Article Summary
Samsung has announced its newest flagship smartphone earlier than ever before:
- The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is available now in Canada
- The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G features upgraded hardware—including higher resolution, better cameras and S Pen support
- Pre-orders are available now and all models hit store shelves on January 29, 2021
- Receive a free SmartTag tracker and wireless Samsung earbuds with pre-orders
Samsung has released its latest flagship suite of smartphones, the Galaxy S21 5G series. This newest iteration of the fan-favorite phone builds on the revolutionary Samsung Galaxy S20 line-up introduced at the Samsung Unpacked event last year. The S21 series includes three models:
- Galaxy S20 5G
- Galaxy S21+ 5G
- Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G
Let's take a look at the Samsung Galaxy S21 family and help you find the best deal on buying a new phone and getting a new plan.
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G 128GB
| Description | |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 6.2" |
| Available On | 13 Plans from 2 carriers |
| Available From |
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| Priced From | $60 per month + $1,400 upfront |
| View Full Details |
Samsung's 2021 flagship device with a 6.2" flat FHD display, new 12MP + 12MP + 64MP triple rear cameras, up to 30x Space Zoom and 8K video
Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+ and S21 Ultra
Last year was big for Samsung smartphones, beginning 2020 by releasing Canada's first 5G-capable smartphones with the S20 5G series. By the end of the year, there were a dozen new devices on the market ranging from the low-cost Galaxy A series up to the best foldable phones, the Galaxy Z series.
All of these grand leaps in technology have seemingly taken a pause. The new Samsung Galaxy S21 family continues the tradition of offering the best-of-the-best performance in Android smartphones... but only by a bit. In fact, some features like display resolution have taken a step down. But there are still plenty of features for Canadians to love about the new Samsung Galaxy flagship smartphones. Here are some of our favourites.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Cameras
The first thing to notice is the metal framing around the rear camera array. Samsung's designers finally gave up trying to hide the bump and decided to celebrate it. The metal housing strengthens the case around the cameras, minimizing the chance of damage.
Every generation of Samsung Galaxy S smartphones features some of the best camera technology on the market, and the Galaxy S21 family is no different. Both the Galaxy S21 and larger S21+ take 12MP photos on primary cameras, 12MP photos in ultra-wide mode, and use a 64MP telephoto camera for capturing detail from far away. The front-facing camera is a 10MP shooter.
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G 128GB
| Description | |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 6.7" |
| Available On | 14 Plans from 3 carriers |
| Available From |
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| Priced From | $35 per month + $1,730 upfront |
| View Full Details |
Samsung's 2021 flagship device with a 6.7" flat FHD display, 12MP + 12MP + 64MP triple rear cameras, up to 30x Space Zoom and 8K video
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra upgrades nearly all the camera modules. The primary lens uses a second-generation 108MP chip for incredible detail in well-lit environments, and it can combine pixels to capture bright photos even when there's barely any light at all. The 12MP ultra-wide camera is the same found in the Galaxy S20/S20+, but the telephoto lenses are where things get interesting. By using dual telephoto cameras (one rated at 3x and the other at 10x), the intelligent Samsung hardware and software creates photos with up to 100x zoom.
Even the front-facing camera on the Galaxy S21 Ultra sports impressive specs, with a 40MP camera and software that takes better selfies than most cameras can do with their primary lens. The Samsung Galaxy S21 supports 12-bit HDR and 12-bit RAW files for truly professional photography from a device that fits in your pocket.
Every new Samsung Galaxy S21 model can record video up to 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps and 1080p@240fps slow-motion.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Displays
This is where things get weird. The new displays used on the Galaxy S21 and S21+ are both better and worse than last year's Galaxy S20 models. The 6.2" display on the Galaxy S21 and 6.7" display on the Galaxy S21+ still have the buttery-smooth 120Hz refresh rate that will forever spoil you for other smartphones. This year the displays use adaptive refresh rate down to 48Hz, significantly reducing the drain on your battery. It's brighter, too, with up to 1,300 nits. The Eye Comfort Shield software uses machine learning to reduce blue light wavelengths at night, making it easier for you to get to sleep.
One surprising downgrade is the resolution, which drops from QuadHD+ (3200x1440) down to HD+ (1080x2400). With 44% fewer pixels, this is another way Samsung has chosen to give your Android more battery life.
Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy Ultra retains the QuadHD+ resolution, cranks maximum brightness up to 1,500 nits—nearly 2x that of the iPhone 12 Pro. Adaptive refresh rate is also on the upgraded Galaxy S21 Ultra display, allowing it to reduce framerate to just 10Hz.
One more feature worth mentioning on the Galaxy S21 Ultra is new compatibility with the popular S Pen accessory. Normally found exclusively on the Galaxy Note series, the Samsung S Pen and upcoming S Pen Pro allow more detailed interaction with the display. Unlike the Galaxy Note series, though, there's no built-in S Pen holder. You'll need to buy a case that has one.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Price, Release Date and Pre-order Offers
The base model Samsung Galaxy S21 retails for $1,125 upfront in Canada. Other versions of the S21 are not currently available from Canadian carriers.
Free Pre-order Bonuses
All Samsung Galaxy S21 models will be available on January 29, 2021. We recommend pre-ordering now because Samsung will include the new Samsung Galaxy SmartTag tracker for free. In addition to the tracker, Galaxy S21/S21+ customers will receive a set of Galaxy Buds wireless earbuds, while new Galaxy S21 Ultra owners will get a set of the new Galaxy Buds Pro.
Samsung Galaxy Plans at Every Canadian Carrier
All Canadian Plans for the Galaxy S21, S21+ and S21 Ultra
WhistleOut is here to help you find the best plan for your Samsung Galaxy S21 and the most affordable way to buy the Galaxy S21 model that's best for you. We compare hundreds of plans from more than a dozen wireless carriers so don't have to.
Once on our plan search page, enter your address to see the best coverage, carriers and prices in your area. You can also choose how much you want to pay upfront—between $0 down and the full retail value.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Plans: 128GB - 256GB
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