Samsung’s latest range of flagship handsets are finally here. But what new specs and features does the standard Galaxy S21 5G offer? And how do you get the best deals?
The Samsung Galaxy S21 boasts everything you’d expect from a flagship smartphone, and you can pick one up cheaper than its flagship counterparts - the S21 Plus and the S21 Ultra - too.
Let’s take a closer look...
What does the Galaxy S21 have to offer?
Image credit: Samsung
As we say, the standard version of the S21 is also the cheapest. But that’s not the surprising bit. You see, despite being a few hundred pounds cheaper to buy SIM-free, it still boasts a lot ofsame standout features you’d find on the costlier S21 Plus.
For example, it’s got a gorgeous 6.2-inch display, as well as a flurry of premium cameras.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 comes in four colours: Phantom Grey, Phantom Pink, Phantom Violet and Phantom White.
Samsung Galaxy S21 display and design
The Samsung Galaxy S21 boasts a 6.2-inch, dynamic AMOLED display thar takes up most of the screen, and is perfect for watching your favorite shows on the go.
In terms of design, the S21 is definitely one of the nicer looking Samsung Galaxy phones we’ve seen in recent years.
Notably, the vertical camera system at the back now wraps around the rear of the device from the front panel. We think this lends a more polished, sophisticated look than its predecessor, and certainly makes the S21 stand out from previous Galaxy handsets.
That said, being the base model, the S21 does forfeit some premium design materials. For example, the S21’s back is made from plastic rather than glass à la the S21 Plus and S21 Ultra. For some, this might be a problem – but we still think the S21 looks every inch the flagship smartphone, regardless.
Samsung S21 5G camera
The S21’s camera setup consists of 12-megapixel Wide, 12-megapixel Ultra Wide and 64-megapixel Telephoto lenses, plus a 30x zoom function. There’s also a 10-megapixel snapper at the front for selfies.
It’s easily one of the phone’s major selling points, and boasts a flurry of premium features like Night Mode, which adds clarity to pictures taken in low-light.
Moreover, the S21 also features enhanced Portrait Mode, which uses sophisticated AI technology to lend images the kind of quality you’d expect to see from a professional camera.
Lastly, there’s a much improved bokeh this time around, too – background blur looks more organic, and objects in the foreground appear much sharper.
Samsung Galaxy S21 processor and connectivity
As its name suggests, the Galaxy S21 comes with 5G connectivity as standard. And Samsung has also included a brand new octa-core processor to ensure the phone operates smoothly.
No upfront cost Samsung Galaxy S21 deals
For some, paying a large amount upfront just isn’t practical. To that end, no upfront contracts are worth a look.However, if you opt to pay nothing upfront, there’s a good chance you’ll have to pay a higher monthly premium.
To find no upfront cost deals to suit you, simply filter your options in the comparison at the top of this page.
Unlimited data Samsung Galaxy S21 deals
-
Galaxy S21 5G (128GB Grey)
- 300GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- £165.00 device cost
- £8.00 per month
24 month contract From Metrofone -
Galaxy S21 5G (128GB Grey)
- 300GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- £165.00 device cost
- £8.00 per month
24 month contract From Fonehouse -
Galaxy S21 5G (128GB Grey)
- 100GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- £45.00 device cost
- Manage your bills with My Vodafone app
- £13.00 per month
24 month contract From Metrofone -
Galaxy S21 5G (128GB Grey)
- 100GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- £45.00 device cost
- Manage your bills with My Vodafone app
- £13.00 per month
24 month contract From Fonehouse -
Galaxy S21 5G (128GB Grey)
- 300GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- £145.00 device cost
- £9.00 per month
24 month contract From Fonehouse -
Galaxy S21 5G (128GB Grey)
- 300GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- £145.00 device cost
- £9.00 per month
24 month contract From Metrofone
Cheap Samsung Galaxy S21 deals
-
Galaxy S21 5G (128GB Violet)
- 90GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- £9.00 device cost
- Special offers with O2 Priority
- £21.00 per month
24 month contract From MobilePhonesDirect.co.uk -
Galaxy S21 5G (128GB Grey)
- 300GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- £165.00 device cost
- £8.00 per month
24 month contract From Metrofone -
Galaxy S21 5G (128GB Grey)
- 300GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- £165.00 device cost
- £8.00 per month
24 month contract From Fonehouse -
Galaxy S21 5G (128GB Grey)
- 100GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- £45.00 device cost
- Manage your bills with My Vodafone app
- £13.00 per month
24 month contract From Metrofone -
Galaxy S21 5G (128GB Grey)
- 100GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- £45.00 device cost
- Manage your bills with My Vodafone app
- £13.00 per month
24 month contract From Fonehouse -
Galaxy S21 5G (128GB Grey)
- 300GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- £145.00 device cost
- £9.00 per month
24 month contract From Fonehouse
Flagship handsets like the Galaxy S21 generally don’t come cheap, especially just after their a release. But its still important to shop around, regardless. Some networks, for example, will even offer freebies.
To find a deal to suit your price-point, simply toggle the options in the comparison table at the top of this page.
Alternative to Samsung Galaxy S21
Not ready to fork out on the Samsung Galaxy S21? Not to worry, there’s plenty of decent Samsung Galaxy smartphones at much lower price points:
- Samsung Galaxy S21 5G Plus
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
- Samsung Galaxy S20
- Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
- Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12
- iPhone SE 2020
Is the Samsung Galaxy S21 waterproof?
The Samsung Galaxy S21 has an IP68 rating, which means it should survive submersion in 1.5 meters for thirty minutes.
Does Samsung Galaxy S21 have wireless charging?
Yes, the Galaxy S21 features 15W wireless charging.
What are the best Samsung Galaxy S21 handset deals?
This depends on what you’re looking for. For example, if you don’t want to pay a large sum of money upfront, there are no upfront cost contract deals available.
And if you use a lot of data, then an unlimited data deal will be best for you. To find the best deal for you, head to the deals table at the top of this page.
What headphones come with the Samsung Galaxy S21?
No, the Samsung Galaxy S21 doesn’t come with headphones. And, this time around, Samsung has ditched the 3.5m headphone jack too, so you won’t be able to listen to music with the standard AKG-tuned wired earbuds included with S20.
You do have options though. Notably, you can pick up a USC-C to 3.5mm adapter, or fork out on a pair of wireless earbuds.
Can I upgrade to the Samsung Galaxy S21?
The depends on your network. To find out if you can upgrade, you’ll need to get in touch with your carrier to find out what they can offer you.
What Samsung Galaxy S21 colours are available?
The Samsung Galaxy S21 comes in four colours: Phantom Grey, Phantom Pink, Phantom Violet and Phantom White.
How long is the Samsung Galaxy S21 battery life?
The Samsung Galaxy S21 boasts a 4,000mAh battery which should, in theory, last ten hours or more.
How good is the Samsung Galaxy S21 camera?
The S21 sports one of the best cameras we’ve seen on an Android phone. It’s got a primary 12-megapixel wide-angle lens along with a secondary 12-megapixel, ultra-wide angle lens and a 64-megapixel telephoto lens to boot.
Galaxy S21 5G specs
Manufacturer | Samsung |
---|---|
Operating System | Android |
Sim Card Type | Nano |
Accelerometer | Yes |
---|---|
Proximity | Yes |
Compass | Yes |
Barometer | Yes |
Gyroscope | Yes |
GPS | No |
Form Factor | Candy Bar |
---|---|
Thickness | 7.9 mm |
Size | 71.2mm x 7.9mm x 151.7mm |
Weight | 169 g |
Battery Type | Lithium Polymer |
---|---|
Capacity | 4000 mah |
Standby | hours |
Talktime | hours |
Display Size | 6.2 inches |
---|---|
Screen Type | AMOLED |
Resolution | 1080 x 2400 inches |
Pixels Per Inch | 421 ppi |
Touch Screen Type | Capacitive |
CPU | 2900 mhz |
---|---|
Processor Cores | Octa Core Cores |
Memory | 8000 MB |
Internal Storage | 128, 256 |
---|---|
External Storage | No |
Primary Camera | 64 MP |
---|---|
Flash | Yes |
LED Flash | |
GEO Tagging | Yes |
Auto Focus | Yes |
Fixed Focus | Yes |
Touch Focus | |
Face Detection | Yes |
Smile Detection | |
Image Stabilisation | Yes |
Video Quality | 4320 |
2nd Camera | 10 MP |
Generation | 5G |
---|---|
Frequency | Dual-band |
NFC | No |
Wi-Fi | No |
Wi-Fi Hotspot | No |
Wi-Fi Direct | No |
Bluetooth | No |
USB | No |
Loudspeaker | Yes |
---|