Samsung Galaxy S21 — Review: Features, Specs, Performance
Samsung Galaxy S21 — Review: Features, Specs, Performance & Business Use
When Samsung launched the Galaxy S21 in January 2021 it signaled a subtle shift in Samsung’s flagship strategy: a refreshed design language, pared-back packaging (no charger in-box), aggressive pricing relative to previous flagships, and a feature set that focused on everyday performance rather than headline-grabbing extras. Two and a half years on, the S21 still makes a compelling case as a balanced flagship: excellent screen, dependable cameras, long software support window, and the day-to-day performance most professionals need.
This review covers the S21 in depth — design, hardware, cameras, battery, software, real-world performance, and how the phone fits into business workflows. Expect practical advice for IT buyers, freelancers, and professionals deciding whether the S21 still makes sense today.
Quick headline — what matters most
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6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, 120 Hz refresh (adaptive), FHD+ default; crisp, fast and readable.
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Two chipset families: Exynos 2100 (global) or Snapdragon 888 (US, China, some regions) — both flagship-tier in 2021.
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Memory & storage: 8 GB RAM, 128/256 GB UFS storage — no microSD expansion.
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Triple camera: 12 MP main (OIS), 12 MP ultrawide, 64 MP telephoto with hybrid zoom (up to 3× optical/hybrid, “Space Zoom” up to 30×). 10 MP front. Video up to 8K.
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Battery: 4,000 mAh with 25 W wired charging (capable), 15 W wireless, and reverse wireless charging.
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Business-ready: IP68 dust/water resistance, stereo speakers, Knox security, strong performance for collaboration apps.
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Compact flagship footprint — lighter and more pocketable than many 2021 rivals.
Design & display — an everyday premium feel
The S21 shrinks the flagship experience into a very usable package. The 6.2-inch screen hits the sweet spot between portability and productivity: it’s large enough for spreadsheets, reading long emails and video calls, yet compact enough to hold one-handed.
The Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel delivers excellent contrast, punchy colors and HDR support. Samsung’s 120 Hz smoothing is very noticeable in scrolling and UI animations — the OS feels fluid in a way that improves perceived responsiveness, not just raw speed. On the S21 the higher refresh rate is tied to the FHD+ resolution (not QHD), a compromise Samsung made to preserve battery and thermal behavior in a small chassis. Peak brightness and outdoor visibility are excellent, and the always-on display options are configurable for business-friendly glanceability.
The design is refined rather than flashy: the camera housing flows into the metal frame in a distinctive “contour cut” that gives structural continuity and visual coherence. The chassis dimensions (about 151.7 × 71.2 × 7.9 mm and ~171 g) make it comfortable for long video calls and pocket-friendly commuting.
Performance & everyday use
Under the hood, the S21 uses either Exynos 2100 or Snapdragon 888 depending on region; both were top-tier SoCs in 2021 and still deliver strong single-thread and multi-thread performance for business workloads today. Apps like Microsoft 365, Slack, Zoom, Teams, and browser-based apps run fluidly. Background multitasking (email sync, heavy web tabs, team chat, calendar and VPN) is handled well with 8 GB of RAM and fast UFS storage.
Thermals and performance throttling are sensible: sustained heavy workloads (continuous 4K video recording, long gaming sessions, or batch photo editing) will warm the device and eventually reduce peak performance — but for typical business tasks the S21 is quick and consistent.
Network connectivity is robust — Gigabit LTE and sub-6GHz 5G (mmWave depends on the SKU/region), Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 and full NFC support for contactless payments and secure access use-cases. For corporate deployments, that combination covers most mobile connectivity needs.
Cameras — versatile and practical
Samsung equipped the S21 with a flexible, well-tuned camera setup aimed at delivering useful results across lighting conditions:
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12 MP main with OIS — balanced color, good low-light performance thanks to pixel-binning and software processing.
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12 MP ultrawide — useful for group photos, presentations and environmental context shots.
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64 MP telephoto — a hybrid unit that uses a high-resolution sensor to create a 3× hybrid zoom; not a pure periscope lens, but practical for closer portrait shots and cropping.
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10 MP selfie — reliable for video calls and ID photos.
Samsung’s camera software is feature-rich: Single Take, Night Mode, Portrait Mode, Director’s View (multiple camera previews), and strong video modes (4K60 and up to 8K30 capture). For business users this translates into: crisp document images for mobile capture, professional-looking headshots, and high-quality video recordings for presentations.
The telephoto won’t replace a dedicated camera for long-range pro tele work, but it’s excellent for everyday use where a few extra zoom steps avoid digital cropping. The color processing tends to be on the vivid side — useful for marketing and social media where impactful visuals matter.
Battery life & charging
The 4,000 mAh battery sits in the comfortable middle of modern flagships. With adaptive 120 Hz and a mix of work tasks (email, browsing, Teams/Zoom calls, some camera use), most users should expect a full workday of reliable use. Heavy multimedia or long camera sessions will require a top-up.
Charging: the S21 supports 25 W wired charging (Samsung sold chargers separately), 15 W Qi wireless, and reverse wireless charging for accessories. While 25 W isn’t the speed champion by 2024/25 standards, it’s fast enough for practical top-ups between meetings. In many workplaces the trend of removing chargers from the box means provisioning a USB-C PD charger for staff is a sensible IT policy.
Software, security & updates
Out of the box the S21 shipped with Samsung’s One UI on Android. Samsung has been notable for multi-year Android update commitments (an important consideration for corporate procurement). For business buyers, Samsung Knox offers device-level and enterprise-grade management capabilities: secure boot, hardware-backed credentials, containerization (Samsung Knox Workspace historically), and integration into MDMs like Intune, Workspace ONE and others.
The One UI layer is polished and productivity-focused — multi-window, edge panels, and DeX support (desktop-like mode) are useful for on-the-go productivity. DeX, in particular, converts the phone into a temporary desktop when paired with a monitor — handy for road warriors who occasionally need a larger screen for presentations or document editing.
Pros & cons — the practical summary
Pros
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Compact flagship form factor — excellent single-handed ergonomics.
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Smooth 120 Hz AMOLED display with vivid HDR.
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Strong overall performance (Exynos 2100 / Snapdragon 888).
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Versatile camera system with useful software features for content creation.
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IP68 water/dust resistance, stereo speakers and good call audio.
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Business features: Knox security, DeX, long update window.
Cons
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No microSD expansion — plan storage needs up front.
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Charger not included in-box — organizations must provide chargers.
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Battery and charging speeds are good but not class-leading versus later flagships.
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Telephoto is hybrid rather than true 3× optical periscope (affects long-range fidelity).
How the S21 fits into business workflows
The S21 is a pragmatic business device for many modern workflows:
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Mobile-first professionals: lightweight device for meetings, presentations, and remote work; DeX gives occasional desktop capability.
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Field teams & sales reps: good camera for capturing receipts, site photos and documents; rugged enough with IP68 rating.
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Content & marketing teams: a pocketable content creation tool capable of publishing-ready photos and 8K video for short clips.
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Enterprise deployability: Knox + MDM compatibility makes it manageable for secure corporate fleets, BYOD, or managed deployments.
IT planners should be mindful of storage (no SD), charger provisioning, and MDM/Knox setup. Battery life and thermal behavior are solid for a typical enterprise usage profile.
Buying advice & options
If you want a compact flagship that still performs strongly in 2024–25, the S21 remains a sensible buy — particularly on the used or refurbished market where price-performance can be attractive. For new purchases, consider the S21 FE or S22/23 lines depending on budget and required features (camera performance, battery capacity, or newer chipsets). For enterprise procurement, ensure warranty and update policy align with your corporate lifecycle (Samsung’s update promises make S-series phones viable for multi-year fleet use).
Final verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S21 distilled the flagship experience into a compact, sensible device that’s just as relevant for business users as it is for consumers. Its strengths are balanced: an excellent display, dependable performance, strong cameras, and mature software/security features. It’s not the absolute bleeding edge in charging speed or pure telephoto hardware, but it’s a workhorse that supports a wide range of professional workflows — from field data capture to content creation and secure enterprise deployment.
- Galaxy A21's 6.5″ Infinity-O display
- Rediscover your favorite content in HD+ on this edge-to-edge display
- 6.5″ TFT Infinity Display
- Quadruple photo sensor – Ultra Wide Angle + Macro Mode
- Ultra-durable battery – 5000 mAh + Quick Charge
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- Select your language from the list, then validate the installation. Then, all you have to do is connect the USB cable between your PC and your device so that the computer automatically recognizes the device, allowing you to make the transfers you want.
- Locate the file and extract it on your computer.
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- Click “Run” when a security warning window pops up and
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- Driver installed successfully.
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