[Galaxy S21 Unpack] Price, Design, and Camera All Perfectly Balanced

Galaxy S21 Unveiled ... Pre-orders from 15 to 21, Release on 29
Video Feature Creating Multi-Camera Effects from One Device
Ultra Model Supports S Pen

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Samsung Electronics unveiled the Galaxy S21. As Samsung's first 5G smartphone priced under 1 million KRW, it adopted a bold design that matches the frame and camera colors. The camera features have evolved with video shooting and editing functions useful for vlog production.

On the 15th, Samsung Electronics held the 'Galaxy Unpacked 2021' event online and revealed the flagship smartphone Galaxy S21. The launch schedule is more than a month earlier than the previous model. In South Korea, pre-orders run from the 15th to the 21st, with the official release on the 29th.

The prices are ▲Galaxy S21 at 999,900 KRW ▲Galaxy S21+ at 1,199,000 KRW ▲Galaxy S21 Ultra (256GB) at 1,452,000 KRW ▲Galaxy S21 Ultra (512GB) at 1,599,400 KRW. Considering the previous Galaxy S20 series prices of 1,248,500 KRW, 1,353,000 KRW, and 1,595,000 KRW, this is up to 240,000 KRW cheaper.

Reduced Camera Bump and More Affordable Price

The Galaxy S21 applies a 'Contour Cut' design where the rear camera and frame are connected. The 'camera bump' is reduced and it features a haze finish that resists fingerprints. The Galaxy S21 has a 6.2-inch display and comes in Phantom Violet, Pink, White, and Gray colors. The 6.7-inch Galaxy S21 Plus is available in Phantom Violet, Pink, Silver, and Black. The 6.8-inch Galaxy S21 Ultra comes in Phantom Black and Silver.

The Galaxy S21 display supports a 120Hz refresh rate (frames shown per second). The refresh rate adjusts according to content, improving battery efficiency. A feature that adjusts blue light according to smartphone usage patterns has also been added. The Ultra model is the brightest Galaxy smartphone ever. Additionally, the Ultra model supports the S Pen for the first time in the S series, enabling drawing, handwriting, and photo editing.

Not Tae-moon, President of Samsung Electronics' Mobile Communications Business, said, "Samsung continues to innovate so users can enjoy convenient and personalized experiences and express themselves well in the mobile-first era." He added, "The 'Galaxy S21' series combines new design, professional-grade cameras, and powerful performance, offering various choices according to individual styles and needs."

From Video to Zoom to Portraits... Galaxy S21 Does It All

From everyday recording to professional use, you only need one Galaxy S21 to shoot and edit videos without multiple cameras. When shooting vlogs, you can simultaneously record with front and rear cameras to capture both the background and the person on screen. This is the 'Director's View' feature, which shows telephoto, wide-angle, and ultra-wide camera angles on one screen and allows switching between desired angles during shooting. After shooting 8K video, you can capture photos with 33 million pixels.

The Pro Video mode supports multi-mic recording. While filming with the Galaxy S21 series, you can use the wireless earbuds 'Galaxy Buds Pro' microphone as a wireless mic to record the user's voice and background sounds simultaneously. The Single Take feature, which recommends multiple photos and videos from one shot, now includes highlight videos and a dynamic slo-mo feature with special effects. The Ultra model can shoot 4K video at 60fps with five cameras on the front and back.

The zoom function has also been enhanced to capture distant subjects well. Using the 'Zoom Lock' feature, which automatically stabilizes the image at 20x zoom, you can reliably shoot distant people or text. The Galaxy S21 and S21+ support 3x optical zoom and 30x digital zoom. The Ultra model supports 10x optical zoom and 100x digital zoom, with two stacked zoom lenses that judge the distance to the subject and display it on the screen. A 'Portrait' mode that adds depth when shooting people has been introduced. It offers various lighting effects such as bokeh, studio lighting, and high-key. A color selection feature has also been added to the selfie mode.

The camera specs of the Galaxy S21 series are as follows: the Galaxy S21 and S21+ have a rear triple camera (64MP telephoto, 12MP wide-angle, 12MP ultra-wide) and a 10MP front camera. The Galaxy S21 Ultra features a quad camera (108MP wide-angle, 12MP ultra-wide, two 10MP telephoto lenses) and a 40MP front camera.

Powerful Processor, Improved Security, and Photo Sharing

The Galaxy S21 series is equipped with the most powerful 5nm processor ever in a Galaxy smartphone. The domestic models come with the Exynos 2100, which improves energy efficiency, 5G connectivity, and AI performance compared to the previous generation. The Galaxy S21 and S21+ support 8GB RAM and 256GB internal memory. The Ultra model comes with 12GB RAM and is available in 256GB and 512GB versions. Battery capacities are 4000mAh, 4800mAh, and 5000mAh depending on the model.

The 'SmartThings Find' feature, which allows locating lost devices, is also supported. Samsung unveiled the accessory 'SmartTag' that uses this feature to help quickly find pets or keys. The Galaxy S21+ and Ultra models are equipped with Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology to assist with file sharing between devices and locating items. A digital car key service that allows opening car doors without a physical key will be launched in the future.

Especially, the Ultra model integrates with SmartThings and the vehicle service 'Android Auto,' enabling direct control of home devices from the car screen. You can control devices directly from the car control screen without a smartphone. It becomes possible to turn on the air conditioner or run the robot vacuum cleaner before arriving home.

New features to protect privacy are also introduced. Before sharing photos, you can delete metadata including location information where the photo was taken. Using the Private Share feature, you can set who can use the shared content and until when. Samsung's proprietary chipset security platform 'Samsung Knox Vault' securely protects sensitive information such as PINs, biometrics, blockchain, and authentication keys. The fingerprint scanner is 1.7 times larger than before, making fingerprint recognition faster and more convenient.

Stylish and Smart Wireless Earbuds 'Galaxy Buds Pro'

The pebble-shaped wireless earbuds 'Galaxy Buds Pro' were also unveiled. They will be released on the 15th, priced at 239,800 KRW. Available colors are Phantom Black, Silver, and Violet. Unlike the Galaxy Buds Live, these are in-ear type earbuds with enhanced Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) functionality. They are smart earbuds that adjust volume according to the user's situation. They feature larger 11mm woofers and 6.5mm tweeters in a 2-way dynamic speaker setup.

The Galaxy Buds Pro automatically activate ANC and ambient sound listening when the user starts a conversation. The automatic switch feature between Galaxy smartphones and tablets is supported, allowing seamless continuation of calls and multimedia playback without separate connection. Even with ANC on, music playback lasts up to 5 hours on a single charge. Additional charging via the case extends playback up to 18 hours.