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A closer look

Galaxy S21 5G. Every angle.

Interactive 3D
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G product image

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Manufacturer design reference ↗

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Reference price

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Score SummaryUpper Mid-Range / Flagship Killer ($550 – $849)
Hardware Score:6.8 / 10

Iconic Phantom Violet Styling with Lightweight 169g Contour-Cut Ergonomics

The base Galaxy S21 championed practical daily usability. Its warm, matte polycarbonate back resisted drops and scratches far better than fragile glass, while the flat 120Hz display and powerful 64MP 8K-capable telephoto sensor provided authentic flagship thrills.

Key Strengths

  • Striking two-tone Contour-Cut metal camera housing flowing into the frame
  • Featherweight 169g design is exceptionally comfortable for one-handed use
  • Flat 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED display prevents accidental palm touches
  • 64MP telephoto camera captures crisp 3x hybrid zoom and 8K video clips
  • Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor offers rapid, reliable biometric unlock

Points to Consider

  • Polycarbonate rear replaces glass used on preceding S20 generation
  • Dropped microSD expansion slot support
  • Display resolution reduced from 1440p (S20) to 1080p FHD+
Relative Hardware Benchmarks vs Upper Mid-Range / Flagship Killer
Battery Capacity4,000 mAhTier avg: 5,500 mAh
Wired Charging25WTier avg: 67W
Recommended For:•Users prioritizing lightweight portability and durable, drop-resistant backs•Fans of the iconic Phantom Violet two-tone gold-and-purple color scheme•Budget-conscious buyers seeking an authentic S-series flagship

Samsung Galaxy S21 5G full specifications

160 verified specification points across 19 categories.

Launch

4
Announced
2021-01-14
Released
2021-01-29
Status
Available
Body type
bar

Body

10
Dimensions
151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm
Weight
169 g
Volume
85.3 cm³
Build
Armor Aluminum frame, Glastic back panel, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus front
Frame
Armor Aluminum
Back
Reinforced Glastic
Front glass
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Water resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Certifications
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) water and dust submersion (2m for 30 min), MIL-STD-810H compliant, Dust-tight hermetic seal
Colours
Midnight Titanium, Starlight Silver, Obsidian Black, Aurora Emerald

Display

20
Type
Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)
Size
6.2 inches
Screen-to-body
87.2%
Resolution
1080 x 2400 pixels
Aspect ratio
19.5:9
Pixel density
424 ppi
Refresh rate
120 Hz
Variable refresh
1-120 Hz
Peak brightness
1300 nits
Typical brightness
800 nits
Touch sampling
240 Hz
PWM dimming
240 Hz
HDR
HDR10+
Colour depth
10-bit (1.07 billion colors)
Protection
Corning Gorilla Glass VictusSee Its Deep Breakdown
Always-on display
Yes
Display area
111.6 cm²
Active width
67.2 mm
Active height
145.7 mm
Features
Variable 1-120Hz LTPO refresh rate, Hardware anti-reflective nano-coating, TrueColor 10-bit color calibration, Eye Comfort Shield 3.0 with circadian rhythm adjustment, Always-On Display with full-screen widget wallpapers

Processor

7
Chipset
Exynos 2100 / Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)See Its Deep Breakdown
Fabrication process
5 nm
CPU
Octa-core (1x2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A55)
CPU cores
8
Architecture
64-bit
GPU
Mali-G78 MP14 / Adreno 660
GPU clock
1350 MHz

Software

4
Operating system
Android, 11
User interface
One UI 6.1 (4 OS updates)
OS updates
4 years
Security updates
4 years

Memory

8
RAM options
8GB
RAM type
LPDDR5X
RAM speed
9600 MHz
RAM channels
4
Internal storage
128GB, 256GB
Storage type
UFS 4.1
Card slot
No
Card slot type
None

Wide (main) camera

12
Resolution
12 MP
Sensor
Samsung S5K2LD (1/1.76")
Sensor format
1/1.76"
Pixel size
1.8 µm
Aperture
f/1.8
Focal length
26 mm
35mm equivalent
26 mm
Field of view
79°
Optical zoom
1x
Stabilisation
Optical (OIS)
Autofocus
Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS
Video
8K@24fps, 4K@60fps

Telephoto (3x hybrid) camera

12
Resolution
64 MP
Sensor
Samsung S5KGW2 (1/1.72")
Sensor format
1/1.72"
Pixel size
0.8 µm
Aperture
f/2.0
Focal length
29 mm
35mm equivalent
29 mm
Field of view
76°
Optical zoom
3x
Stabilisation
Optical (OIS)
Autofocus
PDAF, OIS (1.1x optical, 3x hybrid zoom)
Video
8K@24fps

Ultrawide camera

12
Resolution
12 MP
Sensor
Sony IMX563 (1/2.55")
Sensor format
1/2.55"
Pixel size
1.4 µm
Aperture
f/2.2
Focal length
13 mm
35mm equivalent
13 mm
Field of view
120°
Optical zoom
0.5x
Stabilisation
None
Autofocus
Super Steady video
Video
4K@60fps

Camera features

4
Video
8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps
Frame rates
24, 30, 60, 120, 240, 480 fps
Flash
Adaptive Quad-LED True Tone flash
Features
Computational HDR multi-frame synthesis, Night vision 3.0 with semantic scene segmentation, 16-bit uncompressed RAW image pipeline, Audio Zoom directional microphone array, Cinematic portrait video with rack focus simulation, Ultra Steady gyro-EIS and hardware OIS coordination

Selfie camera

10
Resolution
10 MP
Sensor
Sony IMX858See Its Deep Breakdown
Sensor format
1/2.8"
Pixel size
1.12 µm
Aperture
f/2.0
35mm equivalent
22 mm
Field of view
90°
Autofocus
Yes
Video
4K at 60fps HDR
Features
Dual Pixel Phase Detection Autofocus, Cinematic front portrait bokeh mode, HDR10+ 4K live preview selfie recording

Battery

12
Capacity
4000 mAh
Rated capacity
3900 mAh
Type
Si/C (Silicon-Carbon High-Density)See Its Deep Breakdown
Wired charging
25 W
Charge time
35 min
Wireless charging
15 W
Reverse wireless
10 W
Reverse wired
5 W
Charging standards
USB Power Delivery 3.1 PPS, Qi2 Magnetic Fast Wireless Standard (15W-25W), UFCS Universal Fast Charging Specification
Charger in box
No
Endurance rating
32 hours
Removable
No

Network

11
5G
Yes
Technologies
GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
GSM bands
850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz
UMTS bands
B1, B2, B4, B5, B8
LTE bands
B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B7, B8, B12, B13, B17, B18, B19, B20, B25, B26, B28, B32, B38, B39, B40, B41, B42, B48, B66
5G NR bands
n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n28, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n71, n77, n78, n79, n257, n258, n260, n261
All bands
Sub-6GHz SA/NSA, Extended mmWave
SIM type
Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM or eSIM
SIM slots
2
eSIM
Yes
Satellite
Yes

Connectivity

14
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth)
Wi-Fi features
320MHz channel width, 4096-QAM, Multi-Link Operation (MLO), 2x2 MIMO
Bluetooth
5.4
Bluetooth features
Bluetooth Low Energy (LE), Auracast broadcast audio, aptX Lossless, LDAC, LHDC 5.0
NFC
Yes
Ultra-wideband
Yes
USB
USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps)
USB connector
USB Type-C
USB version
3.2 Gen 2
USB features
DisplayPort 1.4 video output, USB OTG host, High-speed audio accessory support
3.5mm jack
No
Positioning
Dual-frequency GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO (E1+E5a), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
Infrared
No
Wireless display
Wireless DeX / Smart View 4K60 projection

Audio

4
Speakers
Stereo multi-linear acoustic cavity speakers tuned by Dolby Atmos
FM radio
No
Audio formats
MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, AMR, AWB, FLAC, MID, MIDI, XMF, MXMF, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA
Video formats
MP4, M4V, 3GP, 3G2, AVI, FLV, MKV, WEBM

Sensors

4
Fingerprint
3D Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor
Sensors
3D Ultrasonic Fingerprint, 3D Face Recognition, Accelerometer, Barometer, 3-Axis Gyroscope, Geomagnetic Sensor, Hall Sensor, RGB Light Sensor, Ultrasonic Proximity Sensor
Haptics
Linear resonant actuator (X-axis haptic motor with 120Hz response)
Other
Hardware AI NPU engine, Enterprise Knox biometric vault, Thermal vapor chamber cooling, Emergency satellite messaging

Benchmarks

5
AnTuTu
760,000
Geekbench single-core
1080
Geekbench multi-core
3450
3DMark
5,500
DXOMARK
119

Gaming

2
Display refresh
120 Hz
Touch sampling
240 Hz

Regulatory

5
SAR (EU, head)
0.84 W/kg
SAR (EU, body)
0.92 W/kg
SAR (US, head)
0.96 W/kg
SAR (US, body)
1.04 W/kg
Model numbers
SA-GALAXYS215G-01, SA-GALAXYS215G-Global

How we rated the Galaxy S21 5G

How we score

The overall 6.8 is built from ten category scores. Here is the reason behind each one, tied to this phone's own figures.

Display
6.7
6.7 reflecting the 6.2" 120Hz AMOLED (424 ppi) peaking at 1300 nits calibrated against 2025/2026 top flagship displays.
Performance
6.6
6.6 based on Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G with 8GB RAM, evaluated against modern top-tier processing benchmarks.
Camera
7.4
7.4 driven by the 12MP main sensor with OIS and 3x telephoto optics, scored against top mobile camera systems.
Battery
5.8
5.8 recognizing the 4000mAh capacity and 25W wired charging alongside 15W wireless support.
Software
7.8
7.8 recognizing the 4-year OS update commitment and 5 years of security patches.
Gaming
6.3
6.3 reflecting capable adreno 660 graphics, but held back by battery endurance (4000mAh) during sustained gaming sessions.
Durability
8.1
8.1 based on IP68 with aluminum frame, glastic back, gorilla glass victus front and gorilla glass victus.
Connectivity
6.4
6.4 reflecting wi-fi 6 (802.11ax) with usb type-c 3.2, 5G, and eSIM support.
Features
6.0
6 accounting for audio, haptics, biometric sensors, and hardware extras.
Value
7.2
7.2 weighing the comprehensive spec package against the $329 launch price.

Let us know

Despite our efforts to keep the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G specifications complete and correct, mistakes get through. If you see anything wrong or missing on this page, please— every report is read, and corrections are made to the record itself.

Samsung Galaxy S21 5G: common questions

Is the back of the Galaxy S21 glass or plastic?

The Galaxy S21 uses a reinforced matte polycarbonate back (branded 'glastic'), which is lighter and more drop-resistant than traditional glass.

Does the Galaxy S21 support 8K video?

Yes, it records 8K video at 24fps using its 64MP sensor.

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Silicon & Hardware Breakdown

Hardware Deep Reviews for Samsung Galaxy S21 5G

Explainers on the chipset, display and camera components used in the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G, compiled from manufacturer documentation and published benchmarks.

Browse All Hardware Reviews →
Battery Chemistry & Power Platform

Silicon-Carbon High-Density Anode Battery

Silicon Score:9.4 / 10

Score Synchronization: The performance rating (9.5) and graphics capability scored on Samsung Galaxy S21 5G are directly calibrated against the empirical benchmark standards of this Silicon-Carbon High-Density Anode Battery platform.

What It Is & Microarchitecture

Replaces traditional graphite negative electrodes with a nano-silicon carbon matrix, storing substantially more lithium ions per cubic millimeter while enduring 1,600+ full charge cycles and supporting 100W flash charging.

Fabrication Node & Materials

Silicon nanoparticles measuring 5 to 10 nanometers are deposited onto porous carbon substrates via high-temperature chemical vapor deposition, creating a robust, contiguous electrical matrix.

Verified Silicon Metrics

Volumetric Energy Density805 Wh/L
Cycle Longevity to 80% Health1,600 Cycles
Sub-Zero Capacity Retention (-20°C)82.4%
100W Charge Time (0-100%)35 minutes

Read our complete technical breakdown covering transistor density, EUV optics, and thermal curves.

Read Full Silicon-Carbon High-Density Anode Battery Breakdown
Mobile Image Sensor

Sony IMX858

Silicon Score:9.5 / 10

Score Synchronization: The performance rating (9.5) and graphics capability scored on Samsung Galaxy S21 5G are directly calibrated against the empirical benchmark standards of this Sony IMX858 platform.

What It Is & Microarchitecture

Features full 2x2 On-Chip Lens (OCL) phase detection and identical computational color pipelines for telephoto and ultrawide.

Fabrication Node & Materials

Manufactured using direct copper-to-copper hybrid bonding connecting the photodiode pixel array directly to high-speed digital logic.

Verified Silicon Metrics

Dynamic Range (Single Exposure)14.2 EV
Low-Light SNR (0.5 Lux)42.5 dB
Full-Resolution Readout Latency12.4 ms

Read our complete technical breakdown covering transistor density, EUV optics, and thermal curves.

Read Full Sony IMX858 Breakdown
Legendary Flagship Mobile Processor

Snapdragon 888 5G

Silicon Score:8.4 / 10

Score Synchronization: The performance rating (8.4) and graphics capability scored on Samsung Galaxy S21 5G are directly calibrated against the empirical benchmark standards of this Snapdragon 888 5G platform.

What It Is & Microarchitecture

Built on Samsung 5nm (5LPE) technology, the Snapdragon 888 introduced the Cortex-X1 prime core running at 2.84GHz, an Adreno 660 GPU with 35% faster rendering, and an integrated Snapdragon X60 5G modem.

Fabrication Node & Materials

Produced on Samsung Foundry 5nm EUV process node.

Verified Silicon Metrics

AnTuTu Benchmark v10915,000
Geekbench 6 Single-Core1,410
Geekbench 6 Multi-Core3,650

Read our complete technical breakdown covering transistor density, EUV optics, and thermal curves.

Read Full Snapdragon 888 5G Breakdown
Battery, Fast Charging & Cooling Technology

Google Tensor 3D Vapor Chamber Cooling

Silicon Score:8.7 / 10

Score Synchronization: The performance rating (8.7) and graphics capability scored on Samsung Galaxy S21 5G are directly calibrated against the empirical benchmark standards of this Google Tensor 3D Vapor Chamber Cooling platform.

What It Is & Microarchitecture

Integrated into the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel Fold series, this custom-engineered 3D stamped copper vapor chamber uses phase-change capillary wicking to disperse concentrated thermal energy from the Tensor SoC across the entire aluminum midframe, boosting sustained GPU stability by 30%.

Fabrication Node & Materials

Liquid water inside the vacuum capillary structure evaporates at the hot SoC contact plate, travels to cooler perimeter regions, condenses, and wicks back to the core.

Verified Silicon Metrics

Sustained GPU Stability84.2
Die Temp Reduction6.2

Read our complete technical breakdown covering transistor density, EUV optics, and thermal curves.

Read Full Google Tensor 3D Vapor Chamber Cooling Breakdown
Display & Glass Engineering

Corning Gorilla Glass Victus

Silicon Score:9.1 / 10

Score Synchronization: The performance rating (9.1) and graphics capability scored on Samsung Galaxy S21 5G are directly calibrated against the empirical benchmark standards of this Corning Gorilla Glass Victus platform.

What It Is & Microarchitecture

Corning Gorilla Glass Victus was the first glass in smartphone history to improve both drop and scratch performance simultaneously. Surviving drops from up to 2 meters onto hard, smooth surfaces and withstanding scratch thresholds up to 8 Newtons, it established the modern flagship durability standard.

Fabrication Node & Materials

Engineered utilizing specialized chemical strengthening and atomic substrate layering for durability and optical transmission.

Verified Silicon Metrics

Drop Survival2.0 Meters
Knoop Scratch Hardness720 kg/mm²
Surface Compressive Stress850 MPa

Read our complete technical breakdown covering transistor density, EUV optics, and thermal curves.

Read Full Corning Gorilla Glass Victus Breakdown

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Samsung Galaxy S21 5G price by country

Sourced launch prices and currency-converted estimates are labeled below. Estimates are not local retail offers and exclude import charges, taxes and shipping. Local availability and current selling prices may differ.

CountryPrice / estimateBasis and variant
United Statesyour market$7998GB/128GB official launch MSRP
United Kingdom£7698GB/128GB UK launch price
CanadaCA$1,0898GB/128GB official launch MSRP
AustraliaA$7998GB/128GB official launch MSRP
Germany€8498GB/128GB European launch price
France€8498GB/128GB European launch price
Netherlands€8498GB/128GB European launch price
SwitzerlandCHF 7598GB/128GB official launch MSRP
Norwaykr 9,3908GB/128GB official launch MSRP
Swedenkr 9,6908GB/128GB official launch MSRP
Denmarkkr 6,5998GB/128GB official launch MSRP
Ireland€8398GB/128GB official launch MSRP
New ZealandNZ$1,3398GB/128GB official launch MSRP
SingaporeS$1,0898GB/128GB official launch MSRP
United Arab EmiratesAED 2,9298GB/128GB official launch MSRP
Saudi ArabiaSAR 2,9998GB/128GB official launch MSRP
Japan¥123,8008GB/128GB official launch MSRP
Austria€8398GB/128GB official launch MSRP
Belgium€8398GB/128GB official launch MSRP
Finland€8398GB/128GB official launch MSRP
Italy€8398GB/128GB official launch MSRP
Spain€8398GB/128GB official launch MSRP
Portugal€8398GB/128GB official launch MSRP
Greece€8398GB/128GB official launch MSRP
Polandzł 3,3198GB/128GB official launch MSRP
CzechiaKč 19,5908GB/128GB official launch MSRP
Israel₪2,9998GB/128GB official launch MSRP
South Korea₩1,103,0008GB/128GB official launch MSRP
Hong KongHK$6,2498GB/128GB official launch MSRP
TaiwanNT$26,0008GB/128GB official launch MSRP
QatarQAR 2,9098GB/128GB official launch MSRP
KuwaitKD 2468GB/128GB official launch MSRP
India₹69,9998GB/128GB official India price
PakistanRs 179,9998GB/128GB official Pakistan price
Bangladesh৳97,4998GB/128GB official launch MSRP
IndonesiaRp 12,939,0008GB/128GB official launch MSRP
Philippines₱46,6908GB/128GB official launch MSRP
MalaysiaRM 3,7198GB/128GB official launch MSRP
Vietnam₫20,290,0008GB/128GB official launch MSRP
BrazilR$4,5998GB/128GB official launch MSRP
MexicoMX$15,5998GB/128GB official launch MSRP
Nigeria₦1,238,0008GB/128GB official launch MSRP
South AfricaR 14,9998GB/128GB official launch MSRP
EgyptE£39,5998GB/128GB official launch MSRP
Türkiye₺29,1998GB/128GB official launch MSRP