Samsung unveils the Galaxy S21 and S21+ -- its (more) affordable flagship devices

At this year’s Samsung Unpacked event, the South Korean tech giant introduced its latest S Series of flagship smartphones. The Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+ sport a new design, advanced processors, and upgraded cameras.

The Galaxy S21 has a light design and compact 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O display (2400x1080, 421 ppi) with adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, while the Galaxy S21+ sports an expanded 6.7-inch screen (2400x1080, 394 ppi) and larger battery.

The phones are powered by a Snapdragon 888 processor, with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage for the base models.

There are a trio of cameras -- a 12MP standard wide camera with f/1.8 aperture, 12MP ultra-wide with a 120-degree field of view, and a 64MP telephoto shooter. Both flagships have an all-new Contour Cut Camera housing on the left.

There's an improved 8K Snap feature which lets you grab sharp images from your 8K video footage, and a new Director’s View lets you see, switch, and select the best shot.

The phones also come with an all-new Private Share function that lets you control who gets access to the content you send, and how long it’s available for.

"We are living in a mobile-first world, and with so many of us working remotely and spending more time at home, we wanted to deliver a smartphone experience that meets the rigorous multimedia demands of our continuously changing routines," said TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. "We also recognize the importance of choice, especially now, and that’s why the Galaxy S21 series gives you the freedom to choose the best device for your style and needs."

The phones are on sale from January 29, with the S21 priced from $800, and the S21+ from $1,000. Both prices are $200 less than the S20 and S20+ went for at launch.

The S21 is available in Phantom Violet (Samsung’s new signature color), Phantom Gray, Phantom Pink and Phantom White, while the S21+ comes in Phantom Violet, Phantom Silver and Phantom Black. Both phones can also be had in Phantom Gold and Phantom Red if bought through the Samsung site.

The full specs are as follows:

For anyone who requires something a little more powerful, there's also the larger Galaxy S21 Ultra, which boasts a 6.8 inch screen (3200x1440, 515 ppi), better cameras, more RAM and storage, S-Pen support and a $1200+ price tag. It's available in Phantom Black and Phantom Silver only (for now).