Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S20: what are the differences?

The next generation of Samsung’s flagship series, the Galaxy S21, is now available. But even though the Galaxy S20 is still a great smartphone and can be bought at a more attractive price, is it a good idea to invest in the S21? Is it worth dropping the Galaxy S21 when you already have an S20? This is what we will see in our comparison.

Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S20 spec sheet

The Galaxy S21 takes several elements from the Galaxy S20 and is not a revolution in terms of technical data sheet or design compared to its predecessor. However, Samsung still revised its copy at several points.

Design

Galaxy S21 is slightly larger than S20. It shows dimensions of 71.2 x 151.7 x 7.9mm for 172 grams, compared to 69.1 x 151.7 x 7.9mm for 163 grams for last year’s smartphone, so it’s slightly narrower and lighter .

The front has the same central punch in the plate to house the front sensor. Also, Samsung confirms that it is no longer a big fan of the curved design, a feature that makes flagships original. Galaxy S21 is indeed a 2D flat screenOn the Galaxy S20, we had a slightly curved 2.5D panel. At this point, first of all, it is a matter of preference, a curved screen is more aesthetic and immersive, but it weakens the resistance of the screen against drops and impacts and can make it difficult to use.

The biggest change is in the back. On the Galaxy S21, the photo block is really stuck in the upper left corner, while on the S20 there is a gap around the edges. Aesthetically, of course, it is a matter of taste, but the installation of the S21 seems more successful to us. Samsung has also reduced the size of the LED flash by moving it out of the photo unit on the S21.

Both smartphones are IP68 certified water and dust resistant. It’s equipped with a USB-C port for charging and AKG-stamped speakers, but no 3.5mm jack for audio. The fingerprint reader is located under the screen but gives an edge to the Galaxy S21. Qualcomm’s 3D Sonic SensorIt offers 77% more surface area, 50% faster and captures 70% more biometric data to increase security. In short: Unlocking your smartphone with a fingerprint on the S21 is faster, more convenient and safer than on the S20.

Screen

For flooring, Samsung is also getting there with little touches. The diagonal does not change from one generation to the next and remains. 6.2 inches With Dynamic AMOLED 2x technology that lets you enjoy the Always On Display function. For definition, even a step back: Full HD+ 1080p found in the entry-level Galaxy S21 series, while the S20 series had an equivalent quality. Quad HD+ 1440p.

For the refresh rate, there is an improvement far from being insignificant. Like the S20, the S21 has a panel that can reach 120 Hz, but in the S20 the user can choose between 60 Hz fixed or 120 Hz fixed modes. The S21 benefits from a variable refresh rate, meaning it automatically adapts to the user’s needs so it always has the best experience, but doesn’t strain the battery too much because the panel ranges from 48 to 120. Depending on the usage,

Finally, the S21’s panel is more resistant to scratches and impacts thanks to Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus (7) protective glass, which we had the opportunity to see on the Note 20 before. The S20 is protected by Gorilla Glass 6. very good glass, but less efficient than its successor.

Yield

No Snapdragon in Europe, but a homemade Exynos SoC. The Galaxy S21’s new Exynos 2100 is Samsung’s first chip carved in 5nm. Compared to the Exynos 990 of the Galaxy S20, the increase in performance cannot be ignored: +30% in the CPU and +40% in the GPU, in addition to better capacities due to artificial intelligence and better energy efficiency to preserve the autonomy of the device. This is one of the main strengths of the S21, which could entice consumers to look at it instead of the S20.

For connectivity, both models are WiFi 6 compatible. For mobile network, Galaxy S21 supports 5G, no question. The Galaxy S20 is available in 4G or 5G to choose from, but this latest variant isn’t the easiest to find in France at a decent price.

RAM and storage

Let’s get past this point quickly because the same RAM and storage technologies are available in the same volume on both devices, so Choice between 8GB of RAM and 128 to 256GB internal memory. On the other hand, there is one dimension change that should not be overlooked. The S20 has a microSD card slot to expand the storage up to 1TB, while the S21 lacks such a slot. An element to consider if you need a lot of space to save your apps, photos, videos, games…

battery, autonomy, charging

The S21 is not particularly in this category either. its accumulator 4000mAh Same as S20. In theory, however, it should have better battery life thanks to the more economical Exynos 2100 SoC and “only” FHD+ display with variable refresh rate.

Wired charging is the same and 25W. Ditto for wireless charging 15W. On the other hand, there is an improvement in the functionality of the power bank that allows wireless charging of accessories and other compatible devices. From 4.5W of Galaxy S20, 9W at S21.

Note that unlike the Galaxy S20, the Galaxy S21 does not have a charger in the box. An additional investment if you don’t have a charger of at least 25W.

Camera

It is not in the picture that the S21 will outperform the S20. The triple sensor consists of the same sensors: a 12 MP f / 1.8 main module with optical stabilization, a 64 MP telephoto lens with up to 3x hybrid zoom and a 12 MP ultra wide angle. The 10MP f/2.2 front camera is also the same.

Video enthusiasts will learn that HDR10+, 8K at 24fps, 4K at 30 or 60fps, and slow motion recording at 960fps (but only 720p) are possible on either model. Software rendering is a little different, but nothing really different.

Software

Galaxy S21 is coming out A User Interface 3.1, Samsung’s Android 11-based interface. The Galaxy S20 launched under One UI 2.5 (Android 10) but received an update to switch to One UI 3.0. We don’t know if it will qualify for One UI 3.1 or if it will go straight to One UI 4.0 without going through this box.

Both smartphones are entitled to three years of software monitoring; This means that the S21 will logically be supported for another year, stopping at Android 14 compared to Android 13 for the S20. This is important for consumers who hold the same phone for a long time.

DeX mode is available in both generations, allowing you to connect your smartphone to an external display to create a desktop experience.

Price

Faced with so few changes, price will be a crucial factor in guiding your choice between the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S20. Samsung has lowered the entry price for its range because S21 starts at 849 eurosetc 909 Euros for S20. It’s not very generous to know that the panel has gone from QHD+ to FHD+ and we’ve lost the storage expansion slot, but we shouldn’t neglect the Exynos 2100’s contribution either. It is the 4G variant of the S20, marketed at 909 euros. For this same price of 909 euros you can buy a Galaxy S21 5G with 256GB of storage.

If you absolutely do not want the 1440p display and microSD card installation feature, Galaxy S21 still looks more interesting at announced official prices. On the other hand, it is possible to get the S20 for a lower price by looking carefully, which is currently around 650 euros for the 4G variant and around 800 euros for the 5G variant. If you do not plan to subscribe to a 5G plan for the duration of your mobile phone use, Galaxy S20 4G on sale looks like the best bang for your buck.