Classy metal-and-glass body ; Stunning screen performance ; Capable camera

Lacks a 2021 flagship camera ; S21 Ultra is substantially better in many ways

Variable refresh rate screen is one of the best on the market ;Reliable camera for casual users; Solid gaming performance;Decent build quality

Not a huge upgrade on the Galaxy S20;Exynos version offers average battery life

Nice color options, standout design, IP68 rating.

Scant retail package - no charger or headphones.

So you've probably figured out where this is leading us. The Galaxy S21+ is a great all-round package and has the smartphone pillars well propped up. Ultimately, however, it lacks a standout selling point. In our opinion, if you want a Galaxy, there...

Gorgeous new design Great performance Powerful camera

No microSD support Expensive No charger in the box

The Galaxy S21 Plus is a superb phone on its own merits, but it offers little that you don't get with the regular, and cheaper, Galaxy S21, apart from its larger screen. But if screen size is a deal-breaker for you, and you're happy to pay a bit more...

Exynos 2100 looks to be a good chipset Larger fingerprint sensor

Screen resolution lower than last year’s model Camera setup identical to last year’s S20 Plus

The Plus model in the Galaxy S range was Samsung’s flagship phone just a couple of years ago, but with the introduction of the S20 Ultra last year it took something of a backseat. The gap between the models widens with the S21 series, and it feels like...

Great display ; Plenty of power ; Good battery life ; Great quality finish ; Refined software experience ; Good speakers

Camera is not Samsung's top offering ; Closely rivalled by other Samsung devices ; No microSD expansion any more

This Galaxy sits in a middle position in the S21 range, looking fairly costly for a device that's not Samsung's top offering. There's plenty on offer here, however, and it will make a great phone for many - but, that said, it has plenty of close rivals...

Build quality ; Display ; Speakers ; Battery life ; Camera

Low-light video ; Ads within some native apps ; No charger ; No bundled earphones

— Superb screen, reliable camera, solid performance

— Not a big upgrade on the S20 series

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus is a big-screen smartphone that delivers strong overall performance, particularly in terms of its screen, camera, and processing power. However, if you’ve bought a flagship smartphone in the last couple of years then it’s...