Samsung Galaxy S21 buyer's guide: Everything you need to know

The Samsung Galaxy S21 series is the 2021 flagship family from the world’s biggest smartphone manufacturer. In 2020, Samsung tried to mostly appeal just to the ultra-premium buyer, but the 2021 Galaxy S21 series is a bit more well-rounded.

Since the launch of the Galaxy S22 series, Galaxy S23 series, and the latest Galaxy S24 series though, Samsung has ceased production of the Galaxy S21 series. You’ll still be able to find new models from third-party retailers, but the stock will continue to dwindle throughout 2024. Regardless, we’re here to help you navigate the series and find the phone that’s best for you (and your wallet). We’ve compiled all the info you could ever want to know about the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Plus, and Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Editor’s note: This Samsung Galaxy S21 buyer’s guide is current as of February 2024. We will update it with new content regularly.

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, and S21 Ultra at a glance

Samsung launched the Galaxy S21 series on January 14, 2021. That’s a much earlier date than usual for a Galaxy S launch. This was perhaps partly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pre-orders for the three phones in the series opened on January 14, and the devices hit store shelves on Friday, January 29, 2021, in the US and across Europe.

On February 9, 2022, Samsung launched the Galaxy S22 series, which signaled the end of the Galaxy S21 series. On February 1, 2023, the company launched the Galaxy S23 series, making the Galaxy S21 series officially two generations old. It was relegated deeper into Samsung’s legacy lineup with the launch of the Galaxy S24 trio in January 2024.

Galaxy S21 Ultra

If you want the most powerful phone in the series, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is for you. It has the largest display at 6.8 inches, the biggest battery at 5,000mAh, and the best camera setup with a primary 108MP sensor. It also comes with as much as 16GB of RAM. However, it’s also the most expensive, with a starting price of $1,199 (€1,249 / £1,149). Of course, considering the age of this phone, it’s pretty easy to get one new from a third-party vendor for under $600. Note that this phone received our Editor’s Choice award and was selected by our readers as the best phone of 2021.

Galaxy S21 Plus

The Galaxy S21 Plus is the middle child. It features a slightly smaller 6.7-inch display and a 4,800mAh battery. It has three rear cameras instead of five and only 8GB of RAM. However, because you’re losing out on some of those high-end features, the entry-level price comes down significantly to $999 (€1,049 / £949). Like the S21 Ultra, however, it’s easy to find this new for under $400.

Galaxy S21

Finally, the vanilla Galaxy S21 is the smallest and weakest of the three. On the plus side, you get a more palm-friendly 6.2-inch display and basically the same specs as the Galaxy S21 Plus. You do need to sacrifice battery capacity by a bit, though, as the Galaxy S21 only has a 4,000mAh cell. The rear is also made out of “Glasstic” rather than true glass. Your wallet will be happy, however, because the starting price of the phone is just $799 (€849 / £769), and it’s easy to find it today for around $300. Also, this phone received our Recommended badge.

Are the Galaxy S21 phones worth buying?

Because Samsung is no longer making Galaxy S21 phones, buying one won’t be as easy as buying a Galaxy S23 or Galaxy S24 model. Since the MSRP of the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Plus have the same original MSRP as their Galaxy S21 predecessors (at least in the US), we recommend most buyers grab a Galaxy S24 model instead. You’ll need to factor in another $100 to purchase the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

However, there are a few reasons you could want a Galaxy S21 model over the newer devices. The Galaxy S21 from a third-party vendor will be much cheaper than a Galaxy S24 — especially if you buy one used. Also, the Galaxy S21 Ultra has a variant with 16GB of RAM, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra maxes out at 12GB of RAM. With all that in mind, the Galaxy S21 devices could still be of interest to certain buyers.

Basically, all three phones are still great. They still have very fast processors, great cameras, elegant designs, and terrific software. Granted, the hardware inside the Galaxy S24 series is slightly better across the board, but that doesn’t mean the Galaxy S21 series is suddenly no good. If you can get one at a decent price, it would be a good buy.

Also, do keep in mind that Samsung has launched a “Fan Edition” in the Galaxy S21 series: the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE. Although this phone arrived much later than expected, it is still worth a look, especially if the $799 entry price for a Galaxy S21 is still a bit too high for your budget.

Samsung Galaxy S21 series specs

How good are the Galaxy S21 cameras?

In general, Samsung’s flagships have great cameras. If you want to own one of the best phones for photos and videos in the Android world, you can’t go wrong with the latest entry in the Galaxy S family. The 2021 series absolutely continues that trend.

We have reviewed the Galaxy S21 camera systems and have subjective opinions on how they stack up. We can also let you know what each phone has as far as hardware goes and give some insight on how that hardware has stacked up historically.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra cameras

There are five premium imaging sensors on the back of the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Combined, they created the most advanced camera phone Samsung had launched up until that point (now surpassed by its three successors). Check out what’s included:

• 108MP wide — ƒ/1.8, 0.8μm, with autofocus (AF) and optical image stabilization (OIS)
• 12MP ultrawide — ƒ/2.2, 1.4μm, with AF and a 120-degree field of view (FoV)
• 10MP telephoto — ƒ/2.4, 1.22μm, with AF, OIS, and 3x optical zoom
• 10MP telephoto — ƒ/4.9, 1.22μm, with AF, OIS, and 10x optical zoom
• Laser autofocus sensor

In 2020, the Galaxy S20 Ultra boasted similar specs, including a 108MP primary lens. Unfortunately, in our testing with the Galaxy S20 Ultra, we found the focus to be unreliable, as well as a few other problems. Thankfully, our testing with the Galaxy S21 Ultra shows that Samsung fixed almost all the issues we saw with the 2020 model.

In pretty much every situation, the Galaxy S21 Ultra impressed us. Zoomed shots are crisp and detailed thanks to the two telephoto lenses. Color accuracy across all the lenses is top-notch. And, most importantly, the focus is terrific.

There are still some things to keep in mind. Samsung is still using the “Space Zoom” branding to describe its 100x digital zoom feature with the Galaxy S21 Ultra. In practice, 100x digital zoom results in horrible image quality. We recommend avoiding zooming in this much with your smartphone, even if it is capable of the feat.

On the front, the Galaxy S21 Ultra has the same 40MP shooter as the previous model. That sensor has phase detection autofocus, an 80-degree FoV, an ƒ/2.2 aperture, and a pixel size of 0.7μm. Just like in 2020, selfies look great with this phone.

Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus cameras

For the first time since 2017, the regular and Plus variants in 2021’s Galaxy S lineup have identical cameras. Previously, the Plus model would offer something extra, such as more sensors, better-quality sensors, or even an extra entire lens. With the Galaxy S21 series, though, both phones will produce the exact same image quality.

Here’s what both the Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus pack:

• 12MP wide-angle — ƒ/1.8, 1.8μm, with autofocus (AF) and optical image stabilization (OIS)
• 12MP ultrawide — ƒ/2.2, 1.4μm, with AF and a 120-degree field of view (FoV)
• 64MP telephoto — ƒ/2.0, 0.8μm, with AF, OIS, and 3x “Hybrid Optic” zoom

Those three lenses are the trifecta of imaging sensors in smartphones. Your standard wide-angle sensor is used for basic shots. The ultrawide sensor helps you capture more of an image in your viewfinder without needing to physically move backward. And the telephoto lens gives you the ability to zoom in on your subject without losing too much fidelity.

When it comes to zoom, you get 3x “Hybrid Optic” zoom. This is marketing jargon that essentially means a certain percentage of the 3x zoom will be optical (i.e., lossless) while another percentage will be digital (i.e., lossy). We found this results in decent-quality photos when zoomed in at 3x. Even going as high as 10x still creates good-looking shots. But we advise against going past 10x. Regardless, zoom won’t be nearly as good as what you’ll see with the pure optics of the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Essentially, the Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus cameras should be a good fit for the average person. Even for professional photographers, the high-quality sensors here would likely enable them to produce some stunning pictures and videos. The Galaxy S21 Ultra will offer more versatility and slightly better quality, but it would also probably be overkill for the average person.

On the front, both phones have a 10MP shooter housed in a display cutout at the top center of the phone. That sensor has dual-pixel autofocus, an 80-degree FoV, an ƒ/2.2 aperture, and a pixel size of 1.4μm.

Do the Galaxy S21 phones have good battery life?

In our review period with the Galaxy S21 Ultra, we saw incredible battery life. Even on days of heavy use, we made it through the day and into the early morning of the next before needing to charge. With light use, we could handily get two days of battery life with no charging at all.

With the vanilla Galaxy S21, we also saw great battery life. We had one session with 8.2 hours of screen-on-time, which is pretty great. Similar to the Galaxy S21 Ultra, the regular Galaxy S21 could be a two-day phone with light use.

In the case of the Galaxy S21 Plus, the story is the same: battery life was great.

Keep in mind, though, that none of these phones have a charger in the box. To charge up the devices, you’ll need to use an existing charger you already own or buy a new one. To get the highest charging speeds, you’ll need a 25W charger. We have a whole article on how to pick a Galaxy S21 charger.

Finally, the Galaxy S21 phones all support wireless charging. They are Qi-compatible, so most any wireless charging pad will work. Also, all three phones support reverse wireless charging, so you can leech power off the phone to charge something like an earbuds case or a smartwatch.

Galaxy S21 vs Galaxy S20 series: What’s changed since 2020’s models?

As with any tech product, the Galaxy S21 phones are better in many ways than the previous year’s models. However, due to the lowered pricing, some aspects of the phones are actually weaker than the Galaxy S20 series.

Below you’ll find the most significant differences between 2021’s lineup and the 2020 devices. Please note that this is not every difference, just the highlights.

• Designs: Samsung added a lot more design flair to the Galaxy S21 series. The rear camera module is more recessed into the side of the phone, giving it a distinct look. There are also more colorways from which to choose. The vanilla S21 is also made of “Glasstic” rather than real glass.
• Displays: The displays might look the same as 2020’s, but they are different. The Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus have flat displays. They also have lower resolutions, clocking in at 1080p instead of 1440p. The Galaxy S21 Ultra, though, keeps the 1440p curved display from 2020.
• RAM: The Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus have less RAM than in 2020 (8GB as compared to 12GB). The Ultra model, though, stays the same with 12 or 16GB.
• Storage: Each phone starts at the same level as 2020: 128GB of internal storage. However, the vanilla and Plus models have 256GB versions in 2021, which didn’t happen in the previous year. Unfortunately, only the Ultra model has a 512GB option.
• microSD cards: None of the Galaxy S21 phones have microSD card slots. This is the first time the entire lineup has lacked this feature since the Galaxy S6 line.
• Cameras: The Galaxy S21 and Galaxy 21 Plus both have the exact same front and rear camera setups. This hasn’t happened since the Galaxy S8 series. The Galaxy S21 Ultra has a slightly new setup with two more sensors as compared to the others.
• 5G: In the United States, all three phones have both Sub6 and mmWave access. The vanilla Galaxy S20 did not have mmWave access.
• S Pen: For the first time ever, a Galaxy S device can support Samsung’s S Pen. Usually reserved for the Note series, the S Pen works only on the Ultra variant of the Galaxy S21 family. There is no S Pen included in the box, though. If you want your S Pen integrated into the phone, you want the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE: Differences compared

On January 3, 2022, Samsung launched the “Fan Edition” model of the Galaxy S21. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is a lot like the vanilla Galaxy S21 but starts at a price that’s $100 lower. Be sure to read our full review of the Galaxy S21 FE.

Below, we’ve rounded up the major differences between the two devices. Keep in mind these aren’t all the differences, but just the major ones.

• Size: The Galaxy S21 FE is slightly taller and wider when compared to the Galaxy S21. The phones are exactly the same thickness, however. The Galaxy S21 FE also has a slightly larger display at 6.4 inches compared to the Galaxy S21’s 6.2-inch display.
• Battery: Thanks to its larger size, the Galaxy S21 FE has a bigger battery than the Galaxy S21: 4,500mAh for the former and 4,000mAh for the latter.
• Weight: Of course, with a larger battery comes a heavier phone. The Galaxy S21 FE weighs 177g, slightly heavier than the 171g Galaxy S21.
• Cameras: In general, the camera system on the Galaxy S21 FE is weaker than what you’ll get with the Galaxy S21. Note that even though the selfie camera is a 32MP shooter compared to the Galaxy S21’s 10MP sensor, this won’t necessarily result in better photos and video.
• Security: The Galaxy S21 FE has an in-display optical fingerprint scanner. This isn’t the same as the ultrasonic sensor in the Galaxy S21 and could result in slightly slower and less accurate performance.
• RAM: The Galaxy S21 has 8GB of RAM regardless of the internal storage capacity. The Galaxy S21 FE, however, starts with 6GB of RAM for the 128GB model. The 256GB model has 8GB of RAM.

Samsung Galaxy S21 series: Competition and alternatives

If the Galaxy S21 series seems cool but isn’t quite what you’re looking for, we have some other options for you here. Keep in mind that the only way to get a new Galaxy S21 phone will be from third-party vendors, as Samsung is no longer producing or selling the phones. As such, the most obvious alternative is the Galaxy S23 series. The Galaxy S23 ($799 at Amazon), Galaxy S23 Plus ($999.99 at Samsung), and Galaxy S23 Ultra ($1199.99 at Samsung) are some of the best phones of 2023, and worth checking out. We’d still recommend them over Samsung’s newest flavors, as they’re likely to cost you a little less.

However, if you don’t mind paying and want Samsung’s latest, the Galaxy S24 ($859.99 at Amazon), Galaxy S24 Plus ($1119.99 at Amazon), and Galaxy S24 Ultra ($1419.99 at Amazon) bring upgraded Qualcomm silicon, longer software support promises, and several AI enhancements.

If even those don’t interest you, you should have a look at the Google Pixel 8 ($699 at Amazon) and Pixel 8 Pro ($999 at Amazon). The Pixel 8 would be very comparable to the Galaxy S21, while the Pixel 8 Pro would be comparable to the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

The OnePlus 11 ($1296 at Amazon) is also worth a look. Its display and processor are top-notch, even if you’ll need to sacrifice wireless charging and an IP rating. But the low price makes it quite appealing for power users on a budget.

Finally, don’t forget about the iPhone 15 series. The Galaxy S21 will be a lot like the iPhone 15 Pro ($999 at Amazon) when it comes to sizing and features, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max ($1199 at Amazon) will have a lot of similarities to the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Where to buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 phones

Samsung is no longer selling or producing the Galaxy S21 series. Likewise, partner carriers — including Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile — will sell their current stock and then stop sales. As such, the best way to get a Galaxy S21 is through third-party vendors. This will prove to get more and more difficult as time goes on. Eventually, you’ll need to buy used models.

In the meantime, use the links below:

Samsung Galaxy S21 software updates

Over the past few years, Samsung has really upped its game when it comes to software updates. There have been many times that Samsung’s flagship phones have seen the monthly Android security patch days before even Google’s own Pixel lineup sees them.

When Samsung launched the Galaxy S22 series, it announced that most of its flagship products would see four Android upgrades and five years of Android security patches. This applies to the Galaxy S21 series. This means the Galaxy S21 phones should see up to Android 15 and then get another year of patches after that. Currently, all Galaxy S21 phones are on One UI 6 based on Android 14.

The bottom line here is that if you value consistent Android security patches and timely Android version upgrades, the Galaxy S21 series is a very good choice.

Top Galaxy S21 series questions and answers

Help other readers out

Do you own the Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, or S21 Ultra? Do you plan on getting one? If so, make your voice heard in our polls below, and then go ahead and post your own mini-review in the comments!