I have had the Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus cell phone since January 2022 and whenever I get the chance, I recommend this line of phones to others. Because? Because this is proof that Samsung cell phones stand the test of time excellently. Even though the S21 Plus is not the latest model on the market, it is still an interesting high-end device that, at least in my case, did not let me down. “My Comrade in Battle” gave me a great experience working with a South Korean brand, and I think it’s worth talking about. This Five things I love about my “old” Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus.
It’s incredibly resilient
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Having seen my Galaxy S21 Plus dropped to the ground over 30 times (it’s too big for my hand and pockets) and submerged in water at least once, I can say it’s incredibly durable. It has Gorilla Glass Victus protection against drops and scratches. In addition, it has a dustproof rating of 6 (the highest level of protection) and a waterproof rating of 8 (up to 1.5 meters deep for up to 30 minutes). In fact, it has the same IP68 rating as Samsung’s most recent lineup, the Galaxy S24 series.
It obviously helped that from day one I fitted it with a military-grade drop-resistant case (much like this one ) and a hydrogel lens (which I never upgraded because it wasn’t necessary). However, other devices I’ve seen with similar protection, especially the iPhone, also failed to withstand drops, with slightly cracked screens. As for my mobile phone, it is flawless; The body only shows signs of use and the hydrogel lens has a couple of small dents, but the screen remains intact. In addition, it has continued to work correctly so far despite being hit on various surfaces. As I always say, “This cell phone is all-terrain.”
Will continue to receive updates in the coming years
In 2021, Samsung has made an important commitment to its users by ensuring that all new phones released since 2019 will receive at least three major operating system updates and four years of security updates. The company then extended that commitment to five years for most of its phones in 2023, including its innovative foldable models.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus, released in January 2021, is an example of this approach. This device will receive Android operating system updates for four years from the release date, as well as an additional year of security updates. This means that my Galaxy S21 Plus will continue to receive improvements until January 2025, and continuous security patches will continue to be released until approximately January 2026. The phone comes with Android 11 out of the box, but thanks to updates today it has Android 14 and One UI. 6.1. In short, I am guaranteed to keep my mobile phone safe and up to date for a long period of time without having to immediately replace it due to obsolescence.
The camera takes detailed and colorful photos.
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The camera system of the Galaxy S21 Plus includes a 12MP main camera, a 64MP telephoto camera, and a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera. I know it’s not the most advanced setup (the S24 Ultra has a 200MP lens), but the S21 Plus still captures photos and videos with excellent detail and accurate colors. In dark environments, such as at night events or concerts, its performance is not the best. Fine details and textures are often lost, and colors can appear desaturated. However, in good lighting, photos look good, especially in landscapes with a variety of colors.
On the other hand, in addition to traditional photo editing capabilities such as cropping, filters, color correction and noise reduction, recent updates have made it possible to remaster photos using artificial intelligence. Likewise, if the AI recognizes faces in a photo, it can also apply effects such as making eyes bigger, making jaws smaller, and correcting blemishes—features commonly found in apps designed to enhance selfies.
Battery life does not disappoint
Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus is equipped with a 4800 mAh battery that provides long battery life throughout the day, especially when the power saving mode is activated, which optimizes processor performance and ensures efficient battery management. The phone supports 25W fast charging and 15W wireless charging, as well as reverse wireless charging for other devices.
While the battery capacity may have decreased slightly over time, which is understandable, it still lives up to expectations. Also, in emergency situations where I know I’ll need to charge the phone later, like when I need to go out, I just turn the phone off for a while so it charges a little faster. In a recent test with the phone turned off, the battery charged from 20 to 50% in about 15 minutes. However, it took about an hour and 5 minutes to get to 100%.
The screen looks great and performance is flawless.
Galaxy S21 Plus features a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with Full HD+ resolution. Again, it’s not new to the industry, but it offers vibrant colors, excellent contrast, and image clarity. Additionally, its refresh rate is 120Hz, the same as modern cell phones. This feature is still relevant and desirable because it greatly improves the user experience. It allows you to surf the web, watch multimedia content, be it streaming movies or videos on social media, and play video games completely smoothly.
This pleasant mobile phone experience is also due to its powerful Exynos 2100 processor (US and China uses Snapdragon 888) and 8GB of RAM. Thus, my Galaxy S21 Plus provides fast and efficient performance, allowing me to handle multiple apps and intensive tasks without any hassle.
Galaxy S21 Plus: Proof that Samsung Cell Phones Age Well
My experience with the Galaxy S21 Plus for two and a half years is proof that Samsung phones are aging incredibly well. Newer smartphones may offer better features and specifications, but at least for me, this device, originally released in 2021, is still quite capable for everyday tasks and entertainment. Finally, when my beloved cell phone passes into the afterlife, I will most likely get a Samsung Galaxy S series phone, even from yesteryear, so I can rest assured that I won’t have to upgrade my phone any time soon.
It is worth noting that in order for a mobile phone to continue to function optimally for a long time, it is important to carry out adequate maintenance and install appropriate updates. For example, a cell phone charger should be carefully connected to the charging port to prevent damage, and the phone should be kept away from strong sunlight to prevent it from overheating. If you want your device to accompany you for many years to come, be sure to check out these helpful tips.
Source: Digital Trends
