Samsung Galaxy S21 Bids Farewell to Chargers

For Android aficionados, one of the things that they look forward to the most when ushering in 2021 is perhaps the release of Samsung Galaxy S21 lineup – comprising S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra. Quite different from previous years, Samsung places all its newest technology and features in the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Hence this model is one of the main highlights among Samsung’s flagship smartphones of 2021. Let’s find out more about Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra to see if it’s right up your alley.

Image Courtesy of Samsung Newsroom US

Goodbye, Chargers

Following in the footsteps of Apple, Samsung has decided to drop chargers and other accessories starting from the Samsung Galaxy S21 lineup. As part of its environmental effort, Samsung aims to minimize e-waste by encouraging users to reuse their existing chargers. Packaged in a slim box, the phone only comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable, a Quick Start Guide, and an ejector pin for SIM insertion. Instead of plastic holder trays, Samsung has replaced them with pulp molds which are more eco-friendly.

Of course, the exclusion of a charger isn’t a dealbreaker if you already own a Samsung device. These overhauled features, however, will make up for this shortcoming.

Robust Quintuple Camera

Similar to the Galaxy S20 Ultra, the S21 Ultra comes with a quintuple camera system that’s seen with a couple of improvements. Samsung has added lasers to the 108MP main camera to rectify autofocus issues and done some upgrades to make processing large 108MP photos, 40MP selfies and 8K videos smooth and seamless.

In terms of its zooming feature, the S21 Ultra’s 3x and 10x optical zoom levels (thanks to its two telephoto cameras) are a great help for high-quality photos with super crisp photos that exhibit clear details without fail. A new tripod lock feature is added for the 30x and 100x ranges to prevent the viewfinder image from jumping around. In fine-tuning indoor and low-light shots, Samsung has also managed well in keeping the exposure low, so the hues of an object can look as natural as possible.

A noteworthy feature is the new Director’s View mode that allows you to capture videos using both the front and rear cameras at the same time. With this neat element, video makers can record their own reactions and merge it with the main footage.

Speedier than Before

Samsung has incorporated brand new chipsets into the S21 lineup – either Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100. Coupled with that is the OneUI 3.0 interface included in Android 11. The interface is more streamlined, with fewer unnecessary windows popping up and nicely repositioned Google Assistant. Running multiple tasks simultaneously in split-screen view is no big deal for the S21 Ultra.

The only downside with regards to its internal storage size though, is that the S21 range doesn’t come with a microSD card slot for expandable storage. So, it’s imperative that you take proper consideration on how much storage you’ll need before purchasing the Ultra model.

S Pen Compatibility

Sweetening the deal is its compatibility with S Pen stylus, which helps to turn the S21 Ultra into a Note phone. There’s a multitude of functions you can do with the S Pen. Besides jotting down notes, it can be used to bring up all Air Command options that allow you to prompt different types of features including Smart select, Screen write, Live Message and Samsung Notes. What’s more, the S Pen helps to break the language barrier. Simply select a foreign text with the stylus and have it translated to your target language with the Translate feature.

With all of that being said, the phone doesn’t come bundled with the S Pen nor does it have a designated spot to slip the S Pen in securely. Hence, if you’d like to leverage the handiness of an S Pen, it’s recommended that you get a folio case that can keep the stylus secure.

Should You Get Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra?

If you’ve been a long-time Android user who has a penchant for photography and videography or often deals with complicated tasks, the svelte stunner will satisfy all your needs. While it comes with a hefty price tag, this handset is able to perform multiple tasks simultaneously without stuttering.

If you’re still on the fence about getting it, you can certainly wait for upcoming Android flagship phones from other brands such as Huawei or OnePlus to make better comparisons. Besides, in the case that you decide to get the S21 Ultra, your patience and research will be paid off by the time it experiences a price drop.