Galaxy S21 vs. Galaxy S20: Digging into price, features and more

Recently, we got a very first main take a look at Samsung’s Galaxy S21 phone line at the business’s Unpacked occasion, on the last day of CES. The current variation of Samsung’s flagship Galaxy phone is the follower to the Galaxy S20 line, launched in 2020. If you remain in the marketplace for an upgrade, you may be questioning: Exactly what are the distinctions in between the 2 Galaxy phones? And is it worth it to invest $800 for an upgrade?

Here’s whatever you require to understand in the meantime about how the Galaxy S21 compares to the Galaxy S20. (Psst … here’s why now may be the worst time to purchase the Samsung Galaxy S20.) We selected a winner for each classification listed below based simply on specifications. For a more extensive take a look at Samsung’s brand-new phones, read our evaluations of the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Learn More: Galaxy S21 vs. S20 specifications compared: What Samsung altered in its brand-new phones

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The base Samsung Galaxy S21 consists of a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen with a 120Hz revitalize rate, a 4,000-mAh battery and 3 rear cam lenses, consisting of a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens. It operates on Android 11, and has a brand-new Snapdragon 888 processor. The phone gets a significant cost drop compared to its predecessor, beginning at $800 (₤ 769, AU$ 1,249).

Angela Lang/CNET

CNET provided the base Galaxy S20 a score of 8.7 out of 10, calling it the very best out of the S20 line. Our customer valued top-shelf functions such as a sharp screen and advanced cam abilities, however kept in mind that the beginning cost of $999 (₤ 799, AU$ 1,349) was a bit high for what you get. While the S21 is mainly comparable in functions, unless S20’s cost drops more, it appears worth it to update to the S21.

Style, screen size and weight

The Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S20 are exceptionally comparable when it concerns screens. Both function 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED screens, a 120Hz revitalize rate and an in-screen finger print sensing unit. The distinctions are reasonably little: The S21 has a pixel density of 421 ppi, compared to the S20’s 563 ppi. The S21 is likewise a little much heavier, at 6.03 ounces, while the S20 weighs 5.75 ounces.

The 2 phones likewise seem near similar in style. The only significant distinction in look is the rear cam module– on the S21, it has a metal overlay. Both phones are IP68-rated for water and dust resistance. Neither phone has an earphone jack.

In regards to colors, the Galaxy S21 can be found in pastels called phantom violet, phantom gray, phantom pink and phantom white (other colors are readily available for the S21 Plus and Ultra designs). The Galaxy S20 is readily available in cosmic gray, cloud blue, cloud pink and cosmic black.

Winner: Tie