Samsung has unveiled the latest entries into its flagship Galaxy series with the S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra — along with prices and the launch date for South Africa.
The smartphones were announced during a global Unpacked event live-streamed by Samsung, taking place earlier in the year than most Galaxy unveilings.
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The latest series showcases a striking design, 120Hz refresh rates for the displays, an improved chipset, and 5G support.
Galaxy S21 series specs and features
So what should you know about the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+?
According to Samsung, the phones are meant to deliver a premium experience in every category: from battery life, to design, to camera.
The unique design features the new “Contour Cut Camera” housing that adds a striking divergence from the typical smartphone design.
Samsung has also chosen a flat screen for its edge-to-edge displays on these devices, rather than a curved design.
The new processor should also support the enhance AI processing of the smartphones’ camera.
Unlike the S20 series, the S21 and S21+ will also support 5G in South Africa.
You can see a summary of the S21’s hardware below:
- Display: 6.2-inch flat FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate
- Processor: 5nm 64-bit octa-core processor
- Battery: 4000mAh
- RAM: 8GB
- Main camera: Triple camera with 12MP ultra-wide lens + 12MP wide-angle lens + 64MP telephoto lens
- Selfie camera: 10MP
- On-board storage: 128GB/256GB
Here’s a summary of the S21+’s hardware:
- Display: 6.7-inch flat FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate
- Processor: 5nm 64-bit octa-core processor
- Battery: 4800mAh
- RAM: 8GB
- Main camera: Triple camera with 12MP ultra-wide lens + 12MP wide-angle lens + 64MP telephoto lens
- Selfie camera: 10MP
- On-board storage: 128GB/256GB
Galaxy S21 Ultra specs and features
The Galaxy S21 Ultra isn’t just a bigger version of the S21+ with more battery and storage. Samsung is continuing its trend of making the Ultra an ultra-premium entry in its Galaxy series.
This year, the S21 Ultra will also feature a 108MP lens in its quad-camera setup and two telephoto lenses to enhance zoom capabilities. Even its selfie camera is high-resolution, with a 40MP camera.
But one of the biggest developments is the announcement that the S21 Ultra will support the S-Pen. This makes it the first Galaxy device to support the accessory, which is used with Galaxy Note devices.
You’ll be able to buy the S-Pen separately to use with the S21 Ultra.
The device also features a high-resolution display with a high refresh rate, a hefty amount of RAM, and a large 5000 mAh battery that supports fast charging.
Here’s a summary of the S21 Ultra’s specs:
- Display: 6.8-inch edge QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED Display with 120Hz refresh rate
- Processor: 5nm 64-bit octa-core processor
- Battery: 5000mAh
- RAM: 12GB/16GB
- Main camera: Quad camera with 12MP ultra-wide lens + 108MP wide-angle lens + 10MP telephoto lens + 10MP telephoto lens
- Selfie camera: 40MP
- On-board storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB
Galaxy S21 and S21 Ultra price in South Africa
So how much will the new devices cost in South Africa?
Surprisingly, the price for the new Galaxy S21 series is very similar to the S20 series.
The Galaxy S21 will start at a price of R17 999.
Meanwhile, the S21+ will start at R21 499.
The Galaxy S21 Ultra carries a heftier price, starting at R27 999.
The phones are set to launch in South Africa on 5 February. However, pre-order customers will begin receiving their devices from 26 January.
Pre-orders are currently open, with multiple specials running, such as free gifts including the newly announced Smart Tag and Galaxy Buds Pro.
Cellucity is selling the new devices at a slight discount to the recommended retail prices with its pre-order offers.
Meanwhile, the Samsung Store is offering trade-ins of old Galaxy devices to reduce the price of the new devices. The Samsung Store also offers some exclusive colours for the devices.
Feature image: Samsung
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