Did the Samsung S21 Represent a Leap Forward in Camera Quality?
For years, Samsung has succeeded in developing smartphones with high-quality cameras. It is no surprise that a growing number of photography enthusiasts choose Samsung, especially devices in the Galaxy S series.
According to reports at the time, Samsung was set to introduce a new device in this product line on January 14: the Samsung Galaxy S21. Was it worth trading in your old phone for this new Samsung model? Put another way, did Samsung manage to surprise photographers with an improved camera once again? This article takes a closer look.
Camera Improvements in the Galaxy S21 Ultra
Anyone buying a new phone primarily for an improved camera would choose the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Of the models expected at the time, the Ultra appeared to offer the biggest improvement over its predecessors. Samsung equipped the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s camera with a new ISOCELL sensor, replacing the ISOCELL HM2 with the ISOCELL HM3.
This new sensor was expected to produce even sharper photos and more natural-looking colors, based on sample images said to have been taken with the device.
One notable change was the absence of a ToF sensor in the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, even though its predecessor included one.
Few Improvements for the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus
Judging purely by their cameras, the Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus appeared somewhat disappointing. Their cameras were not substantially improved over the models released in 2020. There may have been very subtle refinements, but the question was whether photographers would notice them.
This was consistent with what several blogs wrote about the new devices: for Samsung phone cameras, it was an interim year rather than a major upgrade cycle.
Better Battery and Faster Processor
Where did the Samsung Galaxy S21 and Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus improve? The processor received a significant upgrade and was faster than the one in the Samsung Galaxy S20 (Plus).
The phones also featured an improved battery. Its capacity was nearly 10% greater than that of the previous models: 4.300 mAh versus 4.000 mAh.
