Droid Life

Galaxy Buds Pro Now Available for $200

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 20:33:08 GMT

The freshly announced Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro with their fancy ANC and studio sound quality and water resistance are now available for purchase. The Galaxy S21 line may not arrive for another few weeks, but the new Buds Pro are already here.

Available for $199.99 in black, white, or purple, these Buds Pro should be a solid upgrade over the Galaxy Buds+ from last year. With ANC, you’ll get to block out the sounds around you and immerse yourself in audio heaven. You can enjoy life like that for 5+ hours at a time, switch devices with ease, and allow the 11-mm woofer and 6.5-mm tweeter dominate your world.

Samsung is offering up discounts on the Galaxy Buds Pro if you pre-order the Galaxy S21, but you may not get them until your S21 ships. If you want them now, Samsung, Amazon, and Best Buy stores are all selling them today.

Buy Galaxy Buds Pro from Samsung

Read the original post: Galaxy Buds Pro Now Available for $200

Verizon Galaxy Note 10 Lineup Receiving Android 11 (One UI 3.0) Update

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 20:05:26 GMT

Verizon customers that own a Galaxy Note 10 device are beginning to receive the Android 11 update, leaving those with a Galaxy Z Fold 2 steaming mad. We’re waiting, Samsung! Anyway, One UI 3.0, based on Android 11, is headed out for sure to the Galaxy Note 10+, as confirmed by multiple owners in the community. It’s also a safe bet that it’s rolling out to the Galaxy Note 10, but we have a feeling there aren’t as many owners of that device out there. While we wait for official word from Verizon, here’s the info we have.

For the Galaxy Note 10+, the update is labeled as software version N975USQU5ETLL. For the Galaxy Note 10, it’s labeled as N970USQU5ETLL.

The security patch is labeled as December for those that keep track of that stuff, and for those looking to know what’s in this update, we have that information here.

Samsung keeps trucking along with Android 11, which is a great thing.

// reddit

Cheers Kevin and Darren!

Read the original post: Verizon Galaxy Note 10 Lineup Receiving Android 11 (One UI 3.0) Update

Galaxy S21 Default Messaging Experience is Way Better Outside US

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 17:10:41 GMT

It was detailed yesterday that the Galaxy S21 lineup would come preloaded with Google’s Messages app, which has become a very solid app for texting, complete with RCS functionalities. The experience is said to be more “native” on the S21 models, with optimizations made to make it feel more a part of One UI, and in addition, it was made the default messaging app on the phones. For Samsung, who has always loved using its own apps for this sort of thing, this is a big deal.

There’s a big problem, though, as this native experience is only available to Galaxy S21 units outside of the US. WTF, folks.

No specific reason is known why Samsung is keeping its own messaging app as the default in the US, but the move was confirmed yesterday by Google’s Hiroshi Lockheimer. While it would have been nice to have a uniform messaging experience across Android devices, an upside exists in the fact that Samsung’s messaging app also supports RCS and it is probable that most Galaxy owners are quite familiar with it by this point.

There’s nothing to stop any Galaxy S21 buyers from installing Google Messages, but it doesn’t look like it’ll be this new “native” experience that’s referenced. Oh well.

// 9to5Google | Engadget

Read the original post: Galaxy S21 Default Messaging Experience is Way Better Outside US

Podcast: The Galaxy S21 Kicks Off 2021

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 16:20:02 GMT

For this episode of the Droid Life Show, we’re returning from a long and much-needed break to kickoff 2021 with the Galaxy S21. All three S21 models are now official, as are the Galaxy Buds Pro, and that leaves us with a lot to talk about.

We’ll also dive into this year’s weird online CES, Google completing its acquisition of Fitbit, and well, we’ll most just talk Samsung stuff.

We’ll be live at 10:00AM Pacific (1:00PM Eastern).

Read the original post: Podcast: The Galaxy S21 Kicks Off 2021

Getting a Galaxy S21 at $700 Off From Samsung is Probably the Best Deal

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 15:00:32 GMT

With each new phone release, Samsung continues to offer the best deal out of the gate because of their instant discount trade-in program. That doesn’t change with the Galaxy S21 launch, where you can get up to $700 off today if you pre-order.

At $700 off, we’re talking about a $1,200 Galaxy S21 Ultra for $500, a $1,000 Galaxy S21+ for $300, or an $800 Galaxy S21 for $100. Knowing the specs of these phones, those are incredible prices.

Best Galaxy S21 pre-order deal

For those not familiar, Samsung’s trade-in program gets you money off of your purchase at the time of purchase, unlike most trade-in programs that send you money after the fact. Samsung asks for information about your trade, values it, gives you that value as an instant discount, then confirms after you get your new phone that you weren’t lying and signs-off. Most trade-in programs do it the opposite, where they tell you an amount they’ll give you down the road, asking that you pay full price upfront.

Of course, since this is a trade-in program, the phone you have to trade is the most important piece here. To get the full $700 off a Galaxy S21 Ultra, you need a newer phone. With that said, even a slightly older phone will still fetch a lot of cash, as the values tend to be increased by Samsung for launch.

Here’s the list of phones that’ll get you $700 off:

Samsung: Galaxy Note 20, Note 20 Ultra, S20, S20+, S20 Ultra
Apple: iPhone 12, 12 Mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max

Since that’s a short list, here are the devices that will still get you $550 off:

Samsung: Galaxy Note 10, Note 10 5G, Note 10+, Galaxy S10, S10+, S10e, S10 5G, Galaxy S20 FE
Apple: iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, iPhone XS, XS Max

From there, values drop to $350 where you’ll find Google’s Pixel 4, Samsung’s Galaxy S9, and phones that probably aren’t worth $350, yet are because Samsung wants to sell a lot of Galaxy S21 devices.

Samsung has all models listed as a part of this trade-in program, so that means you can buy unlocked or from a carrier like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. the $700-off discount applies to different storage models as well, making that 512GB S21 Ultra a bit more attainable.

Pre-order Bonus

As an added bonus for pre-ordering, Samsung is tossing in an instant credit you can spend up to $200. They are also giving everyone one of their new Samsung SmartTag trackers ($30 value).

Again, these pre-order trade-in values don’t last long, so hit that link below.

Pre-order Galaxy S21 and get $700 off

Read the original post: Getting a Galaxy S21 at $700 Off From Samsung is Probably the Best Deal

Samsung Sure Cut a Lot to Keep Prices Down on the Galaxy S21

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 14:30:08 GMT

To kickoff another new year, Samsung has once again unveiled its new Galaxy S phone series, this time as the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra. The phones all feature a bunch of next-gen features wrapped in unique designs that showcase their powerful cameras. But maybe most importantly, all three are accompanied by prices that land $200 lower than their predecessors.

Lower prices are almost never a thing we’ll complain about, so this post is probably already going against any sort of consistency we never admitted to having. We kind of have to do this, though. Those price reductions from the Galaxy S20 to this year’s Galaxy S21 sure brought in a handful of cuts.

As you all debate whether or not you want to buy one, you should at least be aware of the areas that don’t quite match-up to last year’s Galaxy S20 series. There aren’t just 2 or 3, by the way, and you might be somewhat surprised at how long this list is.

Only full HD or 1080p displays in S21, S21+

The Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+ feature high-res AMOLED flat displays with variable refresh rates that top out at 120Hz. Samsung says they are way brighter, feature dramatically improved contrast, and they should help reduce eye fatigue. I’m just going out on the most obvious limb here when I say that these displays will more than likely be awesome to stare at all day, every day.

However, they top out at 1080p. The resolution for each display is 2400×1080, which for most people will be perfectly fine. I’m one of those guys who kept last year’s S20 at 1080p for the 120Hz refresh rate and loved every second of it, even if I could have cranked it up to QHD. I use a Pixel 5 still today with its 1080p panel and have no complaints. 1080p is fine!

But look, Samsung’s S series is the king phone series that has for so many years been known for offering the ultimate in everything. There are going to be QHD bros in your community who will not be happy that they can’t take a 1440p screenshot.

Is a 1080p display a dealbreaker? Sh*t no. But it is a cut!

There’s no expandable storage or microSD slot

With storage options that range from 128GB up to 512GB, the Galaxy S21 line should give most people plenty of storage to last them for a couple of years. But what if you can only afford the 128GB model? And what if that ends up not being enough with all of the 8K videos Samsung wants you to record? I have bad news for you – for the first time since the Galaxy S6, Samsung has taken away the microSD slot in their Galaxy S line.

That’s right, you won’t find expandable storage in the S21 series. The storage you get at checkout is all the storage you’ll have through the life of your Galaxy S21 phone. Choose wisely, my friends.

A RAM reduction

For the performance crowd, or those who need to have 35 applications stored in memory at all times, be aware that the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+ top out at 8GB RAM this year. The Galaxy S20 and S20+ both featured 12GB RAM in the US and there is no option to increase it with the S21. The Galaxy S21 Ultra at least kept its 12GB or 16GB options.

To a bunch of us, assuming we aren’t all hardcore smartphone multitaskers, this may not matter. Either way, it’s another cut.

Regular S21 is plastic

Glass all over the back of a smartphone has been a terrible idea from day 1. Glass is not premium. Glass is fragile and a pain in the ass to take care of, especially for a multi-year period. With that said, the industry has come to expect glass in its high-end phones, particularly when they are asked to pay close to a thousand dollars for them. After all, glass does feel really nice in the hand.

The Galaxy S21 has a plastic rear cover and that could be offensive to some. Again, I think glass sucks and the plastic doesn’t bother me in the least. I’m still loving my plastic coated “metal” Pixel 5, liked the OnePlus Nord, and actually hope that others will find ways to include premium-feeling plastic more often. I just bought a regular Galaxy S21 knowing that it is plastic.

But again, it’s technically another cut. Oh and if I didn’t make this clear enough, the S21+ and S21 Ultra have glass backsides.

S21+ loses a camera

This one falls into the category of “Who cares?” but you should still have knowledge of the fact that the Galaxy S21+ has one less camera than the Galaxy S20+. This year, Samsung gave the S21 and S21+ the exact same camera setup, whereas last year the S20+ had an extra depth sensor. I’m going to assume it did next to nothing, but it is gone now.

A cut!

MST is gone and NFC is the king

You know that super sweet payment technology that Samsung has utilized for years that let you pay with your phone even if a payment terminal didn’t have NFC? That technology was called MST or Magnetic Secure Transmission and it was truly brilliant during those early mobile payment days where NFC wasn’t quite at every mom and pop shop.

For the Galaxy S21 line, Samsung told ArsTechnica’s Ron Amadeo that it is gone and likely won’t be back. Their reasoning is that NFC is now everywhere and so that’s where their focus will be. Previously released devices with MST will be able to continue using MST, though.

This one I sort of get, but also, it seems like a silly omission that could have easily been there without much of a price adjustment.

No charger!

You are already well aware of this, but the Galaxy S21 line does not come with a phone charger. Instead, you get a USB-C cable, SIM tray removal tool, and some guides. You’ll be OK.

A lot of cuts, still good phones?

Knowing about all of those cuts, you have to ask things like, “Are any of these phones still worth buying?” or “Are they good values?” I’d argue that the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+ are, mostly because I think the Snapdragon 888 will really keep performance humming along even with the reduction in RAM, that the cameras will be improved through software and with the help of the 888, that battery life is aided by the choice to keep the displays at 1080p (which is also more than enough resolution), and that NFC truly is almost everywhere.

As for the Galaxy S21 Ultra, Samsung didn’t really cut any corners there and still managed to reduce the price by $200. So yeah, if you want the king phone, it’s still going to be the choice.

What do you think – too many cuts or are you liking the new prices?

Read the original post: Samsung Sure Cut a Lot to Keep Prices Down on the Galaxy S21

AT&T Launching 5G+ in US Airports, Tampa International is First

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 22:38:16 GMT

AT&T is continuing its rollout of 5G+, but instead of some random city block, it’s bringing it to select airport gates and terminals in the US. The first to get in on this speedy 5G+ action is Tampa International Airport, right in time for this year’s Super Bowl festivities.

As detailed by AT&T, “The multi-year effort will cover major gate and concession spaces at select U.S. airports, where travelers and airport employees have the greatest need when accessing mobile applications and entertainment with a 5G+ capable device.”

Clearly, AT&T has a feeling that once more folks start getting the COVID-19 vaccine, we’ll see an uptick in travelers.

We don’t have super detailed specifics on which gates or terminals will offer 5G+, but once we get our hands on that info, we’ll update this post.

// AT&T

Read the original post: AT&T Launching 5G+ in US Airports, Tampa International is First

Pixel 2 Owners See End of Original Quality Google Photos Perk, Pixel 3 has a Year

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 22:08:17 GMT

Unlimited original quality uploads to Google Photos was without a doubt one of the best perks of the early Pixel phones. The original Pixel had it, as did the Pixel 2 and Pixel 3. Unfortunately, we knew that perk wasn’t a forever bonus and that it would eventually come to end for those two phones.

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are about to lose unlimited original quality uploads to Google Photos in two days, after January 16. If you haven’t been uploading in original quality through your Pixel 2 or have a trove of photos on a PC that needs to be backed up, you should hurry up and do that. Once January 17 hits, you’ll be switched to high quality uploads, unless you manually choose original quality and don’t mind filling up your Google One space even quicker.

For Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL owners, you have 1 year remaining on your unlimited original backups. Google Photos has started notifying Pixel owners of the future change, which will switch uploads over to high quality after January 31, 2022.

As a reminder, even though Google recently switched its high quality Google Photos backup policy to start counting towards your Google storage, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 are exempt from that. Once the original quality benefit goes away, Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 owners will still be able to upload for free in high quality.

// Google Support

Cheers Daniel!

Read the original post: Pixel 2 Owners See End of Original Quality Google Photos Perk, Pixel 3 has a Year

Samsung Sure Cut a Lot to Keep Prices Down on the Galaxy S21

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 20:32:08 GMT

Only full HD or 1080p displays in S21, S21+

Is a 1080p display a dealbreaker? Sh*t no. But it is a cut!

There’s no expandable storage or microSD slot

A RAM reduction

To a bunch of us, assuming we aren’t all hardcore smartphone multitaskers, this may not matter. Either way, it’s another cut.

Regular S21 is plastic

But again, it’s technically another cut. Oh and if I didn’t make this clear enough, the S21+ and S21 Ultra have glass backsides.

S21+ loses a camera

A cut!

MST is gone and NFC is the king

This one I sort of get, but also, it seems like a silly omission that could have easily been there without much of a price adjustment.

No charger!

You are already well aware of this, but the Galaxy S21 line does not come with a phone charger. Instead, you get a USB-C cable, SIM tray removal tool, and some guides. You’ll be OK.

A lot of cuts, still good phones?

As for the Galaxy S21 Ultra, Samsung didn’t really cut any corners there and still managed to reduce the price by $200. So yeah, if you want the king phone, it’s still going to be the choice.

What do you think – too many cuts or are you liking the new prices?

Read the original post: Samsung Sure Cut a Lot to Keep Prices Down on the Galaxy S21

Thursday Poll: Are You Buying a Galaxy S21?

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 19:50:06 GMT

There’s a handful of new devices available for pre-order from Samsung this morning, and the question is, are you picking one up? For options, there’s the $799 Galaxy S21, $999 Galaxy S21+, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra at $1199. All three appear to be good devices, but we can’t say for sure since we weren’t fortunate enough to get one from Samsung.

If you need to know about specs and features, you can find all of that info right here, but what we’re looking for is your instant reaction. If you’re still on the fence, let us know what you’re debating down in the comments.

So, are you picking up the new Galaxy S21?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Read the original post: Thursday Poll: Are You Buying a Galaxy S21?

Getting a Galaxy S21 at $700 Off From Samsung is Probably the Best Deal

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 17:53:32 GMT

At $700 off, we’re talking about a $1,200 Galaxy S21 Ultra for $500, a $1,000 Galaxy S21+ for $300, or an $800 Galaxy S21 for $100. Knowing the specs of these phones, those are incredible prices.

Best Galaxy S21 pre-order deal

Here’s the list of phones that’ll get you $700 off:

Samsung: Galaxy Note 20, Note 20 Ultra, S20, S20+, S20 Ultra
Apple: iPhone 12, 12 Mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max

Since that’s a short list, here are the devices that will still get you $550 off:

Samsung: Galaxy Note 10, Note 10 5G, Note 10+, Galaxy S10, S10+, S10e, S10 5G, Galaxy S20 FE
Apple: iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, iPhone XS, XS Max

Pre-order Bonus

As an added bonus for pre-ordering, Samsung is tossing in an instant credit you can spend up to $200. They are also giving everyone one of their new Samsung SmartTag trackers ($30 value).

Again, these pre-order trade-in values don’t last long, so hit that link below.

Pre-order Galaxy S21 and get $700 off

Read the original post: Getting a Galaxy S21 at $700 Off From Samsung is Probably the Best Deal

Samsung Turning New Phones Into Digital Car Keys

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 17:41:29 GMT

Samsung announced today at its Unpacked event that it’s working with a few top automakers to turn its newest phones into digital car keys. That means at some point in the future, when you’re being chased by an axe murderer, you won’t have to worry about jangling your keys about like a dummy, as you’ll instead drop your phone and crack the screen and be totally dead.

More seriously, the way this works is pretty sweet. Samsung’s UWB-enabled digital key sends short pulses between the mobile device and the paired car, unlocking the door once you reach it. Those pulses of data contain precise distance calculations. Should the device you’re using not feature UWB, users will be able to use a compatible smartphone as a car key through NFC.

According to Samsung, the first devices to offer UWB Digital Key will be the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 2, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra. Additionally, the NFC Digital Key is supported by the Galaxy S20 and above.

Samsung says it’s working with Audi, BMW, Ford, and Genesis to get this working. No word on specific models yet, but my fingers are crossed the new Ford Bronco will be included. It’s noted that the cars will need to be equipped with either NFC or UWB and be compatible to the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) digital key standard.

For timing, Samsung specifically says that the feature will be available after August, 2021.

// Samsung

Read the original post: Samsung Turning New Phones Into Digital Car Keys

Where to Buy a Samsung Galaxy S21 Smartphone

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 16:40:57 GMT

Now that the Galaxy S21 lineup is official, let’s say you’re ready to take the leap. Luckily for you, there’s no shortage of options when it comes to where you can buy one, as Samsung is by far the most popular Android OEM on the market. You can pick one up from big box retailers, a US carrier, or from Samsung itself. Below, we’ll have links to where you can purchase one, as well as what promotions you can expect to find.

Enjoy your new phone!

Samsung

Galaxy S21 ($22.23/month for 36 months, $799 full retail)
Galaxy S21+ ($27.78/month for 36 months, $999 full retail)
Galaxy S21 Ultra ($33.34/month for 36 months, $1,199 full retail)

Samsung Promotions

Between January 14 and January 28, 2021, consumers who pre-order can get $200 Samsung Credit with a Galaxy S21 Ultra.
All pre-orders will also include a free Galaxy SmartTag. With the Galaxy SmartTag Bluetooth locator, consumers can keep track of everything that matters. They can attach it to their keys, bag, pet or anything they want to keep tabs on. The promotion will last for a limited time and only while supplies last.
Consumers can get a Galaxy S21 Ultra for $13.89 a month for 36 months, with eligible trade-in value up to $700 on Samsung’s website.

Verizon

Galaxy S21 ($33/month for 24 months, $799 full retail)
Galaxy S21+ ($33/month for 30 months, $999 full retail)
Galaxy S21 Ultra ($40/month for 30 months, $1199 full retail)

Verizon Promotions

Switch to Verizon and get a 128GB Galaxy S21+ 5G for free with select trade-in and select Unlimited plans (Above, Beyond, Play, Do and Get), or save up to $1,000 on any Galaxy S21 when you switch and trade-in an eligible device with a select Unlimited plan.
Current customers can save $600 on a Galaxy S21 series phone with select trade-in on select Unlimited plans.
Buy any Samsung Galaxy S21 and get another select model for free, or save up to $1,000 on another Galaxy S21 series phone with select Unlimited plans when you add a new line.
Get the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 starting at $199.99, when you buy any Samsung Galaxy S21.
Buy a Samsung Galaxy S21 on select Unlimited plans and get $100 Verizon Dollars when you open a Verizon Visa Card account during checkout. Plus, get up to $100 in credit applied over the first 24 months when you use the Verizon Visa Card to pay your wireless bill every month.

AT&T

Galaxy S21 ($26.67/month, $799 full retail)
Galaxy S21+ ($33.34/month, $999 full retail)
Galaxy S21 Ultra ($40/month, $1,199 full retail)

AT&T Promotions

New and existing AT&T customers can get up to $800 off any device in the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G series when they trade-in an eligible device and buy on a 30-month installment plan with an AT&T unlimited plan. That means they can get the Galaxy S21 for free, the Galaxy S21+ for $199.99 or the Galaxy S21 Ultra for $399.99.

T-Mobile

Galaxy S21 ($33.34/month for 24 months, $799 full retail)
Galaxy S21+ ($41.67/month for 24 months, $999 full retail)
Galaxy S21 Ultra ($50/month for 24 months, $1,199 full retail)

T-Mobile Promotions

Save $800 (or get one free) when you activate 2+ qualifying voice lines on an eligible plan to be used with your new devices (or add a line to an existing plan). Free device comes in form of bill credits.

Best Buy

Both Sprint and Verizon units available from Best Buy

Galaxy S21 ($799)
Galaxy S21+ ($999)
Galaxy S21 Ultra ($1,199)

Read the original post: Where to Buy a Samsung Galaxy S21 Smartphone

Galaxy S21 Doesn’t Come With a Charger: Will You be OK?

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 15:33:39 GMT

Yes, you will be OK.

Read the original post: Galaxy S21 Doesn’t Come With a Charger: Will You be OK?

Galaxy Buds Pro, Equipped With ANC, Official at $199

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 15:00:39 GMT

Samsung’s newest wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation (ANC) have finally arrived, the Galaxy Buds Pro, priced at $199 and available starting today on Samsung’s website.

Obviously, the addition of ANC is what will draw most to these buds, but it’s not the only thing that’s intriguing about them. Also detailed for the Galaxy Buds Pro is a new feature that allows the earbuds to automatically recognize when a conversation is taking place. For example, you’re listening to tunes and walk up to a barista, you can simply start having your discussion and the earbuds will turn your music down and amplify surrounding sound automatically. That’s pretty sweet, people.

Another tweak Samsung mentions the ability to automatically toggle connections between Galaxy smartphones and tablets, no manual adjustments required. For example, if you’re watching a video on your Galaxy Tab S7, then receive a call on your Galaxy S21, the new Auto Switch feature will pause the video and let you answer the phone using Galaxy Buds Pro. Once the call is ended, the earbuds instantly switch back to your tablet and the video plays again, and you can hear the sound with your earbuds.

For specs, the Galaxy Buds Pro offer IPX7 water resistance, a dual speaker system (11mm woofer + 6.5mm tweeter), Bluetooth 5.0, three microphones, ANC (up to 99% of external background noise), plus some respectable battery life. According to Samsung’s marketing, users can expect up to 18 hours of playback (with included case) with both ANC and Bixby voice wake enabled and up to 28 hours of playback (with included case) with those features disabled. On a single charge, Samsung says you can expect 5 hours of playback when using ANC or Bixby voice wake-up.

You can purchase your own pair of Galaxy Buds Pro from Samsung right now or wait to purchase them from another retailer tomorrow, January 15.

Samsung Link ($199)

Read the original post: Galaxy Buds Pro, Equipped With ANC, Official at $199

Galaxy S21 Ultra, S21+, and S21 Specs

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 15:00:31 GMT

It may feel late after so many weeks (months?) of leaks, but today is Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra day. And not only is it S21 day, this is much sooner than we typically see new Galaxy S phones from Samsung, so it’s kind of a big deal.

The phones are official (pricing and release info), nothing is a surprise any longer, and we have all of the specs, as if they too weren’t already fully revealed on multiple occasions. Since we know so many of you like to see them all in one place, that’s what we’ve got in this post.

Below, you’ll see the display size of each (6.2″ up to 6.8″) and their variable refresh rates, storage amounts (128GB up to 512GB), RAM (8GB up to 16GB), large batteries, Snapdragon 888 processors, and triple or quad camera setups.

These phones have almost everything one could ask for, assuming you don’t need expandable storage, as that has been removed once again from the Galaxy S line. Oh, the RAM no longer starts at 12GB for all models like it did last year and is instead at 8GB for the S21 and S21+. Maybe those are the sacrifices we have to take for these lower price points?

Last year, the Galaxy S20 line started at $1,000 and everyone complained heavily. The Galaxy S21 line starts at $800, so how you feeling now?

Shop Galaxy S21 phones from Samsung

Galaxy S21 Family Specs

	Galaxy S21	Galaxy S21+	Galaxy S21 Ultra
OS	Samsung One UI 3.1 Android 11	Samsung One UI 3.1 Android 11	Samsung One UI 3.1 Android 11
Processor	Snapdragon 888 Adreno 660 GPU	Snapdragon 888 Adreno 660 GPU	Snapdragon 888 Adreno 660 GPU
Display	6.2" Infinity-O AMOLED 2400x1080, 421ppi Adaptive 120Hz, HDR10+ Gorilla Glass 7	6.7" Infinity-O AMOLED 2400x1080, 394ppi Adaptive 120Hz, HDR10+ Gorilla Glass7	6.8" Infinity-O AMOLED 3200x1440, 515ppi Adaptive 120Hz, HDR10+ Gorilla Glass 7
Memory	Storage: 128GB / 256GB RAM: 8GB (LPDDR5)	Storage: 128GB / 256GB RAM: 8GB (LPDDR5)	Storage: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB RAM: 12GB / 16GB (LPDDR5)
Rear Camera	64MP Telephoto ---f/2.0, 76°, 28mm ---OIS ---PDAF 12MP Ultra-Wide ---f/2.2, 120°, 13mm 12MP Wide-Angle ---f/1.8, 79°, 26mm ---OIS ---Dual Pixel AF 30x Space Zoom	64MP Telephoto ---f/2.0, 76°, 28mm ---OIS ---PDAF 12MP Ultra-Wide ---f/2.2, 120°, 13mm 12MP Wide-Angle ---f/1.8, 79°, 26mm ---OIS ---Dual Pixel AF 30x Space Zoom	108MP Wide-Angle ---f/1.8, 79°, 24mm ---OIS ---PDAF 12MP Ultra-Wide ---f/2.2, 120°, 13mm ---Dual Pixel AF 10MP Telephoto --- f/2.4, 35°, 72m ---Optical 3x ---OIS ---Dual Pixel AF 10MP Telephoto ---f/4.9, 10°, 240mm ---Optical 10x ---OIS ---Dual Pixel AF 100x Space Zoom Laser AF Sensor
Front Camera	10MP ---f/2.2, 80°, 25mm ---Dual Pixel AF	10MP ---f/2.2, 80°, 25mm ---Dual Pixel AF	40MP ---f/2.2, 80°, 25mm ---PDAF
Battery	4000mAh Fast Charging Wireless Charging Wireless PowerShare	4800mAh Fast Charging Wireless Charging Wireless PowerShare	5000mAh Fast Charging Wireless Charging Wireless PowerShare
Connectivity	802.11ax WiFi (WiFi 6) Bluetooth 5.0 NFC	802.11ax WiFi (WiFi 6) Bluetooth 5.0 NFC	802.11ax WiFi (WiFi 6E) Bluetooth 5.0 NFC
Other	USB-C Stereo speakers Ultrasonic Fingerprint IP68	USB-C Stereo speakers Ultrasonic Fingerprint IP68	S Pen support USB-C Stereo speakers Ultrasonic Fingerprint IP68
Size	151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9mm 171g	161.5 x 75.6 x 7.8mm 202g	165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9mm 228g
Colors	Gray, White, Pink, Purple	Silver, Black, Purple	Silver, Black

Read the original post: Galaxy S21 Ultra, S21+, and S21 Specs

Galaxy S21 Lineup Official, Launch January 29 Starting at $799

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 15:00:14 GMT

Samsung announced its Galaxy S21 lineup this morning, consisting of the Galaxy 21, Galaxy S21+, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Launching later this month, the family of S21 devices are priced starting at $799 and going all the way up to $1,199 for the Galaxy S21 Ultra. There are a few big changes internally and externally for this lineup, so we’ll go over everything that’s new.

What’s New

As you’d expect, Samsung has packed the Galaxy S21 lineup with all of the top specs you want in 2021. There are high refresh rate displays with high amounts of resolution, the latest Qualcomm silicon, and plenty of rear-facing camera glass with a lot of megapixels.

The Galaxy S21, starting at $799, features a 6.2-inch flat FHD+ display with 120Hz refresh rate, Snapdragon 888 processor, 8GB RAM (LPDDR5), a base of 128GB storage, 4,000mAh battery, three rear cameras, fast wireless charging, 5G connectivity, ultrasonic fingerprint reader, IP68 rating, and Android 11. The larger Galaxy S21+ (starting price of $999) features mostly the same specifications, though there is a slightly larger 6.7-inch flat FHD+ display and 4,800mAh battery.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra is the mega beast, coming in with a price of $1,199. It features a 6.8-inch Edge WQHD+ display with 120Hz refresh rate, Snapdragon 888 processor, base option of 12GB RAM (LPDDR5), 5,000mAh battery, WiFi 6E support (not available on S21 and S21+), and quad rear camera array.

For cameras, both the S21 and S21+ feature the same rear-camera setup. It consists of a 12MP ultra-wide angle lens (120°, F2.2, 1.4µm), 12MP standard lens with Dual Pixel auto focus and OIS (F1.8, 1.8µm), and 64MP telephoto lens with phase detection auto focus (F2.0, 0.8µm, 30X Space Zoom). The Galaxy S21 Ultra’s quad camera setup features a 12MP ultra-wide lens with Dual Pixel AF (120°, F2.2, 1.4µm), 108MP wide-angle lens with phase detection AF and OIS (F1.8, 0.8µm) as well as Nona binning at 12MP (2.4µm), and two 10MP telephoto lenses with OIS and varying magnification factors (F2.4, 1.22µm and F4.9, 1.22µm).

Features wise, Samsung details that Galaxy S21 buyers can look forward to an upgraded camera experience, thanks to the three rear cameras on the Galaxy S21 and S21+, and the four rear cameras on the Galaxy S21 Ultra. New features for the cameras include 8K Snap, which lets you grab clear images from 8K video footage, Super Steady video at an improved 60FPS, Director’s View that lets you preview feeds from different lenses, Vlogger View that lets users capture both rear and front camera video simultaneously, plus the ability to preview or change the angle, zoom, or go wide with Live Thumbnails.

Galaxy S21 Ultra specific advancements include a variable refresh between 10Hz and 120Hz, allowing for improved power efficiency. And speaking of the display, when compared to last year’s Galaxy S20, the S21 Ultra offers 25% brighter picture at 1,500nits of peak brightness, as well as 50% improved contrast ratio. Samsung also states that all three models feature Eye Comfort Shield to help reduce eye fatigue. Fans of the Galaxy Note line will also appreciate that the S21 Ultra supports the S Pen, a first for a Galaxy S device. You’ll have to purchase the S Pen separately, though, S Pen devices from recent Samsung devices are compatible with the S21 Ultra should you already own one.

As for what’s not included, do make note that Samsung is not including a charging adapter with any of the Galaxy S21 models. You can take that as either an earth-saving measure or to simply cut costs. Either way, that’s the new reality for many high-end devices it seems. Also, no Galaxy S20 model features expandable storage. I know a few folks here will take that as a personal insult, especially when we consider that the base storage is a mere 128GB and not 256GB. Seriously, at $1,200 the Galaxy S21 Ultra only has 128GB of storage. Not ideal.

Pricing and Availability

The entire Galaxy S21 lineup is available for pre-order starting today at 11:00 am ET (8am PT), January 14, through both carriers and big box retailers. The official launch date is set for January 29.

Pricing starts at $799 for the Galaxy S21, $999 for the Galaxy S21+, and $1,199 for the Galaxy S21 Ultra. As usual, Samsung is hosting a pre-order event that can save you plenty of money should you have a decent trade-in device. Also, consumers who pre-order can get $100 Samsung Credit with a Samsung Galaxy S21 and $150 Samsung Credit with a Galaxy S21+, and lastly, all pre-orders will also include a free Galaxy SmartTag that helps you keep track of whatever you attach it to.

For colors, the Galaxy S21 is available in Phantom Violet, Phantom Gray, Phantom Pink, and Phantom White. The Galaxy S21+ will be available in Phantom Violet, Phantom Silver, and Phantom Black, while the Galaxy S21 Ultra will be available in Phantom Silver and Phantom Black, as well as more colors exclusive to Samsung’s website. Additionally, Samsung notes that exclusive colors that include Phantom Gold and Phantom Red may also be available in select regions.

Pre-Order Link

Galaxy S21 Lineup Specs

	Galaxy S21	Galaxy S21+	Galaxy S21 Ultra
OS	Samsung One UI 3.1 Android 11	Samsung One UI 3.1 Android 11	Samsung One UI 3.1 Android 11
Processor	Snapdragon 888 Adreno 660 GPU	Snapdragon 888 Adreno 660 GPU	Snapdragon 888 Adreno 660 GPU
Display	6.2" Infinity-O AMOLED 2400x1080, 421ppi Adaptive 120Hz, HDR10+ Gorilla Glass 7	6.7" Infinity-O AMOLED 2400x1080, 394ppi Adaptive 120Hz, HDR10+ Gorilla Glass7	6.8" Infinity-O AMOLED 3200x1440, 515ppi Adaptive 120Hz, HDR10+ Gorilla Glass 7
Memory	Storage: 128GB / 256GB RAM: 8GB (LPDDR5)	Storage: 128GB / 256GB RAM: 8GB (LPDDR5)	Storage: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB RAM: 12GB / 16GB (LPDDR5)
Rear Camera	64MP Telephoto ---f/2.0, 76°, 28mm ---OIS ---PDAF 12MP Ultra-Wide ---f/2.2, 120°, 13mm 12MP Wide-Angle ---f/1.8, 79°, 26mm ---OIS ---Dual Pixel AF 30x Space Zoom	64MP Telephoto ---f/2.0, 76°, 28mm ---OIS ---PDAF 12MP Ultra-Wide ---f/2.2, 120°, 13mm 12MP Wide-Angle ---f/1.8, 79°, 26mm ---OIS ---Dual Pixel AF 30x Space Zoom	108MP Wide-Angle ---f/1.8, 79°, 24mm ---OIS ---PDAF 12MP Ultra-Wide ---f/2.2, 120°, 13mm ---Dual Pixel AF 10MP Telephoto --- f/2.4, 35°, 72m ---Optical 3x ---OIS ---Dual Pixel AF 10MP Telephoto ---f/4.9, 10°, 240mm ---Optical 10x ---OIS ---Dual Pixel AF 100x Space Zoom Laser AF Sensor
Front Camera	10MP ---f/2.2, 80°, 25mm ---Dual Pixel AF	10MP ---f/2.2, 80°, 25mm ---Dual Pixel AF	40MP ---f/2.2, 80°, 25mm ---PDAF
Battery	4000mAh Fast Charging Wireless Charging Wireless PowerShare	4800mAh Fast Charging Wireless Charging Wireless PowerShare	5000mAh Fast Charging Wireless Charging Wireless PowerShare
Connectivity	802.11ax WiFi (WiFi 6) Bluetooth 5.0 NFC	802.11ax WiFi (WiFi 6) Bluetooth 5.0 NFC	802.11ax WiFi (WiFi 6E) Bluetooth 5.0 NFC
Other	USB-C Stereo speakers Ultrasonic Fingerprint IP68	USB-C Stereo speakers Ultrasonic Fingerprint IP68	S Pen support USB-C Stereo speakers Ultrasonic Fingerprint IP68
Size	151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9mm 171g	161.5 x 75.6 x 7.8mm 202g	165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9mm 228g
Colors	Gray, White, Pink, Purple	Silver, Black, Purple	Silver, Black

Read the original post: Galaxy S21 Lineup Official, Launch January 29 Starting at $799

Google Completes Acquisition of Fitbit

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 14:59:19 GMT

After more than a year of seeking approval, Google has completed its acquisition of Fitbit. Fitbit is now a Google brand, if you can believe that.

Since Fitbit is now a part of Google, I can imagine that you have some concerns as a Fitbit user. Well, if you are worried about your data and privacy you might be. If not, you should probably be excited, as this will open up a ton of resources for Fitbit to grow and become an even better health and fitness tracking company. But for those worried about data, Google and Fitbit are trying to say the right things for now.

Google’s Rick Osterloh said the following in a blog post:

This deal has always been about devices, not data, and we’ve been clear since the beginning that we will protect Fitbit users’ privacy. We worked with global regulators on an approach which safeguards consumers’ privacy expectations, including a series of binding commitments that confirm Fitbit users’ health and wellness data won’t be used for Google ads and this data will be separated from other Google ads data.

Fitbit followed up with:

The trust of our users will continue to be paramount, and we will maintain strong data privacy and security protections, giving you control of your data and staying transparent about what we collect and why. Google will continue to protect Fitbit users’ privacy and has made a series of binding commitments with global regulators, confirming that Fitbit users’ health and wellness data won’t be used for Google ads and this data will be kept separate from other Google ad data. Google also affirmed it will continue to allow Fitbit users to choose to connect to third party services. That means you’ll still be able to connect your favorite health and wellness apps to your Fitbit account.

So they’ll keep data away and not a part of Google ads or other Google data. The big question will be, for how long?

As far as future devices go, Fitbit says they’ll continue to offer “a no-one-size-fits-all approach with choices that work across both Android and iOS,” and that becoming a part of Google means the “possibilities are truly limitless.”

As more of this acquisition shakes out over the coming months and we start to see what Google’s plan is, we’ll be sure to let you know.

// Google | Fitbit

Read the original post: Google Completes Acquisition of Fitbit

WATCH: Samsung Unpacked for Galaxy S21

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 14:42:32 GMT

Ready to watch Samsung announce and then show off the Galaxy S21 line of phones? You can do that today at 7AM Pacific (10AM Eastern).

We’ve embedded the stream above or you can watch it at YouTube or several other sources.

Read the original post: WATCH: Samsung Unpacked for Galaxy S21

Verizon Will Give You a Free Pixel 5 if You Buy One First

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 20:07:17 GMT

Hey, want a free Pixel 5 to go alongside the Pixel 5 you were already planning to buy from Verizon? Then do we have the BOGO deal for you! Well, Verizon does…we don’t…do the deals, we just share them.

In a buy one, get one free offer, Verizon will give you a second Pixel 5 as long as you meet several requirements.

You first need to buy a Pixel 5 on a 24-month contract and lock yourself into an Above, Beyond, Do More, Play More, or Get More unlimited plan. If you can meet that, then to get the second Pixel 5 for free you’ll add a new line, also buy it on a 24-month contract, and use it on one of those same plans I just listed.

Of course, because this is a Verizon contract, they will give you the value of the “free” phone each month through a bill credit that is applied over 24 months. If you were to try and leave Verizon or cancel or something, I’m going to assume they’ll charge you for the rest of whatever you own on each phone. To know how we really feel about these types of deals, here’s a classic related post.

We’re big fans of the Pixel 5, though, so don’t take this as me pushing you away from taking advantage of this deal. If you plan to stick with Verizon for a while, this does amount to a free phone.

Shop Pixel 5 at Verizon

Read the original post: Verizon Will Give You a Free Pixel 5 if You Buy One First