Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S21 series in January, earlier than its usual release schedule. As the launch nears, more information about the devices has been surfacing, with details such as the design and the possible specifications already having leaked. Now, a massive leak from Android Police’s Max Weinbach sheds light on a huge amount of information about the devices. This includes details like the specifications, camera setup, various color options, and much more, which is indeed a lot to unpack.
Unsurprisingly, the trio of devices will supposedly be named the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra. The differences between the offerings are expected to expand a little more than what was present with the Galaxy S20 series. As for the design, the publication claims that the renders provide an accurate picture of the rear camera module – which integrates with the frame of the device. Interestingly, the camera bump will reportedly sport colors that contrast with the rest of the phone.
The similarities between the three smartphones – as noted above – are few. The devices will reportedly be powered by the yet unreleased Qualcomm Snapdragon 875 or an Exynos 2100, depending on the region. The parity in performance between the two chips has also been reportedly bridged, with the Exynos chip expected to perform as well as – or even better than – Qualcomm’s offering, according to sources. The phones are said to run One UI 3.1 based on Android 11 out of the box. And that’s about it, in terms of the similarities.
The Galaxy S21, the entry-level tier, is said to sport a plastic back, like on the Galaxy S20 FE. The South Korean company reportedly gained positive customer responses about the material. It is not clear if the S21+ will also sport a plastic/polycarbonate rear panel. The top-tier S21 Ultra, however, is said to sport a glass back.
Another major difference this year between the devices will be in the display specs. The Galaxy S21 and S21+ are expected to house a Full HD+ display, unlike its predecessors. While the phones will bring 120Hz high refresh rate displays, they will not be adaptive – like on the Galaxy Note20 Ultra. The S21 Ultra, on the other hand, is said to house an impressive display thanks to not just an LTPO panel with support for variable refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz, but also a peak brightness level of 1,600 nits, drastically improved contrast ratio, and support for the S Pen which will not be included in the box. Sources suggest that the panel will be one of the best displays on the market.
As for the photographic prowess, the S21 and the S21+ are expected to retain the camera setups of its predecessors, housing triple rear cameras that include a 12MP main unit, a 12MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 64MP telephoto lens. The Galaxy S21+ might, however, drop the time-of-flight (ToF) sensor. The exact sensor size and technical specifications are not known at the moment. The S21 Ultra is where the bigger upgrades are supposedly happening.
The S21 Ultra is said to use a second-generation 108MP unit for its main camera, aided by laser autofocus for better focus performance. The phone will also gain an additional telephoto lens, bringing 3X and 10X optical zoom levels. Thanks to the latter made possible by the periscopic lens, the firm is said to also be retaining the “100X Space Zoom” feature that debuted on the S20 Ultra – which was shelved with the Note20 Ultra. The camera features include support for recording 8K video at 30fps, the ability to shoot from the front and rear cameras simultaneously, and more.
Here is the complete specifications table posted by Android Police:
| Specifications | Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S21+ | Galaxy S21 Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.2-inch FHD+ LTPS, 120hz | 6.7-inch FHD+ LTPS, 120hz | 6.8-inch WQHD+ LTPO, 1-120hz adaptive |
| Software | One UI 3.1 based on Android 11 | One UI 3.1 based on Android 11 | One UI 3.1 based on Android 11 |
| CPU | Snapdragon 875 or Exynos 2100 | Snapdragon 875 or Exynos 2100 | Snapdragon 875 or Exynos 2100 |
| Battery | 4,000 mAh | 4,800 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Rear Camera | Ultra wide: 12MP | Ultra wide: 12MP | Ultra wide: 12MP |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1 | 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1 | 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Colors | Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink, | Phantom Silver, Phantom Black, | Phantom Black and Phantom Silver |
Other tidbits include support for UWB (ultra-wideband) chip on the S21+ and S21 Ultra for use with the yet unannounced SmartThings tags – likely Samsung’s version of Tile’s trackers and Wi-Fi 6E support for the top-tier model. The firm might also sell separate cases for the S21 Ultra that can hold an S Pen.
Lastly, the report claims that Samsung is expected to lower the price of its devices to adjust for the financial effects brought about by the pandemic. It is possible that the firm is cutting back on some premium features such as the panel materials and display resolution on the lower-tier models to be able to offer the flagships across a wider price range. It will be interesting to see how these models are marketed, and what the prices will be.
Source: Android Police | Image: OnLeaks (Voice)