Galaxy S21, S21+ and S21 Ultra

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Ravynmagi

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2007
3,102
24
81
Interesting read regarding the Snapdragon 888 vs Exynos 2100 in the S21 Ultra

So very short version of what I read is that Snapdragon 888 CPU is a pretty good incremental upgrade from the 865.
The Exynos 2100 now uses the same cores as the Snapdragon, but with higher clocks and smaller cache. Big upgrade from the Exynos 990, but this design throttles heavily in phones.
And GPUs on both SoCs throttle very quickly while gaming.

But a laptop will be much more capable of cooling these processor and I'd love to see how much better they perform in a Chromebook or Windows laptop.
 

Ravynmagi

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2007
3,102
24
81
Since One UI 3.0 I've been having problems with my third party launcher getting reset to the Samsung launcher when using swipe navigation. When I swipe up to go back to home, the "Home app" in Default Applications gets set to blank causing the Samsung launcher to appear instead of my third party launcher. I tested with different launchers and they all did this. I found forums of others experiencing this same problem. Sometimes I can go days without the issue occurring and somedays my Home app will get blanked out several times in a day.

This isn't just limited to the S21+ I have. I had this happen on the Note 20 Ultra and S20+ too after they upgraded to One UI 3.0. Never had this problem with those phones on One UI 2.5. I was hoping One UI 3.1 would fix this, but it's still happening.

There doesn't seem to be any fix other than going back to button navigation.

Curious if anyone with a One UI 3.x phone and swipe gestures turned on with a third party browser experience or not experience this?

Screenshot_20210212-111613_Permission controller.jpg
 

MrSquished

Lifer
Jan 14, 2013
21,004
19,442
136
If Samsung offered versions of its phones with naked Android I'd always consider them, but screw One UI
 

jonhsmith

Junior Member
Mar 5, 2021
1
0
6
I am also using a sam sung galaxy s21 + ultra. I must say it is really top notch. served me well in my entertainment work. I transformed it into my own personalization in a variety of ways, not as boring as the iPhone
 

mikeymikec

Lifer
May 19, 2011
17,575
9,264
136
I was thinking, "christ, I've been out of the loop for a while to miss the release of TEN Samsung S-range phones", but no, they went from S10 to S20. Presumably to avoid those testy teenage years.
 

killster1

Banned
Mar 15, 2007
6,208
475
126
I was thinking, "christ, I've been out of the loop for a while to miss the release of TEN Samsung S-range phones", but no, they went from S10 to S20. Presumably to avoid those testy teenage years.
you dont think it was since iphone 12 was coming out and they would have been on galaxy s11.. its a mind game.
 

PlanetJosh

Golden Member
May 6, 2013
1,815
143
106
Still like my S4 but the storage is just 80gb including the 64gb card. At just over 5" it fits ok in my front pocket. I know it's time to upgrade so my Tile app and bank check deposit apps can work again, and numerous other apps. Just wondering if the 6"+ length of the 20 series needs a belt pouch or if it fits well enough in a pants pocket. I guess cargo pants pockets can handle it if you wear them everywhere.
 

mikeymikec

Lifer
May 19, 2011
17,575
9,264
136
Still like my S4 but the storage is just 80gb including the 64gb card. At just over 5" it fits ok in my front pocket. I know it's time to upgrade so my Tile app and bank check deposit apps can work again, and numerous other apps. Just wondering if the 6"+ length of the 20 series needs a belt pouch or if it fits well enough in a pants pocket. I guess cargo pants pockets can handle it if you wear them everywhere.

I sidegraded to a Moto G5 simply because it was one of the last 5" screen phones. I'm hoping that by the time I need a new phone, the industry will have figured out that bigger isn't necessarily better. Who wants a surfboard in their trouser pocket?
 

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
30,329
7,985
136
I'm fine with the loss o
And MST for samsung pay even more so...I remember seeing the look on cashiers' faces back on a trip to NZ few years ago in old school shops...no way Apple Pay is gonna work here...till they get paid :)
MST is dead technology in most of the world. I have not used it in over a decade I'd guess. In fact I don't think shops here accept it at all.

Lack of SD card is a shame, I know that storage sizes are increasing to make up for it but I use a 230GB card in my phone.
I'm ok with the lack of charger as I changed over to Samsung 45w ones and it's nice to see the "super fast charging" notification pop up!
The plastic back is actually really nice (if it's the same as the one on the S20FE). My only criticism of the back is that you have to put a case on because the camera hump is so deep! It feels awkward in your hand and wobbles on the desk. It's the first phone I've felt the need to use a case on. That said the camera hump on the S21 range æsthetically looks really nice.
I'm sure the performance is fine, hell the performance of even mid range phones is more than enough these days.
 

ultimatebob

Lifer
Jul 1, 2001
25,135
2,445
126
Why does Samsung feel the need to replicate every bad idea that Apple does? First it was the headphone jack, now they're making you buy a high speed charger if you want one. If you're paying over $800 for a friggin phone, it should come with one in the box!
 

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
30,329
7,985
136
Why does Samsung feel the need to replicate every bad idea that Apple does? First it was the headphone jack, now they're making you buy a high speed charger if you want one. If you're paying over $800 for a friggin phone, it should come with one in the box!
Every ah heck has a charger now. I'd rather they drop the price and not include one.

Which is what they did.

I'm totally with you on the headphone jack though. That was a stupid decision.
 

UsandThem

Elite Member
May 4, 2000
16,068
7,380
146
Why does Samsung feel the need to replicate every bad idea that Apple does? First it was the headphone jack, now they're making you buy a high speed charger if you want one. If you're paying over $800 for a friggin phone, it should come with one in the box!
The loss of the MicroSD card slot is unforgivable.

I hated the loss of the headphone jack, but removing the option of expandable storage is a complete deal breaker for me. I've primarily used Samsung phones for 15+ years, but that will change when the time comes to get a new phone if there is not MicroSD slot.
 

ultimatebob

Lifer
Jul 1, 2001
25,135
2,445
126
Every ah heck has a charger now. I'd rather they drop the price and not include one.

Which is what they did.

I'm totally with you on the headphone jack though. That was a stupid decision.

I just find it lame that all of these phones now have fast charge capability, but many people will never experience it because they're using the 10W charger from their old phone.

You want to differentiate your products from Apple, Samsung? Include a fast charger in the box, bonus points if it's a wireless one.
 

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
30,329
7,985
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The loss of the MicroSD card slot is unforgivable.

I hated the loss of the headphone jack, but removing the option of expandable storage is a complete deal breaker for me. I've primarily used Samsung phones for 15+ years, but that will change when the time comes to get a new phone if there is not MicroSD slot.
Its weird because there's no need for it either. Samsung was using that hybrid sim card/SDcard thing anyway plus they make loads of SDcards.
I don't get their thinking in this at all.
 
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UsandThem

Elite Member
May 4, 2000
16,068
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I don't get their thinking in this at all.
$$$$

(What it (unfortunately) comes down to).

Forcing users who need more storage to spend more going up their product stack instead. Just like Apple has always done, and usually charging another $100 for each small jump in storage space).
 
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UsandThem

Elite Member
May 4, 2000
16,068
7,380
146
Thats what I don't understand. If they make SDcards obsolete by then they are probably losing more money.
They probably did test/focus groups to figure out how many people would not buy Samsung phones without expandable storage vs. the the number of people who would still buy the phones and pay extra for more storage.

I'm in the first group for sure. Maybe if sales end up declining enough with the S21 series, they will rethink their future models and MicroSD cards. If they don't, I will go with something else.
 

Oyeve

Lifer
Oct 18, 1999
21,899
819
126
They probably did test/focus groups to figure out how many people would not buy Samsung phones without expandable storage vs. the the number of people who would still buy the phones and pay extra for more storage.

I'm in the first group for sure. Maybe if sales end up declining enough with the S21 series, they will rethink their future models and MicroSD cards. If they don't, I will go with something else.
They did the same crap on the S6 and note 6, the only year I didn't upgrade mainly because they took out the SD card that year. And when the s7 and note 7 came out they put the SD option back. I hope they put it back on the note 21, if there is even a note 21, because I will definately not buy one if it doesn't.
 

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
30,329
7,985
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They probably did test/focus groups to figure out how many people would not buy Samsung phones without expandable storage vs. the the number of people who would still buy the phones and pay extra for more storage.

I'm in the first group for sure. Maybe if sales end up declining enough with the S21 series, they will rethink their future models and MicroSD cards. If they don't, I will go with something else.
I'd imagine that sales for the ultra high end are going to erode slowly anyway.
I normally buy Samsung's top phone but I've slowed down my rate of replacements and gone down the range of phones a bit.
I replaced my S9+ with an S20FE and at the same time got my wife an A51. Tbh if the A51 had wireless charging I'd have probably got that myself.
Midrange phones do pretty much everything that I need out of a phone now. Sure there's edge cases where extra performance matters (I'm guessing that Samsung Dex could probably push a phone but I've never used it), but for the most part mid range performance is fine.
 
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Commodus

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 2004
9,206
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I'd imagine that sales for the ultra high end are going to erode slowly anyway.
I normally buy Samsung's top phone but I've slowed down my rate of replacements and gone down the range of phones a bit.
I replaced my S9+ with an S20FE and at the same time got my wife an A51. Tbh if the A51 had wireless charging I'd have probably got that myself.
Midrange phones do pretty much everything that I need out of a phone now. Sure there's edge cases where extra performance matters (I'm guessing that Samsung Dex could probably push a phone but I've never used it), but for the most part mid range performance is fine.

There are definitely diminishing returns at the very high end. It's no secret that the sweet spot for many is that $800-850 range occupied by the standard S21 and the iPhone 12 — everything after that is more of a nice-to-have.

Having said that, I do think Samsung played its cards very smartly by making the S21 Ultra as capable as it is. It'd be my choice of phone if I weren't primarily an iPhone user, as that camera system is wonderfully flexible.
 

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
30,329
7,985
136
There are definitely diminishing returns at the very high end. It's no secret that the sweet spot for many is that $800-850 range occupied by the standard S21 and the iPhone 12 — everything after that is more of a nice-to-have.

Tbh I'd guess that the sweet spot for most people is way below that.
I guess that it's different in the Apple ecosystem because there isn't the competition, Apple doesn't need to worry about someone coming out with a cheaper better iPhone like Samsung has to worry about.
I used to worry about the push for cheaper phones but I've realised that technology is advancing so quickly that there really isn't any need to buy the bleeding edge any more.
I mean what do most people use their phones for? Music? Podcasts? Shopping? Web? A few simple games. Taking a few pictures. I can't think of anything we do that would tax even a mid range phone.
 

MrSquished

Lifer
Jan 14, 2013
21,004
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I was really pissed when headphone jacks started disappearing, then slowly adjusted to the dongle life, though it was annoying, but this past year the quality of True Wireless buds has really gone up. The convenience of not having wires is fantastic when you are on the go. I mean ultimately a jack would be better than no jack, but at least the wireless buds are becoming really good options.
 

Oyeve

Lifer
Oct 18, 1999
21,899
819
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I was really pissed when headphone jacks started disappearing, then slowly adjusted to the dongle life, though it was annoying, but this past year the quality of True Wireless buds has really gone up. The convenience of not having wires is fantastic when you are on the go. I mean ultimately a jack would be better than no jack, but at least the wireless buds are becoming really good options.
Maybe, but I still listen to music with full-sized headphones with an external dac/amp tied to my phone. There are no BT headphones or buds that can even come close to that sound volume/quality.
 
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