For all the features and figures Samsung showed off during the first Unpacked of 2021, it missed a few key details out
Samsung’s first Unpacked press event of 2021 introduced the Galaxy S21 series to the world, along with the wealth of new technology and functionality that they bring to the table. However, for all the facts, figures and features shown off during the presentation – Samsung failed to touch on a few key aspects of its new flagships (and new accessories), which have since come to light by digging through product pages and asking the company directly. Perhaps one of the biggest unmentioned aspects of the S21 line during Unpacked was that while the fronts of all three phones and the backs of the S21+ and S21 Ultra come dressed in Corning’s latest Gorilla Glass Victus, the base S21 sports a reinforced polycarbonate back instead – that’s plastic to you and me. Samsung made the same move last year with the base Galaxy Note 20 and the Note 20 Ultra, but the decision to omit mention of this difference during the launch is what stands out. There’s nothing inherently bad about opting for plastic over glass – it makes a device more lightweight, it’s more impact resistant and allows for greater colour control – but Samsung is almost knowingly embarrassed or worried about being called out for the material difference. Last year we bashed Samsung for locking users into choosing between enjoying content at the S20 range’s native WQHD+ resolution or its maximum supported 120Hz refresh rate, this year, Samsung has taken that choice out of users’ hands entirely.
