Samsung Galaxy S21 is the right choice for all the right reasons. What that means is the compromises Samsung has made with the Galaxy S21 seem big but they aren’t that big of a deal when it comes to the practical aspect of the smartphone.

I like the ergonomics of the S21 and much prefer Google and Android email apps to that of the iPhone.

While I understand the reasons, the life cycle of firmware support for Android phones is shorter than I would prefer and not as good as the iPhone

When Samsung introduced the Galaxy S21, it made an incredibly rare move in the high-end smartphone space: It lowered its prices. The Galaxy S21 5G series — across the board — debuts for $200 less than the launch prices of the Galaxy S20 phones. Faced with the reality that Galaxy S20 sales were markedly lower than that of both the S9 and S10, and that 2021 may not end up being as economically stable as originally hoped, this seems like the right move. But Samsung isn’t making this move out of charity — it’s choosing to lower the price to hopefully boost sales, and will make plenty of money on each phone sold regardless. The reality of these prices is that the Galaxy S21 and S21+ aren’t full upgrades over the S20 series phones they replace — and that has smartphone enthusiasts left scratching their heads. On the face of it, there is simply no reason for anyone with a Galaxy S20 to consider buying an S21. Samsung certainly knew this going in, considering it is well aware that a vast major...

Slick and colorful hardware; Excellent display; Improved fingerprint sensor; Lower price leads to great value;

Plastic back on base S21; Not a 2021 flagship camera experience; Galaxy S21+ value disappointing at $1,000;

“The Galaxy S21 makes a smart bet on value with a lower starting price, but in doing so feels stuck in 2020. A good phone, but not a particularly exciting one.”

Slick and colorful hardware; Excellent display; Improved fingerprint sensor; Lower price leads to great value

Plastic back on base S21; Not a 2021 flagship camera experience; Galaxy S21+ value disappointing at $1,000

Aside from a rejuvenated design and the obligatory spec bump, the Galaxy S21 does little to improve upon or surpass its predecessor (and in some areas steps backwards). That said, as ever this year's S21 has everything you'll likely want and need in a high-end 2021 smartphone, without pushing the...

Improved battery life; Superb performance; Decent software; Nice design

Cameras are relatively unchanged; Some downgrades from S20; No charger may irk some

There's a lift in design for the Galaxy S21, resulting in a phone that looks fresh and exciting, and a great display, offering adaptive refresh rates. While there's plenty of power - and a flagship performance - the camera doesn't reach the highs that you get from the Galaxy S21 Ultra, leaving this...

Distinctive design; Waterproofing; Great display; Smooth and powerful performance; Decent battery life

No microSD card slot; Camera performance could be better; Easily undercut by the S20 FE

The Samsung Galaxy S21 packs plenty of power into its small stature and sets the stage for better 5G phone performance in the future.

Hand-friendly form factor; Bright; colorful screen; Better Night photo mode than previous Samsung phones; Supports future 5G network features

5G battery life is just on the edge of acceptable; Future network features don't exist yet

Rather than offer essentially the same top-tier phone at different sizes, Samsung has chosen to get aggressive on price this year. The Galaxy S21 starts at $799.99 for the smaller version with a 6.2-inch screen and $999.99 for the Plus version with a 6.7-inch display.

Fast processor; Nice screen; Good battery life

Samsung bloatware; Competition will undercut price; No microSD storage expansion

Not everyone wants (or can afford) a Merc. The Galaxy S21 is for people who need something great but also practical....

Fair price Great design Solid camera system Powerful processor

No in-box charger Mediocre fast charging No expandable storage

The Samsung Galaxy S21 is one of the best value smartphones available for purchase today but may not be the upgrade some were hoping for.

Vibrant 120Hz AMOLED display; Refined and versatile cameras; Great hardware and software performance; Far more affordable

Little reason to upgrade over the Samsung Galaxy S20; No microSD card support; No supplied plug charger