Samsung’s Galaxy S21 is going to arrive surprisingly soon and not only has Samsung now confirmed the new models, we now also know they will have stunning new designs.
First up is Samsung, which was good enough to confirm the Galaxy S21 for the first time after the company submitted the phone for certification through China’s public 3C certification program. The certification confirms its model number is ‘SM-G9910’, the Galaxy S20’s model number is ‘SM-G981.
Next comes the juicy part. Famed smartphone leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer (aka @OnLeaks) has spilled the motherlode on his profile at new social network Voice. Across four separate posts, Hemmerstoffer has revealed Samsung’s new designs for the Galaxy S21, the Galaxy S21 Ultra as well as 360 degree videos of both phones. And there’s a lot to like.
The most eye-catching change is Samsung will equip the range with radically overhauled camera housings which subtly mold into the side of each phone. It’s unlike anything I have seen in smartphone design and looks stunning. That said, the Galaxy S21 Ultra camera housing is massive, taking up almost half the width of the phone, and it fits no less than four cameras plus the flash.
Interestingly, Hemmerstoffer notes that Samsung may fit two zoom cameras and does not rule out S-Pen support (which has been hotly tipped), though neither the Galaxy S21 nor the S21 Ultra have a dedicated slot for an S-Pen in their leaked designs.
In addition to this, Hemmerstoffer’s designs show steps both forwards and backwards. The Galaxy S21 Ultra is a big step forward with virtually no bezels, but the Galaxy S21 seems to have thicker (though more symmetrical) bezels than its predecessor. This could mean Samsung is continuing the unpopular policy introduced with the Galaxy Note 20 lineup of downgrading the entry-level model to upsell its more expensive stablemate.
In terms of dimensions, Hemmerstoffer reveals that the Galaxy S21 Ultra will have a display of between 6.7 and 6.9-inches (the S20 Ultra uses a 6.9-inch panel) and measures 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9mm (10.8mm with camera bump) – making it slightly smaller than its predecessor. While the Galaxy S21 matches the S20 with a 6.2-inch display and virtually identical measurements of 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9mm (9.0mm with camera bump).
And Hemmerstoffer closes by confirming the big news leaked earlier this week: Samsung will indeed step up the launch of these phones by several months. That said, he believes it will be early January rather than December. Either way, Apple’s new iPhone 12 range will face next generation smartphone competition a lot sooner than usual and, given that range has several eye-opening limitations, it’s a good time for Samsung to be more aggressive.
