Updated: Oct 17, 2024, 9:05 AM

Samsung Galaxy S21 Specs

8.5

PhoneArena Score

Samsung Galaxy S21 Review

8.5

User Score (2 reviews)

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Released

Jan 29, 2021

Display

6.2-inch
2400 x 1080 px

Camera

12 MP Main
10 MP Selfie

Battery

4000 mAh

Storage

128GB

Hardware

Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
8GB RAM

OS

Android 13
Samsung One UI

Description

The Samsung Galaxy S21 specs are top-notch including a Snapdragon 888 chipset, 5G capability, 8GB RAM coupled with 128/256GB storage, and a 4000mAh battery. The phone sports a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. In the camera department, a triple-sensor setup is presented. The Samsung Galaxy S21 price starts at $800 for the base 128GB model.

This device is also known as Samsung SM-G991U1

Pros

High refresh rate (120Hz)
5G ready
High screen-to-body ratio (86.06 %)
Supports wireless charging

I want it 0 users

I have it 2 users

I had it 1 user

Deals

$290

Popular Comparisons

The is most commonly compared with these phones:

Specs Compare

Display Benchmarks
Size:	6.2-inch
Resolution:	2400 x 1080 px, 20:9 ratio, 424 PPI
Technology:	Dynamic AMOLED
Refresh rate:	120Hz (adaptive)
Screen-to-body:	86.06 %
Peak brightness:	1300 cd/m2 (nit)
Features:	HDR support, Scratch-resistant glass (Corning Gorilla Glass Victus), Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor

Hardware Benchmarks
System chip:	Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5 nm)
Processor:	Octa-core, 1x 2.84GHz Kryo 680 + 3x 2.42GHz Kryo 680 + 4x 1.80GHz Kryo 680, 64-bit
GPU:	Adreno 660
RAM:	8GB (LPDDR5)
Internal storage:	128GB (UFS 3.0), not expandable
OS:	Android (13, 12, 11), Samsung One UI
Device type:	Smartphone

Battery Benchmarks
Capacity:	4000 mAh
Type:	Li - Polymer, Not user replaceable
Charging:	Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0, USB Power Delivery, Samsung Adaptive Fast Charging, Qi and Powermat wireless charging, Reverse wireless charging
Max charge speed:	Wired: 25.0W Wireless: 15.0W

Camera
Rear:	Triple camera Camera samples
Main camera:	12 MP (OIS, PDAF)
Specifications:	Aperture size: F1.8 Focal length: 26 mm Sensor size: 1/1.76" Pixel size: 1.8 μm
Second camera:	64 MP (Telephoto, OIS, PDAF)
Specifications:	Aperture size: F2.0 Focal Length: 29 mm Sensor size: 1/1.7" Pixel size: 0.8 μm
Third camera:	12 MP (Ultra-wide, Autofocus)
Specifications:	Aperture size: F2.2 Focal Length: 13 mm Sensor size: 1/2.55" Pixel size: 1.4 μm
Flash:	LED
Video recording:	7680x4320 (8K UHD) (24 fps), 3840x2160 (4K UHD) (60 fps), 1920x1080 (Full HD) (240 fps), 1280x720 (HD) (960 fps)
Features:	OIS, HDR, Hyperlapse, Continuous autofocus, Video light, EIS
Front:	10 MP (PDAF, HDR)
Video capture:	3840x2160 (4K UHD) (60 fps)

Design Size comparison
Dimensions:	5.97 x 2.80 x 0.31 inches (151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm)
Weight:	6.03 oz (171.0 g)
Materials:	Back: Plastic Frame: Aluminum
Resistance:	Water, Dust; IP68
Biometrics:	2D Face unlock, Ultrasonic in-screen fingerprint
Keys:	Right: Volume control, Lock/Unlock key
Colors:	Phantom pink, Violet, Gray, White

Cellular
5G:	Bands n2, n5, n12, n25, n41, n66, n71, n77, n260, n261, SA, NSA, Sub-6, mmWave
4G (FDD):	Bands 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(AWS-1), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 12(700 a), 13(700 c), 14(700 PS), 18(800 Lower), 19(800 Upper), 20(800 DD), 25(1900+), 26(850+), 28(700 APT), 30(2300 WCS), 66(AWS-3), 71(600)
4G (TDD):	Bands 38(2600), 39(1900+), 40(2300), 41(2600+), 46, 48(3600)
3G:	Bands 1(2100), 2(1900), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 8(900)
Data Speed:	LTE-A, HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s, HSUPA 5.76 Mbit/s, UMTS
SIM type:	Nano SIM

Multimedia
Headphones:	No 3.5mm jack
Speakers:	Earpiece, Multiple speakers
Features:	32-Bit DAC, Dolby Atmos, aptX, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus
Screen mirroring:	Wireless screen share
Radio:	FM, Stereo, RDS
Additional microphone(s):	Noise cancellation, Video recording

Connectivity & Features
Bluetooth:	5.0
Wi-Fi:	802.11 a, b, g, n, ac, ax(Wi-Fi 6), dual-band MIMO, Wi-Fi Direct, Hotspot
USB:	Type-C (reversible), USB 3.2
Features:	Charging, Headphones port, OTG, Video out
Hearing aid compatible:	M3, T3
Location:	GPS, A-GPS, Glonass, Galileo, BeiDou, Cell ID, Wi-Fi positioning
Sensors:	Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass, Hall (for flip covers), Barometer
Other:	NFC, ANT+

Regulatory Approval
FCC approval:
Date approved:	Dec 08, 2020
FCC ID value:	A3LSMG991U
Measured SAR:
Head:	0.36 W/kg
Body:	1.08 W/kg
Simultaneous Transmission:	3.96 W/kg
Wireless Router:	1.09 W/kg
Phablet:	2.49 W/kg

Buyers information
Price:	$ 800
In The Box:	C to C Data Cable, Ejection Pin

Availability
Officially announced:	Jan 14, 2021

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Alternative variants

Samsung Galaxy S21

with 256GB storage

Differences from the main variant:
Internal storage:	256GB

Samsung Galaxy S21

SM-G991B for Europe

Differences from the main variant:
System chip:	Samsung Exynos 2100 (5 nm)
Processor:	Octa-core, 2900 MHz, 1x 2.91GHz Cortex-X1 + 3x 2.81GHz Cortex-A78 + 4x 2.2GHz Cortex-A55, 64-bit
GPU:	Mali G78 MP14
Weight:	5.96 oz (169.0 g)
5G:	Bands SA, NSA, Sub-6
FCC approval:
Date approved:	Dec 18, 2020
FCC ID value:	A3LSMG991B
Measured SAR:
Head:	0.42 W/kg
Body:	0.94 W/kg
Simultaneous Transmission:	3.96 W/kg
Wireless Router:	1.34 W/kg
Phablet:	2.37 W/kg

Carrier Availability

Discontinued

Verizon
T-Mobile
U.S. Cellular
Xfinity Mobile

News

What's the last thing a company rebounding from a years-long slump needs? Bad press from disgruntled users. Since the start of the year, there have been reports of green lines marring the display of the Galaxy S21 and S22 and anecdotal evidence of Sa...

Galaxy S21 and S22 owners facing green line issue will get free screen replacement in one country

The notorious green lines have returned to haunt some Samsung smartphone users and it looks like they cropped up for most people after they updated their phones.As first noted by Android Authority, there has been a spike in complaints regarding green...

Users shocked that Samsung wants payment to fix green display line issue caused by update

One of the most popular Samsung flagships, the Galaxy S21, is getting the Android 14 treatment. After its younger brothers received the update earlier this week, the Galaxy S21, together with its twins, Galaxy S21+ and S21 Ultra, is now eligible for ...

Samsung starts rolling out Android 14 to the Galaxy S21 series

Green and pink lines have appeared on the screens of some Samsung Galaxy S21 units, according to posts on Twitter and Samsung community forums.The issue cropped up after the May update, so those who still haven't installed last month's update are adv...

Déjà vu: screen issue that appeared on Galaxy S20 after 2 years shows up on S21

Links

Overall User Rating

(2 reviews)

8.5

Build quality

9.5

Camera quality

7.5

Performance

7.5

Display

9.5

Battery life and charging

6.5

hugorja

Arena Apprentice

Regret

Posted: May 14, 2021, 4:47 PM

Phone owned for less than 3 months

I bought a Galaxy S21 5G grey in Brazil, here the version uses Exynos 2100. I came from an iPhone XR and I regret so much that I trade my iPhone for this phone
Battery: Only 4,5-5h SOT with a 4000mAh cell. My XR used to last 6-7h SOT with the same use profile with a much smaller battery of 2900mAh. My city desn´t have 5G yet.
Screen: Despite the screen operates at 120hz, the phone lags in certain apps, documents and all the times I open the camera. My iPhone XR, an 2018 phone didn´t lag at all.
Camera: I don´t know what samsung does with the camera. I had to take 10 pictures until I found one that I liked. My iPhone XR I had to take only one picture and boom. Samsung uses an oversharp algorhitm that destroys the photo, loses detail and increase noise. I just hated almost every picture I took.
The typing experience is horrible. I miss almost every word I type and I don´t know why
The smartphone heats and drains a lot of battery even when I was doing simple tasks like bluetooth audio, instagram, email.
Overheats and drains a lot of battery when I used the camera.

I sold my S21 and Bought an iPhone 11. Now I am happy again

Build quality

Camera quality

Performance

Display

Battery life and charging

What I like

Screen

What I don't like

Battery life
Camera oversharpening
Typing experience
Overheating

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1 out of 8 people found this helpful.

Marsden74

Arena Apprentice

S21 Brilliant

Posted: Mar 05, 2021, 11:48 AM

Phone owned for less than a month

Returned my iPhone 12 which was faulty and tried the S21 and have not looked back since. Much cheaper much faster, better camera. Bigger screen. More apps to choose from. No software issues. Running smooth as you like and fast with 120hrtz screen refresh. Apple is really falling behind on the stuff that most people want.