Samsung Galaxy S21 & S21 Ultra hands-on review

19 Jan 2021


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  • Alex
  • qC@
  • 19 Jan 2021

OMG, OMG, OMG, it can't be real: this is so bad, way beyond my hate for the new Galaxy line. I feel pity now, not hate.

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • 0xU
    • 19 Jan 2021

    AnonD-973296, 19 Jan 2021ur saying they were paid?Of course they're getting paid, the question is the paid only for a reviewing the device, or "extras" for making score better OR not revealing the cons of the device.
    In past DXOMARK make they're reviews not consistent - please take a notice for example at the latest review of S20 FE. It's unprofessional. The photo's for example, of 3x zoom are uploaded as from main cam digital zoom. The content of review is much shorter than the other phones etc. And this is with many reviews.
    I would not trust they're final score, nor the summary. Sometimes they make reviews right, but I still would take that info with a pinch of salt.
    Personally I would trust more of GSMARENA samples and they're review, there I can take a sample pics of full size and make a comparision by myself.

      • D
      • AnonD-973296
      • GYi
      • 19 Jan 2021

      HOMELESS PUPPY, 19 Jan 2021Do not be surprised if dxomark finds way to pretend camera ... moreur saying they were paid?

        • H
        • HOMELESS PUPPY
        • 0p}
        • 19 Jan 2021

        AnonD-973296, 19 Jan 2021wait this got 142 in DXOmark, i mean those tests are far fr... moreDo not be surprised if dxomark finds way to pretend camera is 100% better than it is and give #1. Everybody could see iphone 12 pro does worse than 11 pro, still 4 points ahead.

        You can trust for camera and lenses, not phones tests ...





          • D
          • Davidsic
          • snA
          • 19 Jan 2021

          I agree with you guys, the photos are bad! Pre-series firmware? I'm a little worried because I pre-ordered the S21 Ultra to replace my S20 +

            • S
            • SON GOKU
            • q2t
            • 19 Jan 2021

            Maybe I should install Gcam, I mean the photos on my S21 look fine to me. Probably just me.

              • S
              • SON GOKU
              • q2t
              • 19 Jan 2021

              Anonymous, 19 Jan 2021Same, usual bad camera quality from Samsung (that looks so ... moreThe camera's that bad! Hmmm, I'll take note of that, thanks :).

                • S
                • SON GOKU
                • q2t
                • 19 Jan 2021

                HOMELESS PUPPY, 19 Jan 2021So. - youtubers get instructions to avoid talking about... moreHuh, never realized that good thing I got the Snapdragon 888. Good job Man!

                  • D
                  • AnonD-973296
                  • GYi
                  • 19 Jan 2021

                  HOMELESS PUPPY, 19 Jan 2021So. - youtubers get instructions to avoid talking about... morewait this got 142 in DXOmark, i mean those tests are far from the real world but hoooooowwwww

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • 7tV
                    • 19 Jan 2021

                    When the home country itself is not using its own processors, you KNOW there is something wrong with the processors.

                    No Samsung for me till benchmarks and detailed battery comparisons are out.

                      • H
                      • HOMELESS PUPPY
                      • 0p}
                      • 19 Jan 2021

                      So.

                      - youtubers get instructions to avoid talking about the plastic back back of s21 and no sd slot on all them.
                      - horrible photos that magically earn 142 from dxomark
                      - Unspecified gorilla glass on rear panel of Ultra/21+. sounds like old version like 5 or previous
                      - tests shows exynos 2100 generates more heat than SD865, making performance weaker after throttle starts.

                        Is the frame really aluminum again? It was stainless steel on the Note 20 Ultra which I liked because it's way more durable. You drop an aluminum phone once and there are scratches immediately because it's such a soft material.

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • xDq
                          • 19 Jan 2021

                          AnonD-973296, 19 Jan 2021just so u know, no company cares about their users, they ju... moreThere are a few companies that do, if they're wise enough to know that if they do not care nor listen to their users, they would eventually lose business. Apple/Samsung keep making money because their followers are blind, for now. The issue is, if no one buys from those for a while, then that company will feel the pain. It just requires many to say "enough".

                          I'm also wondering if all those companies have plans to one day "re-introduce" those features they once removed, only to have sales again and "keep it fresh".

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • Ni0
                            • 19 Jan 2021

                            The phantom violet with gold rose looks really premium.

                              • D
                              • AnonD-973296
                              • GYi
                              • 19 Jan 2021

                              Anonymous, 19 Jan 2021Please open them full size and take a notice at the corners... morehow the hell did i not see that... this is the most center focused camera i have ever seen...

                                Anonymous, 19 Jan 2021Please open them full size and take a notice at the corners... moreTBF - if you do not click on the magnifying glass, and sharing on facebook etc, it won't matter to a massive proportion of the buyers. But even for me, without zooming in, I can easily spot how poor it is

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • 8Kf
                                  • 19 Jan 2021

                                  Anonymous, 19 Jan 2021Well, didn't expected that quality.. It's way mor... moreXiaomi does not want to take from Samsung the title of Miss Extreme Noise Reduction.

                                    what a shame about the camera quality. I was horrified by the vanilla S21 quality. But my reaction not much better for the Ultra. The Ultra wide angle is horrendous - anything outside the middle 2/3 of the frame is blurry and reminiscent of a lomo camera. Details non existent - pure "mush". I currently have the P40 pro and wanted to get a GMS phone again without all the workarounds / hassle. But the 20% inconvenience for me, having the p40 pro without GMS is not worth what seems like a MASSIVE downgrade camera quality wise. Also, based in the UK, I would end up with non SD processor, and not sure what that performs like yet. Will wait for a few reviews before passing judgement, and of course, software updates can help, but only if the hardware isnt the main handicap.
                                    I haven't owned a Samsung since the S7 edge, which I LOVED - but my reservation was that their (Samsung) phones slow down a lot with age. Huawei seem to nail longevity with no perceivable slow down at all. I am not brand loyal (have had IOS before and TBH, had their latest had a >60FPS screen I would have jumped), but this seems unimpressive.

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • 0xU
                                      • 19 Jan 2021

                                      AnonD-973296, 19 Jan 2021the photos look...fine, i dont see whats bad there, i would... morePlease open them full size and take a notice at the corners. No details at all, all masked in soap.

                                        • S
                                        • Starr
                                        • fjU
                                        • 19 Jan 2021

                                        Those sample shots look super promising . I forgot the regular S21 and S21 Plus even exists !!!!!!!!!!!!!!