Samsung Galaxy S21: Everything you need to know about Samsung’s new flagship phone series

The Samsung Galaxy S21, Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus, and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra are the latest 5G flagships from Samsung. They represent the pinnacle of consumer-ready technology in the conventional smartphone form factor. These phones come with class-leading technologies, and for the first time ever, a phone outside of the Galaxy Note lineup is offering the coveted S Pen experience.

Navigate this page:

• Specs
• Display
• Design
• SOC, RAM, and Storage
• Camera & Camera Features
• Battery & Charging
• 5G & Connectivity
• S-Pen support
• MST Support and Samsung Pay
• One UI 3.1 and Android 11
• Cases & Accessories
• Price & Availability
• Third-Party Cases and Accessories

Galaxy S21 Ultra, 72 hours later: 5 takeaways after using Samsung’s best phone

Samsung Galaxy S21 series: Specifications

Specifications	Samsung Galaxy S21	Samsung Galaxy S21+	Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Build	Aluminum mid-frame Plastic back Gorilla Glass Victus front	Aluminum mid-frame Gorilla Glass Victus back Gorilla Glass Victus front	Aluminum mid-frame Gorilla Glass Victus back Gorilla Glass Victus front
Dimensions & Weight	151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm 171 grams	161.5 x 75.6 x 7.8 mm 202 grams	165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm 229 grams
Display	6.2″ FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X flat display 2400 x 1080 pixels 421 PPI 120Hz variable refresh rate 48-120Hz 20:9 aspect ratio HDR10+ 1300nits peak brightness Always-On display Infinity-O display	6.7″ FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X flat display 2400 x 1080 pixels 394 PPI 120Hz variable refresh rate 48-120Hz 20:9 aspect ratio 1300nits peak brightness HDR10+ Always-On display Infinity-O display	6.8″ QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X curved display 3200 x 1440 pixels 515ppi 120Hz variable refresh rate 120Hz at QHD+ supported 10-120Hz 20:9 aspect ratio 1500nits peak brightness HDR10+ Always-On display Infinity-O display
SoC	International: Exynos 2100: 1x ARM Cortex X1 @ 2.9GHz + 3x ARM Cortex A78 Cores @ 2.8GHz + 4x ARM Cortex A55 Cores @ 2.2GHz USA: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888: 1x Kryo 680 Prime Core @ 2.84GHz 3x Kryo 680 Performance Cores @ 2.4GHz 4x Kryo 680 Efficiency Cores @ 1.8GHz	International: Exynos 2100: 1x ARM Cortex X1 @ 2.9GHz + 3x ARM Cortex A78 Cores @ 2.8GHz + 4x ARM Cortex A55 Cores @ 2.2GHz USA: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888: 1x Kryo 680 Prime Core @ 2.84GHz 3x Kryo 680 Performance Cores @ 2.4GHz 4x Kryo 680 Efficiency Cores @ 1.8GHz	International: Exynos 2100: 1x ARM Cortex X1 @ 2.9GHz + 3x ARM Cortex A78 Cores @ 2.8GHz + 4x ARM Cortex A55 Cores @ 2.2GHz USA: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888: 1x Kryo 680 Prime Core @ 2.84GHz 3x Kryo 680 Performance Cores @ 2.4GHz 4x Kryo 680 Efficiency Cores @ 1.8GHz
RAM & Storage	8GB LPDDR5 + 128GB 8GB + 256GB	8GB LPDDR5 + 128GB 8GB + 256GB	12GB LPDDR5 + 128GB 12GB + 256GB 16GB + 512GB
Battery & Charging	4,000mAh 25W USB Power Delivery 3.0 fast charging 15W wireless charging 4.5 reverse wireless charging No charger in the box in most regions	4,800mAh 25W USB Power Delivery 3.0 fast charging 15W wireless charging 4.5 reverse wireless charging No charger in the box in most regions	5,000mAh 25W USB Power Delivery 3.0 fast charging 15W wireless charging 4.5 reverse wireless charging No charger in the box in most regions
Security	Ultrasonic In-Display Fingerprint Scanner	Ultrasonic In-Display Fingerprint Scanner	Ultrasonic In-Display Fingerprint Scanner
Rear Camera(s)	Primary: 12MP, wide-angle lens, f/1.8, 1/1.76″, 1.8µm, OIS, Dual Pixel AF Secondary: 12MP, ultra-wide-angle lens, f/2.2, 120° FoV, 1/2.55″, 1.4µm, Fixed Focus Tertiary: 64MP, telephoto lens, f/2.0, 1/1.76″, 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS	Primary: 12MP, wide-angle lens, f/1.8, 1/1.76″, 1.8µm, OIS, Dual Pixel AF Secondary: 12MP, ultra-wide-angle lens, f/2.2, 120° FoV, 1/2.55″, 1.4µm, Fixed Focus Tertiary: 64MP, telephoto lens, f/2.0, 1/1.76″, 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS	Primary: 108 MP, wide-angle lens, f/1.8, 79°, 24mm, 1/1.33″, 0.8µm (pre-nona-binning), OIS, PDAF, Laser AF Secondary: 12 MP, ultra-wide-angle lens, f/2.2, 120° FoV, 13mm, 1/2.55″, 1.4 µm, Dual Pixel AF Tertiary: 10 MP, telephoto lens, f/2.4, 35°, 72mm, 1/3.24″, 1.22µm, OIS, 3x optical zoom, Dual Pixel AF Quarternary: 10 MP, telephoto lens, f/4.9, 10°, 240mm, 1/3.24″, 1.22µm, OIS, 10x optical zoom, Dual Pixel AF Video: 4K @ 60fps across all front and rear cameras
Front Camera(s)	10MP, f/2.2, 1.22µm, 80° FoV, Dual Pixel AF	10MP, f/2.2, 1.22µm, 80° FoV, Dual Pixel AF	40MP, f/2.2, 0.7µm, 80° FoV, PDAF
Port(s)	USB 3.2 Type-C	USB 3.2 Type-C	USB 3.2 Type-C
Audio	Stereo speakers by AKG Dolby Atmos	Stereo speakers by AKG Dolby Atmos	Stereo speakers by AKG Dolby Atmos
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.1 NFC Wi-Fi 6 5G	Bluetooth 5.1 NFC Wi-Fi 6 5G	Bluetooth 5.1 NFC Wi-Fi 6E 5G
Software	Samsung One UI 3.1 based on Android 11	Samsung One UI 3.1 based on Android 11	Samsung One UI 3.1 based on Android 11
Other Features	IP68 water resistance ANT+ Samsung DeX Knox Bixby Voice Assistant Google Discover pane MST support in some regions	IP68 water resistance ANT+ Samsung DeX Knox UWB Bixby Voice Assistant Google Discover pane MST support in some regions	IP68 water resistance ANT+ Samsung DeX Knox UWB Bixby Voice Assistant Google Discover pane Wacom Stylus and S Pen support (sold separately and stored externally) MST support in some regions
Colors	Phantom Violet Phantom Gray Phantom White Phantom Pink	Phantom Violet Phantom Gray Phantom White Samsung.com Exclusive: Phantom Gold Phantom Red	Phantom Gray Phantom White Samsung.com Exclusive: Phantom Titanium Phantom Navy Phantom Brown

Samsung Galaxy S21 / Galaxy S21 Plus / Galaxy S21 Ultra XDA Forums

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Display

Let’s start with the display on the Galaxy S21 series. All three devices in the series get a Dynamic AMOLED 2x display, with a 120Hz variable refresh rate, a 20:9 aspect ratio, and HDR10+ support. All three devices have an Infinity-O display, which is just Samsung’s marketing term for centered hole-punch displays. You also get the latest Gorilla Glass Victus on the front across all three phones for scratch and drop protection. And as with previous Galaxy S models, the Galaxy S21 series also gets Always-On Display functionality.

Samsung Galaxy S21+

The primary difference between the three phones is the size of the display, going from 6.2″ on the regular Galaxy S21 to 6.7″ on the Plus and 6.8″ on the Ultra. Additionally, the regular and Plus variants have a relatively lower-end flat FHD+ panel. The Galaxy S21 Ultra is where things get a little interesting, as its display gets a subtle curve on the edges and a bump up to QHD+ resolution.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

It’s also the first time that a Samsung Galaxy flagship is not only getting QHD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, but also 120Hz refresh rate with QHD+ resolution as the option. There’s also a difference in peak brightness, with the Ultra getting as bright as 1500 nits, while the other two are restricted to a still-respectable 1300 nits.

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Design

As the screen size differs between the three phones, the dimensions are bound to be different and so is their weight. The weight difference is further compounded by the change in build materials as well. All three devices have an aluminum mid-frame, but the Galaxy S21 gets a polycarbonate back much like the Galaxy Note 20. The Galaxy S21 Plus and Ultra get a Gorilla Glass Victus back.

Samsung Galaxy S21

The other obvious change in design is the rear camera module. It’s got a much more unique look this year, with the camera module flowing over the corner instead of being an island. The camera bump is still present, but it has a larger surface area extending all the way to one corner. Therefore, the phones should have a lesser tendency to wobble when placed down on a table. The Galaxy S21 Ultra has the largest camera module because of the additional camera hardware.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus

Overall, the phones have an otherwise clean and understated look. The Samsung logo on the back is the only branding (coupled with other mandatory certification brandings as mandated by regional law). The devices have a USB 3.2 Type-C port and a speaker grille on the bottom, and the usual power button and volume rockers on the left. If you are waiting on the headphone jack making a return, you’ll be disappointed as it’s not present this year either. But on the bright side, the entire lineup is IP68 rated for water and dust protection.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

For biometrics, Samsung has once again opted for an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner on the series, skipping out on both optical in-display and side-mounted fingerprint scanners. The ultrasonic fingerprint scanner used is the second generation 3D Sonic Sensor from Qualcomm, which is 1.7x larger and 30% faster than the previous generation ultrasonic fingerprint scanner. This ensures that you get a much better unlocking experience than ever before on a Samsung flagship.

Some of the RAM and storage variants may not be available in all colors. Further, the options are likely to be tweaked according to your region as well.

Further, some colors are Samsung.com exclusive. These include Phantom Red and Phantom Gold for the Galaxy S21 Plus, and Phantom Brown, Phantom Navy, Phantom Titanium for the Galaxy S21 Ultra. These colors are available in limited quantities only and are likely to be available only through the pre-order period.

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SoC, RAM, and Storage

Samsung is following its usual pattern of splitting up device SoCs for the USA and some other selected regions, and for the rest of the world. The USA and regions like Hong Kong and China get the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC, while the rest of the world gets the Exynos 2100 SoC. We have dedicated coverage on these SoCs, and we encourage you to check them out for more details.

As is the general theme with the lineup, RAM and storage options on the Galaxy S21 Ultra are more in the overkill territory (12GB + 128GB, 12GB + 256GB, 16GB + 512GB), while the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus get more practical amounts (8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB) to work with. Unfortunately, there is no microSD card support on any of these phones, so pick the right storage amount for you right off the bat.

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Camera

The camera setup is one of the more defining differences between the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus on one hand, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra on the other. The Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus have the same camera setup, while the Galaxy S21 Ultra changes things up a bit.

Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus: Front and Rear Camera Setup

For the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus, you get a triple rear camera setup comprising of a primary camera, an ultra-wide-angle camera, and a telephoto camera.

The primary camera is a 12MP f/1.8 shooter with a 1/1.76″ sensor producing images with 1.8µm large pixels. You get Dual Pixel AF as well as OIS on the primary camera.

The secondary camera is a 12MP f/2.2 shooter with a 1/2.55″ sensor producing images with 1.4µm large pixels. The field of view is 120°, which isn’t the widest out there but also not a bad option per se.

The tertiary camera is a 64MP f/2.0 telephoto lens with a 1/1.76″ sensor producing images with 0.8µm large pixels. You get PDAF and OIS on this camera, and its primary use case is for capturing images with 3x optical zoom.

The front camera on both the phones is a 10MP f/2.2 shooter that produces 1.22µm pixel size images and has Dual Pixel AF.

Galaxy S21 Ultra: Front and Rear Camera Setup

The camera setup offers one of the highlighting experiences on the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Only the secondary ultra-wide-angle camera is shared over from the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus. All the other cameras are different.

The primary camera is a 108MP f/1.8 shooter with a large 1/1.33″ sensor producing images with 0.8µm large pixels. The phone then combines nine of these pixels into one pixel (nona-binning), giving you an output of 12MP with 2.4µm large pixels.

The other two cameras on the back come with telephoto lenses, each projecting into a 1/3.24″ sensor with large 1.22µm pixels. Using two telephoto lenses essentially provides optical zoom at two different levels. The first is a 10MP f/2.4 shooter that provides 3x optical zoom, while the second is a 10MP f/4.9 shooter that provides 10x optical zoom. Both come with OIS capabilities. Combined with digital zoom, Samsung can provide a seamless optical zooming experience from 1x to 10x, while also promising hybrid zoom capabilities up to 100x, which is marketed as 100x Space Zoom.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra can also shoot 4K video at 60fps across all cameras. If you need even more options, you can click photos in Pro mode to output to a 12-bit RAW file.

The front camera on the Galaxy S21 Ultra is a 40MP, f/2.2 shooter with 0.7µm pixels and PDAF.

What are the new Camera Features?

These new camera software features form a part of One UI 3.1 based on Android 11, but they are worth mentioning on their own as they are quite substantial to the camera experience on the new Samsung Galaxy S21 series:

• Improved 8K Snap: Grab still 33MP photos from your 8K video recording
• Vlogger View: Capture videos with the front and rear cameras simultaneously.
• Director’s View: Capture video with the front and rear cameras simultaneously, while retaining the ability to quickly switch between the multiple rear cameras while accessing a live preview of all the camera outputs.
• Multiple mic recording: Use paired accessories like the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro to record ambient sound while also recording using the phone’s microphone.
• Single Take: Added new pro-style video settings like Highlight Video and Dynamic Slow-Mo.
• Zoom Lock: Minimize shaky hands and capture clear zoomed images by locking focal point in the center of the frame.

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Battery and Charging

Because the phones are different in physical dimensions and have some other physical differences, they also have different sized batteries, going from 4,000 mAh on the regular Galaxy S21 to 4,800 mAh on the Galaxy S21 Plus and 5,000 mAh on the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Thankfully, their charging capabilities remain the same all throughout (though that may not be a good thing entirely). All three phones get 25W USB Power Delivery 3.0 fast charging, 15W wireless charging, and the ability to provide 4.5W reverse wireless charging. The wired charging solution is definitely not the fastest one around, but it’s universal, so you’ll have great luck finding a compatible charger that does these modest speeds reliably. We are both relieved and disappointed at the same time — relieved for the universality approach, but disappointed because proprietary tech from other companies is quicker by a substantial margin. The universality will be appreciated by users, more so because neither of the three phones will come with a power brick in the box (except in select regions).

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5G and Connectivity

5G is standard across the lineup, but a big difference creeps in for certain regions. For instance, if you purchase the device in the USA, you’ll get mmWave support alongside sub-6GHz 5G, while the rest of the world will have to contend with sub-6GHz 5G. So, do keep that in mind if you intend to use the phone outside the region of purchase.

Further, all three phones get Bluetooth 5.1 and NFC, but the Galaxy S21 Ultra gets Wi-Fi 6E support (thanks to the Broadcom BCM4389) while the other two models get Wi-Fi 6.

Ultra-Wide Band tracking is a feature present on the Galaxy S21 Ultra and the Galaxy S21 Plus, but it is missing from the regular variant.

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S Pen support

One of the highlights of this year’s release is the inclusion of S Pen support. Only the Galaxy S21 Ultra gets it though, and there are a few caveats around it. For one, the S Pen is not part of the package, and there is no cavity within the device to store the S Pen, so it needs to be purchased separately and stored externally.

Samsung is separately selling cases that have a cavity to store the S Pen. You lose out on Bluetooth-related functionality on the S Pen though, so stuff like Air Trigger and Remote Shutter will not work. We reckon this means that you don’t necessarily need an S Pen too — just about any Wacom stylus should do the trick.

Samsung also plans to sell an S Pen Pro later in the year, so keep an eye on that if you really want to get into the stylus game with the S21 series.

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MST Support and Samsung Pay

The Samsung Galaxy S21 series does not come with MST support, restricting itself to NFC technology for payments. The phone does support Samsung Pay in all regions, presuming the feature was already available in those regions.

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One UI 3.1 with Android 11

The Samsung Galaxy S21 series comes with an incremental update to Samsung’s UX skin, One UI, in the form of One UI 3.1 based on Android 11. While there are not a lot of ground-breaking feature additions or overhauls, there are a few notable changes:

• Eye comfort shield: Keep your eyes comfortable by limiting blue light and using warmer colors. Using it at night can make it easier to fall asleep
• Unlock with Bixby Voice
• Choose between Google Discover or Samsung Free for feed
• Private Share: Control who gets access to the content you send and how long it is available to them. The feature also has a tool that removes location metadata from photos and videos before sharing. This works on Galaxy smartphones with Android 9 Pie or later. This feature is not available on non-Samsung Android phones.
• OneDrive Integration: Save 8K videos to OneDrive and play them back on your Galaxy S21 device.
• Object Eraser: Remove stray photobombers from your photos.
• Custom Backgrounds during Video Calls
• Google Duo auto-framing
• Find and unlock cars from Audi, BMW, Ford, and Genesis

We have taken a more extensive look at the changes that One UI 3.1 brings along over One UI 3.0, so check that out for a more complete lowdown.

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Cases and Accessories

As is tradition now, Samsung is offering a bunch of official cases for the Galaxy S21 Ultra, Galaxy S21 Plus and Galaxy S21. Their official cases include Smart Covers, a case with an S-Pen, a separate S-Pen, several gorgeous looking cases including the popular Kvadrat Cover+and more. Of course, the Galaxy S21 range is already proving popular and plenty of people are taking advantage of the best Galaxy S21 Ultra deals and best Galaxy S21 deals, which we’ve rounded up for you.

Beyond just Samsung’s official cases, there are a ton of third-party cases on the market and we’ve rounded them up for you including the Best Thin Cases for the Galaxy S21 Ultra, Galaxy S21 Plus, and Galaxy S21; the best rugged cases for the Galaxy S21 Ultra, Galaxy S21 Plus and regular Galaxy S21; and the best Clear cases for the S21 Ultra, Galaxy S21 Plus, and regular Galaxy S21 model.

Here are the official Samsung cases:

There are two more covers for the Galaxy S21 Ultra, and these come with the S Pen: Silicone Cover with S Pen, and Smart Clear View Cover with S Pen.

Samsung has also launched two new wireless chargers, as well as the Samsung SmartTag and Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro.

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Samsung Galaxy S21 series: Pricing and Availability

The Samsung Galaxy S21 series is priced as follows:

Sr. No.	Device	USA	Europe	UK	India
1.	Samsung Galaxy S21 — 8GB + 128GB (Phantom Violet, Phantom Gray, Phantom Pink, Phantom White)	$799.99	€849	£769	₹69,999
	Samsung Galaxy S21 — 8GB + 256GB (Phantom Gray)	$899.99	€899	£819	₹73,999
2.	Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus — 8GB + 128GB (Phantom Violet, Phantom Silver, Phantom Black)	$999.99	€1,049	£949	₹81,999
	Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus — 8GB + 256GB (Phantom Black)	$1,099.99	€1,09	£999	₹85,999
3.	Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra — 12GB + 128GB (Phantom Silver, Phantom Black)	$1,199.99	€1,249	£1,149	–
	Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra — 12GB + 256GB (Phantom Black)	$1,299.99	€1,299	£1,199	₹1,05,999
	Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra — 16GB + 512GB (Phantom Black)	$1,399.99	€1,429	£1,329	₹1,16,999

Note: Additional colors will be sold through Samsung.com. These custom colors are limited in stock and may last only till pre-order periods.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 series is now available on open sale. You can purchase the device by following the links below! Consumers will be able to purchase the devices through Samsung.com, carriers, and online and offline retailers.

Samsung Galaxy S21

The Samsung Galaxy S21 is the starting point of the new 2021 flagship series, packing in a flagship SoC, along with a decent display and camera setup.

Buy from Samsung.com

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus is the middle child in the new 2021 flagship series, packing in a flagship SoC and a premium build, along with a decent display and camera setup.

Buy from Samsung.com

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

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.

Buy from Samsung.com

Which Galaxy S21 should you buy? Regular, Plus, or Ultra?

The Samsung Galaxy S21 series were available for pre-order from January 20 till January 28, 2021. Customers who pre-ordered a device received Samsung Credits worth $100 with the Galaxy S21, $150 with the Galaxy S21 Plus, $200 with the Galaxy S21 Ultra. All pre-orders also included a free Galaxy SmartTag. Both carrier and unlocked variants of the Galaxy S21 series went on open sale worldwide from January 29, 2021.

In India, customers who pre-ordered the device got a free Samsung Galaxy Smart Tag as well as Samsung Shop Vouchers up to ₹10,000. HDFC Bank customers got up to ₹10,000 cashback, while Samsung Upgrade plans offered an additional bonus of up to ₹5,000. Pre-orders began from January 15, 2021, and early deliveries for these began on January 25, 2021. Open sales began from January 29, 2021, across Samsung.com/in, Samsung Opera House, offline retail outlets, Amazon.in, Flipkart, Crome, and Reliance Digital.

Third-Party Cases and Accessories

Now that the Galaxy S21 series is available on open sale, you can get a fair few options across third-party cases and accessories. We’ve rounded some great options below:

• Galaxy S21 Cases and Accessories
• Galaxy S21 Plus Cases and Accessories
• Galaxy S21 Ultra Cases and Accessories

All of these options are for the regular Galaxy S21 variant:

• Galaxy S21 Deals
• S21 Screen Protectors
• S21 Chargers
• S21 Wireless Chargers
• S21 Best Case Roundup
• S21 Thin Cases
• S21 Clear Cases
• S21 Cheap Cases
• S21 Rugged Cases
• S21 Leather Cases

All of these options are for the Galaxy S21 Plus, the middle child in the family:

• Galaxy S21 Plus Deals
• S21 Plus Screen Protectors
• S21 Plus Chargers
• S21 Plus Wireless Chargers
• S21 Plus Best Case Roundup
• S21 Plus Thin Cases
• S21 Plus Clear Cases
• S21 Plus Rugged Cases

All of these options are for the Galaxy S21 Ultra, the premium top-tier flagship:

• Galaxy S21 Ultra Deals
• S21 Ultra Screen Protectors
• S21 Ultra Chargers
• S21 Ultra Wireless Chargers
• S21 Ultra S Pen and Stylus Roundup
• S21 Ultra Best Case Roundup
• S21 Ultra Thin Cases
• S21 Ultra Clear Cases
• S21 Ultra Rugged Cases

We’ll be trying out more accessories in the future, so stay tuned for further recommendations!

The post Samsung Galaxy S21: Everything you need to know about Samsung’s new flagship phone series appeared first on xda-developers.

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OnePlus 9 series pre-orders could come with free true wireless earbuds

OnePlus is expected to launch its new OnePlus 9 series sometime this month. The company is rumored to launch as many as four new products, including the OnePlus 9, the OnePlus 9 Pro, the OnePlus 9R, and the OnePlus Watch. While OnePlus has yet to confirm a concrete launch date, the company has set March 8th as the date for an upcoming announcement. Meanwhile, a new leak has revealed the pre-order date for the OnePlus 9 series as well as a promotional offer that OnePlus is planning to have in place to attract early birds.

The new info comes from ever-reliable Evan Blass, who has revealed that the OnePlus 9 series will go on pre-order on March 23, and early buyers will be able to claim a free pair of OnePlus Buds Z true wireless earbuds. Blass notes that this offer will apply to both the regular and Pro variant of the OnePlus 9, but it’s unclear if this promotion will be available in all countries where OnePlus will sell the two devices.

In eligible countries, those who pre-order the OnePlus 9 will receive a regular version of the OnePlus Buds Z TWS earbuds while OnePlus 9 Pro pre-orders will get the special Steve Harrington Edition of the Buds Z. OnePlus ran a similar promotional offer last year when it launched the OnePlus 8 series. At the time, OnePlus was bundling a free pair of Bullets Wireless Z and a Warp Charge 30 Wireless charging pad.

Left: OnePlus Buds Z. Right: OnePlus Buds Z Steve Harrington Edition.

As a refresher, the regular OnePlus 9 (code-named lemonade) is expected to feature a flat 6.5-inch full HD+ 120Hz display, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC, 8GB LPDDR5 RAM, 128GB storage UFS 3.1, a 48MP primary camera, and a 4,500mAh battery with 65W fast charging support. The OnePlus 9 Pro, on the other hand, will reportedly pack a curved 6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED 120Hz display, Snapdragon 888 SoC paired with 12GB RAM and 128GB storage, a quad-camera array with Hasselblad branding, and the same 4,500mAh battery as the regular model with 65W charging support.

Finally, the rumored OnePlus 9R may also debut alongside the regular and Pro models. However, very little is known about its specifications and design at this point, though it’s expected to feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 870 chipset.

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Redmi K40 is likely launching in global markets as the POCO F3

Update 1 (03/02/2021 @ 00:20 AM ET): The Redmi K40 will indeed be called the POCO F3. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The article as published on February 25, 2021, is preserved below.

Although POCO insists on calling itself an independent brand, its product portfolio mostly consists of rebranded Xiaomi devices. For example, the POCO F2 Pro from last year was a rebranded Redmi K30 Pro 5G, the POCO X2 was a rebranded Redmi K30, and the POCO M2 Pro was a rehashed Redmi Note 9 Pro. While the company has launched a couple of original devices in the recent past, it seems like POCO isn’t going to completely give up the rebranding strategy anytime soon. We have now learned that the company is planning to launch the upcoming Redmi K40 as a POCO-branded phone in some markets.

As a recent tweet from XDA Senior Member Deic points out, a new POCO device was recently certified by IMDA (Singapore). The listing reveals that the device will go by the model number M2012K11AG and the codename alioth. It further mentions that the device will feature a Snapdragon 870 SoC, a 48MP primary camera, a 6.67-inch display, and a 4,420mAh battery.

New deviced certified on IMDA (Singapore)

POCO M2012K11AG – codename alioth
Snapdragon 870
48 MP
163.7×76.4×7.8
6.67 inch
4420mAh
Android 11 android
5G Dual SIM

Previously was certified in TENAA as Redmihttps://t.co/aLRH2YLzqv pic.twitter.com/TBAWLv8ZVE

— Deiki (@Deiki_kun) February 25, 2021

In case that sounds familiar, it’s because we’ve previously spotted the same device on Chinese certification authority TENAA’s website, with Redmi branding and model number M2012K11AC. The device is believed to be the Redmi K40, which will be launched in China later today. As you can tell, both the devices feature the same model number, with the exception of the last letter. Based on the model numbers of previous Xiaomi and Redmi devices, we believe that the ‘C’ stands for China and the ‘G’ stands for Global. Therefore, we suspect that POCO will launch the Redmi K40 under its own brand name in select markets outside of China.

Update: The Redmi K40 series has been officially unveiled in China. Head over to this post to learn all about it.

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Update: The Redmi K40 is indeed the POCO F3

As we had already guessed, the Redmi K40 is indeed coming to global markets as the POCO F3.

POCO F3 modelname M2012K11AG and codename alioth was certified in FCC listing.

I will be the Global and European version of Redmi K40 as expected.https://t.co/Et90ibIArC pic.twitter.com/4lLH5BaIrD

— Deiki (@Deiki_kun) March 2, 2021

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Featured image: Redmi K40 from TENAA listing

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Qualcomm announces Snapdragon Insiders, a new community for enthusiasts

Qualcomm today announced a new program, called Snapdragon Insiders, to engage with fans from around the world. The company wishes to give Snapdragon fans the opportunity to learn more about their favorite Snapdragon tech right from the experts, share pro tips to help users make the most out of their devices, and reward loyal fans with Snapdragon-branded merch through the program.

Qualcomm has a three-pronged plan to reward all Snapdragon Insiders, which consists of monthly “drops” that will give the members extra access, perks, experience, and information. Through Access Drops, the company plans to set up small-group interactions with content creators and Qualcomm experts to show off its latest tech and provide answers to the community’s questions.

On the other hand, Passion Drops will consist of purpose-built activations focusing on key passion areas like mobile gaming, photography, sports & fitness, and more. These interactions will essentially be masterclasses in which content creators will tackle different passion areas and help users make the most of their Snapdragon devices.

Finally, Snapdragon Insiders will be the first to learn about the latest news and announcements about Snapdragon-enabled devices through Tech Drops. Tech Drops will also include giveaways, but Qualcomm hasn’t shared much information about that at the moment. The company claims that members will also get the opportunity to help shape the future of Snapdragon.

If you’re interested in joining the Snapdragon Insiders community, you can sign up by following this link. Once you’re done, you can follow Qualcomm on various social media channels, including Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit, to stay up to date on all upcoming community interactions. The company plans to set up a proper community forum for Snapdragon Insiders in the coming months. It’s worth noting that the program is already live in India, and users in the country can visit this link to sign up for it.

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These are the best music player apps for Android in March 2021!

It seems like we have been able to listen to music with pocketable devices since forever. Now granted, it hasn’t always been from our smartphones and we used to have dedicated MP3 devices for listening to our music on the go. But nowadays, pretty much any phone allows you to install your music streaming service of choice and can even fit some songs on its internal storage as well. But you probably want something that is a little bit better than what comes with your current smartphone (if it even comes with one at all). Well then, don’t despair: I’m here to help you again, with a curated list that picks up from the best Android apps list to give you something that focuses only on music playback and streaming! Here are some of our top picks for the best music player apps available for Android.

From normal music streaming services to apps that allow you to play your locally downloaded music, and even apps that do both, this is going to be a good one. Dive in to learn more!

Spotify

Spotify is always at the top of our list, and for good reason, as Spotify is one of the best music streaming apps currently available, period. There are so many good things I have to say about Spotify that it really gets pretty hard doing it over and over again. It’s my streaming service of choice for a reason. Not only can you stream music from around the world, but you can also use the app to play locally stored music too, making it just the one app that most users would need on their phone.

Spotify is available on both free and paid flavors and comes with a plethora of features as well as nifty things such as an amazingly big library, amazing recommendations based on what you listen to and what’s popular in your area, and support for podcasts, which is something very few music streaming apps have built-in.

Spotify: Listen to podcasts & find music you love (Free, Google Play) →

Deezer

If Spotify is not your cup of tea, then Deezer might fit the bill a little bit better than Spotify does, as it’s one of the most well-known alternatives to bigger apps like Apple Music and YouTube Music. Deezer actually provides a very similar feature set to Spotify, down to the number of features the Premium version offers, and it also has an ad-supported free version. Both are pretty good, though, as we have features such as downloads, recommendations, and a vast library of both music tracks and podcasts for you to choose from.

If you’re on the lookout for one of the best music player apps out there, this might be pretty close.

Deezer Music Player: Songs, Playlists & Podcasts (Free⁺, Google Play) →

iHeartRadio

iHeartRadio is way different from what you might think as conventional streaming app, and instead focuses on streaming something a little bit different: radio stations! And in this sense, it is a lot more similar to tuning into AM or FM radio than it is to actually streaming music. So if you like doing things the old school way, this is as good as it gets. As the name implies, it is a radio streaming application where people can listen to a variety of stations according to their personal tastes.

It contains radio shows, podcasts, news, and sports content. It also includes AM and FM radio stations. And best of all, it’s completely free!

iHeartRadio: Radio, Podcasts & Music On Demand (Free⁺, Google Play) →

Tidal

Tidal has a big thing going for them that not many other streaming services have: it features lossless audio. It’s set to face competition from none other than Spotify as the company recently announced that Spotify HiFi is a thing. Tidal pioneered the concept of streaming lossless music, and having CD-quality music without having to own CDs or without having to download FLAC files is pretty darn great. Once we get past the lossless aspect of things, Tidal still remains a pretty compelling package with access to a claimed library of 70 million songs.

We think it’s one of the best music player apps in the market because of the lossless quality it offers, though, which is a boon for audiophiles.

TIDAL Music - Hifi Songs, Playlists, & Videos (Free, Google Play) →

YouTube Music

YouTube, the digital video platform, is considered “the king of free apps” par excellence because it gives you access to an enormous library of media, which also includes music. But YouTube Music, while using the same platform like YouTube, is a different thing entirely. It mixes YouTube’s name and brand as well as its enormous popularity and joins that with a library of over 40 million songs (and that’s without counting in videos), and a free tier that packs pretty much the same limitations as the YouTube app for videos. The best part about the YouTube identity is that all your liked music from over the years is also carried along, so you can dip into nostalgia with ease.

The paid tier removes ads and gives you access to features such as background playback. The free version does leave a few things to be desired though, so if you aren’t willing to shell something out, it’s best you go with a different option in this list.

YouTube Music - Stream Songs & Music Videos (Free, Google Play) →

Apple Music

It’s been years and we’re still surprised Apple actually made Apple Music available on Android, but alas, they did. And for what it’s worth, it’s definitely on the upper tier of the best music player apps for Android. In order to have access to this service, you have the option to pay a $10/month subscription for a personal package; $5 if you are a student or you can pay a monthly $15 if you want to enjoy a family package, allowing you to share your subscription and Apple’s ginormous music library with up to 6 people.

I often recommend Spotify blindly to people, but I actually tried out Apple Music for some months and found it to be a pretty compelling package as well.

Apple Music (Free, Google Play) →

Musixmatch

Musixmatch has actually been one of my favorite apps for years, not only because it works as a standalone music player for you to playback your locally downloaded tracks, but because it also adds extra functionality to other apps. It is focused on live lyrics and does a pretty good job at it. It allows you to play locally downloaded music and gives you, first and at the forefront, the lyrics to whatever you’re listening to. Don’t have locally downloaded music? Then you can also use it for displaying live lyrics on apps like Spotify using something called FloatingLyrics.

It’s one of the most versatile and overall best music player app on this list.

Musixmatch - Lyrics for your music (Free⁺, Google Play) →

Shuttle Music Player

I might hear you say now by this point of the list “But Arol, I don’t like streaming my music through the internet and I don’t want any fancy features that will make my phone slow or take up valuable space or resources, I just want something that will play my MP3 files!”. And that’s where Shuttle comes in. If you have locally downloaded music, Shuttle will pick it up and allow you to play it. It really doesn’t get any simpler (and luckily, not more complicated either) than that. It features folder browsing, tag editing so you can edit your MP3 tags, and most importantly, it features Material Design.

It keeps it simple and precise, which is why it earns a spot as one of the best music player apps on Android.

Shuttle Music Player (Free⁺, Google Play) →

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This is pretty much it for our list of the best music player apps available. If you’re into streaming, then you really can’t go wrong with any of the big players: Spotify and Apple Music offer a relatively comparable set of features and relatively comparable pricing as well. Deezer and Tidal are also compelling options in this space, while iHeartRadio keeps things old school by allowing you to tune into actual radio stations.

Don’t want to stream your music? Then Musixmatch and Shuttle are both amazing options. Check these out and let us know your favorite!

The post These are the best music player apps for Android in March 2021! appeared first on xda-developers.

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Best Galaxy S21 Plus Clear Case to buy in March 2021: ESR, Spigen, Samsung, and more!

The Galaxy S21 Plus is finally official and alongside the regular Galaxy S21, and it comes in a few colors. If you’ve picked up the gorgeous Phantom Violet Galaxy S21, you’ll want to protect it while also ensuring you can show off the stunning Violet and Gold color scheme. After all, why buy this unique color if you can’t show it off, right? Clear cases are a great way to achieve this, but they provide varying levels of protection. Some are thin and cheap and provide only the most basic protection, while others are thicker and provide more protection. Whatever your style of case, we’ve rounded up the Best Galaxy S21 Plus Clear case that you should buy below!

Official Clear Protective Case

Official Clear Protective Case

This clear protective case is a step up from the base variant on sale from Samsung. It has also been drop-tested to MIL-STD-810G Transit Drop standards, and is available in two colors.

$40 at Samsung

Official Clear Standing Case

Official Clear Standing Case

This is a standing version of the clear case, sold officially by Samsung. The company does charge a good premium over other standing cases, but you pay for the first-party nature and the brand.

$35 at Samsung

SQMCase Shockproof Silicone Cover with Ring

Military Grade Protection

If you want a case that is clear and shows off the beauty of your new phone, while also providing serious protection, look no further than SQMCase. Although this case doesn't have reviews yet, the company's other cases are very highly rated. This case also comes with a built-in ring holder which doubles as a kickstand for propping the phone up when you want to watch a movie!

View at Amazon

ESR Metal Kickstand Case

Protection with a kickstand

If you want a solid kickstand and reinforced drop protection, look no further than ESR, who have been making cases for over 10 years. This flexible polymer case provides protection while showing off your phone, and the metal kickstand is perfect for those times you want to prop up your phone. The unique position of the kickstand means, unlike most cases with a kickstand, you can prop your phone up both horizontally and vertically.

View at Amazon

Olixar Ultra Thin Clear Case

Ultra-thin and effective

If you want a case that's ultra-thin and provides basic protection, the Olixar Ultra Thin Clear Case for the Galaxy S21 is a great buy. This flexible silicone case is designed for those who want something thin and clear, and it's wireless charging compatible so you won't block you from charging without plugging a cable in. Keep in mind that this offers only some basic protection, so don't drop your phone too hard.

View at Amazon

Spigen Ultra Hybrid

Trusted name in the game

Spigen cases are one of our trusted recommendations from personal use, and this Ultra Hybrid line delivers on its goals. The back is made of durable polycarbonate, while the side is a TPU bumper all through. This case is available in two colors: Crystal Clear and Matte Black, so pick and choose depending on your taste for the bumper.

View at Amazon

Cyrill Floral Pattern Clear Case

For some pizzazz

If you're looking beyond just a clear case, you can explore printed patterns on the clear case. For instance, this clear case has a printed floral pattern on the back, adding some more character to your device while also letting you show off the phone and protect it at the same time.

View at Amazon

dbrand customizable skin

29 color options to customize your phone

If you've got the Black (or even the silver) colorway, you might want to customize your phone with a dbrand skin. It's not a clear case, but you'll see the skin through the case you do buy! This is also a great option if you're not a fan of Samsung's choice of Gold and Purple but want the gorgeous light purple color.

Up to $15 at DBrand

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Clear case options can be overwhelming, and we do agree with you. For the vast majority, what you can purchase would be reliant on the budget you have left over after purchasing your device. If you have store credits leftover from a previous offer, you should definitely give the official Samsung ones a shot, for they are the ones that promise the best compatibility. Still, they also aren’t cheap by any means.

If you want something cheaper, Spigen is a tried and trusted name, and we’ve used several of their products (including this lineup) on other phones to recommend them. You can also get some kickstand cases to make it easier to consume content when your phone is propped up on a table, and you don’t necessarily need to get Samsung’s version to enjoy this functionality. If you are looking for basic scratch protection and really dislike tacking on any bulk to your phone, then the Dbrand skins should be your top choice, even though they are not a clear case. Either way, we recommend that you get a case because Samsung will not be including one in the box.

While you’re at it, make sure to grab a charger!

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus is the middle child in the new 2021 flagship series, packing in a flagship SoC and a premium build, along with a decent display and camera setup.

Buy from Samsung.com

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