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Samsung's Galaxy S21 is sleek with a new wraparound metal design

Samsung says its Galaxy S21 works better than last year's S20, and it also costs $200 less.

Sarah Tew
I'm a visual storyteller, working primarily in the medium of photography and photoshop. I listen to more podcasts than I can keep up with and enjoy gardening, cooking, reading, and am striving for a sustainable lifestyle. A big-picture thinker, I am always trying to put the pieces together, and though things are scary these days, I believe humanity will pull through.
Patrick Holland Managing Editor
Patrick Holland has been a phone reviewer for CNET since 2016. He is a former theater director who occasionally makes short films. Patrick has an eye for photography and a passion for everything mobile. He is a colorful raconteur who will guide you through the ever-changing, fast-paced world of phones, especially the iPhone and iOS. He used to co-host CNET's I'm So Obsessed podcast and interviewed guests like Jeff Goldblum, Alfre Woodard, Stephen Merchant, Sam Jay, Edgar Wright and Roy Wood Jr.
Expertise Apple, iPhone, iOS, Android, Samsung, Sony, Google, Motorola, interviews, coffee equipment, cats Credentials
  • Patrick's play The Cowboy is included in the Best American Short Plays 2011-12 anthology. He co-wrote and starred in the short film Baden Krunk that won the Best Wisconsin Short Film award at the Milwaukee Short Film Festival.
Sarah Tew
Patrick Holland
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Samsung's Galaxy S21 phone has arrived, and out of the trio of S21 devices, it's probably the "no-brainer" device that most people will bring home. Read our S21 review, if you want to learn more.

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The S21 starts at $800 in the United States, which is a cool $200 cheaper than its predecessor, the S20. 

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One way Samsung allowed the S21 to start at that lowered price was by replacing the Gorilla Glass from the back with polycarbonate, also known as plastic.

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The S21 is also the most compact of its siblings, rocking a 6.2-inch screen. 

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Samsung revamped its camera housing design, which now better accentuates the camera lenses on the phones' backs while linking them with their metal frames.

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You can compare the new design better in this photo.

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There are three lenses on the back: A 64-megapixel telephoto, 12-megapixel wide-angle, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens,

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The S21 has a 10-megapixel camera on the front.

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As usual, there's a USB-C connector on the bottom.

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You can pick from four pastel shades with the S21. This one is called phantom violet, but there are also pink, blue and white options. 

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For more pictures of the S21, keep scrolling. 

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As usual, there's a USB-C connector on the bottom.

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