[Galaxy S21 Unpacked] Digital Key and Home Appliance Control... Expanded Galaxy Ecosystem (Comprehensive)

Expansion of Android Auto and SmartThings Integration
'Digital Key' Unlocks Car Doors with Galaxy Without a Key
Significant Focus on Camera Introduction... S Pen Available in 2 Types
Galaxy S21 Pre-orders Start on the 15th, Release on the 29th

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The star of Samsung Electronics' Unpacked event was not just the 'Galaxy S21.' It showcased the bigger picture of the 'Galaxy ecosystem,' connecting smartphones to cars and homes. With the digital key on the Galaxy S21 Ultra, users can unlock their car doors, and through the Galaxy connected to the car, they can also control home appliances.

On the 15th (Korean time), Samsung Electronics held 'Galaxy Unpacked 2021' online. The event began with the iconic 'Over the Horizon' sound symbolizing Galaxy and lasted for 75 minutes. Wireless division employees personally introduced the features of the Galaxy Buds Pro and Galaxy S21, while BTS members wearing wireless earphones or taking selfies with the Galaxy S21 appeared in the background. The first speaker was Samsung Electronics Wireless Business Division President (CEO) No Tae-moon, dressed in a black T-shirt and jacket.

President No said, "We will provide users with revolutionary ways to further personalize their devices and push innovation more powerfully," adding, "Through open collaboration, we will continue to expand Samsung's ecosystem."

Galaxy Ecosystem Connecting Home and Car

At the Unpacked event, Samsung Electronics presented the Galaxy ecosystem extending to cars and homes. The Galaxy S21 Ultra model integrates with SmartThings and the vehicle service 'Android Auto,' allowing users to control home devices directly from the car's screen. On the way home, users can adjust the home's temperature via Google Nest and set the Samsung robot vacuum to operate automatically. Jeong Hae-yoon, a pro at the GDC Center, introduced, "You can use your favorite apps like navigation or music on the in-car display and control home appliances connected through SmartThings."

When he approached the car holding the Galaxy S21 Ultra, the car door automatically unlocked. This is the 'digital key' feature utilizing ultra-wideband technology. The smartphone and car communicate signals to calculate the distance and unlock the door. The Galaxy S21+ and Ultra models are equipped with ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, enabling device-to-device communication, file sharing, item location tracking, and extending to digital key services. Samsung plans to share this technology with car connectivity and collaborate with manufacturers such as BMW, Ford, and Genesis to expand digital key services. Pro Jeong said, "Android Auto and the SmartThings ecosystem will liberate you, providing more leisure time and experiences."

Hiroshi Lockheimer, Vice President of Google Platform & Ecosystem, said, "Our collaboration with Samsung on Android Auto, Nest, SmartThings, and more is an investment to extend beyond smartphones to all devices," adding, "After 2021, the two companies will take the partnership to the next level."

Galaxy S21 'Camera' Takes Center Stage

Choi Won-jun, Vice President and Head of Strategic Product Development Team at the Wireless Business Division, is explaining the camera of the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Samsung Electronics devoted a significant portion of this Unpacked event to introducing camera performance. When presenting the Galaxy S21 Ultra's camera technology, the youngest vice president of Samsung Electronics, Choi Won-jun, head of the Wireless Business Division's Strategic Product Development Team (Vice President), took the stage. He explained, "The zoom technology of the Galaxy S21 Ultra, a harmony of hardware and software, will turn your photos into works of art." The Galaxy S21 supports 8K video recording and features 'Director's View,' which allows simultaneous shooting from multiple cameras. The Ultra model is equipped with a 108-megapixel camera, supporting 10x optical zoom and 100x digital zoom, while the Galaxy S21 and S21+ support 3x optical zoom and 30x digital zoom.

The design of the Galaxy S21 features a bold change where the rear camera and side frame are connected. The camera bump ('katuktu') is reduced, and the durability of the camera module is improved. The colors are ▲ Galaxy S21 (6.2-inch) Phantom Violet, Pink, White, Gray ▲ Galaxy S21+ (6.7-inch) Violet, Pink, Silver, Black ▲ Galaxy S21 Ultra (6.8-inch) Black, Silver. The Galaxy S21+ Red and Gold, and Ultra model's Brown, Navy, and Titanium are custom colors sold exclusively on Samsung.com.

The prices for the Galaxy S21 series are ▲ Galaxy S21 999,900 KRW ▲ Galaxy S21+ 1,199,000 KRW ▲ Galaxy S21 Ultra (256GB) 1,452,000 KRW ▲ Galaxy S21 Ultra (512GB) 1,599,400 KRW. Considering the previous Galaxy S20 series prices were 1,248,500 KRW, 1,353,000 KRW, and 1,595,000 KRW respectively, this is up to 240,000 KRW cheaper. The launch schedule is more than a month earlier than the previous generation. Pre-orders run from the 15th to the 21st, with the official release on the 29th.

The Ultra model supports the S Pen for the first time in the S series, enabling drawing, writing, and photo editing. The S Pen will be released in two models. It allows writing, drawing, and video editing. However, features like Air Actions, photo shooting, and presentations via Bluetooth connection are only supported on the S Pen Pro. The S Pen Pro will also be released in collaboration models with Lamy, Uni, Staedtler, and Wacom. The S Pen Pro is compatible with devices that previously supported the S Pen.

The S Pen is released in two types, and remote control and Bluetooth functions are available on the S Pen Pro.

The Galaxy S21 package does not include a charger or earphones. Only a USB-C type cable is provided.

There was also mention of the reason for excluding chargers and earphones from the Galaxy S21 package. Federico Casalegno, Executive Director of Wireless Experience Planning Team, explained, "Many users already have chargers they use, and new chargers and earphones remain unused in the box," adding, "Considering preferences and the environment, we proposed not including them to avoid unused items piling up in drawers. Chargers will be available for purchase at a lower price than before for anyone who needs them."