Reviews |Samsung unveils flagship Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, S21 Ultra smartphones

Samsung unveils flagship Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, S21 Ultra smartphones

Samsung unveils flagship Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, S21 Ultra smartphones
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Samsung has announced its latest family of flagship smartphones, introducing the Galaxy S21, S21 Plus and S21 Ultra.

Replacing the Galaxy S20 series, the new Galaxy S21 range brings improvements to the phones’ displays and body shape, and all are powered by 5G technology.

The Galaxy S21 Series also brings an all-new Contour Cut Camera housing that blends into the device’s metal frame.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Camera Specs

The top-of-the-range S21 Ultra boasts a quad rear camera (ultra-wide, wide and dual tele-lenses) that features a new 108MP pro sensor, from which you can capture 12 bit HDR photos with 64 times richer colour and more than three times wider dynamic range.

For the first time on a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, you can also now shoot video in 4K at 60fps across all lenses including front and rear four lenses, so you can shift to a different perspective with the same quality. There is also a 12-bit RAW file option.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G also features 100x Space Zoom which is powered by Samsung’s first-ever Dual-tele lens system – one optical 3x and one optical 10x both equipped Dual Photodiode(2PD).

Samsung says the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G’s improved Bright Night sensor is the company’s biggest leap yet in smartphone low-light photography. Improvements to Night Mode, noise reduction and 12MP Nona-binning technology, promise noise-free shots at night and in dimly lit environments.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is the largest member of the Galaxy S21 Series with a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. What’s more, the screen’s refresh rate adjusts to the content you’re viewing from 10Hz to 120Hz and is 25% brighter than its predecessor.

Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus Camera Specs

Both the Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus feature a triple camera array that feature 12MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide and 64MP telephoto cameras. These aren’t too dissimilar from last year’s Galaxy S20 smartphones.

The main difference between the Galaxy S21 and the S21 Plus is that the former offers a 6.2-inch display compared to a 6.7-inch screen for the S21 Plus. The Galaxy S21 and S21 Ultra also offer an edge-to-edge Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O display with adaptive 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling and viewing. Like the Ultra, they automatically adjust the frame rate based on the content.

Samsung has made improvements to its 8K Video Snap feature that lets you grab stills from 8K video, while Super Steady video promises more stable footage. Director’s View is a new feature that lets you select your best shots, while Vlogger’s View utilises your front and rear cameras at the same time.

You can pair the new Samsung Galaxy phones with the Galaxy Buds Pro for multiple mic recording when filming video in the Pro Video Mode. Meanwhile other features like the AI-driven Single Take, Highlight Video, Dynamic Slow-Mo and others from the S20 series return here.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 series smartphones will be released on 29 January. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra price tag will start at £1149, while the S21 Plus and S21 price tags will start at £769 and £949, respectively.