Samsung Galaxy S21

[TameRacingDriver]

Official leather case has landed

[Luke.]

It's a goody isn't it? That's what I've got. Plus the one with the SPen that got the flip cover.

[TameRacingDriver]

Luke. said:

It's a goody isn't it? That's what I've got. Plus the one with the SPen that got the flip cover.

Yeah it's quite nice. Glad I didn't pay full price for it though but it does have a nice hand feel. I've always had a thing for the google fabric case but this is a nice change.

[drdino]

Is this one of the Samsung online exclusive colours? Did they ship them already?

[TameRacingDriver]

drdino said:

Is this one of the Samsung online exclusive colours? Did they ship them already?

Mine? It's a leather case. The colour of the phone is just standard Phantom Black.

[Teebs]

My buds, tag and case arrived today but still waiting for the exclusive Titanium phone to ship..

Really impressed with the Buds, a real step up from the original white versions (2019?).

[Luke.]

This is really stupid question but how do you get to the optical zoom lens, do you just zoom in with your fingertips when you take a standard shot? Mine are all coming out a bit rubbish and I was wondering if I was missing a trick.

[gangzoom]

Luke. said:

This is really stupid question but how do you get to the optical zoom lens, do you just zoom in with your fingertips when you take a standard shot? Mine are all coming out a bit rubbish and I was wondering if I was missing a trick.

Press the three/four different trees on the main phone screen. O.6, 1, x3, x10 are the optical zoom. Using your fingertips to zoom in will end up using digital zoom.

Though in low light the main sensor is used all the time, unless you are in night mode.

[Luke.]

gangzoom said:

Press the three/four different trees on the main phone screen. O.6, 1, x3, x10 are the optical zoom. Using your fingertips to zoom in will end up using digital zoom.

Though in low light the main sensor is used all the time, unless you are in night mode.

Thank you, that's much appreciated.

[gangzoom]

Luke. said:

Thank you, that's much appreciated.

My impressions of the cameras so far is the UW, Main, and x3 optical have good sensors, with the 108MB main sensor been really impressive.

I was amazed at the lack of noise and amount of detail retained on a 10second+ exposure in 'pro' mode when playing with the camera last night in the back garden.



The x10 lens+sensor really is only good for online photos or Twitter/Instagram. There is a massive amount of post processing going on, and you will struggle to print to even A4 size at lowish DPI despite the claimed 10MB which it clearly isn't.

It would also be nice if Samsung bought back variable appeture settings too, like on the S9. The main sensor is so bright it can easily sacrifice some speed for better sharpness.

Overall very impressive from a phone, but still plenty of room for improvement on the zoom lens side. I'll happily upgrade to the S23/24 Ultra when the pair up the x10 zoom lens with the main sensor, which am sure will happen as Apple will now respond with their version of longer zoom.

[TameRacingDriver]

I'm just pleased to have any zoom lens after years of having pixel phones and Google deciding for us that we didn't need it.

[djfaulkner]

Rod200SX said:

Where have folk being going to for deals? I'm with EE and ideally don't want to move away from them. Previous few handsets have been through carphone warehouse but they've ended their contract.

Going to need to phone up and speak to someone but the upgrade options with EE to the S21 ultra so far have been pretty crap.

Have a look at buying direct from Samsung as it might be cheaper.

For the Ultra is was something like £30 over 36 or £46 over 24 using Klarna with £100ish upfront payment. The change the service plan to PAYG or 30 day rolling.

I’ve got a P20 Pro and still deciding about get one, Had intended on pre-ordering but I would only be getting one because its new and shiny.

[gangzoom]

243 said:

30x zoom

It's surprisingly easy to get these shots, which is a bit confusing for me as the moon isn't exactly close. I recon the optical lens of the quality much be ok to get this amount of detail. If Samsung upgrades the sensor on the zoom lens it really would be the 'perfect' photography gear. I honestly don't know how they have done this on a phone with a lens + sensor smaller than 5p coin and hand held!

Edited by gangzoom on Thursday 4th February 09:32

[Rod200SX]

djfaulkner said:

Have a look at buying direct from Samsung as it might be cheaper.

For the Ultra is was something like £30 over 36 or £46 over 24 using Klarna with £100ish upfront payment. The change the service plan to PAYG or 30 day rolling.

I’ve got a P20 Pro and still deciding about get one, Had intended on pre-ordering but I would only be getting one because its new and shiny.

Success. I should have a 512GB ultra arriving tomorrow, hopefully!

I'm on a P30 Pro just now and it's great but there's some software issues that just drive me mad, namely the volume having a mind of its own! Will be interested to compare the cameras.

[Luke.]

You'll love it. I've gone from a Mate 20X (cracking phone), S10e, S20FE to the Ultra and it's absolutely brilliant. Battery could be slightly better. But I do use it a fair amount.

[TheJimi]

Has anyone got the standard S21? I've tried to talk myself into the Ultra but it's just too big. Ridiculous actually - for me anyway.

[Luke.]

TheJimi said:

Has anyone got the standard S21? I've tried to talk myself into the Ultra but it's just too big. Ridiculous actually - for me anyway.

Jimi, give a whirl, you might just like it? I've not got big hands and it's fine.

[R1gtr]

Luke. said:

TheJimi said:

Has anyone got the standard S21? I've tried to talk myself into the Ultra but it's just too big. Ridiculous actually - for me anyway.

Jimi, give a whirl, you might just like it? I've not got big hands and it's fine.

I came from a S9 to the S21 Ultra and when I first held it I thought "It's pretty big".
A few days in though and it feels perfect. Can't see me going smaller ever again. My S9 feels like a toy in comparison. Get the Ultra, if you don't you will regret it.

[TheJimi]

Luke. said:

TheJimi said:

Has anyone got the standard S21? I've tried to talk myself into the Ultra but it's just too big. Ridiculous actually - for me anyway.

Jimi, give a whirl, you might just like it? I've not got big hands and it's fine.

Tbh, it's less the in-hand aspect (although, that's part of it) it's more about carrying the thing about. I keep my phone in my back pocket, always have done - I don't think that's do-able with the Ultra, is it?

[TazR6]

As far as cost goes, I decided to buy my 256 Ultra outright. I did the numbers, and I will be saving between £700 and £900 over 2 years. I wish I had thought of doing this before, but I always got phones on a contract. I am free to use whatever SIM I like in it, but as I have been with Orange/EE since the mid-'90s, I did not want to leave. I took a 2 year SIM only with them, £20 a month for 120Gb data and unlimited calls/texts.
I ordered mine in the Phantom Blue color, so delivery will be delayed a couple of weeks, but it sounds very much like the wait will have been worth it when it arrives. In My Account, the phone is still showing up as "Customizing". Coming from an S10 Plus, it is going to be quite an upgrade.
I am excited to try 5G as well. I am apparently at the edge of coverage, and will only have 5G outside, but that's fine. Coverage is expanding all the time, and I am patient.