Last updated: January 2024
At the start of 2021, Samsung unveiled its latest line of flagship smartphones – the Samsung Galaxy S21. Featuring a lower price tag than last year’s Samsung flagships, the new S21 came out with a bold new design and significant improvements over previous models.
In this review, we’ll be going through the Samsung Galaxy S21 in close detail. From its newest features to various other aspects of its performance, quality, and overall value, we’re going to talk about the brand-new Samsung Galaxy S21 and everything it has to offer. Read on to find out more!
Here are our top picks on:
The Samsung Galaxy S21 In-Depth Review
Pros
- Fantastic OLED display with high-end battery-saving features
- Powerful performance at par with modern PC’s
- One of the best cameras on a smartphone
- Great hardware for the price
Cons
- Back panel is made of glass-like plastic
- No more microSD slot
Performance
Performance & Specs - Samsung S21 Singapore Review
Whether it’s for gaming or professional use, the Samsung Galaxy S21 offers top-tier performance that rivals that of even desktop computers.
The Samsung Galaxy S series retains its place as one of the most powerful smartphone money can buy, and with enough sheer power to integrate seamlessly with your PC, the S21 isn’t just a smartphone – it’s a portable extension of almost everything your PC can do, and more.
That said, if there was ever a reason not to get the Samsung Galaxy S21, it’s the new Exynos chipset. While models sold in the U.S. and China are both outfitted with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G chipset – the fastest and most powerful processor ever made for a smartphone – the Exynos 2100 sold internationally – Singapore, included - just isn’t up to scruff.
Of course, you’re still getting plenty of power and performance worthy of a Samsung Flagship, and the Exynos 2100 is a significant improvement over previous iterations, but the hard truth is that you’re not getting the same amount of juice as you would with the Snapdragon 888.
What kind of screen does the S21 have?
"Ultra clarity” when you zoom up to 100x - Samsung S21 Singapore Review
Samsung is a world-leader in tech displays – so much so that even their key competition, Apple, uses Samsung-made OLED displays on the majority of their iPhones – so it should come as no surprise that the Samsung Galaxy S21 comes with one of the best displays we’ve ever seen on a smartphone.
While some other smartphones may have kicked it up a notch and released an even better display (we’re looking at you, Xiaomi), there is no denying that the Samsung S21 offers stellar visual quality with the 6.2” InfinityO Dynamic AMOLED 2X display.
With a super-smooth 120Hz refresh rate, everything from movie scenes, to game animations, to even just the little animations you get when you’re using your phone – they’re all more fluid, adding to the premium feel and smoothness of the experience. Plus, with Samsung’s Eye Comfort Shield, you’re also protected from blue light.
Does S21 Ultra have Dolby Atmos?
When it comes to audio performance, the Samsung S21 offers a standard set of AKG speakers – nothing special, but the quality is there. That said, if you prefer a top-tier audio experience, Samsung does offer a wide range of audio accessories that should more than make up for the only-decent built-in speakers.
Build Quality
Feel comfortable to hold and control - Samsung S21 Singapore Review
Performance and flair may be an aspect of smartphone that all companies are competing in, but one thing you can’t take away from Samsung is that they really know how to build a good phone.
Unlike cheaper alternatives and some competitor flagships that try to cut costs as much as possible, Samsung always goes all-out to deliver the highest-quality premium smartphone money can buy.
You don’t have to take our word for it – the Samsung Galaxy S21 feels like a flagship the moment you take it in your hands – it’s balanced, yet substantial, and is made from the highest-quality materials crafted into one of the most unique smartphone designs we’ve seen in the past decade.
Made from the toughest smartphone material to date – Corning Gorilla Glass Victus – the Samsung Galaxy S21 offers industry-leading durability superior scratch and drop resistance to anything that has come before. Plus, you’re getting IP68 rated water resistance, meaning you can drop it in some freshwater (up to 1.5m) for up to 30 minutes with no issues.
How long does Galaxy S21 battery last?
It might not have the biggest battery we’ve ever seen on a smartphone, but the Samsung Galaxy S21 definitely packs the smartest.
Featuring a new ‘Intelligent Battery’, this relatively small 4,000mAh battery pales in comparison to other flagships in terms of size, but when it comes to battery life and performance, it is way up there with the best of them. Instead of trying to pack a big battery into their flagship smartphone – potentially adding cost and weight to the sleek and lightweight Samsung S21 – the Intelligent Battery uses software to optimize power consumption and get you way past the 24-hour mark with ease.
With a power-efficient display and one of the most efficient processors to date, the Samsung S21 makes for a great daily driver that can get you through days with even with the heaviest-use – even on 5G.
In terms of charging time, the Samsung S21 isn’t a slouch, either. Super-Fast charging gives you hours of battery life in just minutes – although it might take longer to get a full charge – and you even get fast wireless charging capabilities, too.
The S21 also comes with Wireless PowerShare, allowing you to use the back of your phone as a convenient wireless charging station for your peripherals, or even another phone.
Does the Samsung S21 have a good camera?
Is Galaxy S21 good for photography? - Samsung S21 Singapore Review
As the flagship smartphone of the world’s leading smartphone manufacturer, you can pretty much tell right off the bat that the Samsung Galaxy S21 is going to come with a killer camera – and you won’t be wrong. Outfitted with a unique set of cameras, Samsung further optimized the S21’s camera system with groundbreaking software to deliver one of the best smartphone cameras available on the market today.
One look at the numbers of the Samsung S21’s camera system, and you already know it’s a little bit different. Opting for smaller 12MP wide and 12MP ultra-wide camera lenses but a larger and much more powerful 64MP telephoto camera, this new camera setup from Samsung is a game-changer.
That said, the difference between this and other flagships isn’t night and day – in fact, in some cases, you’ll still see the Apple iPhone 12 and a handful of other cameras outperform this one, but where Samsung truly shines is the suite of software optimizations that makes it one of the best cameras you can find on a smartphone. Even the 10MP selfie camera offers A.I.-enhanced performance for stellar selfies in versatile conditions.
We’re talking about some fantastic new camera features like 8K video recording with Samsung’s One Take feature that lets you pull fantastic high-resolution shots from your 8K videos. You’re also getting the all-new Super Steady feature, which offers great video stabilization for more professional, cinematic takes. You’re also getting a suite of A.I.-powered features, and one of the best Night Mode capabilities to date.
Connectivity
In 2021, 5G is the name of the game, and regardless of whether you get the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 or the Exynos 2100 model, the Samsung Galaxy S21 is more than just 5G-ready: it’s pretty much designed to help users maximize this revolutionary new technology.
That said, in terms of other connectivity options, the Samsung Galaxy S21 falls a little short. While other flagships are already outfitted with the faster and more reliable Bluetooth 5.2 protocol, the S21 is two iterations behind with just Bluetooth 5.0.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Technical Specifications
Operating System: Android 11 | Samsung One UI 3
Display: 6.2” FHD (2400 x 1080) @ 48-120Hz
Storage: 128GB, 256GB
RAM: 8GB
Processor: Exynos 2100 (Singapore)
Front Camera: 10MP
Rear Camera: 12MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide, 64MP telephoto
Video: Up to 8K @ 24fps
Battery: 4,000mAh
Charging: 25W
Weight: 5.95 oz
How much is the Samsung S21 in Singapore?
As one of the largest smartphone manufacturers in the world, Samsung makes the Galaxy S21 readily and easily available in Singapore.
You can get it from most mobile stores and telecom companies, with a retail price of S$1,248. You can also check out Shopee or Lazada for some great deals, like the ones we found below:
Samsung Galaxy S21 (128GB)
Get it now at
Samsung Galaxy S21 (256GB)
Get it now at
Is the Samsung S21 a Good Phone?
Despite the availability of higher-end models, the Samsung Galaxy S21 is a solid flagship that offers stellar performance for the price.
While the Galaxy S21+ and the S21 Ultra both offer a bigger screen and better specs overall, folks looking for a solid daily driver at a reasonable price point will find that the base Samsung Galaxy S21 has a lot to offer.
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