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Everything or nothing: Galaxy S21 Series 5G shines bright, even in low light

Josa Lukaman (The Jakarta Post)
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Tue, January 26, 2021

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Everything or nothing: Galaxy S21 Series 5G shines bright, even in low light Let there be light: From left to right, the photos compare the S21 Ultra 5G’s normal photo mode, with scene optimizer turned on, and its dedicated night mode. (Courtesy of Josa Lukman)

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n an era of rapid-fire technological advancements, your smartphone can be your ticket to an ever-increasingly connected world. Certainly, long gone are the days where you need to carry multiple devices for the demands of daily life.

While phones are tools for communicating in its most basic form, smartphones – especially in 2021 – are considered by many to be an amalgamation of practically every technological device we demand: a computer, a camera, a media player, or even a gaming platform.

Luckily, Samsung’s latest flagship Galaxy S21 Series 5G - composed of the Galaxy S21 5G, Galaxy S21+ 5G, and Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G has something in store for everyone - from the regular folks to the avid photographers.

Capturing every moment

The phrase “pictures or it didn’t happen” is perhaps the one that defines the social media era, where the perfect image is often the representation for one’s personal and professional following.

But we all know the pitfalls of low-light mobile photography: no matter how many megapixels your phone’s camera has, sometimes photos will end up lacking in details, depth, or just plain out of focus.

Fortunately, the Galaxy S21 Series 5G is equipped with just the right blend of hardware and software to rise to the challenge.

Opening the camera app, you’ll find that it captures every moment smoothly, thanks to its AI-powered scene optimizer, which will adapt accordingly to the environment and subject.

For most daytime situations, the camera’s AI-powered scene optimizer feature will adapt accordingly. However, it also provides pointers for specific modes unique to every situation.

For example, a delectable meal at a favorite restaurant calls for the Galaxy S21 Series 5G’s authentic portrait, enabling you to capture the details down to the condiments properly.

Fast moving scenes, like your pet doing cute tricks or even a new dance move you learned at home will always stay in focus, courtesy of the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G’s laser autofocus.

Although, the Galaxy S21 5G and Galaxy S21+ 5G has already have a decent Night Mode, but when it’s come to low-light situations, Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G’s dedicated night mode is truly in a league of its own.

Even when the sun goes down, the action still continues with the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G’s improved Bright Night sensor, claimed to be Samsung’s biggest leap yet in low-light photography.

An improved Night Mode, noise reduction and 12MP Nona-binning technology allows the smartphone to excel in situations where most struggles.

The possibilities are endless: yoga at sunrise, cocktails at sunset, or an intimate candle-lit dinner right after. Whether it’s a movie night in or group photos at a party, the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is ready for every situation, be they candid or meticulously planned.

Taking photos with the scene optimizer turned on in with minimal lighting will land you great scenes, but the Night Mode is where it shines. The AI does the heavy lifting for you, and you’ll simply need to hold the smartphone still for a couple of seconds.

Devil’s in the details: The AI-powered camera in the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G retains colors and details in minimal lighting conditions, claimed to be Samsung’s most advanced pro-grade system yet.
Devil’s in the details: The AI-powered camera in the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G retains colors and details in minimal lighting conditions, claimed to be Samsung’s most advanced pro-grade system yet. (Courtesy of Josa Lukman/.)

The results speak for themselves. Colors and depth are maintained while details are comparable to normal lighting conditions. You’d be forgiven for thinking that the photos are taken with a professional-grade camera.

Video recording is also smooth in darker settings, especially combined with the ability to record using both front and rear cameras simultaneously at a crisp 60 fps for the vlogger in all of us, thanks to its Director’s View.

A milestone in the history of Galaxy smartphones, the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is able to shoot in 4K at 60fps across all lenses, including the front camera and all four rear lenses to ensure consistent quality across perspectives.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is claimed to possess Samsung’s most advanced pro-grade camera system, able to capture studio-quality photos in various lightings and settings, with a quad rear camera setup (ultra-wide, wide and dual tele-lenses).

An upgraded 108MP sensor allows you to capture 12 bit HDR photos with 64 times richer color data and more than three times wider dynamic range compared to the previous generation Galaxy S20 Ultra.

Distant objects are not to be worried about, as the 100x Space Zoom feature – powered by the dual-tele lens (one optical 3x and one optical 10x) equipped with Dual Pixel (2PD) AF – allows you to snap far away from the action at your leisure.

The Galaxy S21 5G and the Galaxy S21+ 5G are no slouches of their own, being equipped with a triple camera setup with a 30x Space Zoom, while at the same time also enabling users to snap the perfect image from their 8K video recordings.

Magnificent all-rounder

Beyond photography, the Galaxy S21 Series 5G is a formidable offering from Samsung, providing those seeking an all-in-one package will be content with the Galaxy S21 5G, while the Galaxy S21+ 5G will likely find its audience within gamers and movie buffs thanks to its larger screen and battery.

As a comparison, the Galaxy S21 5G boasts a 6.2-inch edge-to-edge Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O display (2400x1080 pixels) and an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate along with a 4,000mAh battery, while the S21+ 5G gets a comfortably larger 6.7-inch screen and a 4,800mAh power supply.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, befitting its name as the higher-end model, is equipped with a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, the largest in the Galaxy S21 5G range. It offers a Quad HD+ display (3200x1440 pixels) while still retaining the adaptive 120hz refresh rate for viewing comfort.

Standard features are abundant, with things like NFC and wireless charging that would certainly make life easier for those always on the go. The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is also compatible with Samsung’s S Pen from an existing Galaxy Note or Galaxy Tab, along with the option to purchase separately with a matching case.

Performance is also kept at the forefront, with all three models receiving an octa-core processor.

The setup is paired with 8 GB of RAM and a choice between 128 GB and 256 GB of internal storage for the Galaxy S21 5G and Galaxy S21+ 5G. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G takes it up a notch with a choice between 12 GB or 16 GB of RAM, with the latter being equipped with a whopping 512 GB internal storage.

Stunning at every angle

Of course, a flagship line is also known for its design hallmarks, and the Galaxy S21 Series 5G is no different.

Galaxy S21 5G comes in Phantom Violet, Phantom Gray, Phantom Pink and Phantom White, and for the Galaxy S21+ 5G comes with Phantom Violet, Phantom Silver and Phantom Black while the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G also offered in Phantom Black and Phantom Silver for a hint of sophistication.

For a touch of chic there is the the Phantom Violet for the Galaxy S21+ 5G and Galaxy S21 5G, a purplish metallic shade with gold accent that almost feels too striking to be covered up with a case.

Not to worry, of course, as all three come rated with IP68 water resistance, meaning it can stand being submerged in 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes.

Still, you likely won’t subject a phone this dazzling to such conditions, but it is certainly reassuring.



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