Samsung Galaxy S21 Review: A Premium Flagship with Powerful Features
Introduction
The Samsung Galaxy S21, released in January 2021, continues to be a solid flagship offering in the smartphone market. With a sleek design, top-tier performance, an excellent camera system, and a range of innovative features, the S21 remains a competitive choice for users who want a premium smartphone experience. This review explores every aspect of the Galaxy S21, from design to battery life, helping you decide if it’s the right phone for you.
Design and Build Quality
The Galaxy S21 features a refined design with a contour-cut camera module that seamlessly blends into the phone’s frame. Unlike its predecessor, the Galaxy S20, which had a glass back, Samsung opted for a polycarbonate plastic rear on the standard S21 model. While some users might miss the glass feel, this choice makes the device more durable and resistant to shattering.
The phone is available in Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Pink, and Phantom Violet colors, offering stylish options for different preferences. The device weighs 169g and has dimensions of 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm, making it compact and easy to hold.
Display
The Galaxy S21 comes with a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display that offers a 120Hz refresh rate for ultra-smooth scrolling and gaming experiences. The screen has a 2400 x 1080 (FHD+) resolution, ensuring sharp visuals with vibrant colors and deep blacks. HDR10+ support further enhances content viewing, making it ideal for watching movies or playing high-definition games.
Samsung also implemented adaptive refresh rate technology, meaning the display can adjust between 48Hz and 120Hz depending on the content, improving battery efficiency.
Performance and Hardware
The Galaxy S21 is powered by the Exynos 2100 (International) or Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (USA & China) chipset. Both processors deliver flagship-level performance, ensuring smooth multitasking, gaming, and overall responsiveness. Paired with 8GB of RAM and storage options of 128GB or 256GB, the phone handles demanding applications with ease.
Unfortunately, Samsung removed the microSD card slot, so users must rely solely on internal storage. However, the UFS 3.1 storage technology ensures fast read and write speeds for improved performance.
Camera System
Samsung has equipped the Galaxy S21 with a triple-camera setup on the rear:
12 MP (wide) sensor with f/1.8 aperture and OIS
64 MP (telephoto) sensor with 3x hybrid zoom and OIS
12 MP (ultrawide) sensor with a 120-degree field of view
The camera setup delivers excellent photo quality with vibrant colors, great dynamic range, and sharp details. Night mode has been improved, offering better low-light performance, and the Portrait mode creates stunning bokeh effects.
For videos, the Galaxy S21 supports 8K recording at 24fps, along with Super Steady mode, which helps reduce shakiness. The Director’s View feature allows users to record with both the front and rear cameras simultaneously, perfect for vloggers and content creators.
The selfie camera is a 10 MP sensor, producing sharp and natural-looking photos with AI-enhanced beauty effects.
Software and Features
The Galaxy S21 ships with Samsung’s One UI 3.1, based on Android 11, and has since received updates to One UI 5.1 with Android 13. The interface is clean, intuitive, and packed with customization options.
Key software features include:
Samsung DeX – Wireless desktop mode for a PC-like experience.
Knox Security – Advanced security features for data protection.
Bixby Routines – AI-powered automation for daily tasks.
Always-On Display – Displays notifications and time without waking the phone.
Samsung Pay – Contactless payments via NFC and MST.
Battery Life
The 4,000mAh battery provides a full day of usage under moderate conditions. The adaptive refresh rate feature helps conserve battery life when needed. The S21 supports 25W wired fast charging, 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging.
However, Samsung removed the charging brick from the box, meaning users will need to purchase a charger separately if they don’t already own a compatible one.
Connectivity and Extras
5G support for fast network speeds.
Wi-Fi 6 for improved wireless connectivity.
Bluetooth 5.0 with high-quality audio codec support.
USB Type-C port (but no 3.5mm headphone jack).
IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.
Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor under the display.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
✔ Stunning 120Hz AMOLED display. ✔ Powerful performance with Exynos 2100/Snapdragon 888. ✔ Excellent camera system with 8K video recording. ✔ Compact and lightweight design. ✔ One UI software with long-term updates. ✔ 5G connectivity and Wi-Fi 6 support.
Cons:
✘ No microSD card slot. ✘ Plastic back instead of glass. ✘ No charger included in the box. ✘ No 3.5mm headphone jack.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy S21 remains an impressive flagship that delivers high performance, an excellent camera system, and a premium display. While some design choices, like the plastic back and the removal of expandable storage, may be drawbacks for some users, the overall experience still makes it a great buy. If you're looking for a powerful yet compact flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S21 is a strong contender in the market.
Would you consider buying the Galaxy S21 in 2025, or do you prefer newer models? Let us know your thoughts!