Should we reach January 14, the day that Samsung is expected to announce its Galaxy S21 line, there once again won’t be many (if any) surprises. Thanks to leaks that we are assuming are straight from eager retailers who slipped up and listed info early, we know the specs, what they look like, and most of the features that’ll ship with the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra.
Now, we’ve known about the designs for some time through CAD renders and the first official press renders. We’ve known about Snapdragon 888 processors and S Pen support (in the Ultra), thanks to the FCC. We have seen teasers and hands-on videos. These retailer leaks sure do tell us the rest, though.
To start, below are the images of each phone’s backside, showing you the color options that’ll come along with the Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra. It looks like the S21 will see the most options, while the S21+ and Ultra will see a more selective color range.
Galaxy S21
Galaxy S21+
Galaxy S21 Ultra
As for specs, the S21 series will run Android 11 and Samsung’s newest One UI 3.1 skin. They’ll all feature Infinity-O AMOLED panels at up to 120Hz, only the Ultra will jump from 1080p to QHD. We’ll see storage configurations up to 512GB and RAM up to 12GB, along with batteries ranging from 4000mAh to 5000mAh. There will be WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 and fast charging and Wireless PowerShare and ultrasonic fingerprint readers and IP68 water and dust resistance.
For cameras, the S21 and S21+ will feature matching setups consisting of 64MP telephoto lenses next to 12MP ultra and wide angle sensors. The S21 Ultra gets a more unique setup with 108MP wide-angle, 12MP ultra-wide, and dual 10MP telephoto lenses. That S21 Ultra camera is going to be a big deal depending on if Samsung can right some of the S20 Ultra’s wrongs.
Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra Specs
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S21+ | Galaxy S21 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS | Samsung One UI 3.1 Android 11 | Samsung One UI 3.1 Android 11 | Samsung One UI 3.1 Android 11 |
| Processor | Snapdragon 888 Adreno 660 GPU | Snapdragon 888 Adreno 660 GPU | Snapdragon 888 Adreno 660 GPU |
| Display | 6.2" Infinity-O AMOLED 2400x1080, 421ppi Adaptive 120Hz, HDR10+ Gorilla Glass 7 | 6.7" Infinity-O AMOLED 2400x1080, 394ppi Adaptive 120Hz, HDR10+ Gorilla Glass7 | 6.8" Infinity-O AMOLED 3200x1440, 515ppi Adaptive 120Hz, HDR10+ Gorilla Glass 7 |
| Memory | Storage: 128GB / 256GB RAM: 8GB (LPDDR5) | Storage: 128GB / 256GB RAM: 8GB (LPDDR5) | Storage: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB RAM: 12GB / 16GB (LPDDR5) |
| Rear Camera | 64MP Telephoto ---f/2.0, 76°, 28mm ---OIS ---PDAF 12MP Ultra-Wide ---f/2.2, 120°, 13mm 12MP Wide-Angle ---f/1.8, 79°, 26mm ---OIS ---Dual Pixel AF 30x Space Zoom | 64MP Telephoto ---f/2.0, 76°, 28mm ---OIS ---PDAF 12MP Ultra-Wide ---f/2.2, 120°, 13mm 12MP Wide-Angle ---f/1.8, 79°, 26mm ---OIS ---Dual Pixel AF 30x Space Zoom | 108MP Wide-Angle ---f/1.8, 79°, 24mm ---OIS ---PDAF 12MP Ultra-Wide ---f/2.2, 120°, 13mm ---Dual Pixel AF 10MP Telephoto --- f/2.4, 35°, 72m ---Optical 3x ---OIS ---Dual Pixel AF 10MP Telephoto ---f/4.9, 10°, 240mm ---Optical 10x ---OIS ---Dual Pixel AF 100x Space Zoom Laser AF Sensor |
| Front Camera | 10MP ---f/2.2, 80°, 25mm ---Dual Pixel AF | 10MP ---f/2.2, 80°, 25mm ---Dual Pixel AF | 40MP ---f/2.2, 80°, 25mm ---PDAF |
| Battery | 4000mAh Fast Charging Wireless Charging Wireless PowerShare | 4800mAh Fast Charging Wireless Charging Wireless PowerShare | 5000mAh Fast Charging Wireless Charging Wireless PowerShare |
| Connectivity | 802.11ax WiFi (WiFi 6) Bluetooth 5.0 NFC | 802.11ax WiFi (WiFi 6) Bluetooth 5.0 NFC | 802.11ax WiFi (WiFi 6E) Bluetooth 5.0 NFC |
| Other | USB-C Stereo speakers Ultrasonic Fingerprint IP68 | USB-C Stereo speakers Ultrasonic Fingerprint IP68 | S Pen support USB-C Stereo speakers Ultrasonic Fingerprint IP68 |
| Size | 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9mm 171g | 161.5 x 75.6 x 7.8mm 202g | 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9mm 228g |
| Colors | Gray, White, Pink, Purple | Silver, Black, Purple | Silver, Black |
Again, we should see S Pen support with the S21 Ultra. However, Samsung isn’t expected to include an S Pen with the phone. Instead, it should be an optional accessory for purchase. Speaking of optional accessories, prepare yourselves for none of the Galaxy S21 phones to come with a charger in the box.
For pricing, the S21 could start at 849 EUR, the S21+ at 1049 EUR, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra at 1399 EUR. I would guess that US pricing will come close to matching that.