Editor's note: Since its debut, the Samsung Galaxy S21 has been surpassed by new Galaxy S-series models. We've checked the below to ensure accuracy and relevance, though pricing and availability will differ from when we first reviewed this device.
Samsung's latest flagship, the Galaxy S21 5G, once again sets the standard for all Android smartphones. This year, Samsung chose to buck the tradition of big upgrades and instead focused on refining what was already the most popular Android device sold by Canadian carriers.
WhistleOut's experts took a deep dive into this newest Galaxy, testing everything from performance to cameras to battery life. Here's our unvarnished take on whether it's worth the upgrade
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G at a Glance
What we love
- Sharp, bright and fast
- Beautiful case design
- Blazing-fast performance
- Powerful camera
What we don't like
- No way to force a 120Hz refresh rate
- Camera software UI needs a bit more refinement
- Missing WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2
91/100
Is the Samsung Galaxy S21 a Good Phone?
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G Specs
Samsung Galaxy S21 Performance
The new Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Canadian model) features the Snapdragon 888, Qualcomm’s fastest mobile CPU to date. It’s outpowered by Apple’s iPhone line-up, but there’s not another Android smartphone in Canada that’s faster than the Galaxy S21. There’s only one storage option, but at 256GB, most consumers will have a hard time filling it up. The Galaxy S21 is only available with 8GB of RAM, which is enough for most uses, but media-intensive applications like 8K video capture can suffer.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Cameras
Samsung partners fast hardware with intelligent and user-friendly software to create a powerful suite of photography features. Standard photos are 12MP with the option of up to 64MP when fine detail is a priority. Powerful telephoto and ultrawide lenses are accompanied by intelligent processing software that reduces artifacts and lens warping. The front-facing lens is 10MP, but once again partners with awesome effects to get a perfect selfie every time.
While all smartphones—even the cheap ones—make it easier than ever to take good photos, the Galaxy S21 makes it easy to make content ready to serve on social media. The Single Take 2.0 feature simultaneously grabs photos and videos from all cameras, then serves up a selection of Instagram-worthy clips from which to choose. You can then select from 14 different scenes up to 15 seconds long that track facial expressions to improve focus.
We found that swapping between photo/video modes can be clunky, and the camera doesn’t always reset back to photo mode when you reopen the app. More than once we’d whip out the camera app hoping to snap a fleeting moment, only to be stuck in the wrong mode. Fully closing the app returns the default back to photo mode.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Display
I’ve never seen a display that works this well in full daylight. Even in full noonday sun, the display is clear and legible. The Dynamic AMOLED 2x screen technology debuted on last year’s Galaxy Note20 line-up to rave reviews and is now found on the Galaxy S21. Seeing such brilliant HDR10+ colour makes up for the downgraded resolution.
The new Galaxy S21 uses a FullHD+ resolution instead of the QuadHD+ found on last year’s model. Even though there are 43% fewer dots on screen, the pixel density remains at 421 ppi making them imperceptible to most eyes.
The screen runs at 120Hz for buttery-smooth scrolling, then drops to 60Hz for static content to save battery life. This is sold as a feature—as it very well should be—but in practise we found the framerate could drop unexpectedly. This will likely get better as Samsung rolls out software updates, but the phone’s display settings only offer Adaptive or Standard (60Hz) options; there’s no way to fix it at 120Hz.
The screen is 6.2” from corner to corner, offering a good balance between large display and pocket-sized package. The selfie camera appears as a single hole-punch visible in the top-middle, while an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor hides completely behind the screen near the bottom.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Battery Life
There’s not a lot special here. The 4000mAh battery is middle-of-the-road as far as smartphones go. The Galaxy S21 supports Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 maxing out at 15W and Super Fast Charging over USB-C cable at 25W.
Luckily, the Galaxy S21 is designed to sip power when it’s not needed. The adaptive frame rate, smarter Snapdragon CPU and One UI 3.1 software optimizes performance so that the phone never works harder than it needs to. Even under heavy loads, the battery lasts a full workday and through the commute to get you home. Speaking of your commute, reverse charging is a nice feature that gives your true wireless earbuds a boost when they’re running low.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Connectivity
There are no upgrades in connectivity options this year, but you still get a premium experience. The Samsung Galaxy S21 works on all Canadian 4G LTE and 5G networks. There’s no headphone jack, but there is a USB-C 3.2 port, Bluetooth 5.0 and WiFi 6. If you want the next generation of wireless connectivity, you’ll need to buy the Galaxy S21 Ultra . That model features Bluetooth 5.2 and WiFi 6E , which offer improved connectivity with less interference from other wireless devices. It would have been nice to see the whole Galaxy S21 family future proofed.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Additional Features
Samsung sent us the Phantom Violet colour with rose gold accents, and it is undoubtedly the most beautiful smartphone I’ve ever held. As smartphones become thinner and camera lenses become more complex, there’s a trend towards a “camera bump” on all new devices. It’s usually negated by a protective case, but Samsung chose to accent that bump with some wild colour choices, making it a crime to cover up the standout design.
Although price is not usually a “feature”, it is for the Galaxy S21. Premium flagships have soared well over $1,000 just in the last few years, with some top-of-the-line models pushing $2,000. The Galaxy S21 is more competitively priced against rivals from LG and Google while still offering industry-leading performance.
Love it or not, Samsung embeds several alternatives to the Google standard app suite. Some are invaluable and intuitive, like Smart Switch, which makes it simple to move your whole life from your old phone to this one. Others, like the voice assistant Bixby, attempt to overwrite Google’s more capable apps with Samsung-branded versions. One app we loved was DeX, which turns your smartphone into a desktop computer. By connecting to a monitor, television or computer, DeX creates a desktop environment for productivity apps or even many Android-exclusive games.
That ecosystem also includes Galaxy Buds wireless earbuds, appliances, smart devices for your home and more. WhistleOut covered some of the new Samsung SmartThings devices announced at CES 2021 alongside the new Samsung S21 family. Most home automation has been a patchwork of incompatible technologies, but Samsung hopes to unify all smart devices under one protocol.
Verdict:
Although last year’s flagship pushed the limits of what a smartphone can do, Samsung chose this year to refine the design and make the retail price more palatable. The result is a stunning premium smartphone that leaves little to want. Premium flagships from LG and Google use slower processors that leave gamers with a mediocre performance, but the Samsung Galaxy S21 uses the fastest hardware to keep expectations high. Although the display has a lower resolution than last year’s Galaxy S20, the Dynamic AMOLED 2x display with adaptive 120 Hz refresh makes it a better experience.
WhistleOut Canada Rating: 91/100
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