Samsung is anticipated to reveal its Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra smartphones in January, but how will the new generation compare to the current crop of iPhones? We look at the rumors for Apple’s biggest rival.
Samsung is anticipated to reveal its Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra smartphones in January, but how will the new generation compare to the current crop of iPhones? We look at the rumors for Apple’s biggest rival. While fall is synonymous with Apple events revealing new iPhone models, the spring is associated with the same sort of product launches from Samsung, as it reveals the newest Galaxy S-models. Just like the iPhone, Samsung’s latest models are often the subject of rumors and speculation for how the South Korean electronics giant will compete against the recently-launched Apple smartphones. With the launch of the 5G-equipped iPhone 12 range, including the compact iPhone 12 mini and the two iPhone 12 Pro models with LiDAR, Samsung has a lot to contend with for its early 2021 launches. Here’s what we believe Samsung will be launching, based on the rumors and leaks that have already surfaced, and how they could compare against their Apple counterparts. A January launch for the models was previously leaked, though more recent murmurings claim the launch will take place on January 14th, followed by a release in the following weeks. The timing is a change for Samsung as typically it waits for February and March to coincide with Mobile World Congress, but this time the launch may happen on the last day of CES 2021. If the timing is correct, it is plausible Samsung will go for a traditional launch event at CES itself, rather than following Apple into creating prerecorded presentations. While Apple’s iPhone range consists of four models, Samsung is thought to instead offer three models to consumers: the Galaxy S21, the Galaxy S21 Plus, and Galaxy S21 Ultra. The count may fewer than Apple’s roster, but while there is a distinctive difference when you move from the non-Pro models to the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, it seems that Samsung won’t be doing the same sort of thing with its models. There will still be differences as you go up the range, but arguably not at the same sort of volume as Apple’s versions. Of the three, the Galaxy S21 stands to be the entry-level model, with the S21 Plus offering a larger and slightly enhanced version. The S21 Ultra serves as Samsung’s „Pro“ variant, with the biggest size and better specifications in some elements. Rumors generally point to the S21 as having a 6.2-inch OLED display, which makes it relatively comparable with the 6.1-inch screens of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro in terms of size. As the smallest of the range, it’s not quite at the 5.4-inch size of the iPhone 12 mini, but Samsung does tend to err towards the larger form factor. The middle S21+ is expected to have a 6.7-inch screen, putting it toe-to-toe with the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Meanwhile, at the high end of the range, the S21 Ultra is tipped to have a 6.8-inch display, exceeding Apple’s range. The resolutions of each model are also thought to be FHD+ on the S21 and S21+, equating to 2,220 by 1,080 pixels. This would put them as having resolutions below that of the iPhone 12 mini at 2,340×1080, while the iPhone 12 and Pro sport 2,532 by 1,170 resolutions. On the Ultra model, it is expected to have a WQHD+ resolution, which is 2,960 by 1,440. This is far higher than the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s 2,778 x 1,284 resolution. The lower comparable resolutions of the S21 and S21+ could be beneficial in extending battery life for the models, albeit at the cost of pixel density. The Ultra would have a pixel density relatively comparable to the iPhone 12 Pro Max, given its slightly larger size. Where Samsung may pull ahead from Apple is in the technologies used in the displays, especially considering Samsung invests heavily into research and development as a major screen supplier. This could potentially include an improved refresh rate. While Apple’s iPhones continue to operate at 60Hz, though with rumors proposing 120Hz ProMotion refresh rates could arrive with the „iPhone 13,“ Samsung may beat Apple to the punch. All three models are speculated to include the ability to run at 120Hz, with the Ultra potentially offering an adaptive variant that could run at lower rates to reduce battery load. There may also be some variation on how the screen feels, with the Ultra said to have a curved screen while the others use flat versions.
