In the past 24 hours, Fujifilm has announced multiple new products including cameras and lens. It even confirmed future firmware updated for some of the existing cameras. Among the recently launched product is the new Fujifilm GFX100S – the company’s latest medium format camera. In this post, we will take a look at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of Fujifilm GFX100S in Nepal.
Fujifilm GFX100S Overview:
The GFX lineup of medium format cameras was launched back in 2017. Two years after the initial launch, the company announced the GFX100 in 2019. Now, the company has announced the GFX100S to give continuity to an already popular lineup.
Design and Body
Fujifilm GFX100S is a mirrorless digital camera that sports a 102MP back-illuminated CMOS image sensor. The sensor is paired with a quad-core X-Processor 4. The camera makes use of the FUJINON GF lens. The camera has a magnesium alloy case and can operate at temperatures as low as -10-degree Celsius. Fujifilm has even managed to make the camera 500g lighter than the GFX100. The reduction in the size is because of the new shutter unit and IBIS mechanism.
Shooting Capabilities
The camera is capable of recording 4K 4:2:0 10-bit video at 30fps directly onto the SD card. Similarly, it can output 4K 30fps 4:2:2 10-bit video via the HDMI port. The 49.5mm diagonal sensor area promises better ISO, shallow depth-of-field, and wider tonal reproducibility. The camera supports H.264 and H.265/HEVC compression codes. It also supports “F-Log” and “Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG)” for HDR recording.
The new IBIS mechanism is nearly 20% smaller and 10% lighter compared to that on the GFX100. It comes with 6.0 stops of 5-axis in-body stabilization. In addition to the gyro and acceleration sensor, it also makes use of the new vibration-reducing stabilization of better stabilization.
Improved AutoFocus
GFX100S has 3.76 million phase-detection points that nearly cover 100% of the surface. Fujifilm has also updated the movement prediction algorithm and face/eye detection. As a result, the new camera can track moving objects and people more accurately. The company even claims that when used with appropriate lenses, the camera achieves a smooth focus of -5.5EV even in dark conditions.
User Convenience
The top mode dial has size positions that users can customize for different functions as per their convenience. Fujifilm has also made the Focus Lever flat and claims that it will help reduce physical discomforts. It has a 3.2-inch LCD monitor that can tilt in three different directions. In addition, there is a 1.8-inch sub LCD monitor on the top that displays key EXIF settings.
Fujifilm GFX100S Price in Nepal and Availability
Fujifilm GFX1000S has a price tag of $6,000 and will be available from late February. The price tag may sound a lot but in the world of medium format cameras, the Fujifilm GFX1000S is among the cheapest. Just consider this – the Fujifilm GFX100 had a $10,000 price tag.
There is no information about its availability in Nepal. But if it were to launch here, we can expect the price of the Fujifilm GFX100S in Nepal to be around NPR 800,000.
Intel is not a name that you normally link with GPUs. The company is popular for its processors. Even so, Intel has tried its hand on the GPU market a few times in the past. The company has now launched its first dedicated desktop GPU in decades. Intel Iris Xe is an entry-level discrete graphics for desktops. Let’s take a look at the specs, features, and availability of the Intel Iris Xe desktop graphics card (GPU).
Intel Iris Xe Desktop GPU Overview:
The new desktop GPU from Intel has been placed under the company’s Iris Xe-graphics lineup. Iris Xe graphics was first announced as an integrated solution of the 11th-gen Intel Tiger Lake processors. Intel then launched Iris Xe Max graphics – dedicated GPU for mobile platforms (laptops) back in October 2020. It was then that the company announced its plan to launch a dedicated graphics solution (code-named DG1) within the first quarter of 2021.
Intel has fulfilled its aforementioned promise. The new Iris Xe desktop graphics is based on the scalable Xe-LP architecture. Still, it is not a product that can compete against NVIDIA and AMD’s offering. It’s a GPU with entry-level specs. The specs are even lower than the mobile counterpart. Iris Xe desktop graphics sports 80 execution units and features up to 4GB of LPDDR4X VRAM.
The graphics can support up to three simultaneous 4K HDR displays. Additional features include AV1 decoding, Adaptive Sync, and DP4a deep-learning interference acceleration.
Features:
Support for up to three 4K UHD displays
AV1 codec for high fidelity video calling
HEVC, AVC, VP9, and SCC transcode capabilities
DP4a AI for photo editing
Intel Iris Xe Desktop Graphics Availability
Here, Intel Iris Xe desktop GPU is not available for the general public. Intel, together with its two partners including Asus, has made the graphics solution available for system integrators to include it in their pre-built system.
Back in November, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy A02s. And now, the company has announced the vanilla Galaxy A02 in Thailand. In this post, we will be taking a look at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of the Samsung Galaxy A02 in Nepal.
Samsung Galaxy A02 Overview:
Design and Display
Like the Galaxy A02s, the vanilla A02 features a 6.5-inch LCD panel. It’s an HD+ screen with a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels. The display has an Infinity-V notch that houses the front-facing camera. Bezels around the screen are quite noticeable, especially on the bottom chin.
The panel on the back of the device is covered with strips. There is a pill-shaped camera module on the left side of the panel with an LED flash just below it. The phone is 9.1mm thick and is available in two color options – Black and Blue.
Performance and Memory
Galaxy A02 differs from the A02s as it packs a MediaTek processor. Powering the phone is a quad-core MediaTek MT6739W CPU with a clock speed of up to 1.5GHz. Graphics are handled by PowerVR Rogue GE8100 GPU. The phone comes with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. Latter can be extended up to 1TB using an external microSD card.
The phone ships with the One UI core edition. It is a toned-down version of Samsung’s custom UI that is used on its M-series and budget devices.
Camera
The pill-shaped camera on the back encloses two cameras. Its dual-camera setup consists of a 13MP primary lens accompanied by a 2MP macro sensor. When compared to the A02s, the A02 lacks a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, both devices feature an 8MP selfie camera.
Rest of the specs
Galaxy A02 has a 5,000mAh battery. Samsung is claiming up to 19 hours of video playback time on a full charge. The phone features a micro USB port (USB 2.0) for charging. It doesn’t support any fast charging technology. In terms of connectivity, the phone supports 4G LTE, Wi-Fi b/g/n, and Bluetooth 5.1.
Connectivity: 4G LTE, Wi-Fi b/g/n (2.4GHz), Bluetooth 5.1, micro USB (USB 2.0)
Battery: 5000mAh
Samsung Galaxy A02 Price in Nepal and Availability
Samsung Galaxy A02 is available in Thailand with a price tag of 2,999 Thai Baht for the 3/32GB variant. We can expect the price of the Samsung Galaxy A02 in Nepal to be around NPR 12,000.
Samsung Galaxy A02
Price in Thailand
Price in Nepal (Expected)
3/32GB
THB 2,999
NPR 12,000
As you can see, the A02 is a lot similar to the recently launched M02s. To keep the prices down, Samsung has dropped the depth sensor and fast charging technology. As such, would you like to see it launch here? Let us know in the comments section.
Also, check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy M02s.
Sony has finally made the Xperia Pro available for purchase for the general public. For those unaware, Sony first announced the device alongside the Xperia 1 II almost a year ago. Xperia Pro is based on the Xperia 1 II but has added features that the phone is targeting professional photographers and videographers. Let’s take a look at the features, expected price, and availability of the Sony Xperia Pro in Nepal.
Sony Xperia Pro Overview:
Since the Sony Xperia Pro is based on and shares most of the specs with the Xperia 1 II we are not going to discuss it in this post. This post will rather focus on how it differs from the Xperia 1 II, the company’s motive behind the phone, and what it offers to professional photographers. But before we begin, here is a quick recap of the specs that the Xperia Pro packs.
Sony Xperia Pro Specifications
Body: Corning Gorilla Glass 6 front; IP65/68 Water Resistance
Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS/A-GNSS(GPS+GLONASS), USB Type-C (3.1 Gen 2), HDMI micro connector, NFC, PS4 Remote Play
Battery: 4000mAh with USB-PD fast charging
Camera-like Build
The first difference between the two phones can be found in the material of the phones. While the Xperia 1 II sports a glossy glass design on the back, it has been ditched for a polycarbonate back on the Pro. In a smartphone world, plastic is considered cheap however a robust plastic frame is what cameras and accessories need for durability. The plastic case of the Xperia 1 II makes it look and feel like the camera equipment that it is.
mmWave 5G Network
Another selling point of the phone is its support for the mmWave 5G network. Though mmWave is faster than sub-6GHz, the latter is more stable and offers wider coverage. The 360-degree antenna system on the Xperia Pro has antennas at four sides of the technique. The antennas are based on beamforming technology. Also, the material used on the case of the phone has a low dielectric constant and thus offers less resistance to the 5G waves. To cope with the issues of variations on reception and speed of mmWave, the device has a network visualizer app preinstalled.
Dedicated Micro-HDMI Port
The next highlight of this device is that it has a dedicated Micro-HDMI port. Sony claims that the Xperia Pro is the world’s first device to have this feature. The port is placed right next to the USB Type-C. With this, you can now connect your Xperia Pro to your camera and use it as a viewfinder or an external monitor. You can then play with limited camera settings like brightness, grid lines, and zoom straight from the phone itself. And the presence of the Micro-HDMI port means that the Type-C port will always be vacant which can be used to supply juice to it – something you cannot do with traditional external monitors.
Can it replace external monitors?
Sony wants you to think that Xperia Pro with its 4K HDR OLED panel and BT.2020 color gamut (though it doesn’t cover all of it) is a good replacement for the heavy and power-hungry external monitors but it also has its downsides. For instance, you cannot record footage separately from the camera. Also features like waveforms and focus peeking are not supported by the Xperia Pro, and these are some essential features for videographers.
Livestreaming Equipment
You may also argue that smartphones prior to the Xperia Pro could also be used as an external monitor for cameras. There are apps that allow you to do so over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. However, having a dedicated Micro-HDMI connector means you can now shoot videos from your camera and livestream them via third party applications over a mobile 5G connection. This is something that other normal phones are incapable of.
High-Speed FTP Transfer
You can connect the phone to compatible Alpha cameras like the newly announced Alpha 1 and use the device’s 5G mmWave connection for high-speed PC Remote data transfer. This will allow users to handle the transfer of high-quality images in an efficient manner using an FTP server.
Sony Xperia Pro Price in Nepal, Availability, Target Audience
So who is the Sony Xperia Pro for? Well, Sony Xperia Pro is a niche product tailored towards a very specific group. The regular Xperia 1 II will do just fine to most of the users but the added features of the Xperia Pro appeal to professional photographers and videographers that are into Sony cameras.
The phone does not come cheap. Even with the spike in flagship devices that we witnessed in the smartphone market last year, I think the $2,499 price tag stretches it too far. Even for the price, you are not getting the latest hardware. The phone was announced last year and packs in last year’s Snapdragon 865. The phone heavily relies on the mmWave 5G connectivity which is still not accessible.
If it’s ever launched here in Nepal, we can expect the price of the Sony Xperia Pro to be around NPR 4,05,000.
Smartphone
Price in the US
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Sony Xperia Pro
$2,499
NPR 4,05,000
Check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.
Smartphones…smartphones! These days, we live in a sea of them, don’t we? There are just so many phones in the market right now, and it’s pretty easy to confuse one with another. And if you’re looking to buy a new phone, or upgrade your existing set, then the confusion becomes even greater. Also, the salespeople try their best to convince you to get a particular device. But here are some smartphones, that are not worth your money and in this article, we’ve listed out the phones not to buy in 2021.
The phones listed are judged on their specs-to-price ratio, real-life performance, and their date of release. Some are due to out-datedness, others are priced unfairly for their specs, and some simply have better competitors out here. So, here’s a list of phones from various brands you shouldn’t buy.
List of phones you should not buy in 2021:
Samsung Galaxy M11
So, starting our list is the Samsung Galaxy M11. Due to the price drop that it recently received, you might be tempted to go for it. However, I’d have to recommend otherwise. And there are a couple of reasons to back my claim. First off is the mediocre display. Galaxy M11 sports a 6.4-inch TFT LCD panel with HD+ resolution.
Now, it is not a terrible screen. However, for just a couple of bucks more, you can get the M21 which has a much better FHD+ Super AMOLED panel. Even other devices such as the Redmi 9 (Prime) also offers an FHD+ panel (albeit not an AMOLED one). So, the decision of using an HD+ display doesn’t really make sense.
Furthermore, the other downside of this smartphone is the Snapdragon 450 processor. While Samsung’s competitors are offering the gaming-centric Helio chipsets from MediaTek, the use of this outdated processor leads to laggy overall performance. Additionally, due to this silicon, Samsung has had to install the “Core” version of the One UI 2.0 on this one. So, you’ll also miss out in useful features such as a dedicated night-mode camera, Knox security, and more. Thus, I think that you should opt for the far superior M21 instead of the Galaxy M11.
Our last year’s list of the phones not to buy included the Galaxy A20s. And this year, its successor the Samsung Galaxy A21s too has made it to our list. Again, this device pales out in comparison to Galaxy M21. Rubbing salt to the wound is the fact that the M21 costs a thousand buck less than the A21s. Here too, the display is one of the main issues. It only has an HD+ panel and it isn’t even an AMOLED panel. Furthermore, the sharpness and the color reproduction of the panel is pretty poor. And there’s the display flicker issue too.
The less-than-decent homegrown Exynos 850 also adds to the cause. This chipset is built under the efficient 8nm process node. Therefore, it is energy-friendly. However, the performance is abysmal. Lightweight apps are handled well by the device. But as soon as you add a heavy app into the mix, the phone cannot handle it. The memory management is bad and thus, your phone starts to misbehave. Its battery and the design are some of the redeeming qualities, however, the competition is stiff. And there are far better alternatives than the A21s in the market.
Now don’t get me wrong, the Mi 10 is a great device. However, as the Mi 11 is expected to arrive soon in Nepal, it doesn’t really make sense to purchase a year-old flagship. Mi 10 is an expensive device and it is almost a perfect flagship device. However, it is not IP certified, does not have a telephoto lens, and the 2MP depth and macro lens are pretty much useless. But other than that, it doesn’t really give too much room for complaints.
Having said that, with Mi 11 soon on the cards, you’d probably be better of purchasing that one instead of the Mi 10. The Mi 11 promises to offer a better display with improved cameras, and Snapdragon 888 chipset. So, in my opinion, you should head for the upcoming Mi 11 instead of this one.
Vivo’s V-series is an attempt to offer a premium mid-range device with great design and camera. The design part ticks off here as the V20 SE both looks and feels premium. However, the camera is quite disappointing as compared to the standard V20. Of course, the latter is more expensive than the V20 SE and has a 64MP lens rather than the 48MP of the V20 SE. But there should not have been much difference in terms of the pictures. However, when we reviewed the devices, we found otherwise.
Moreover, the Snapdragon 665 processor does not bode well considering the price of the device. Gaming is not a joyful ride on this device either. Therefore, I think the standard V20 is a better albeit more expensive option.
Similar to the V20 SE, the Vivo Y51 also offers the same Snapdragon 665 processor. And as I have mentioned before, it will severely hinder your workflow. If you compare this device with its competitors such as the Poco X3 or the Samsung Galaxy M51, they are offering far superior chipsets in the form of Snapdragon 732G and Snapdragon 730G respectively.
Given the price at which the Y51 is available, Vivo should have opted for a much better chipset. With the SD 665, light apps and multitasking with them should not be much of a problem. However, heavy apps will take a toll on the device thereby affecting its performance. Thus, if you are going to for out around 32K, then it is better that you go for the Poco X3. Or for four thousand more, you can get the Galaxy M51.
Oppo F17 Pro
Oppo F17 Pro is a good looking phone with decent specs and delivers good performance. And that’s even though it has the Helio P95 SoC, which in my opinion somewhat pales in comparison to the newer Snapdragon 700-series chipsets. The major downside regarding this device is the cameras. It delivers inconsistent results. In comparison, we found out that its direct competitor the Vivo V20 offers a far superior image quality.
Furthermore, the battery life isn’t great either. So, I would suggest you rather go for the Vivo V20 instead cause it offers better performance and a better camera.
Well, the second entry for Oppo in our list of the phones not to buy. And this time it is the Oppo-A series smartphones. The Oppo-A series list consists of devices such as Oppo A12, A31, A53, and many more. Quite frankly none of them offer anything significant.
Furthermore, none of their pricing is justified either. You can simply look for much better alternatives from other brands in the market instead of the Oppo-A series devices.
Realme 7i
Again the Snapdragon 662 chipset is the culprit here. Given the fact that the Realme 7i costs almost 30K, you should be expecting a better processor that can handle multitasking with heavy apps with quite ease.
But that’s not the case here, and thus you will have a hard time using this device if you tend to use a lot of heavy apps. Furthermore, playing demanding games will also feel a bit choppy on this one. You might be tempted by its 90Hz screen but the incompetent processor and an HD+ resolution display don’t complement the high refresh-rate performance.
OnePlus Nord N10 5G
Next up on our list is the OnePlus Nord N10 5G. This is the slightly cheaper version of the original OnePlus Nord. Therefore, it cutbacks on some features. For instance, it offers an IPS LCD panel instead of an AMOLED one and the camera setup includes gimmicky 2MP macro and monochrome sensors.
The inclusion of the cheapest Snapdragon 5G chipset (for the time) does make sense in areas where 5G is available. However, in Nepal, it’s really not much of a pulling factor because of the lack of availability of 5G.
Smartphones from some new brands
I know that the heading is pretty vague, but allow me to fill you in with some details. By new brands, I am referring to phones from brands such as Elephone, Coolpad, and Symphony. One can’t really tell whether they will provide good after-sales support as they might not even remain in the market for too long. Also, some of these brands keep coming in and disappearing out of the Nepalese market. Thus, it would be pretty risky to opt for their phones. Furthermore, well-established brands are providing great phones in the budget and mid-range segment. So, it’s better that you opt for their devices instead.
Another brand that I could have mentioned here is Infinix. Well, the Infinix Note 7 Lite is one such device from them that I definitely would not recommend you to buy. However, their other devices are pretty good and doing well around the globe too. Moreover, they have a reliable distributor here in Nepal.
So, what do you think of the smartphone no-buy list? Did we miss out on any other phone which is similar? Let us know in the comments.
Sony has just unveiled its latest flagship mirrorless camera. The new Sony Alpha 1 is the most technologically advanced and innovative camera from the company. It comes with a new 50MP camera sensor, 8K/30fps recording capability, and up to 120 images per second. Let’s learn more about the Sony Alpha 1 along with its specs, features, expected price, and availability in Nepal.
Sony Alpha 1 Overview:
Sensor, Processing Engine, and ViewFinder
Alpha 1 comes with a new 50.1 MP Exmor RS CMOS sensor. Sony has also improved the BIONIZ XR processing engine. It can shoot up to 155 compressed RAW images or 165 JPEG images at up to 30fps. With a calculation speed of up to 120 AF/AE per second, Sony is promising accurate focus even for objects in subjects. Sony is also claiming an AE response latency of just 0.033 seconds.
The OLED Quad-XGA electronic viewfinder on this camera has 9.44 million dots and Sony claims the 240Hz refresh rate will avoid any blackout. It has 0.90x viewfinder magnification, 41-degree FOV, and a 25mm eyepoint.
Improved AutoFocus
Sony Alpha 1 has 759 phase-detection and 425 contrast-detection points that cover up to 92% of the total image area. With the new engine, the Real-time Eye AF has been improved by 30%. It will even work with birds but the feature is only applicable to still images.
Dual Driven Shutter System
Moving on, this camera has a dual shutter system that compromises of spring and electromagnetic drive actuator. No other camera has the flash sync speed of 1/400 seconds which Sony has achieved with the mechanical shutter on the Alpha 1. On the other hand, the electronic shutter has a flash sync speed of 1/400 seconds.
The shutter speed of the Alpha 1 has been reduced by up to 1.5 times when compared to Alpha 9 II. Sony also claims that it’s the first camera to achieve silent anti-flicker continuous shooting with an electronic shutter in the world.
The camera has a wide ISO range of 100-32,000. It can be expanded up to 50-102,400 when shooting still images. While the camera has 15 stops of dynamic range for still images, the video offers even more stops.
Shooting Modes
Sony has also improved the Pixel Shift Multi Shooting mode. It shifts the sensor in one or half-pixel increments to capture up to 16 images amounting to 796.2MP of data. The shifted-images can then be composited into a single 199MP (17,280 x 11,520) image using the Sony Imaging Edge desktop application.
Alpha 1 is capable of 8K 10 bit 4:2:0 XAVC HS recording at 30 fps with 8.6K oversampling. It is the first Alpha series camera to be able to do so. Sony has also included a new heat-dissipating system that allows users to record 8K/30fps videos for up to 30 minutes. Similarly, it can record 4K 10-bit 4:2:2 videos at up to 120fps. And for the first time in the Alpha series, it comes with the S-Cinetone.
Rest of the features
The in-built gyro along with the algorithms offers up to a 5.5 step shutter speed advantage. The camera also has an Active Mode for handheld shooting. Similarly, users can use the in-built gyro’s metadata in the post-production using Sony’s desktop apps for better results.
Sony Alpha 1 with Xperia Pro
The camera offers 16-bit RAW output to an external recorder using HDMI. The Multi-Interface Shoe of the camera has a digital audio interface that one can use to connect to compatible Sony microphones. In terms of connectivity, Alpha 1 has a dual-band Wi-Fi antenna. It even has 2×2 MIMO support for the 5GHz band. There is also a Type-C port which when connected to mmWave compatible devices can be used for high-speed remote data transfer. The card slots have support for UHS-I, UHS-II SDXC/SDHX cards, and CFexpress Type A cards. The camera also has an HDMI Type-A connector and USB PD support.
Sony Alpha 1 features:
New 50.1-megapixel full-frame stacked Exmor RS CMOS sensor and an upgraded BIONZ XR processing engine
Blackout-free continuous shooting at up to 30 frames per second
Up to 120 AF/AE calculations per second
0.64-type 9.44 million-dot OLED Quad-XGA EVF with 240 refresh rate
World’s first anti-flicker(5) shooting with both mechanical and electronic shutter
World’s fastest mechanical shutter flash sync up to 1/400 sec.
8K/30p 10-bit 4:2:0 XAVC HS video recording with 8.6K oversampling
Wide dynamic range of 15 stops for stills and 15+ stops for vide
5-axis optical in-body image stabilization for a 5.5-step shutter speed advantage
S-Cinetone color matrix as seen in FX9 and FX6
Built-in Wi-Fi, SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps, 1000BASE-T Ethernet, and more
Sony Alpha 1 Price in Nepal and Availability
Sony has put a price tag of $6,500 on the Alpha 1 and the camera will be available from March 2021. As of now, we don’t have any information about the availability in Nepal. But we can expect the price of Sony Alpha 1 in Nepal to be around NPR 900,000 when it launches here.
Camera
Price in the US
Availability
Sony Alpha 1
$6,500
March 2021
Watch: Galaxy S21 Ultra vs iPhone 12 Pro Max camera comparison.
Infinix has been quick in expanding its product lineup ever since its entry into the Nepali market. And the company has officially launched the Infinix Note 8i exclusively via Daraz. Let’s check out the specs, features, official price, and availability of Infinix Note 8i in Nepal.
Infinix Note 8i Overview:
Infiinix Note 8i is the smaller and cheaper variant of the standard Infinix Note 8. These two devices make up the Infinix Note 8 series and both of them are incredibly similar to each other except for the screen size and the camera specifications.
Design and Display
Here, the Infinix Note 8i sports a 6.78-inch TFT IPS panel with a resolution HD+ of 720 x 1640 pixels. This results in an aspect ratio of 20.5:9. Infinix has listed the peak brightness on this device to be 480 nits. The phone has a punch-hole cutout on the left side of the screen that houses the front camera. One can differentiate it from the regular Note 8 from its smaller screen size and single punch-hole.
At the back, we get to see the gem-cut design in action. The rear panel is covered with diamonds of different shades. The device comes with three different color options – Gray, Blue, and Green.
Performance and Memory
The Infinix Note 8 series is powered by the MediaTek Helio G80 chipset. To recall, the Infinix Note 7 came with Helio G70. The two chipsets are very similar and the only difference between the two is the higher clocked Cortex-A55 efficiency cores on the G80 (1.8GHz > 1.7GHz). Also, the Mali G52 GPU is clocked higher on the G80 (950 MHz > 820 MHz).
Note 8i is available in a single memory configuration with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It runs on custom XOS 7.0 based on Android 10. This Android skin includes features such as an image compressor, Smart Scanner Translator, a dedicated WhatsApp mode, and support for video ringtone.
Camera
At the back, there is a 48MP primary sensor leading the rear camera setup. It is accompanied by two 2MP sensors for macro and portrait sensors. Completing the setup is a gimmicky AI lens. The four sensors along with the quad-LED flash are enclosed by a rectangular camera module. There is Corning Gorilla Glass to protect the cameras from getting scratched. On the front, there is an 8MP camera with a dual-LED flash.
Rest of the specs
Infinix Note 8i features a massive 5200mAh battery. The phone supports 18W charging via the Type-C port. Infinix claims that the side-mounted fingerprint scanner on the Note 8i can complete biometric verification in just 250ms.
Earlier this month, Motorola announced that it will launch a device powered by Snapdragon 870 just after the announcement of the new chipset. The company has fulfilled its promise by unveiling the Motorola Edge S. Let’s take a look at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of Motorola Edge S in Nepal.
Motorola Edge S Overview:
Design and Display
Motorola returned to the premium smartphone segment last year with the introduction of Motorola Edge Plus. Though the Edge S comes with a higher clocked processor, there are compromises in other departments. For instance, Motorola has opted for an IPS panel instead of an AMOLED screen. The device sports a 6.7-inch display with a dual punch-hole cutout for the selfie cameras. This FHD panel has a 21:9 aspect ratio and supports HDR10.
At the back, there is a left-aligned square camera module. The phone is available in two color options – Blue and White. Edge S has bagged IP52 certification against dust and splashes too.
Performance and Memory
As mentioned earlier, the phone packs Snapdragon 870 under its hood. Snapdragon 870 is basically the SD 865 / 865+ but with a higher clocked Prime core (3.2GHz). The chipset does not have an integrated 5G modem and is bundled with the Snapdragon X55 modem for 5G connectivity. You can choose between 6 and 8GB of RAM. The 6GB variant has 128GB storage while the 8GB variant can pair with either 128GB or 256GB internal storage.
Camera
Talking about cameras, there are three at the back and two on the front. The rear camera setup is led by a 64MP primary sensor with an f/1.7 aperture. It is capable of recording 6K videos at 30fps. It also supports the new Audio Zoom feature. The primary camera is accompanied by a 16MP ultrawide camera and a 2MP depth sensor. Motorola has also included a ToF sensor. On the front, there is a 16MP primary selfie camera accompanied by an 8MP ultrawide sensor.
Rest of the specs
Backing the device is a massive 5,000mAh battery. It also supports 20W fast charging and a compatible charger is included in the box. There is a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for biometrics. The phone ships with Android 11. In terms of connectivity, the phone supports 5G, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.1. Interestingly, you can connect the phone to an external display using a special dock. Motorola has also introduced Samsung’s Dex-like feature for the device.
Motorola Edge S Specifications:
Body: 168.38 x 73.97 x 9.69 mm; 215 gm; IP52 design
Front Camera:
– 16MP primary sensor
– 8MP ultra-wide sensor
Security: side-mounted fingerprint scanner
Battery: 5000mAh; 20W wired charging
Motorola Edge S Price in Nepal & Availability
Motorola Edge S is now available for pre-order in China with a starting price of 1,999 Yuan for the base variant (6/128GB). Rumors have it that the phone could launch under Moto G100 moniker in the global market. We expect the price of Motorola Edge S in Nepal to start at NPR 40,000 if and when it launches here.
Motorola Edge S
Price in China
Price in Nepal (Expected)
6/128GB
1,999 Yuan
NPR 40,000
8/128GB
2,399 Yuan
NPR 45,000
8/256GB
2,799 Yuan
NPR 53,000
Check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+.
It’s a month earlier than usual, but Samsung’s next generation of flagship smartphones are now upon us. After all the customary leaks and unofficial reveals, the company finally unveiled a trio of new S21-lineup of phones and the Galaxy Buds Pro on the second virtual Unpacked event tonight. And here, I will be talking about the Galaxy S21 Ultra in this review, which is the best Samsung has to offer for now—with the spec-sheet to prove it.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Specifications:
Body: 6.50 x 2.98 x 0.35 inches, 229 gm, IP68 rated, Gorilla Glass Victus, Aluminum frame, S-pen support (separate case required)
Battery: 5000mAh with 25W fast charging (USB-C to USB-C), 15W wireless charging, 4.5W reverse wireless powershare
Color options: Phantom – Black, Silver, Titanium, Navy, Brown
Price in Nepal: Rs. 154,999 (12/256GB)
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Review:
A big 6.82-inches quad-HD display that can finally go up to 120Hz, Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100 chipset, 12GB of base RAM, the new & improved cameras, and a big 5000mAh battery. So, yeah it’s got the standard high-end stuff. And you might remember that the last-gen Galaxy S20 and the S20 Ultra received some mixed reviews for reasons more than one. In this part of the world, mostly because of… you guessed it..the Exynos 990 silicon.
But not only that, the S20 Ultra had this unfixable camera autofocus issues. While Samsung largely addressed the matter multiple firmware updates, but since that was the focal length issue of a big 108MP sensor, it was beyond repair.
Performance
Octa-core Samsung Exynos 2100 SoC (5nm) – Global
12/16GB LPDDR5 RAM and up to 512GB UFS 3.1 storage (fixed)
Anyway, I feel like the new S21 Ultra has brought some massive improvement in almost all the areas you’d expect, but the biggest one has to be the performance thanks to the new Exynos 2100 chipset. You might be dying to know its real-life benchmark scores so I’ll get right to it. Unfortunately, I couldn’t run the AnTuTu benchmark as it continuously gave an error message.
S21 Ultra
(Exynos 2100)
S20 Plus
(Exynos 990)
Geekbench 5
Single Core
1,093
886
Multi-Core
3,511
2,491
PCMark Work 2.0
14,028
11,154
3DMark
5,316
4,303
Regardless, let’s pit the Exynos 2100 against last year’s Exynos 990. In Geekbench 5, as you can see, it has a 23% higher single-core score, whereas the multi-core performance is around 41% faster. Moving to PCMark Work 2.0, the Exynos 2100 delivers more than 25% higher score than the 990. Similarly, in 3DMark, which benchmarks the CPU and GPU performance of a phone, the Exynos 2100 wins out with a lead of around 23%.
Optimized One UI
Besides benchmarks, the Galaxy S21 Ultra also feels more optimized and the new One UI 3.1 complements the performance nicely. Everything is smoother than what we saw from Exynos 990-powered phones last year. Moreover, the heating issue is gone-for-good as well.
But, the age-old question still remains, does it hold up against the Snapdragon 888? If you look at the CPU architecture of these silicons, they are basically the same. Still, I’m not quite sure if the Mali G78 GPU on the Exynos 2100 is on the same level as the Adreno 660. For that, we’ll just have to wait a while for some head-on comparisons.
Gaming Experience
During my tests, I played a lot of games on the phone and it definitely seems to be doing a better job than the Exynos 990. Even after an hour or more of continuous PUBG Mobile gameplay, this thing doesn’t heat up, whereas Exynos 990 used to throttle bad. Still, there’s no 90fps gameplay on PUBG and the highest you can go is smooth graphics and extreme frame rates here, so this is one area where Samsung can eventually optimize certain games to run at a higher graphics setting.
Other than that, games like COD and Genshin Impact are quite optimized and run at the highest of settings, which is great.
WiFi 6E compatibility
If you’ve been following the ongoing virtual CES 2021, multiple router manufacturers like TP-Link, Netgear, and Linksys announced their WiFi 6E capable routers. And if you manage to get your hands on one in due time, the entire Galaxy S21 series will be able to take its full advantage as these devices support the newer, faster WiFi 6E standard.
Design
Glass front/back, aluminum frame
Gorilla Glass Victus protection
IP68 dust/water resistant
Moving on, another aspect I really like about the S21 Ultra is its design. It’s lighter than the S20 Ultra and is more ergonomic to hold and definitely not as heavy as the iPhone 12 Pro Max that I’d been using as my primary phone. The Phantom Black variant that I have with me comes off elegant and is mesmerizing to look at. It’s a matte back, not pitch black, and therefore radiates a Batmobile vibe. However, if this doesn’t float your boat, there are other color options to choose from like silver, gray, navy, and brown.
Buttons, Ports
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Buttons
Design
Ports
The camera lens setup gets a redesign and I find the new approach to be more modern, unique, and soluble. Its camera bump isn’t that big either. So yeah, it is unquestionably a better implementation than what we saw on the S20 and Note 20 Ultra.
Galaxy S21 Ultra too brags Gorilla Glass Victus protection on the front and the back for greater durability. However, the Phantom Black color variant and its close-to-matte finish feels unlike nothing like glass on the hand. It is smooth with a great tactile feel and doesn’t easily attract smudges either.
The frames are metal as expected and Samsung is among the handful of companies that still lets users expand the phone’s storage using an external microSD card in its high-end smartphones.
Display
6.8-inches Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel, curved
Adaptive 120Hz refresh rate (10 – 120Hz)
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection
Let’s get to the display now, Like I mentioned earlier, the S21 Ultra greets you with a 6.82-inch 1440p 120Hz screen, and as far as I can tell, this is probably the best display on a smartphone yet. It can get plenty bright, up to 1500 nits and the contrast, the colors on it is extremely good. In comparison, it brags 25% brighter and 50% enhanced contrast ratio compared to previous Galaxy S devices.
Moreover, Samsung is finally letting you crank up the resolution to QHD while retaining the 120Hz smoothness. And just like the Note 20 Ultra and the Z Fold 2 before it, this screen boasts LTPO technology that can dynamically switch the refresh rate between 10Hz to 120Hz depending upon the content on the screen. Samsung has something in store for the flat-display enthusiasts this time around as the regular S21 and S21 Plus skips the curves while only the Ultra goes for a curved screen.
Similar to the Note 20 Ultra, its screen is also guarded by the Gorilla Glass Victus. We’ve already seen its scratch, drop protection in action so I’ll keep it brief. Essentially, it is about twice more scratch-resistant than Gorilla Glass 6. Furthermore, it can survive drops from up to 2 meters while its predecessor had a maximum drop rate of 1.6 meters.
S-pen support
Anyway, one of the biggest leaks surrounding the S21 series was how it would replace the company’s Note lineup of premium flagship phones by including an S-pen. However, Samsung doesn’t seem to be done with the Note series just yet as the S21 Ultra will instead bring S-pen functionality by embedding the stylus inside a case.
So, if you want S-pen on your S21 Ultra, you’re gonna have to buy an additional folio case. Still, being able to use a stylus on an S-series phone feels like a luxury considering how you simply couldn’t on the S20 lineup.
Likewise, the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor also sees an improvement. The Galaxy S21 series embed Qualcomm’s second-gen ultrasonic fingerprint reader. Compared to the last-gen sensor on the Note 20 Ultra, this one is about 30% faster with a 77% larger surface area.
Cameras
Quad-camera setup at the back, Laser AutoFocus system
Finally, let’s talk cameras. Equipped with four sensors, including an upgraded 108MP ISOCELL HM3 sensor with OIS. Unlike the S20 Ultra’s 108MP lens with 3D ToF, the new sensor uses Laser AF. Then there’s the 12 MP ultra-wide camera and two telephoto cameras – a 10x folded periscope lens equivalent to 240 mm, and a traditional 3x tele lens. Both use 10 MP sensors (1/3.24″, 1.22 µm pixels). This hybrid zoom will ensure a smooth transition between focal lengths.
Telephoto Images
For this review, I compared the zoom capabilities of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra against the iPhone 12 Pro Max that has 2.5x optical zoom.
Telephoto - 3x, 10x
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Galaxy S21 Ultra - 3x
iPhone 12 Pro Max - 2.5x
Galaxy S21 Ultra - 10x
iPhone 12 Pro Max - 10x
As expected, the S21 Ultra completely thrashes the iPhone in this department. From 3x to 10x zoom, the S21 Ultra is better in every way. Even 3x zoomed night mode images are quite good.
Night Mode
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Galaxy S21 Ultra - 3x
iPhone 12 Pro Max - 2.5x
According to Samsung, the periscope lens system that is used to achieve a 10x zoom needs to refract light only twice. In comparison, periscope lens solutions for telephoto cameras on other smartphones require up to five refractions.
10x
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Galaxy S21 Ultra
iPhone 12 Pro Max
Galaxy S21 Ultra
iPhone 12 Pro Max
Fewer refractions mean relatively higher image quality, and with the new and improved Image Signal Processor, we are looking at one of the best smartphone telephoto cameras in the industry.
Normal, Wideangle Images
Other than that, the other two lenses, wide and ultra-wide are pretty much on par with my current primary phone, i.e the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Normal
1 of 4
Galaxy S21 Ultra
iPhone 12 Pro Max
Galaxy S21 Ultra
iPhone 12 Pro Max
And one thing I’ve noticed on the S21 Ultra is that its images are not as punchy and vibrant as we’re used to on previous Samsung flagships.
Wideangle
1 of 2
Galaxy S21 Ultra
iPhone 12 Pro Max
As a result, the S21 Ultra shoots more natural-looking photos.
Nighttime Images
When it comes to night time shots, both the iPhone 12 Pro Max and S21 Ultra do a commendable job.
Nighttime
1 of 6
Galaxy S21 Ultra - Nighttime
iPhone 12 Pro Max - Nighttime
Galaxy S21 Ultra - Nighttime
iPhone 12 Pro Max - Nighttime
Galaxy S21 Ultra - Night Mode
iPhone 12 Pro Max - Night Mode
But in instances with scarce ambient light, night mode images from the S21 Ultra looks better.
Portrait Images
Portrait photos are equally good from both phones. But the iPhone is able to churn out slightly more details with mildly better skin tone on most occasions. However, the S21 Ultra isn’t that far behind and in certain scenarios, shoots better portrait shots.
Portrait
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Galaxy S21 Ultra
iPhone 12 Pro Max
Galaxy S21 Ultra
iPhone 12 Pro Max
Galaxy S21 Ultra
iPhone 12 Pro Max
Similarly, its laser autofocus system works fine—slightly better than on the Note 20 Ultra. But I still feel like it’s nowhere near the Dual Pixel Autofocus (DPAF) we used to see on Samsung flagship phones of the past.
Macro Images
When trying to take close-up macro shots, the S21 Ultra hesitates to lock focus easily. Still, a feature called “Focus Enhancer” turns on automatically when taking macro photos.
Macro
1 of 4
Off
On
Off
On
In the end, the images retain good subject focus, although there is no natural background bokeh.
Selfie Images
As for selfies, the centered punch-hole cutout on the S21 Ultra houses a new 40MP sensor. I compared it against the iPhone 12 Pro Max as well.
Selfie
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Galaxy S21 Ultra
iPhone 12 Pro Max
Galaxy S21 Ultra
iPhone 12 Pro Max
Galaxy S21 Ultra
iPhone 12 Pro Max
Galaxy S21 Ultra
iPhone 12 Pro Max
Both phones do a commendable job. While the shots from the iPhone feature a slightly darker skin tone, the S21 brightens up the subject by a bit. None the less, both devices offer top-tier selfie camera.
Videography
Getting to the videos, the S21 Ultra’s rear camera tops out at 8K/24fps with the 4K/60fps option as well. We all know how good Apple is when it comes to videos and its superiority in terms of stabilization and color science. Still and all, videos from Samsung’s Galaxy S21 Ultra competent enough for shooting great videos.
There’s not much of an improvement in terms of 8K videos and will disappoint with moving subjects. But, if you wish to shoot still footage in 8K resolution, the S21 Ultra can deliver decent videos.
Overall, I’m really impressed with its cameras. And since I am using preliminary software, I expect it to be even better when I get the retail unit and Samsung rolls out a few more updates to further optimize the cameras. So stay tuned for my full long-term review and the detailed camera comparison against the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Battery
5000mAh battery with 25W fast charging
15W Qi Wireless Charging, Wireless PowerShare
On to the battery side of things, the S21 Ultra is powered by a 5000mAh cell which is pretty much the standard these days. Throughout the review, I got about 1 day of endurance on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. So I have to say the battery life is pretty good. Having said that, Samsung could’ve further optimized it—since I recorded around 5-6% battery drain overnight. This has never been a problem with iPhones.
Charging up the phone is pretty fast, but the company has downgraded the 45W charging on the S20 Ultra with a 25W charging instead. I used the 25W PD charger of last year’s Note 20 Ultra and it can fully charge the phone in under an hour. S21 Ultra’s audio quality is pretty impressive as well. It is loud and detailed enough to immerse yourself in the content you’re watching.
Conclusion
Okay, let’s bring this review to a conclusion. After the disappointment that was the Galaxy S20 Ultra, Samsung has made a strong comeback with the S21 Ultra. It packs in the best of everything—from the display, cameras, processor, and more. So, Samsung is off to a great start this year with the new S21 series. But… everything comes at a price and the S21 Ultra is still cost a pretty penny.
Yet, the silver lining here is that the company offers lucrative pre-booking offers and free insurance in many markets like South Asia. And while the regular S21+ might suffice for many, if you want the absolute best Samsung has to offer, for now, the S21 Ultra is it.
Watch our video review of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.
Like last year, Samsung has introduced three smartphones under this year’s S-series as well—the Galaxy S21, S21+, and the S21 Ultra. And in this review, I will be discussing the Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21+ (S21 Plus) at length.
Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+ Specifications:
Specifications
Galaxy S21
Galaxy S21+
Body
151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9mm, 169gm (mmWave: 171gm), IP68, Glastic back
161.4 x 75.6 x 7.8 mm, 200gm (mmWave: 202gm), IP68, Glass back
120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, 1300nits, Gorilla Glass Victus
120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, 1300 nits, Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution
FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels); 20:9 aspect ratio
Chipset
US,S.Korea, China: Snapdragon 888 (5nm Mobile Platform)
Global: Exynos 2100 (5nm Mobile Platform)
RAM
8GB LPDDR5
Storage
128GB / 256GB UFS 3.1 (non-expandable)
Rear Camera
12MP, f/1.8 primary shooter, OIS, Dual Pixel AF
12MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide sensor
64MP, f/2.0 telephoto lens, OIS, Tracking AF, 3X hybrid optical zoom, 30x Space Zoom
Front Camera
10MP, f/2.2 aperture; Dual Pixel AF
Security
Qualcomm 3D Sonic Sensor Gen 2, Face Unlock
Audio
Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital/Plus
Connectivity
5G, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, UWB (Only S21+)
Battery
4000mAh
4800mAh
Charging
USB PD 3.0 (25W), 15W Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, 4.5W Reverse Wireless Charging, No charger inside the box
Colors
Violet, Gray, White, Pink
Violet, Black, Silver, Pink
Price in Nepal
Rs. 109,999 (8/256GB)
Rs. 129,999 (8/256GB)
Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+ Review:
Although the S21 Ultra effortless steals the spotlight among the three with its S-pen support, better cameras, and more, the standard S21 and S21+ aren’t that far behind either. In fact, these phones offer a similar experience at a much lower asking price. The keyword here is “similar”.
But regardless of what S-series phone you go for this year, barring a couple of markets like the US and China, you are going to get a much-improved Exynos 2100 chipset. Forget the new design or the cameras, this is the most exciting upgrade Samsung has introduced in its latest flagship by finally listening to the outcries of its customers.
Performance
Octa-core Samsung Exynos 2100 SoC (5nm) – Global
8GB LPDDR5 RAM and up to 256GB UFS 3.1 storage (fixed)
You might already know just how much of an upgrade it brings when looking at the spec-sheet. But in real-life too, the Exynos 2100 feels so much faster than last year’s Exynos 990. Having used the Note 20 Ultra for so long, I could instantly feel the difference. The animations feel faster and working around the phone feels swifter. So I have to say that the performance upgrade from the newer chipset has really impressed me.
Yet, the question still remains—is this new Exynos chipset on par with the Snapdragon 888 version of the S21 series? For that, we will have to wait and see.
But what I can say right now is that the Exynos 2100 doesn’t have any kind of heating, throttling issue. Previously, with both the S20 and the S20+, the phone would get warm just minutes into shooting 4K videos or playing games which is no longer the case with the S21 series, so that’s great.
Gaming Experience
However, I am not particularly impressed with the GPU capabilities of the Exynos 2100—especially how restrictive it is PUBG Mobile. The highest setting you can reach is Smooth graphics with the frame rates set to Extreme whereas the iPhone 12 maxes out at HDR graphics and Extreme frame rates.
And even if we leave the iPhone aside, the fact that it is not optimized for 90 fps gameplay like the OnePlus 8 series is slightly disappointing. That being said, other demanding games such as COD Mobile and Genshin Impact run similarly on the S21 and the iPhone 12 series. So, maybe Samsung can better optimize popular titles like PUBG to tap into the gaming arena as well.
Display
6.2/6.7-inches Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel
Adaptive 120Hz refresh rate (48 – 120Hz)
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection
Moving on to the display side of things, Samsung has scaled down the QHD resolution from last year’s S20 series to just FHD on the S21 and S21+. But you still get the adaptive 120Hz refresh rate that can switch between screen refresh rate depending on the content.
As usual, it’s a Dynamic AMOLED panel with excellent brightness levels, colors, and contrast. Noticeably, there are no curves here like the S20+ or the S21 Ultra, and Samsung has rather opted for a flat panel on these devices.
Personally, I didn’t have any problem with the minimal curves on the S20+, but I don’t mind this flat display either. Like the S21 Ultra, the front and back of the S21+ are now protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus, while the regular S21 gets the Victus treatment only on the front as it comes with a polycarbonate back.
With this, the S21+ feels much better on hand, whereas the plastic back on the S21 feels exactly like the Galaxy S20 FE. So, yeah, not so premium design on the S21.
But the S21 shines when it comes to ergonomics and one-handed usage. The S21+, although a little bigger, is still really comfortable on the hands too, although the smaller form factor and lightweight build of the S21 is something you might want over the S21+ and S21 Ultra.
Battery
4000/4800mAh battery with 25W fast charging
15W Qi Wireless Charging, Wireless PowerShare
However, “with small design comes small battery”. And the biggest issue with the S21 is that it features a moderate 4,000mAh cell while the S21+ comes with a beefier 4,800mAh battery. Hence, the endurance on the S21+ is far better than the S21. Using both phones side by side, throughout the review, I got almost a full day’s usage on the Samsung Galaxy S21+ while the regular S21 dies by the evening.
And because the display on the S21 and S21+ only have a dynamic range of 48-120Hz unlike the S21 Ultra that can shift between 10-120Hz depending on what activity you do on your phone; the relative endurance is better on the S21 Ultra.
As for charging speeds, nothing has changed except for the fact you don’t get a power brick inside the box anymore. With the 25W charger that you can get for like $25, charging isn’t as wickedly fast as 65W chargers you get on Chinese phones. Still, it is faster than the 20W charger of the iPhone 12 series.
One more thing, this year, I was really hoping that Samsung would bring something better in terms of wireless charging seeing how Apple is trying to shift focus to MagSafe and Xiaomi just brought 50W wireless charging support on Mi 11. To my disappointment, Samsung still is stuck with the 15-watt wireless charging.
Design, UI
Glass front | Glastic (S21), Glass back (S21+)
Aluminum frame, IP68 dust/water resistant
Samsung One UI 3.1 based on Android 11
Coming back to the design again, the company has changed things by quite a bit in the S21 series. The camera sensors have been neatly placed inside this module that now looks as if it’s a part of the side frame itself. Honestly, looking at the render images initially, I was a little skeptical. But I gotta give credit to Samsung, it looks quite good in the flesh.
Buttons, Ports
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Buttons
Design
Ports
Onto the software side of things, both the S21 and S21+ ship with the latest version of One UI, the One UI 3.1 based on Android 11. This time, with the new Exynos 2100 integration, Samsung’s Android skin feels more optimized than ever.
And it’s impressive how with every generation the company is able to make One UI better for one-handed usage. If you have watched my review of the iPhone 12 Pro Max, I have talked about how it is extremely uncomfortable to use and how the iOS 14 absolutely lacks optimization for one-handed usage.
Google Discover card
Well, with Samsung devices, it’s exactly the opposite. So, on the usability part, I am happy with these devices. Also, swiping left from the home screen now takes you to the Google Discover cards which is something I have been wanting for years.
The in-display fingerprint sensor on the S21 series has improved a lot in performance as well. It is still Samsung’s proprietary ultrasonic technology. But this time it boasts Qualcomm’s 3D Sonic Sensor Gen 2. Samsung claims that this sensor is 1.7 times larger and performs 50% faster scanning in comparison to the previous ones. During my test, I couldn’t really tell if this version of Samsung’s ultrasonic sensors indeed has a larger sensing area, but it is definitely a lot faster and I even noticed that the registration time has reduced slightly too.
Cameras
Triple camera setup at the back
(12MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, 64MP telephoto)
10MP selfie camera inside the Infinity-O cutout
Cameras
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Rear
Front
Jumping to the cameras, the S21, and S21+ feature similar hardware as last year. While the 12MP ultrawide lens is the new Sony IMX563 sensor instead of S5K2LA on the S20 series, these phones retain the same 12MP Sony IMX555 primary lens and the 64 MP telephoto lens.
Normal
1 of 10
S21
Plus
S21
Plus
S21
Plus
S21
Plus
S21
Plus
And since both the S21 and S21+ have the exact same camera setup and Exynos 2100’s ISP, the photos turn out the same too. I was doubtful that given the lower price tag of the S21, it would sort of have inferior camera performance compared to the S21+, but that’s not the case.
Normal Images
I also checked how the S21’s cameras fared against the S21 Ultra and found differences mostly in color tone in the primary and ultra-wide cameras.
S21+ vs S21 Ultra
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S21 Plus
Ultra
S21 Plus
Ultra
S21 Plus
Ultra
S21 Plus
Ultra
The Ultra’s pictures have a subtle and natural color tone while sometimes, the S21+ slightly saturates the images more.
Nighttime
1 of 6
S21 Plus
Ultra
S21 Plus
Ultra
S21 Plus
Ultra
But the big difference lies in the night time performance where the S21 Ultra is able to produce less grainy and sharper images than the S21+. Definitely, the newer and bigger 108MP camera sensor has played a huge role in this.
Portrait Images
About the portraits, well, here too, the S21 Ultra can produce fuller colors than the S21+.
Portrait
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S21 Plus
Ultra
S21 Plus
Ultra
S21 Plus
Ultra
But everything else is almost the same and because colors are mostly a matter of personal preference, I will leave the judgment to you guys.
Telephoto Images
3x zoom telephoto images look almost similar on both devices despite featuring different sensors. But even though that’s the case, when clicking videos, the difference is apparent where the Ultra is the clear winner. However, you don’t get a periscope 10x zoom lens like with the S21 Ultra. So, when it comes to telephoto shots, the Ultra is the clear winner.
3x
1 of 4
S21 Plus
Ultra
S21 Plus
Ultra
And we all know how last year’s S20 Ultra grabbed headlines because of its autofocus issue. This year though, the inclusion of a laser autofocus sensor has solved the problem to a great extent. Yet, at times, because of the larger focal lengths of the 108MP sensor, while clicking closeup shots, the camera does struggle for a second to lock focus which is not a problem with the S21+.
10x
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S21 Plus
Ultra
S21 Plus
Ultra
I didn’t stop the camera comparison just yet because a small portion of me was curious about how much improvement the S21 cameras have against last year’s S20.
vs S20+
After going through the images, I found that the S21 didn’t have that extra pop in colors like the S20 which makes it look somewhat close to natural.
Normal (vs S20+)
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S21 Plus
S20+
S21 Plus
S20+
S21 Plus
S20+
It also has a good level of contrast that didn’t overcompensate for the shadow details.
Portrait (vs S20+)
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S21 Plus
S20+
S21 Plus
S20+
However, the portraits from the S21 have this usual yellow tone that makes them look unnatural.
Nighttime Images
Comparing the night time images, I found S21+ to have slightly better sharpness than the S20+ in the normal mode.
Nighttime (vs S20+)
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S21 Plus
S20+
S21 Plus
S20+
Wide-angle images from the normal mode on the other hand were better on the S20+. As you can see, the ultrawide-angle night time images from the S21+ has a lot more noticeable grains than the S20+.
Wideangle Nighttime
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S21 Plus
S20+
S21 Plus
S20+
S21 Plus
S20+
However, turning on the night mode, you can see the image signal processor of the Exynos 2100 bringing in more details and better exposure maintenance.
Wideangle Night Mode
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S21 Plus
S20+
S21 Plus
S20+
And it’s almost certain that we’ll see a few more updates from Samsung to make the S21’s camera even better.
Selfie Images
As for selfies, both the S20+ and the S21+ feature the same 10MP camera upfront. Although most of the things look almost identical, the S21 preserves the shadow details better and has a slightly better dynamic range.
Selfie (vs S20+)
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S21 Plus
S20+
S21 Plus
S20+
S21 Plus
S20+
But if you are someone who likes more contrast in pictures then you will favor selfies from the S20+.
Videography
In terms of videos, like with the S20+, you get up to 8k/24fps video recording here as well. Although the 8k videos this time are slightly better stabilized, it’s nowhere near the 4k/60fps footages as this one is not only better stabilized but gives vibrant colors with excellent dynamic range too.
However, I was hoping that this time Samsung would include a 4k/60ps video recording from the ultrawide sensor. But it seems like that is reserved for some other Samsung flagship of the future.
Audio
Stereo speaker setup tuned by AKG
Cameras aside, throughout the review, I also came to love the speaker on the Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+. Both phones feature the same stereo speaker setup tuned by AKG. And these are honestly some of the best speakers on a smartphone. Its audio reproduction has good details and sounds really balanced.
Conclusion
Having used all three devices in the S21 series for a week now, I think Samsung has done a really good job with price as well as the features to distinguish these 3 models.
But, I still think if you are planning on getting one of the S-series phones this year, it should be the S21 Ultra. It is just a much better phone—that is if you don’t mind the relatively bigger form-factor.
I still recommend the S21 and the S21+, but I think at this price segment, the upcoming Mi 11 and the OnePlus 9 series will give them a tough competition. And not to forget, Samsung will be launching the S21 Fan Edition in some 3 to 6 months’ time; which is bound to be a better value than these two phones.
Watch our video review of the Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+.
At the back, there is a 48MP primary sensor leading the rear camera setup. It is accompanied by two 2MP sensors for macro and portrait sensors. Completing the setup is a gimmicky AI lens. The four sensors along with the quad-LED flash are enclosed by a rectangular camera module. There is Corning Gorilla Glass to protect the cameras from getting scratched. On the front, there is an 8MP camera with a dual-LED flash.
![Galaxy S21 Ultra - Design [1]](https://cdn.gadgetbytenepal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Galaxy-S21-Ultra-Design-1.jpg)
![Galaxy S21 Ultra - Display [2]](https://cdn.gadgetbytenepal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Galaxy-S21-Ultra-Display-2.jpg)
![Galaxy S21 Ultra - Display [1]](https://cdn.gadgetbytenepal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Galaxy-S21-Ultra-Display-1.jpg)
![Galaxy S21+ S21 Plus - Display [1]](https://cdn.gadgetbytenepal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Galaxy-S21-Plus-Display-1.jpg)