Samsung Galaxy S21 review: The best Android phone for the money

Samsung Galaxy S21 review: The best Android phone for the money

The new Samsung Galaxy S21 is the entry-range model is Samsung’s new trio of flagship phones, but it offers many of the best features of its bigger siblings while only packing an $800 price tag. Now that’s not exactly cheap, but it’s a far cry better than the $1000-plus Android flagships we’ve seen in recent years. This price puts it just a hair over the OnePlus 8T, maybe its only real competition at this price range — unless you’re willing to jump to an iPhone.

With the S21+ only getting you a marginally bigger screen and battery for $200 extra, we feel like the base S21 is the phone for most people.

Read our full story on Engadget:
https://www.engadget.com/samsung-galaxy-s21-review-camera-samples-screen-specs-160033680.html

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50 Comments

  1. Gary on July 9, 2021 at 2:40 am

    No 4k screen, stupid front camera placement, doesn’t come with a charger or earphones, made out of cheap plastic, buy a Sony phone and you won’t ever buy another brand, the Experia 1-iii is going to be a better phone, keep hold of your money for a month.



  2. EssexGamer on July 9, 2021 at 2:44 am

    Poor review firstly The Exynos 2100 is better than SD888 and Second the S21 has better cameras than Pixel 5



  3. Chris Goodwin on July 9, 2021 at 2:45 am

    I got it 2 weeks ago and it’s the best phone I’ve ever owned.



  4. arash on July 9, 2021 at 2:48 am

    The new notification bar is really ugly , anyone agrees with me?



  5. Saurabh on July 9, 2021 at 2:49 am

    She is an idiot. I’ve seen so many reviews of her and they are plain bad



  6. Beta Ray Bill on July 9, 2021 at 2:49 am

    Nice review. The S21 must have been a really good phone for you to praise it. Unlike the previous Samsung phones. Great review though.



  7. SysAd_Sec on July 9, 2021 at 2:50 am

    Battary life? Snapdragon eats more battery life and is more hotter..



  8. mikldude on July 9, 2021 at 2:50 am

    No mention of dex? no mention of OS update time period ?
    Also because you don’t use the zoom does not mean others do not , zoom is very handy.



  9. Vince Vicente on July 9, 2021 at 2:51 am

    Between this and the Oneplus 8 Pro, I’m really having a hard time.



  10. snb201 on July 9, 2021 at 2:51 am

    Not me still thinking my 5.8" s9 screen is big



  11. Ruben Oliveira on July 9, 2021 at 2:52 am

    oneplus 9 will be better for the price



  12. phil williamson on July 9, 2021 at 2:53 am

    I expect better audio quality from this channel. Also, why bother talking about a phones physical features when you’re just going to buy a case for it anyway.



  13. Gees on July 9, 2021 at 2:55 am

    Can I watch YouTube 4k with the normal s21?



  14. Alex Lane on July 9, 2021 at 2:56 am

    The Note 9 is $1400 on Samsungs shop. Thats almost double the price it was at release. They know how bad their new phones are.



  15. Rversse on July 9, 2021 at 2:56 am

    FOR MONEY, OF COURSE IF WE CAN GET A SNAPDRAGON VERSION 👌🏻



  16. Ankit Singh on July 9, 2021 at 2:58 am

    Don’t know about others… For me it’s the best looking phone after so many years… That phantom blue is top notch in real look.



  17. qubafootbag on July 9, 2021 at 3:00 am

    Make-up should be illegal



  18. Stevie 268 on July 9, 2021 at 3:01 am

    What does the s21 do that the s10e doesn’t . Is the s21 worth the extra money . Plus I prefer the size off the s10 e handset .



  19. Ajay Krishnan on July 9, 2021 at 3:01 am

    Only if they gave SD888 all over the world. *



  20. John on July 9, 2021 at 3:03 am

    Imagine hearing "tiny 6.2 inch screen" just a few years ago



  21. Todd Lamb on July 9, 2021 at 3:05 am

    Here we go breaking into the new channel



  22. Brent Michael Gannetta on July 9, 2021 at 3:07 am

    Thank you for helping me decide on my next phone. I just ordered the S21 on Google Fi since my Google Pixel 2’s battery started ballooning. I’m very excited that the S21’s form factor is essentially the same as my old friend but with a full face screen.



  23. knlanksfull2 on July 9, 2021 at 3:07 am

    Coming from a s7 with QHD resolution I can say the difference in crispiness is really noticable. I would take QHD 60hz over 1080p 120hz any day. Hell I would even trade my s21 8g of ram with 4 GB of RAM and an old 765 Snapdragon without 5g if it meant getting QHD back at 60 Hz. You only really notice the 120hz when scrolling In the main menu (which you only really spend 5% of your time on your phone), in most apps 120hz is not that significant, so although 120hz is nice to have i really donc find it to be that significant. I went In the settings to set a 60hz refresh to save on battery life. All the other cuts Samsung made on the s21 I can happily live with but lowering that QHD res was a big mistake in my opinion.



  24. Juan Santiago on July 9, 2021 at 3:08 am

    Dam phones are so expensive



  25. Izzah Saibudin on July 9, 2021 at 3:08 am

    Appreciate this review; more relatable than any other reviews I’ve watched so far lol



  26. Dennis Maestas on July 9, 2021 at 3:08 am

    This has probably been my favorite android phone to date. It’s a decent price, doesn’t feel cheaped out on or anything and I didn’t think I would, but I enjoy the plastic back.



  27. José De La Peña on July 9, 2021 at 3:09 am

    i just got it. not that tiny! and the camera is just amazing. i am really REALLY happy with this!!



  28. Jędrek on July 9, 2021 at 3:09 am

    I have new target on my viewfinder, but it’s not S21 (because no microSD slot and no headphone jack and no charger, no headphones in the box), it’s new Xperia 5III. I hope it will be my new "ideal phone" – like Galaxy S8 was back then.



  29. HANNAH GRACE on July 9, 2021 at 3:11 am

    There’s no phantom black in S21 though. Only gray. ☹ How come the S21 plus has one? ☹☹



  30. Errold Tumaque on July 9, 2021 at 3:12 am

    downgrading from QHD to 1080 is what’s holding me back most about getting this phone esp since that was flagship standard…4 years ago



  31. Pixie Black Cotton on July 9, 2021 at 3:17 am

    Director mode was available on the S6.



  32. Shahar Rosner on July 9, 2021 at 3:18 am

    NO! The s20 fe 5g is is the best android smartphone for the money..



  33. james Armijo on July 9, 2021 at 3:18 am

    0:19 Got mine at Best Buy for $650.00
    1:35 I bought a clear skin cover that has risers at the corners. No movement at all.



  34. The Casual Citizen on July 9, 2021 at 3:18 am

    I quit Apple. No more iPhone. I just got the S21.



  35. E Wright on July 9, 2021 at 3:21 am

    Had the phone 30min when I realized a major flaw that no review points out . Reviewers with millions of views don’t know much about what they get paid to do.



  36. Ben Rivera on July 9, 2021 at 3:25 am

    Just got mine- great phone. SD 888!



  37. L. Loo on July 9, 2021 at 3:27 am

    Very informative. I had already ordered my S21 12 hours ago. I can’t wait to get my hands on it. Thank you for sharing.👍



  38. Jaime Cabada on July 9, 2021 at 3:28 am

    I had to get it. First android phone since the s6. I had to get another line because I’m still in love witn iOS.



  39. Steven Segal Oet de Melderse on July 9, 2021 at 3:29 am

    I got the S21 in the Netherlands, which has the Exynos 2100. Phone feels great, but the battery life is a little bit lackluster..It’s fine, but I feel it could be better. Perhaps an update will fix that.



  40. Michael Henderson on July 9, 2021 at 3:29 am

    This is supposed to be a flagship phone. "For the money", means budget phone, lol.



  41. doc B on July 9, 2021 at 3:31 am

    this phone is excellent. Perfect size. Fast as can be. Love it. I am an Apple user and I like this phone better than my iPhone 12 by far.



  42. SS VLOGS on July 9, 2021 at 3:33 am

    Thank u for ur information



  43. Jonnie Bright on July 9, 2021 at 3:34 am

    Besides a poor camera on one Plus 7tpro, is there any reason why I should upgrade to this phone really. Someone help me out!



  44. Drrck11 on July 9, 2021 at 3:34 am

    I’m considering getting the S21. But I’m so attached to my LG G7 ThinQ.



  45. Joseph Howe on July 9, 2021 at 3:35 am

    I get my s21 on the 17th.



  46. Baron Maupertuis on July 9, 2021 at 3:35 am

    vocal fry



  47. Jasir Rezk on July 9, 2021 at 3:35 am

    I wanted it to be a little more wider



  48. Mohammed YUSUF Ansari Roll No.16 III-C on July 9, 2021 at 3:35 am

    S21 ULTRA IS VC IPHONE 12 PRO MAX WILL S21 ULTRA WILL WIN OR IPHONE 12 PRO MAX



  49. Saurabh on July 9, 2021 at 3:36 am

    Reviewers are such bs, before when any other phone company launched a flagship with 1080p , they used Bark like dogs and more when Samsung does it then it’s not such a big downgrade. Everything is fine and nice lol



  50. Evan Silverberg on July 9, 2021 at 3:39 am

    Eye comfort shield is the same thing as blue.light filter.