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In Q1 of every year, Samsung released its flagship device of the year from the S lineup, and this time around, it was the S20. We had three phones this year, which included the S20, S20+, and the S20 Ultra. Now, even though the phone was released in 2020, leaks and renders about it have been circulating the web since the early times of 2019. This year, things are the same as we now have some rumors and reports about the S series device that will launch in 2021. In this article, we have compiled everything we know about the next S series devices from Samsung, including Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra.
What will Samsung call its next Galaxy S?
- Samsung’s 2021 Galaxy S smartphone might be called the Galaxy S21.
Samsung felt that the move from the S10 to the next-generation S device was huge. They decided to skip an entire generation for that cause and released the new device by the name S20. This time around, many people are wondering whether we will get an S21 device or a Galaxy S30 device. Well, the confusion is understandable, but most probably, we will get an S21 device and not an S30 device. The S20 goes together with the year 2020, too, so we can expect Samsung to use the terminology S21 for their next-generation S devices.
SamMobile reports three Galaxy S21 5G variants are in the works, with model numbers SM-G991, SM-G996, and SM-G998. So, Like S10 and S20 lineup, next year, the company will bring three handsets. We may also see LTE variants, but there is no confirmation as of now.
Samsung Galaxy S21 expected features & specifications.
Better Performance:
The S20 lineup comes equipped with the Snapdragon 865, which is a 5G integrated chip. 5G is in its initial stage, and considering how the modem comes integrated with the 865 processor, the price of this processor is higher than ever before for a Qualcomm chip. A good chunk of that cost price is due to 5G, and by 2021, when the next generation Snapdragon 875 hits the market, they will be forced to keep the price down. This is because by then, other chipset manufacturers will also release their take on 5G and probably at a lower price point. To stay competitive, Qualcomm has to bring the price down, and more importance will be given to the overall performance. Samsung S series always equips their latest processor on their devices, and the S21 will also house this rumored 5nm-based Snapdragon 875. The performance jump from 865 to 875 will be significant.
However, Chinese media outlet CnBeta reports that Samsung may use the older Snapdragon 865 instead of the Snapdragon 875 chipset on its upcoming S21 lineup to lower the price. The report also suggests that Samsung may bring its own upcoming Exynos 1000 SoC to multiple markets for its flagship devices instead of Qualcomm’s SoC.
Camera Upgrades:
Samsung never disappoints in camera performance, and even this year, we had the S20 Ultra housing a huge 108 MP sensor. The S20 Ultra also allowed for 100X space zoom, which is unheard of. So, every year, Samsung pulls off something new with their camera tech, and we can expect the S21 to also come with something out of the box.
According to Clien.Net report, the S21 Ultra could come with a Penta camera setup at the back with a 150MP primary lens. The remaining four units may include a 64MP telephoto sensor, a 16MP wide-angle sensor, a 12MP macro sensor, and a ToF sensor. If Samsung pulls it off, this would be a revolutionary move in the smartphone industry. However, Thelec.kr has denied the existence of the ToF sensor, saying, “Samsung has decided to drop the ToF sensor on the next generation Galaxy S devices.”
Contradicting Clien.Net’s report, popular tipster Ice Universe has said that the Galaxy S21 Ultra will come with a 108MP camera (instead of rumored 150MP) like its predecessor, the Galaxy S20 Ultra. However, the sensor will be the successor to the ISOCELL Bright HM1.
One of the most reported features of the S21 was actually the front camera, which was claimed to be an under-display camera. However, Ross Young, a well-known display analyst, has recently shared via Twitter that Galaxy S21 will not feature it. Furthermore, we may see OIS in S21’s front-facing camera.
Faster Storage:
The S20 uses UFS 3.0, which is very fast, but there is a new generation for UFS storage coming forward now. It is called UFS 3.1, and it is reported to be 60% faster than the UFS 3.0. UFS 3.0 is already very, and a 60% bump over would be a huge improvement overall. Samsung has also announced that they have begun mass producing the industry’s first 512GB eUFS 3.1 for use in flagship devices.
Improved Battery with Faster Charging Tech:
The industry is slowly moving toward bigger battery phones, and the S21 will certainly follow that trend. There is no use in high performance if the device can’t last long. Manufacturers are realizing the customer’s requirements, and we can expect the Samsung S21 device to house a good chunk of battery, too.
Recently, Samsung Galaxy S21’s battery model EB-BG991ABY was spotted on the 3C certification website, revealing it will pack a battery of 3880 mAh rated capacity. Additionally, the EB-BG996ABY battery of Galaxy S21+ is also listed with a 4,660 mAh rated capacity. So, the typical capacity could go up to 4000 mAh for S21 and 4800 mAh for S21+. The S21 lineup is also expected to support 60W fast charging.
Improved Screen Technology:
Now, the S20 series comes with a 120Hz refresh rate, but the user needs to lower the resolution to 1080p to use the 120Hz features. In QHD resolution, the frame rate is limited to 60Hz. We can certainly expect this to change with the S21 lineup, as many other manufacturers can push out QHD AMOLED displays operating at 120Hz. This puts Samsung to shame, and they will certainly fix it with the S21 lineup.
Samsung’s own OLED panel:
An earlier report from market researcher DSCC suggests that Samsung plans to use a 6.67-inch flexible OLED panel from BOE in its next-generation Galaxy S21 smartphone. Samsung is in talks with Chinese firm BOE for a 6.67-inch OLED panel. BOE produces both LCDs and OLEDs. They ranked third in the world in the OLED segment.
Now it looks like South Korean tech giant Samsung will use its in-house OLED panels in its Galaxy devices. However, in the future, the company may use the BOE OLED screen but not for the S21 series. South Korean media reported that BOE’s OLEDs didn’t pass Samsung’s quality test. So, Galaxy S21 may use Samsung Display instead of BOE Display.
Samsung’s Latest Software:
One UI 3.0, the upcoming custom skin of Samsung, will run on the Galaxy S21 lineup. The UI 3.0 will be based on the Android 11 operating system. So, we will see improvements in the software department.
Release Date and Price
Suppose Samsung follows a similar schedule for its next generation of Galaxy S phones. In that case, we can expect the Samsung Galaxy S21 series to be launched in February 2021 at its Unpacked event. The release date could be March 5, 2021, the first Friday of the month.
As far as pricing is concerned, the Galaxy S21 5G, Galaxy S21+ 5G and Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G price could start at $999, $1249 and $1449 in the US.
According to Korean media clien.net, the Snapdragon 875 package will be priced at $250. The price of its predecessor, Snapdragon 865, is around $150. That means the 875 Chipset is around $100 more expensive than the 865 Chipset. So, Samsung’s Galaxy S21 might be even more expensive than the Galaxy S20.
Should you wait for the Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra?
The answer to this is simple. If you already have a device that is functioning well and hasn’t aged much, then yes, you can wait for the S21. But if you are just pushing your existing device and looking for a change with top-of-the-line specs, S20 devices should do the job for you. The S21 devices won’t come to market before 2021, so the wait might be too much for some people. Depending upon your current device’s health, make the decision yourself whether or not you want to wait for the S21 lineup.
