Samsung is launching the Galaxy S21 on January 14 and we can expect to see three models in the lineup, including a standard and two more premium ones. One of the most interesting leaks, however, points to a feature that may not be included in all of them:
Several previous leaks have suggested that microSD card support is getting dropped from the Galaxy S21. This could be due to users moving to cloud storage and the built-in storage being relatively higher than phones in past years.
Battery
Samsung Galaxy S21 is the first phone in the company’s lineup to feature the latest Snapdragon 888 chipset with 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage. That means the device should be able to play games at a high speed without any lags or glitches.
The display of the Samsung S21 has a dynamic AMOLED screen with a refresh rate that can range from 48Hz to 120Hz, which should provide a buttery-smooth experience when scrolling through content. It also has a 5000mAh battery to keep things charged up.
This battery is capable of powering up the smartphone for a whole day even on a single charge. In addition, it has a USB Type-C port that has OTG compatibility, which means users will be able to plug their keyboard and mouse into the phone to do their work without any hassle.
It also has a fingerprint scanner and NFC support. Other features include an ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, and 5G connectivity.
However, the S21 does not have an SD card slot for expansion of internal storage. This is a move Samsung took to save money and reduce the overall size of the device.
Camera
The Samsung Galaxy S21 is the first of its kind to feature a triple-camera setup. It’s got a 12MP wide-angle and ultra-wide camera alongside a 64-megapixel telephoto shooter, and the phone can record 8K video at 24fps or 4K at 60fps.
The Galaxy S21’s camera has been improved this year, with the Space Zoom feature now much more useful. This is thanks to the new AI-powered stabilization, which helps you “lock” onto your subject. It also comes with the new Director’s View feature that suggests the best shot for your video, and Highlight Video and Dynamic Slow-Mo to capture stunning stills and videos.
It’s also the first smartphone to have a 5G modem, so you’ll be able to use it to install apps in seconds and stream boxsets from a distance without interruption. And it’s the first phone in its class to have a 4,500mAh battery that can last for an entire day of heavy use, letting you get more out of your everyday activities.
In North America, the Galaxy S21 is powered by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chip, which is 20 percent faster than its predecessor and 35 percent more powerful with its AI processor. It also supports 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which is enough to run most applications.
Display
Samsung introduced a lot of new things in the Galaxy S21 series. These include updated image sensors, high screen refresh rate, S pen support, and up to 512GB internal storage. But, there’s one thing that was missing from these phones. That’s an SD card slot.
There were some people who were outraged when Samsung decided to remove a micro SD slot from its flagship devices in the past, but it seems that Samsung is going to do it again. According to a tweet from phone leaker Roland Quandt, all three Samsung Galaxy S21 models will not have a micro SD slot.
This is a major change for the Korean company, and it’s one that many people will be upset about. While cloud and internal storage are becoming increasingly common, it’s still important to have the option of a microSD card if you want to increase the storage capacity of your smartphone.
If you do want a micro SD card, however, it looks like you’ll need to shell out for a more expensive Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra model. This is a premium model with some unique features that will set it apart from the other two S21 models.
The phone comes with a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X infinity-O display that offers a 120Hz screen refresh rate and allows you to scroll through content on the screen with ease. The screen also has a new Eye Comfort Shield that automatically reduces blue light to help with eye fatigue.
Software
The Samsung Galaxy S21 is a smartphone that sets a high bar and comes with some interesting innovations. While it doesn’t have the same features as its big brother, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, it does a lot of things right and is an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a top-tier smartphone.
The new Android software on the S21 is a major improvement over the previous version and the update also adds a few useful new features. One of the most notable is the “object eraser” feature, which allows you to take a photo of an object and remove it with just one tap. Another is a privacy feature that lets you delete the location data from your photos.
If you have a habit of taking a lot of pictures and videos, you’ll need more than the base 128GB storage on the Galaxy S21. That’s especially true if you stream music and films to your phone, which can quickly drain your mobile contract.
That’s where the microSD card slot comes in handy. It’s a very simple yet vital piece of hardware that can make all the difference when it comes to expanding your phone’s internal memory and adding extra storage for movies or games.