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The Samsung Galaxy S21 smartphones have finally arrived, and they add to the Galaxy S lineup’s legacy of innovation. With the latest Galaxy S21 devices, we see major improvements in several areas, including performance — thanks to the Snapdragon 888 or the new Exynos 2100 chipset, security with the more efficient ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, improved software experience with One UI 3.1, UWB, and a lot more. The new Galaxy devices also get a host of new camera features — even though Samsung uses almost the same camera hardware as the previous generation.
In this article, we will discuss an entire lot of new software and hardware additions to the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Plus, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Before we begin, he is an overview of the camera specifications of the latest Galaxy series:
Samsung Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, and S21 Ultra Photography Features
Single Take 2.0
Samsung introduced the Single Take feature last year with the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. It allows users to capture fast-changing scenarios by recording a short video clip of up to 10 seconds instead of just one single photo and then letting them pick what fits the best according to their needs.
With the Galaxy S21 series, Samsung has announced Single Take 2.0 that now captures more frames each second. Now, the feature also records the section as a slow-motion video clip so you can share the most action-packed events with great detail and the added dramatic effect of slow-mo.
8K Video Snap
Just like the Single Take 2.0 mode, the Galaxy S21 devices can also capture a short 8K video clip to ensure that you don’t miss any crucial moment. This video clip can eventually render an image in 8K resolution (or approximately 32MP).
Enhanced Portrait Mode and DSLR-like Bokeh
Samsung claims to have greatly improved the portrait mode on the Galaxy S21 devices. The images now use AI to emulate a professional camera. The phones use AI for three-dimensional depth, sensing to achieve a more natural-looking background blur. Besides, the AI also enhances portraits to look like they were shot under studio lighting.
Furthermore, the Galaxy S21 smartphones also receive various face-lighting effects in the portrait mode, similar to the stage lighting effects already popularized by the iPhones. The smartphones primarily feature three lighting modes as High-key mono, Low-key mono, and Backdrop for studio-like results.
Samsung ISOCELL HM3 108MP sensor on Galaxy S21 Ultra
With the Galaxy S21 series, Samsung announced its latest ISOCELL HM3 sensor which succeeds the recently announced ISOCELL HM2. The ISOCELL HM3 sensor is 1/1.33″ in size with pixels measuring 0.8μm — just like the ISOCELL HMX and HM1 sensors. With the help of 9-in-1 pixel binning, the sensor captures 12MP images by default with large resultant pixels measuring 2.4μm.
Although the ISOCELL HM3 resembles the HMX and HM1 sensors in terms of specifications, it comes with improved color and exposure perception. In addition to the ISOCELL Plus technology that improves the sensor’s efficiency, it supports 12-bit color recording and allows it to capture 64x more colors than the previous generations. Additionally, the Smart ISO Pro widens the range for HDR photography while the Super PD Plus feature allows for 50% more accurate autofocussing.
12-bit HDR and 12-bit RAW photography
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is also capable of capturing photos with HDR and RAW shots in 12-bit. This means that images in this mode will have about 68 million colors — or 64 times the colors in a 10-bit image. As you can expect, this allows for a finer transition between one color to another on a photograph, essentially eliminating color noise to a great degree. An average user may not detect the difference between 10-bit and 12-bit color, but the upgrade is of great importance to professional photographers.
Dual telephoto cameras and 100x Space Zoom
Samsung is reintroducing the 100x Space Zoom with the Galaxy S21 Ultra. But unlike the Galaxy S20 Ultra, which only features a 4x telephoto setup, the Galaxy S21 Ultra features a more advanced 10x periscope camera for crisper long-range images. Inarguably, this is among the most advanced telephoto cameras available on any handheld device.
To top it up, Samsung also offers a secondary telephoto camera set at 3x optical zoom. The company claims there is a seamless and automatic transition between the two telephoto cameras based on the level of the zoom or focal range at which you are attempting to shoot.
Zoom Lock
To ensure that the long focal range does not hamper users’ ability to pan and focus, the Galaxy S21 Ultra comes with AI-backed stabilization to improve OIS. The smartphone also features “Zoom Lock” that uses AI to add a slight delay while moving the smartphone to ensure the panning is smooth and non-jittery. Samsung also claims the Zoom Lock feature will provide tripod-like stabilization, which may actually be the case. Check out a demonstration of the feature in our Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra hands-on article or the video below:
Samsung Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, and S21 Ultra Video Features
Unlimited video recording
As Samsung made quite evident at the Galaxy Unpacked event, the Galaxy S21 smartphones are meant not to limit users in any way, especially when it comes to video recording. There is no automatic cut-off timer, and you can keep recording videos as long as you desire.
Director’s View
The Galaxy S21 series is a no-compromise device in terms of performance. This allows smartphones to have some truly amazing features, such as the Director’s View. This feature allows users to record a video using multiple cameras and from different viewpoints. Simultaneously, the feature also gives users the liberty to switch between any of the cameras mid-roll without having to stop or pause the video.
Vlogger View
The Vlogger View on Galaxy S21 smartphones allows users to use the front camera alongside the rear camera. This allows video content producers, especially vloggers — whom this mode is named after, to capture their reactions while also recording something from the rear camera.
Multi mic recording
With the Galaxy Note 20 series, Samsung launched the Video Pro mode. In that mode, users could switch among different microphone modes while recording a video. The Galaxy S21 series takes a step further with this feature that allows users to use multiple microphones to be used as simultaneous audio sources. Using this feature, you will be able to record audio with the microphones on the smartphone and the Buds Pro simultaneously.
4K recording at 60fps across all 5 cameras
All five cameras on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra can record hyper-smooth 60fps videos at 4K resolution. Alongside the above-mentioned features, such as unlimited video recording and Director’s View, 4K@60fps video recording makes the Galaxy S21 Ultra a supreme device for video recording.
When will the Galaxy S20 series get these camera features?
Samsung has a kind heart when it comes to bringing new features to older smartphones, and the same can be true for some of these features — at least those that can easily run on older hardware. While Samsung does not categorically clarify the availability of these features on older flagships, make sure to check out the XDA News Portal for any updates.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the ultimate overkill in the new 2021 flagship series, packing in a flagship SoC, a premium build, a great display, and an amazing camera setup, as well as all the extras expected on a premium flagship.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra elevated once again the bar of what a Samsung phone can do. It fixed many of the flaws that existed with the Galaxy S20 Ultra, its direct predecessor while following in its footsteps and borrowing some elements from Samsung’s other flagship, the Galaxy Note20 Ultra. It is really an amazing smartphone that you should definitely have in mind if you’re in the market for a premium phone: 108MP camera, a Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100, a 5,000 mAh battery, and up to 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of RAM. So sure, all of these specs sound great, right? Well, they also come at a pretty penny, and if you clicked on this article, you probably want to get it protected. In this article, we’re going to hook you up with some of the best Galaxy S21 Ultra screen protectors.
We’re dealing with a curved display here, so we have everything from plastic protectors to “dome glass” tempered glass ones. Keep that beautiful 120Hz WQHD display protected with the options we have right here. From renowned manufacturers such as Zagg to cheaper ones on Amazon, we have options for everyone.
This isn't Zagg's most expensive, but it should be the better option for everyone. It comes with what the company calls hybrid glass, which is drop and shatter-resistant, so the screen below should do well.
Looking for something that will just do the job, and don't mind scratches and scuffs all that much? ESR's option might be yours, and it comes with 3 films in case one doesn't work well enough or you misapply.
Coming in at a prettier penny comes Whitestone's Dome Glass option, that provides a curved tempered glass protector. It cures with UV light, and it's also able to protect your phone's precious screen.
Don't want people peeking at your private conversations while you're using your phone? This might be just what you need. Not only it protects your phone, it also makes it harder to see from an extreme angle, granting you some privacy.
This LELANG kit of tempered glass screen protectors should be able to keep your S21 Ultra well protected against most drops, scuffs, and overall scratches and damage, while also keeping costs down. It also comes with an extra camera protector.
This is another option worth considering if you don't mind having a plastic protector that can scratch and scuff easily. Underneath, though, your screen will remain fully protected, so if you want something that does the job, this is the option to get.
These were our picks for the best Galaxy S21 Ultra screen protectors you can get right now. As I mentioned before, we’re dealing with a curved display here, so it can be trickier to get tempered glass protectors installed, and the few that do exist on the cheaper side are either not completely glass or do not provide enough protection. Thus, I recommend getting a plastic screen protector from brands such as ESR and amFilm: while they can be trickier to install than tempered glass ones and are way easier to scratch, they will also do the job of protecting your smartphone’s display. If you have a bit more money, I’d recommend you to go with more premium options such as Zagg and Whitestone’s Dome Glass, which are tempered glass or hybrid protectors that should work properly.
I’ve also thrown in a few tempered glass options for the cheap. While they won’t be as good as the other options I listed, they should at least be able to take the hits instead of your phone’s display—which is what a screen protector is meant to do, after all.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the ultimate overkill in the new 2021 flagship series, packing in a flagship SoC, a premium build, a great display, and an amazing camera setup, as well as all the extras expected on a premium flagship.
The Galaxy S21 Ultra is the best smartphone Samsung has on offer right now. As you’d expect, it packs some of the best smartphone hardware out there, including top-of-the-line SoCs from Qualcomm and Samsung, a brilliant QHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 1500 nits, up to 16GB of RAM, and an impressive camera setup. The device features a 108MP primary camera, a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera, two 10MP telephoto cameras (3X and 10X optical zoom), and a 40MP selfie camera. While it may seem like the Galaxy S21 Ultra features the same primary sensor as its predecessor, Samsung has now confirmed that the device packs its latest 108MP ISOCELL HM3 sensor.
The ISOCELL HM3 sensor is the latest addition to Samsung’s 108MP ISOCELL product lineup, which follows the 0.7μm-pixel ISOCELL HM2 sensor from last year. But unlike the ISOCELL HM2, the ISOCELL HM3 has a larger 0.8μm pixel size. The 1/1.33″ sensor packs several new technologies designed to deliver great autofocus performance, dynamic range, and low-light capabilities on the Galaxy S21 Ultra.
Here’s a quick rundown of everything new in the latest 108MP sensor from Samsung:
Super PD Plus: Adds AF-optimized micro-lenses over the phase detection focusing agents to increase the accuracy of the agents by 50%. This enhanced phase detection auto-focusing (PDAF) solution ensures that moving objects remain in focus and the sensor can deliver optimum results in dark environments.
Smart ISO Pro: For mixed lighting conditions, the ISOCELL HM3 sensor uses a high-dynamic-range (HDR) imaging technology called Smart ISO Pro. The technology uses an intra-scene dual conversion gain (iDCG) solution to simultaneously capture a frame in both high and low ISO. These frames are then merged into a single image in 12-bit color depth and with reduced noise. Since Smart ISO Pro doesn’t capture multiple exposure shots to create a standard HDR image, it can significantly reduce motion artifacts in images. Additionally, a low-noise mode improves light sensitivity by 50-percent to capture brighter and clearer results in low-light environments.
New pixel layout: The ISOCELL HM3’s pixel layout is arranged in three-bby-three single color structures that are suitable for nine-pixel binning. By binning nine neighboring pixels, the HM3 mimics a 12MP sensor with large 2.4 μm-pixels. This heightens light sensitivity in low-light environments. Thanks to an improved binning hardware IP, the HM3 also supports seamless transitions between the 108MP and 12MP modes.
ISOCELL HM3’s design has also been optimized to reduce energy usage in the preview mode by 6.5%, offering better power efficiency on the Galaxy S21 Ultra.
The ISOCELL HM3 sensor on the Galaxy S21 Ultra supports up to 10fps image capture at full 108MP resolution and up to 90fps at 12MP. For video, the sensor supports 30fps at 8K resolution, 120fps at 4K, and 240fps at 1080p. The sensor also supports RAW8 (using DPCM/PCM compression), RAW10, and RAW12 output formats.
While the new features may sound impressive, it’s worth noting that the ISOCELL HM3 only offers marginal improvements in image sensor functionality over the ISOCELL HM1. Nonetheless, we’re curious to see how these improvements help the Galaxy S21 Ultra deliver better results than its predecessor.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the ultimate overkill in the new 2021 flagship series, packing in a flagship SoC, a premium build, a great display, and an amazing camera setup, as well as all the extras expected on a premium flagship.
Back in November of last year, Sony released its update schedule detailing Xperia devices it was planning to update to Android 11. Among the devices included on the list were the first generation Xperia 1 and Xperia 5, which the Japanese OEM said would receive the update “from February 2021.”
However, according to a number of userreports, both the Xperia 1 and the Xperia 5 have already started receiving the sweet treat of Android 11 via stable channel. Having a size of nearly 1GB, the new update for the device duo is being denoted by the build number 55.2.A.0.630, and it also packs the December 2020 security patches.
Sony hasn’t published a proper changelog for this update, but the new build should introduce all the new features to the Xperia 1/5 that Google rolled out with Android 11. However, the much-requested Photography Pro feature from the Mark II series hasn’t been backported in this update.
Due to the size of the incremental OTA, it is advised to use a Wi-Fi connection to download the new build. As of now, the dual SIM variants of the Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 are the only ones that are getting the latest update in select European countries. There is no proper roadmap from Sony on a global rollout, so we would have to wait and see if other regions get the Android 11 update in the coming days.
In case you haven’t got a notification on your Xperia 1/5 yet, you can manually check for the update by heading to the phone’s Settings and then heading to Software update section. Power users, on the other hand, can download the full firmware package using the XperiFirm tool created by XDA Senior Member IgorEisberg. In order to perform a manual flashing, opt for either Flashtool (GUI) or Newflasher (CUI), though we would still advise caution.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 flagship smartphones have finally been unpacked officially. As expected, these Samsung flagships for early 2021 are packed with class-leading specifications. On the list of the upgraded specifications, we also find the new and (claimed to be) much improved ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner on all three of the Galaxy S21 devices. Samsung says the new sensor is 1.7x larger than the previous generation. We reckon that this new ultrasonic fingerprint scanner on the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Plus, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra improves biometric unlocking on these devices for reasons beyond just an increase in the scanning area.
Before we go over how the Galaxy S21 series’s fingerprint scanner is improved, let us first discuss ultrasonic scanners and how they differ from other in-display fingerprint scanners.
What is an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner?
The popularity of in-display fingerprint scanners picked up a couple of years ago with the economization — and therefore, wider availability — of OLED or AMOLED displays. There are currently two major types of in-display fingerprint scanners available in the market — optical and ultrasonic. Both kinds of optical fingerprint scanners send signals of different sorts and record the reflections. These reflections enable the sensors to create a reference image at the time of registration and later used for authentication.
As expected, optical fingerprint sensors use light whereas ultrasonic sensors utilize pulsating ultrasonic sound waves to scan your finger. As optical scanners can only form an image of the visible lines on your fingertips, they form a 2D image of your fingerprint. In contrast, ultrasonic sensors can create a three-dimensional image. Theoretically, this means ultrasonic fingerprint scanners are expected to be more reliable, and even usable when your finger is wet or dirty.
However, this hasn’t exactly panned out in favor of ultrasonic fingerprint scanners as expected. The ultrasonic scanner that has been available on Samsung flagships since the Galaxy S10 series have been slow and unreliable. Samsung has tried to address these issues with a software update to improve unlock speeds and another one to address the authentication flaw that allowed anyone to unlock devices. However, the new and updated fingerprint scanner is designed to fix these issues inherently.
How is Samsung Galaxy S21’s fingerprint scanner better?
As we mentioned above, Samsung claims that the fingerprint scanner on the Galaxy S21 series is 1.7x larger than the previous generation i.e. Qualcomm 3D Sonic Sensor employed by Samsung on previous devices such as the Galaxy S10, Galaxy Note 10, Galaxy S20, and the Galaxy Note 20 series. Following the Galaxy Unpacked Event, Qualcomm officially confirmed that the Galaxy S21 series uses the very recently announced Qualcomm’s 3D Sonic Sensor Gen 2 ultrasonic fingerprint scanner.
In addition to a 77% larger surface area, the new Qualcomm ultrasonic sensor on the Galaxy S21 series is claimed to offers 50% faster scanning. The new features will inarguably improve the unlocking experience and security across all Galaxy S21 as well as other upcoming devices that feature the same.
In real-life demos, just like the one posted by Ben Schoon of 9to5Google, the new fingerprint scanner appears to be really snappy. We will be testing it out extensively while reviewing the Galaxy S21 devices and also comparing it with older Samsung flagships. In the meantime, here’s the video Ben posted on Twitter after the Galaxy event:
S21 fingerprint scanner is faster, but not any better than optical. Too early to talk about accuracy
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the ultimate overkill in the new 2021 flagship series, packing in a flagship SoC, a premium build, a great display, and an amazing camera setup, as well as all the extras expected on a premium flagship.
LG’s mobile business hasn’t turned a profit for a couple of years now, despite several attempts from the company to restructure its approach and bring innovative products to the market. Its devices just don’t get any love from the masses unless they’re available at massive discounts, which is reason enough for the company to shut shop and focus on other more profitable ventures. However, LG’s CEO, Kwon Bong-Seok, thinks otherwise. Last year, Kwon released a statement predicting that LG’s smartphone business “is going to be profitable by 2021”. But a recent report from The Elec claimed that LG may have finally given up now. However, a spokesperson for LG firmly denies the report.
According to the now-deleted report, LG recently notified all South Korean employees that it was shutting down its smartphone business, and it would make an official announcement by the end of this month. It further added that LG had also instructed employees to stop all developments, except for Project I, earlier this week. For the unaware, Project I is the code-name for LG’s upcoming rollable smartphone, which was recently showcased at CES. The device was initially code-named Project B, but LG seems to have changed it to Project I sometime in the last few weeks. While the report claimed that LG hasn’t shelved the rollable smartphone, it mentioned that the company did suspend all work on the device on the day the notice went out.
We reached out to LG for a comment on the matter, and we received the following statement from Ken Hong, Head of Global Corporate Communications, LG Electronics: “Definitely untrue, more speculation and rumors.” As far as the rollable phone is concerned, Hong recently released a statement confirming that it was a real product that “will be launching this year.”
Although LG has officially dismissed the report, it’s worth noting that the company has suspended smartphone production in South Korea in the past. A report from last year also suggested that the company was planning to outsource production of some of its budget and mid-range devices to Chinese ODMs to cut costs and focus all efforts on upcoming flagships. However, there haven’t been any indications or confirmation to suggest that the company was planning to halt all development of new smartphones.
