung.

Both the S21 Plus and S21 Ultra use Samsung’s new contour-cut design where the rear camera array blends into the band around the outside of the phone. The Ultra mixes things up by offering a curved display, which you’ll either hail as an elegant design difference or curse that invites unintended display touches. Like the Galaxy S21, the S21 Plus features a screen with flat edges.

As you might imagine, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is slightly taller than the S21 Plus to accommodate its larger 6.8-inch display, though the S21 Plus is a hundredth of an inch wider. You’ll get a heavier phone with the Galaxy S21 Ultra — 8.08 ounces versus 7.05 ounces with the S21 Plus.

Дизайн и внешнее исполнение

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE имеет тот же общий дизайн, что и модели Samsung Galaxy S21, особенно Galaxy S21 и Galaxy S21+ . Размер этого устройства означает, что оно находится между этими двумя устройствами, и различия в дизайне незначительные.

Однако есть небольшая разница. Рамка Galaxy S21 FE идёт прямо по краям телефона, а выступ камеры является частью той же детали, что и задняя панель, что больше похоже на дизайн серии Galaxy A 2021 года.

Другое незначительное отличие заключается в том, что cvfhnajy практически плоский сзади, в то время как модели S21 имеют слегка изогнутую заднюю крышку, учитывая размер S21 FE, это достаточно симпатично.

Короче говоря, Galaxy S21 FE скопировал дизайн и сборку Galaxy S21, и мы имеем в виду это в хорошем смысле. Новый Fan Edition действительно выглядит красивее и более стильно, а также он тоньше и легче.

Galaxy S21 рядом с Galaxy S21 FE

Рамка выполнена из полированного алюминия, а задняя панель выполнена из пластика с верхним слоем, устойчивым к отпечаткам пальцев. Это обеспечивает хорошее надежное сцепление при использовании смартфона.

Это красивый телефон, и, благодаря пластиковой задней панели, он вероятно более прочный, а матовое покрытие более богато выглядит чем заляпывающийся глянец. Возможно его удобно ность и без чехла, конечно, если вы аккуратны.S21 FE поставляется в четырех цветах — оливковом, графитовом, лавандовом и белом — так что здесь нет такого же разнообразия, как у предидущей модели фан эдишион, уверен, что графитовая, и белая расцветки станут самыми популярными.Смартфон обеспечивает защиту согласно стандарту водонепроницаемости IP68, а дисплей покрыт стекломДисплей Samsung Galaxy S21 FE диагональю 6,4 дюйма, 2340 x 1080, 120 Гц Gorilla Glass Victus, которое является высшим классом от Corning и надежно защищает от царапин. Заводской защитной пленки на экране нет.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE с 6,4-дюймовым дисплеем, как мы уже говорилось, занимает промежуточное положение между двумя моделями Galaxy S21 учитывая диагональ. Это плоский дисплей с одним отверстием по центру вверху для селфи камеры.

Как принято у Samsung, это панель AMOLED — или Dynamic AMOLED 2X, как ее называет Samsung — с возможностью выбора частоты обновления 60 или 120 Гц, однако адаптивная частота обновления, как у моделей Galaxy S21 отсутствует.

Но он несет в себе стиль Samsung, который так популярен в смартфонах, с глубоким черным цветом и яркими цветами. Одним из изменений по сравнению с предыдущей версией этого телефона является незначительное уменьшение ширины верхней рамки.

По-прежнему есть встроенный в дисплей сканер отпечатков пальцев, он работает хорошо, быстро регистрирует отпечатки и быстро разблокирует смартфон.

Get the Galaxy S21 Plus if:

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Samsung

You like larger phone screens and you don’t mind larger phone sizes

The Galaxy S21 Plus has a 6.7-inch screen that will make it more difficult for smaller hands to reach the top of the screen one-handed. It’s heftier at 202g, making it less secure with single-handed use.

You want great battery life

We haven’t fully tested the Galaxy S21 Plus’ battery life yet, but I can surmise from experience that its 4,800mAh battery will do a good job at keeping battery life worries at bay for at least a day’s worth of solid use.

You have a budget of $1,000

The Galaxy S21 Plus starts at $1,000, but also keep in mind that you can often trade in your old phone to get some credit towards the Galaxy S21 Plus. How much credit you get depends on how old your current phone is and what kind of condition it’s in.

You don’t want or need the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s 10x zoom lens

With the Galaxy S21 Plus, you’re still getting a triple-lens camera system that includes a standard wide lens, an ultrawide lens, and a 3x zoom lens that goes all the way to 30x digital zoom.

The Best Galaxy S21 Model

As with anything, the perfect S21 model for you will depend on what you want out of the phone. Unless you’re on a budget crunch, the S21+ is probably your best bet. While the improvements are subtle, the increased battery capacity and glass backing will help preserve the phone longer, and it won’t break your budget.

If you really need a powerful camera and a big battery, the S21 Ultra is the obvious choice. Bringing stylus support to the S line is an exciting shift, too. However, all these extra features do come with a much higher price.

Once you’ve made your choice, check out our guide to the best accessories you can get for your Galaxy S21 phone.

Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Galaxy S21 Plus vs Galaxy S21 Ultra: Outlook

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)

If you want the best that the Galaxy S21 range has to offer, you should go for the S21 Ultra. Sure it’s the most expensive of the bunch, but it also offers the largest, highest quality display, the biggest battery, the most and highest-resolution cameras, the most RAM and storage capacity and the best connectivity options.

Between the S21 and the S21 Plus, the primary difference is the size of the handset. There are more subtle differences however, as the S21 Plus improves on the S21 by featuring a more premium glass backed construction, an ultra wideband chip and greater battery capacity. If you’re able to afford the extra $200, the S21 Plus does offer a meaningful amount of worthwhile extras, but the basic S21 is still a good pick if you want to save money or prefer your phones on the smaller side.

Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Galaxy S21 Plus vs Galaxy S21 Ultra: Display

As noted, the Galaxy S21 has a 6.2-inch screen, the Galaxy S21 Plus a 6.7-inch screen and the Galaxy S21 Ultra a 6.8-inch screen. This is the main difference between the three panels, but not the only thing you should consider.

The S21 and S21 Plus both have FHD resolution displays, while the S21 Ultra has a QHD resolution. It’ll mean that you’ll see more detail on the S21 Ultra than the cheaper models.

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)

As mentioned above, the S21 Ultra’s screen is curved on the left and right edges, whereas the S21 and S21 Plus’ 2.5D displays are only slightly curved. While curve displays make phones sit better in your hand, it can also make it more difficult to use, since it’s easier to accidentally touch an active part of the display.

One thing all the panels have in common is a maximum 120Hz refresh rate. However the ability for the display to alter this rate is greater on the S21 Ultra. The Ultra can change its display refresh rate to anywhere between 10Hz and 120Hz, whereas the S21 and S21 Plus can go between 48Hz and 120Hz.

The lower the refresh rate, the less the display’s power draw, so this feature lets the phones drop their refresh rate when it’s not needed to help preserve battery capacity. All three phones adjust this refresh rate dynamically based on what activity you’re using the phone for.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus vs. Galaxy S21 Ultra: Price and availability

Samsung cut prices all around on the Galaxy S21 lineup, selling each model for $200 than their Galaxy S20 counterparts. That brings the Galaxy S21 Plus to $999, compared to $1,199 for the S21 Ultra.

The $1,000 threshold is a big psychological barrier when it comes to smartphone shopping So the fact that you can get a Galaxy S21 Plus for less than $1,000 is a big mark in that phone’s favor. The S21 Ultra offers more storage options, however. In addition to the 128GB base model, you can get a 256GB version for an extra $50 or a 512GB version for $180 more than the base model. The 256GB Galaxy S21 Plus costs $1,049.

Get the Galaxy S21 if:

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Samsung

You like mid-sized phones with mid-sized screens

The Galaxy S21 is the smallest and lightest of the bunch with a 6.2-inch screen and a 171g weight, and it’s the most manageable if you prefer to use your phones one-handed.

Your budget is under $1,000

The Galaxy S21 costs $800 putting it under the dreaded $1,000 mark.

Also note that you can often trade in your old phone to get some credit towards the Galaxy S21. How much credit you get depends on how old your current phone is and what kind of condition it’s in.

You don’t want or need the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s 10x zoom lens

With the Galaxy S21, you’re still getting a triple-lens camera system that includes a standard wide lens, an ultrawide lens, and a 3x zoom lens that goes all the way to 30x digital zoom.

You’re not interested in using your phone as a digital key for your car

The Galaxy S21 Plus and S21 Ultra have ultra-wide-band technology (UWB) that can enable the phones to act like digital keys for cars. So far, only Ford, BMW, and Audi cars will be getting support for Samsung’s UWB digital key system.

Аккумулятор Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+ и S21 Ultra

Производители давно уже пришли к выводу, что нет смысла наращивать емкость батарей – сегодня куда важнее сценарии энергопотребления устройства. Galaxy S21 получил довольно внушительную Li-Ion батарею на 4000 мАч, тогда как S21+ уже на 4800 мАч. Старшая и самая крупная модель обладает аккумулятором на 5000 мАч. Все устройства поддерживают быструю беспроводную зарядку мощностью до 15 Вт и способны сами заряжать беспроводные устройства, реверсивно отдавая до 9 Вт. Поддерживается стандарт быстрой проводной зарядки PD 3.0, что позволяет получить мощность до 25 Вт.

Благодаря переходу на 5-нанометровый техпроцесс ожидается заметное улучшение автономности устройства. Вероятнее всего, модели S21 будут работать на 15-20% дольше, чем модели S20. При этом Exynos 2100 в этом плане еще и немного выигрывает у Snapdragon 888. 2-3 дня работы при средней нагрузке – минимум, чего можно ожидать от моделей линейки Galaxy S21.

Camera

As with the design, the cameras on the Samsung Galaxy S21 and Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus are very similar to each other. In fact, they’re identical, with both phones sporting a triple-lens setup consisting of a 12MP f/1.8 main camera, a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide, and a 64MP f/2.0 telephoto.

That telephoto snapper is capable of 3x optical zoom, and both it and the main lens have optical image stabilization (OIS).

The setup on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is quite different though, as this has a quad-lens camera with a 108MP f/1.8 main snapper, a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide one, and a pair of 10MP telephoto cameras, one of which is f/2.4 and allows for 3x optical zoom, and the other of which is f/4.9 and extends the optical zoom distance to 10x. The main camera and both telephoto ones also have OIS here.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has a quad-lens camera. (Image credit: Aakash Jhaveri)

The differences between the S21 Ultra and the rest of the range don’t stop when you come to the front camera either, as the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has a 40MP one, while the Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus each have a 10MP one.

However, all three phones can record video in up to 4K quality at up to 60fps, and they all have the same assortment of camera modes, such as pro mode, night mode, Single Take, Live Focus, slow motion, and more.

In our reviews we praised the cameras on all three of these phones, but as with so many things about the Ultra, that’s the best one for photography overall, and especially for optical zoom. We described its snappers as being «phenomenally powerful» and offering «the best camera zoom.»

Samsung Galaxy S21+ vs Galaxy S21 Ultra price, colors and storage

$999 vs $1199
Silver, Black, Purple, Red, Pink vs Silver, Black, Brown, Navy, Titanium
128GB/256GB vs 128GB/256GB/512G storage options (depending on the region and chipset model)

With new 1080p flat displays and largely the same camera kits and battery capacities as the S20 series, the S21 models swing the axe in another important direction — lower the pricing.

Given that Samsung would be using cheaper components, or ones that have fallen in price since the S20 release, save for the new Snapdragon 888 chipset, a price reduction that will put the S21 series in sync with their main competitors in the iPhone 12 series, is warranted. Even if it is just a Benjamin that Samsung shaves off, that would still put the S21+ on an even pricing keel with the iPhone 12 Pro Max, but with superior specs.

Despite the eventual Galaxy S21 models price cut, Samsung has opted for a new and daring design that finally makes the camera island something more palatable to look at, as it simply fuses with the corner sides, making the S21+ and S21 Ultra look like they are cut from a whole piece of marble, neat.

The Ultra is only slightly larger than the S20+ yet they are both very big phones so you shouldn’t look for compactness any way you choose. Besides larger and heftier, the Ultra is also a bit more sombre in its choice of colors as it doesn’t have Samsung’s violet color novelty of the 2021 S-line season, and is only available in silver and black at launch. The S21 Ultra, however, will be available in more colors in the spring, as is Samsung’s tradition, with brown, blue, and even titanium finishes lined up for April release.

Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Galaxy S21 Plus vs Galaxy S21 Ultra: Camera

You get the same three cameras on the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus. That trio is made up of a 12MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide camera and a 64MP telephoto camera. On the front, there’s a 10MP selfie camera too.

The S21 Ultra on the other hand offers a lot more camera potential. It instead uses a 108MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide camera, and two 10MP telephoto cameras, one capable of 3x zoom and the other of 10x zoom. There’s also a laser autofocus sensor to help the S21 Ultra track the subjects of your photos. While the main differences are on the back, the single selfie camera on the front is also swapped out to a 40MP sensor.

All three phones use the same camera software however, which features modes like Single Take, 8K video recording, Director’s View video recording, and photography staples like portrait mode, image stabilization and night mode. The Galaxy S21 Ultra benefits from an improved Bright Night sensor, so low-light photography should be better with this phone.

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus vs. Galaxy S21 Ultra: Software and special features

Both the Galaxy S21 Plus and Galaxy S21 Ultra ship with Android 11 out of the gate, and the promise of three years’ worth of software updates. Samsung also includes the latest version of its One UI interface. One UI 3 features lock screen widgets, new customization options, and an object eraser photo feature for removing unwanted people from photos.

Galaxy S21 Ultra, with S Pen (Image credit: Future)

The Galaxy S21 Ultra gets an extra boost with support for Samsung’s S Pen. This is the first time that a phone outside the Galaxy Note lineup can use the S Pen, and while you need to buy the $40 stylus separately, it does give you the ability to draw, sketch and take notes on your phone. You won’t find S Pen support on the Galaxy S21 Plus.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs Galaxy S21 Plus vs Galaxy S21 price and availability

The Samsung Galaxy S21 officially starts at $799 / £769 / AU$1,249, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus starts at $999 / £949 / AU$1,549, and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra starts at $1,199 / £1,149 / AU$1,849.

In all cases that’s for 128GB of storage, with prices rising if you want more. So for each step up in model the starting price rises by around $200 / £200 / AU$300.

You can now (as of July 2021) find the phones for cheaper in many stores, but they’re all still very expensive, and the difference in price between the three remains broadly the same.

In terms of availability, all three models are available now in the US, the UK, Australia, and more other regions.

Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Galaxy S21 Plus vs Galaxy S21 Ultra: Design

All three Galaxy S21 models share the new contoured rear camera bump design, as well as the familiar display with a central punch-hole camera on the front. However the main difference here is size, with the Galaxy S21’s screen measuring 6.2 inches, the Galaxy S21 Plus measuring 6.7 inches and the Galaxy S21 Ultra 6.8 inches. The Ultra also has a wider camera bump to fit in the extra sensors.

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)

The display is slightly different on the S21 Ultra too. It has curved edges unlike the flatter S21 and S21 Plus, which means the wider handset will fit better in your hand.

On the back, the Galaxy S21 Plus and Galaxy S21 Ultra use Gorilla Glass Victus, the toughest glass you can currently find on smartphones. The Galaxy S21 instead gets a polycarbonate rear, a.k.a. the dreaded plastic back we saw on the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy S20 FE.

3D камеры больше нет

В Galaxy S20+ в дополнение к трём основным была доступна 3D ToF камера. Она улучшала эффекты дополненной реальности, помогала в ускорении фокусировки и портретной съёмке. С её помощью также можно было использовать весьма точную виртуальную рулетку и даже некое подобие 3D-сканера.

Дизайн тыльный панели изменился куда более заметно. Подобное оформление блока камер, по всей видимости, будет лишь у флагманов компании

Увы, в новом поколении Samsung отказалась от данной камеры. В S21+ её не будет вообще. К слову, не будет её и в S21 Ultra. Но там потерю хотя бы отчасти компенсирует новый лазерный автофокус. Базовые версии S21 и S21 Plus не получат даже его.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus vs. Galaxy S21 Ultra: Cameras

The Galaxy S21 Ultra would seem to be the choice for serious mobile photographers. While each phone offers a wide angle lens aided by an ultrawide angle shooter and a telephoto camera, the S21 Ultra simply delivers a bigger main sensor and adds a second telephoto lens. It also supports a larger 100x digital zoom.

Galaxy S21 Ultra (Image credit: Future)

To be specific, you’ll get a 108MP main camera with the Galaxy S21 Ultra along with a laser autofocus sensor to help the camera focus quickly. In addition to the 12MP ultrawide angle camera, you’ll have a pair of 10MP telephoto lenses, one that supports a 3x optical zoom and the other that can zoom in at 10x.

The lone telephoto lens on the Galaxy S21 Plus is a 64MP sensor that supports a 3x zoom; digital zoom is capped at 30x. But like the S21 Ultra, a Zoom Lock feature helps steady the shot by focusing on the subject. Other cameras on the Galaxy S21 Plus include a 12MP main shooter and 12MP ultrawide angle lens.

Galaxy S21 Plus (Image credit: Tom’s Guide)

The Galaxy S21 Ultra proved to be one of the best camera phones in our testing, keeping pace with the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The shots produced by the Galaxy S21 Plus aren’t quite up to that standard, but this is still a very good camera phone.

Заключение: всё ли так плохо?

На самом деле слишком сгущать краски всё же не стоит. К примеру, замена стекла на поликарбонат вряд ли разительно скажется на прочности, более того, так гаджет возможно будет даже более приятным на ощупь. Пониженное разрешение экрана также сложно назвать крупной проблемой. Скорее всего, глаз пользователя этого не заметит, так как отличия весьма невелики.

Несмотря на редизайн блока камер, сами камеры в S21 и S21+ точно такие же, как и S20. Впрочем, благодаря новым AI-возможностям процессора Samsung обещает заметные улучшения по части съёмки, особенно при недостаточном освещении.

Однако другая проблема заключается в том, что при всех потерях, нового в S21 и S21 Plus очень мало. По сути, главное новшество – новая аппаратная платформа. Новый мощный Exynos 2100 должен сделать крупный шаг вперёд по сравнению с прошлым проблемным Exynos 990.

Также, S21 используют новый сканер отпечатков. Он не только существенно быстрее, но имеет ещё и на 77% большую площадь срабатывания. Наконец, Plus-версия может похвастать слегка увеличенной с 4500 мАч до 4800 мАч батарей. Увы, на этом новшества и заканчиваются.

Единственным смартфоном из всей линейки, который получил не только снижение цены, но и существенные новшества кроме процессора, стала модель S21 Ultra. Её ключевые новшества: экран с пиковой яркостью в 1500 нит, поддержка стилуса, Wi-Fi 6E, новый сенсор основной камеры, автофокус для сверхширокоугольной камеры, сразу две телефото камеры и честный десятикратный оптический зум.

Первое знакомство с новыми флагманами Samsung от канала 808