I agree that it is underrated. Especially since it is $200 more than the regular s21 and I got it for $100 off and 50 more in accessories so I really only paid 50 more than the regular s21
I was suprised when I saw that you “only” have ~250k subscribers. Your production quality is great and have an insightful approach to reviewing the devices. Keep doing what you’re doing and I can see a really bright future for you! Also seeing reviews on the devices that the “big guys”tend to often ignore is great.
@@MikeOBrienMedia im debating beetween the s21 and the plus right now im coming from a horrible samsung (galaxy a20) which do you think is the better choice?
@@iamronaldo7764 let my try to help a little here. These phones are exactly same except 4 things: 1) Display: s21 has 6.2" and plus has 6.7" 2) Battery size: s21 has 4000 mAH vs 4800 mAH of plus 3) Build Quality: s21 has plastic back while plus has glass back 4) Price: S21 is 800 and plus is 1000 (this is US based price so idk where u live and also those are starting price, Amazon always giving special offers where they reduce prices by 100 to 200 dollars so u can keep looking for those). These are the only things that are different between them (color choices might vary as well). The things that should be ur deciding factor is if u want a big phone or u r a more of a compact phone lover. U might get a little bit better battery life in plus but s21 will still give u great battery life so it matters if u r a light, moderate or heavy pro user. And lastly u consider whether the price difference is worth it. I hope this helps.
That is the most accurate and honest opinion I've seen on UA-cam yet. Also, for the snow, I recommend turning the AI mode off. That makes a significant difference. I don't have that issue on the Exynos version though, but on the SD variant, I think the AI struggles with snow as a background in sunlight.
Btw, there are 2 different s21 phones: one with Snapdragon chipset and one with Exynos chipset. If you got your s21 in China or North America, you get the Snapdragon version, for other regions you get the Exynos version, which is the one that gets hotter.
Mike I got the s21+ a month ago from my wife for my birthday. I love this phone even though it no longer has the SD card. I had s8+ before this one. It's just a great phone. It's the blue-collar of smartphones.
Hey Mike, very good in depth review. I've been using the plus for 3wks. It's definitely a great performer the triple8 with the 120hz is blazing. Speed wise and clarity of the display is excellent. Even at 1080p, do I miss the 1440p, nah, much prefer the 🔋power? So for me what's the best feature, the trade-in deals? Got mine for 384.00 buck-a-roos. Dumped my weak 🔋pixel4, no regrets!
@@halitalihankaraks7998 the SD gets hot...and the exynos...but only when you run it hard..like every phone..if you play hard games its normal...like youre pc and laptop or every device
5:47 Regarding your issue that with the S21 series you cant put memory cards inside to clear them for your other devices I have a type-C OTG adapter and micro-SD to USB-A adapter. With this I am planning to give my 128 GB card a new use when I switch from Note 10+ to S21+. Its not convenient like cloud or integrated SD-card slot but better than nothing and I wont use it all the time so its fine.
Thanks -- appreciate your reviews! I've had s21+ for about a month. For me the screen size was the difference maker to choose this over the reg s21. No issues with heating up or with GPS / google maps dropping either standalone or synced with android auto. Battery is a monster. Funny if I were to complain it might be that I have found the fingerprint sensor a bit finicky sometimes tho generally it seems to work fine. Overall I love it!
Had my S21+ for 3 months already. I experienced overheating one time when I'm charging and playing pubg at the same time and another factor maybe the hot environment in my place.
My s21 does heat up with games but I am having a problem with google apps like the play store and UA-cam not working and the play store not downloading anything peroid without Wi-Fi 🙁
The s21 ultra has higher reso display that I would honestly just bump down to 1080p to save battery. Am not a fan of zooming too, so the S21+ really fits me perfectly! I also waited few months just in case the s21 series has any issue lol
The mst pay taking off completely takes me of wanting to upgrade. I always loved going places and started to pay with my phone and them telling me they didn't have a nfc reader or people with iphones that it never worked. Then I would reach over and lay my phone on the car reader and smile! Plus no micro SD card? They are taking all the things away I loved with Samsung.
Hi Mike thank you so much for your review, really clear and your videos of the phone are amazing. can I just ask if you are showing only the purple version? at some angles like the video at 4:59, it looks like the silver version instead with the different lights reflecting!
Thanks for this vid bro, just awesome coz it makes me feel that I was not wrong getting it over the ultra. Been thinking that maybe I made a mistake not getting the ultra but hearing your pros about the plus changed it. The weight compared to the ultra, the screen and battery compared to the standard one, the plus is just the right one and it's perfectly the best value for money on the s21 series, IMHO. Once again, great vid as always and keep safe, Mike!
@@jeffj318 I don't have many videos and I'm still using over 300GB of storage right now (internal & external). I also have a separate SD card for my job that I switch in and out when I need to. It's convenient, I need the slot. I hope that it gets brought back on a future phone.
I always felt like a black sheep for not caring about SD card slot and thought it was actually just a tech reviewer thing and very rare for a typical consumer to have that issue. I consume so much media and use my camera fairly frequently and have only used 64GB in two years haha. Maybe it's not enough downloading movies or things but not hard to just delete old podcasts or things to keep up spacious.
I have s21+ exynos 2100 chip variant phone. When I start playing F1 game even for 10-15 mins, the game starts to lag & sometimes start heating. Due to which I can't play game for more than 15mins.
I think sd card is an very important function as I constantly change between phones so by moving the sd card from device to device is the fastest option. I really hope that Samsung will bring it back. I was very interested in s21 ultra but due to no sd card slot, I still haven't buy it.
Thanks for giving your thoughts on the S21+ Mike. I'm really enjoying the S21+, maybe even a little bit more than my Note 20 Ultra. Battery life has been absolutely great. Puts my Note to shame. I have the SD variance and the only time the phone gets warm is when I wireless charge the phone. I have fast charging, super fast charging and fast wireless charging all turned off in settings. Watch tons of UA-cam and other things. No problem. Don't think it's going to be a issue, just something I've noticed. Keep up the good work Mike.
The S Pen has a special place in my heart, but that Note 20 Ultra was a bit too large for my everyday use. I'm glad you like the S21+! I think it is a great compromise and is honestly under rated
I received my S21plus on Nov.2nd. On Nov.6th I charged it on my wireless charger and when I removed it it was very warm but not excessively warm then I noticed the back had shattered. The insurance will not cover to repair because the phone still works so far but the appearance is heartbreaking. Love my phone but I am so upset about the appearance of the back. I will get a case that covers it but I still know it's shattered 😔
Ya I also experienced slight overheating in my S21 after using the camera multiple times (video+photos). Bit unusual compared to my old S8. But I think it will not be an issue. Thanks for the video. It's super.
@@MikeOBrienMedia Exynos. I'm from Sri Lanka and usually we have a warm weather. Anyway today I received a software update and hopefully this will solve after that.
That's what I'm thinking. The xperia z mini used to have overheating issues as well due to the small size. I like the smaller size of the s21 but that might cause some issues long term
just brought the s21 plus to replace my A70 and it's a whole other world. now that going premium isn't as expensive as it used to be, I'm really happy with my choice! your review was a helpful one and made me choose this phone😄 I just got it and somehow when I charged it for the first time, it heated a bit...maybe because of the tiring syncing process I put it through idk...but I'm trying to understand why the battery drains a bit faster than I would like it to 🙃 trying to optimize it for now. anyway thank you so much !!!
@@andrusk2351 since then I had my phone stolen and bought the same one. I have a double sim which drains the battery but I can easily make it last 12 hours. less if I'm on my phone watching stuff. but I'm very happy with it and I'm not stressed at all as I used to be with my A70 ,having my power bank ready all the time
Mike, I'm a little confused about the focusing system on the s21 plus. I don't see anything for a laser autofocus module, like the s21 ultra. last year on the s20 ultra there was only phase detection and as you know it was literally the worst camera experience in Samsung history. Couldn't focus even in perfect daylight
I drive a lot for work and am annoyed at how much my gps cuts out with this device and often google maps just closes on me afterward. Very odd. Never had that issue with my pixel 4a
I believe it all depends on user's age very much. I hardly use all those bells and whistles on a phone. I use it as a phone mostly, and a handy computer. No more, no less.
I can probably live without the sd card, but not without the audio jack. C'mon Samsung! It's very convenient. U just stick it inside u don't have to switch bluetooth or nfc, u don't have to switch your wireless headset. It's just a plain, effective and honest approach. Why remove it?????
I'm watching this on my pixel 3xl. How do you compare speakers to the pixels front facing stereo speakers? Also 1440 is standard on the 3xl, how do you compare it to the s21plus? Am looking at the s21plus but the 3xl is still working fine.
Been looking at an s21 but this concerns me. Do you have the plus model as well or a different one? Would be weird if it was just the plus, but I’m curious. If you don’t mind me asking ☺️
I miss the head phone jack, the macro lenses for nature photography, the sd card slot. I also liked having more filters. I a few weeks ago upgraded from S8+ to S21+. So I am still learning the camera. The telephoto zoom is much better on this phone. I wish there was more RAM. Overall this phone is better than s8+. But in some ways I wish I could have afforded the S21+U. But I have found everytime I get a new phone, I need to learn and adapt to the phone cam.
I DON'T like the fingerprint part is in front of the front screen, and mine doesn't work, I'm not sure is because I bought the glass screen protector, but I will go back to the store and see what's going on, and it does overheat sometimes, I just got it yesterday so I will continue to see the progress, thanks for your input
I got the same problem. I had the phone changed still same problem. I had my finger print read before putting the screen protector same problem. I hate it. I am willing to have an iphone just for that reason cause i had the samsung s9+ i didn't have to worry about sign in apps and webpage. I just use my finger print and now i can't do that
I just upgraded to this phone for free from an S10+. I don't have it yet, it's coming in the mail. Is the downgrade to 1080p really noticeable? It's the only aspect of this phone I feel is a let down.
@@johnsimmonds2540 I just got it today and yeah I don't notice the resolution difference which is nice. I always turn my screen to 30-40% brightness, but it still seems to eat battery kinda fast. I'll have to play around with some settings, hopefully I can get it running a bit better. Haven't tried the 60HZ option but I may go there.
@4k60 recording on the s21+ will heat up plenty the longer you record. A test where u record 4k60 on the s21+ while u pointing on it with a laser thermometer would be great. The MicroSD is a helpful tool for sustainability. Such a phone someone could easily use for 6 years. But with 4k and games and so on the memory is to small in at least 3 years. For me i use 256gb and that saves Battery because i dont need to stream everything via the Net. Also we dont have Net everywhere.
@@adrik99554 not impressive at all for such a huge 🧱…. That’s why after s20 failure with exynos chip I switched to iPhone 12pro 6’1 inch and I get 5h sot and my battery is around 10-15% late evening! I was pleasantly surprised!
With cloud storage, the point of having an SD is just. Meh. On top of most media being streamable now, it's even less needed. Not a big deal anymore at all.
Ok so the whole gps thing I just got the new galaxy S 21 and my GPS on my phone cut out a lot if you could please reach out to me and let me know if that still happening to you I don’t know why it does that but it definitely does all the time especially when I’m trying to use the transit app ‘!!
Being a consumer phone that a lot of people, way more than the iphone users are, the magsafe I think was overlooked just cos it is a problem with pacemakers and other such devices. I have a family member who loved the iphone but had to switch just cos of this.
Yeah like I said, this phone seems to be more like a "bug fix & aesthetic improvement" update... similar to how Apple releases phones. It is nice but also a bit boring
I think the best way to check how far it goes in terms of heat is to record temperature during stress test in antutu app. Mine gets super hot on playing Asphalt 9 for under an hour and while video calling. 47 d celcius battery temperature and 49 dc CPU temperature is the highest I have recorded with CPU Monitor application.
The Exynos variant tend to eat more juice hence generate more heat. it has lower efficiency and performance overall, so it has to work harder and eat more to do something compared to SD variant. So yeah, if you're using SD variant, you're good. If you happen to live in the exynos area, then well, suck it I guess.
People who care just buy from overseas, mostly China. In Egypt at least, there are tons of small stores that import it for you and it's even cheaper than the local variants.
Had the s21+ for a couple of months, it tends to get HOT very often, probably because it's the exynos chip version. The cameras, speakers and the charging speed are also kinda meh compared to the competition competition. The faceID and finger scanners are also not too good but serviceable. GPS does get confused often. The good: Beautiful design pretty sleek good screen and size pretty fast mostly fluid samsung experience
2022 my S21+ never heated. Never. It's fast,long battery,still after 11 months. Only thing i do miss,(but it's not a reason to sell my S21+) is indeed no SD card. Camera's are great. Thanks for your reviews and best regards from me, Amsterdam The Netherlands 🇳🇱
I hear what you're saying, but here's the thing... It's a phone. I doubt if you looked at one resolution next to the other side by side you could even tell the difference. Now, my TV is QHD, but it's also 65" diagonally, and it's a recent upgrade from a 50" 1080p TV. _THAT_ is a difference I can see. On a 6.whatever inch phone, I really doubt it.
@@MaDFroG88 I didn't find the cost differences got me enough value for the ultra, so I went with the plus. A resolution higher than what my eyes can detect and being able to use the s-pen just weren't worth the extra $500. To _me_ others might disagree with my assessment and that's perfectly fine. My prior phone was a Note, and as much as I liked the concept of the s-pen, the truth is I never really used it. And I have it on my tablet should I really need it.
@@kevykevTPA I mean I miss the premium build quality and qhd also edge displays …. Last but not least pocket size around 6 inches …. That’s why I bought iPhone 12pro
I have a S20+. I have never used micro card slot, but it was a feature that I perceived as added value in my purchase. Not in the market for S21+ since my S20+ is less than a year old and at the price of Samsung phones, don't think I would upgrade to the S21 lineup, unless necessary. Hopefully, I won't have to purchase another phone for several years. Thanks for the update.
I have had terrible problems with the S21 taking incoming calls. It does not even show a missed call. I sent the phone back to Samsung, they sent it back saying it was fine, even after telling me that they know they have a lot of issues and plan to address them in an update..........in a few months.......thoughts?
I've been buying budget phones for years. In order of purchase: LG Optimus V, ZTE Awe, Kyocera Hydro Vibe, ZTE Warp Elite, ZTE Max XL, Motorola E5 plus and the LG k51. I got this phone as a gift. Now I'm not an expert on phone specs but each phone that succeeded my last has cemented my idea that budget phones are catching up to some extent.: even my old LG K51 would be considered a flagship level some 10 years ago but that is my opinion. The S21 allows me to take some very good, not great pics and I can play my games at high res even at the cost of battery life and heating. For me, and only me on my opinion, regardless of a lack of an SD card slot, this phone is tops.
Have had the phone for a month now, battery is by far the worst i have had for years in a phone, my Note10+ battery lasted MUCH longer. It makes the phone experience SUCK
Can you post a link with a specific headphone adapter that works for this phone? Mine isn't working and it seems like a lot of people are having issues with this.
I think the overheating might be do to the difference between the european and american variant. The american, with Snapdragon, is a for superior processor to the exynos in the european. The exynos has had overheating in s8, s9, s10 and s20. I don't think that will change
@@MikeOBrienMedia i don't understand why samsung is so persistent on giving us europeans an inferior phone when it's more expensive here. It's annoying. I chose not to buy samsung because of exynos. Sometimes you just have to be accept that your processor just isn't good enough.
I have a Samsung galaxy S21 Plus in phantom silver and it does get warm when scrolling through articles, social media, and watching UA-cam videos. I have also noticed after having it for a few weeks the standby time is not good I've lost 12% in my battery after 8 hours of not using it. Another issue I've noticed is that when you open the camera the view finder lags a lot for a second when you open the camera and when you switch to the 3X zoom but when I go to the directors view it doesn't lag at all when switching between lenses.
I feel like the sd card removal (as well as headphone jack etc) would be fine if there were simply 2 usbc connectors allowing you you have a 3rd party case that basically acts as a docking station.
I love how Mike reviews the plus series instead of just the standard or Ultra.
Just trying to offer a different perspective. I think the plus is under rated honestly
@Corrinne Decapite fascinating. I've never met a scam bot in person before. Hopefully nobody falls for this
@@The92Waffles lol, I see these all the time in investing videos
I agree that it is underrated. Especially since it is $200 more than the regular s21 and I got it for $100 off and 50 more in accessories so I really only paid 50 more than the regular s21
@@MikeOBrienMedia it is so honestly underated
I went from standard s8 to the s21 ultra, goodness it's like an imax in my pocket haha. The speakers are insane
is it not to big phone?
@@PSRouz first day yeah but then you get used to it. S8 seems too small now
I'm in the same boat. 8-21+
I have an S8 and am getting an S21 in a few days. I'm super excited 💛
I went from the s8 to the s20, and it is a big difference.
"if they have an Iphone unfortunately...." Well played sir. Great video, I am now a subscriber.
Seriously underrated imo .. keep up the good work 👍🏻
Thanks so much!
This guy has crazy professional videos but not enough subs
I really appreciate your kind comment. I am working on improving my video quality and growing the channel! Hopefully this will be a good year
u r amazing!
Coz samsung.
@@quentinarundell6589 lel
Main reason this channel thumbnail not good
I was suprised when I saw that you “only” have ~250k subscribers. Your production quality is great and have an insightful approach to reviewing the devices. Keep doing what you’re doing and I can see a really bright future for you! Also seeing reviews on the devices that the “big guys”tend to often ignore is great.
Everyone's talking about high end phones or budget phones whilst Mike talks about the phones we actually need. Mike is the 🐐
ur reviews really help make the buying decision easier,u just dont focus purely on visuals,ur actual content is helpful..great job man👌💯
I appreciate it, Abheet! Thanks for watching my videos!
Youre the reason i switched from iphone to samsung lol but i dont regret it at all
I love to hear it! Thanks for watching my channel, and I am really happy I helped you decide on a new phone!
@@MikeOBrienMedia im debating beetween the s21 and the plus right now im coming from a horrible samsung (galaxy a20) which do you think is the better choice?
@@iamronaldo7764 let my try to help a little here. These phones are exactly same except 4 things:
1) Display: s21 has 6.2" and plus has 6.7"
2) Battery size: s21 has 4000 mAH vs 4800 mAH of plus
3) Build Quality: s21 has plastic back while plus has glass back
4) Price: S21 is 800 and plus is 1000 (this is US based price so idk where u live and also those are starting price, Amazon always giving special offers where they reduce prices by 100 to 200 dollars so u can keep looking for those).
These are the only things that are different between them (color choices might vary as well). The things that should be ur deciding factor is if u want a big phone or u r a more of a compact phone lover. U might get a little bit better battery life in plus but s21 will still give u great battery life so it matters if u r a light, moderate or heavy pro user. And lastly u consider whether the price difference is worth it. I hope this helps.
@@iamronaldo7764 Go with the plus
@@jeffj318 I did came 2 days ago it's awesome so far
That is the most accurate and honest opinion I've seen on UA-cam yet. Also, for the snow, I recommend turning the AI mode off. That makes a significant difference. I don't have that issue on the Exynos version though, but on the SD variant, I think the AI struggles with snow as a background in sunlight.
Did you experience overheating issues on the exynos version?
@@zivspielman7272 nope. Nothing yet.
Btw, there are 2 different s21 phones: one with Snapdragon chipset and one with Exynos chipset. If you got your s21 in China or North America, you get the Snapdragon version, for other regions you get the Exynos version, which is the one that gets hotter.
Not with latest updates.. Snapdragon is good though.
which chip makes the phone hotter?
Planning on buying this, thanks for the review.
For most drawbacks you mentioned wouldn't effect me. :)
What I really like about you is your frankness and impartiality 👍🏽.
I havent had any overheating issues either ! Loving my s21 plus
I am going to buy one. Will you recommend it?
@@divyanshantwadia2075 yes of course
@@Agni-ex4zr just brought it yesterday and today i am messaging form it totally love it
@@divyanshantwadia2075 I bought it on 14th June 2021 enjoy
@@divyanshantwadia2075 prime day for amazon in US was 30% off, suppose to get mine tomorrow
Content is excellent. And channel is growing. It takes some time but more and more people find it very helpful and useful.
Thanks so much! I hope to continue growing this channel. Hopefully 2021 is a good year for tech reviews!
@@MikeOBrienMedia Tech will always be part of our life, growing.🥳 On the other hand tourism - not so much.😷
Mike I got the s21+ a month ago from my wife for my birthday. I love this phone even though it no longer has the SD card. I had s8+ before this one. It's just a great phone. It's the blue-collar of smartphones.
Im on S8+ now and im thinking of buying S21+ ! How is your experience with S21+????
@@alwaysmycamera Very happy! I recommend you upgrade.
@@irishisle5161 greatttt :DDD
I had to wait, but my phantom red 21+ finally arrived last week and it's dope.
Great video as usual.
Enjoy it! Thanks for watching!
I just ordered it...can you share pics? Am excited for the color!
Hey Mike, very good in depth review. I've been using the plus for 3wks. It's definitely a great performer the triple8 with the 120hz is blazing. Speed wise and clarity of the display is excellent. Even at 1080p, do I miss the 1440p, nah, much prefer the 🔋power? So for me what's the best feature, the trade-in deals? Got mine for 384.00 buck-a-roos. Dumped my weak 🔋pixel4, no regrets!
Thanks for sharing. That sounds like a great trade in! Major battery improvement from the infamous P4 battery life
@@MikeOBrienMedia can you do a video on the LG saga? Looks like their gonna bail out of the smartphone world?
When shooting long high def vids or watching hdr content, gets a lil hot after a while. When charging gets pretty hot
Also when using it for more than 10 minutes, not happy about it.
@@5phany5 exynos version maybe?
@@halitalihankaraks7998 the SD gets hot...and the exynos...but only when you run it hard..like every phone..if you play hard games its normal...like youre pc and laptop or every device
5:47 Regarding your issue that with the S21 series you cant put memory cards inside to clear them for your other devices I have a type-C OTG adapter and micro-SD to USB-A adapter. With this I am planning to give my 128 GB card a new use when I switch from Note 10+ to S21+. Its not convenient like cloud or integrated SD-card slot but better than nothing and I wont use it all the time so its fine.
Thanks -- appreciate your reviews! I've had s21+ for about a month. For me the screen size was the difference maker to choose this over the reg s21. No issues with heating up or with GPS / google maps dropping either standalone or synced with android auto. Battery is a monster. Funny if I were to complain it might be that I have found the fingerprint sensor a bit finicky sometimes tho generally it seems to work fine. Overall I love it!
Try turning off fingerprint animations
Wdym by Google Maps dropping?
How good was the battery on release? Because it's battery life is pretty terrible now
As a tech youtuber i hoped you would find out by now that S21+ does have rear mic under the flash, watch a teardown video.
Had my S21+ for 3 months already. I experienced overheating one time when I'm charging and playing pubg at the same time and another factor maybe the hot environment in my place.
My s21 does heat up with games but I am having a problem with google apps like the play store and UA-cam not working and the play store not downloading anything peroid without Wi-Fi 🙁
The s21 ultra has higher reso display that I would honestly just bump down to 1080p to save battery. Am not a fan of zooming too, so the S21+ really fits me perfectly! I also waited few months just in case the s21 series has any issue lol
Surprised there was no mention of lack of QHD screen resolution which is the main reason many will not consider buying this phone
Dummy here, what is that?
The mst pay taking off completely takes me of wanting to upgrade.
I always loved going places and started to pay with my phone and them telling me they didn't have a nfc reader or people with iphones that it never worked.
Then I would reach over and lay my phone on the car reader and smile!
Plus no micro SD card?
They are taking all the things away I loved with Samsung.
I agree with this, it is a terrible idea to be removing features. I had the s9 and that had headphone jack, ms pay plus and sd card.
Hi Mike thank you so much for your review, really clear and your videos of the phone are amazing. can I just ask if you are showing only the purple version? at some angles like the video at 4:59, it looks like the silver version instead with the different lights reflecting!
I reckon the SD Card will probably return in 2022.
Samsung made the same booby in 2015 with the S6 variants. If it isn't broken, don't fix it!
Hi at this time of the year, do you thibk s21 plus is a good choice or one should wait for s22 plus ?
Thanks for this vid bro, just awesome coz it makes me feel that I was not wrong getting it over the ultra. Been thinking that maybe I made a mistake not getting the ultra but hearing your pros about the plus changed it. The weight compared to the ultra, the screen and battery compared to the standard one, the plus is just the right one and it's perfectly the best value for money on the s21 series, IMHO.
Once again, great vid as always and keep safe, Mike!
Thanks! Yeah I think the S21+ is under rated. For me, it is the sweet spot.
@@MikeOBrienMedia Awesome! Thanks for the vid again 🔥👍🏻👌🏻
The removal of the SD card slot was the deal breaker for me on this phone. Still using my S9+
You really don't need the SD slot if you don't save videos.
@@jeffj318 I don't have many videos and I'm still using over 300GB of storage right now (internal & external). I also have a separate SD card for my job that I switch in and out when I need to. It's convenient, I need the slot. I hope that it gets brought back on a future phone.
I always felt like a black sheep for not caring about SD card slot and thought it was actually just a tech reviewer thing and very rare for a typical consumer to have that issue. I consume so much media and use my camera fairly frequently and have only used 64GB in two years haha. Maybe it's not enough downloading movies or things but not hard to just delete old podcasts or things to keep up spacious.
"If your friend has an iPhone, unfortunately" hahahahaha! Good on you, dude.
I have s21+ exynos 2100 chip variant phone. When I start playing F1 game even for 10-15 mins, the game starts to lag & sometimes start heating. Due to which I can't play game for more than 15mins.
I think sd card is an very important function as I constantly change between phones so by moving the sd card from device to device is the fastest option. I really hope that Samsung will bring it back. I was very interested in s21 ultra but due to no sd card slot, I still haven't buy it.
🤦♂️ if you use Google photos that's even faster.
@@evacody1249 why are people sooo quick to hand google your whole life and personal info and photo's?
get s22U
Thanks for giving your thoughts on the S21+ Mike. I'm really enjoying the S21+, maybe even a little bit more than my Note 20 Ultra. Battery life has been absolutely great. Puts my Note to shame. I have the SD variance and the only time the phone gets warm is when I wireless charge the phone. I have fast charging, super fast charging and fast wireless charging all turned off in settings. Watch tons of UA-cam and other things. No problem. Don't think it's going to be a issue, just something I've noticed. Keep up the good work Mike.
The S Pen has a special place in my heart, but that Note 20 Ultra was a bit too large for my everyday use. I'm glad you like the S21+! I think it is a great compromise and is honestly under rated
you're going up man keep up!!
Thanks Emilio!
I received my S21plus on Nov.2nd. On Nov.6th I charged it on my wireless charger and when I removed it it was very warm but not excessively warm then I noticed the back had shattered. The insurance will not cover to repair because the phone still works so far but the appearance is heartbreaking. Love my phone but I am so upset about the appearance of the back. I will get a case that covers it but I still know it's shattered 😔
Ya I also experienced slight overheating in my S21 after using the camera multiple times (video+photos). Bit unusual compared to my old S8. But I think it will not be an issue. Thanks for the video. It's super.
Interesting. Snapdragon or Exynos model?
@@MikeOBrienMedia Exynos. I'm from Sri Lanka and usually we have a warm weather. Anyway today I received a software update and hopefully this will solve after that.
@@anushkawj hey is it fixed after that update?
@@gagan8677 Of course. It was a temporary bug.
Good review mate! what mic did you use for recording this review? because it sounds decent!
Hey Mike,can you find an exynos version for reviewing?
I can try!
@@MikeOBrienMedia yeah that would be awesome!
Please try stress test on Exynos, I am feeling like exynos is just terrible with maintaining thermals so not making it worth for gaming.
This year sd 888 is heater.
Exynos 2100 is cool.
Haven't had an issue with heating, with my S21+...it might be the base model that's overheating(S21) anyway great job Sir. 👍🙂
That's what I'm thinking. The xperia z mini used to have overheating issues as well due to the small size. I like the smaller size of the s21 but that might cause some issues long term
Same, my mom s21 have heating issue, and my s21 plus doesnt have
just brought the s21 plus to replace my A70 and it's a whole other world. now that going premium isn't as expensive as it used to be, I'm really happy with my choice! your review was a helpful one and made me choose this phone😄
I just got it and somehow when I charged it for the first time, it heated a bit...maybe because of the tiring syncing process I put it through
idk...but I'm trying to understand why the battery drains a bit faster than I would like it to 🙃 trying to optimize it for now.
anyway thank you so much !!!
How is the battery life now? Am also planning to move from the a70 to the s21 plus soon
@@andrusk2351 since then I had my phone stolen and bought the same one. I have a double sim which drains the battery but I can easily make it last 12 hours. less if I'm on my phone watching stuff. but I'm very happy with it and I'm not stressed at all as I used to be with my A70 ,having my power bank ready all the time
Mike, I'm a little confused about the focusing system on the s21 plus. I don't see anything for a laser autofocus module, like the s21 ultra. last year on the s20 ultra there was only phase detection and as you know it was literally the worst camera experience in Samsung history. Couldn't focus even in perfect daylight
Mike: doesn't capture snow well which has been a very common thing here
Also mike: no overheating 🙄
I drive a lot for work and am annoyed at how much my gps cuts out with this device and often google maps just closes on me afterward. Very odd. Never had that issue with my pixel 4a
I believe it all depends on user's age very much. I hardly use all those bells and whistles on a phone. I use it as a phone mostly, and a handy computer. No more, no less.
I can probably live without the sd card, but not without the audio jack. C'mon Samsung! It's very convenient. U just stick it inside u don't have to switch bluetooth or nfc, u don't have to switch your wireless headset. It's just a plain, effective and honest approach. Why remove it?????
Which is the chip used in your case? Snapdragon or Exynos chipset? Which has the overheating issue?
Great video keep it up as watching with my S21 plus bro
Nice!
Wonderful reviews really!
Can I ask you which one I better buy note20 or S21+?
You mentioned that it sometimes loses GPS signal..did you have it on battery save? I had a Motorola that used to do that
I'm watching this on my pixel 3xl. How do you compare speakers to the pixels front facing stereo speakers? Also 1440 is standard on the 3xl, how do you compare it to the s21plus? Am looking at the s21plus but the 3xl is still working fine.
I also noticed Google maps dropping more than normal. I didn't even think of the possibility that it's the phone
Been looking at an s21 but this concerns me. Do you have the plus model as well or a different one? Would be weird if it was just the plus, but I’m curious. If you don’t mind me asking ☺️
Interesting. So it's not just me
@@LyndseyT11 I have the regular S21 no plus. I'm hoping it's just a mistake with my settings
@@Jaegi_ thanks for the reply, would be a shame if this issue affects the whole line. Might hold off on my purchase to see if we hear more about this.
What means by google maps dropping?? I dont get it
I miss the head phone jack, the macro lenses for nature photography, the sd card slot. I also liked having more filters. I a few weeks ago upgraded from S8+ to S21+. So I am still learning the camera. The telephoto zoom is much better on this phone. I wish there was more RAM. Overall this phone is better than s8+. But in some ways I wish I could have afforded the S21+U. But I have found everytime I get a new phone, I need to learn and adapt to the phone cam.
Thanks for the review! I know that this year’s Exynos model shortened the gap with Snapdragon but I still opted to import the SD version.
SD version?
@@euroalpha snapdragon
I DON'T like the fingerprint part is in front of the front screen, and mine doesn't work, I'm not sure is because I bought the glass screen protector, but I will go back to the store and see what's going on, and it does overheat sometimes, I just got it yesterday so I will continue to see the progress, thanks for your input
I got the same problem. I had the phone changed still same problem. I had my finger print read before putting the screen protector same problem. I hate it. I am willing to have an iphone just for that reason cause i had the samsung s9+ i didn't have to worry about sign in apps and webpage. I just use my finger print and now i can't do that
Tbh one of my fav reviewers bc they really indepth, but that uktra is tempting me with the stylus
If you want the stylus, go with the note ultra. Much better than the regular S ultra
I just upgraded to this phone for free from an S10+. I don't have it yet, it's coming in the mail. Is the downgrade to 1080p really noticeable? It's the only aspect of this phone I feel is a let down.
Not at all. I did the same Two Weeks Ago. Literally don't notice, and you get the 120Hz. Ask Any Questions you have.
@@johnsimmonds2540 I just got it today and yeah I don't notice the resolution difference which is nice. I always turn my screen to 30-40% brightness, but it still seems to eat battery kinda fast. I'll have to play around with some settings, hopefully I can get it running a bit better. Haven't tried the 60HZ option but I may go there.
@4k60 recording on the s21+ will heat up plenty the longer you record.
A test where u record 4k60 on the s21+ while u pointing on it with a laser thermometer would be great.
The MicroSD is a helpful tool for sustainability. Such a phone someone could easily use for 6 years. But with 4k and games and so on the memory is to small in at least 3 years.
For me i use 256gb and that saves Battery because i dont need to stream everything via the Net. Also we dont have Net everywhere.
Interesting. I guess I do tend to stream a lot of my content
They use different processors in different markets, the US S21+ processors arent prone to getting hot like the other processors are
Amazing phone! It blew me away how good it is!!
Damn, I still struggle with battery life in my S21+. One day with 5h SOT form 100 to 0 is max I can get. However, I have Exynos chip.
120hz ?
@@MaDFroG88 yeah
@@adrik99554 not impressive at all for such a huge 🧱…. That’s why after s20 failure with exynos chip I switched to iPhone 12pro 6’1 inch and I get 5h sot and my battery is around 10-15% late evening! I was pleasantly surprised!
love this long term reviews
I have the S21 plus and even though is not 5000 mAh battery. The battery it has is pretty good 👍
With cloud storage, the point of having an SD is just. Meh.
On top of most media being streamable now, it's even less needed.
Not a big deal anymore at all.
1st time viewer, we done laying it out. You got a sub from me. 🤜🤛
Ok so the whole gps thing I just got the new galaxy S 21 and my GPS on my phone cut out a lot if you could please reach out to me and let me know if that still happening to you I don’t know why it does that but it definitely does all the time especially when I’m trying to use the transit app ‘!!
Was having a WhatsApp call and was using multi window. Suddenly it says can't use multi window because the phone is too hot.
It's just the 5g radio you can turn it off
@@marufio i always try turning off 5g. It just turns back on by itself always.
@@flamekamboj6798 go to connections, mobile network then LTE. There it stays
@@marufio yeah.. Thanks man. Let's see if it will work .
Pls suggest me what to buy? S21 or s2 + ?
I have the S21 exinos model and it overheats when I'm using the camera, also happens when I am using ar emoji and it's even worse.
Try turning off 5g
Fail 😞 😔
Being a consumer phone that a lot of people, way more than the iphone users are, the magsafe I think was overlooked just cos it is a problem with pacemakers and other such devices. I have a family member who loved the iphone but had to switch just cos of this.
I have the S20 and I don't see any improvement good enough worth to upgrade
Yeah like I said, this phone seems to be more like a "bug fix & aesthetic improvement" update... similar to how Apple releases phones. It is nice but also a bit boring
It’s a downgrade!
I think the best way to check how far it goes in terms of heat is to record temperature during stress test in antutu app.
Mine gets super hot on playing Asphalt 9 for under an hour and while video calling.
47 d celcius battery temperature and 49 dc CPU temperature is the highest I have recorded with CPU Monitor application.
Do you use Snapdragon or Exynos variant?
Nice one Michael, have the phone for 2 days now, and warned me 3 times already about over heating. Was while using the AR emoji apps. Hope this helps.
Try turning off 5g patch
Are you using a SD or Exynos version?
@@jigglymarina standard
The Exynos variant tend to eat more juice hence generate more heat. it has lower efficiency and performance overall, so it has to work harder and eat more to do something compared to SD variant. So yeah, if you're using SD variant, you're good. If you happen to live in the exynos area, then well, suck it I guess.
People who care just buy from overseas, mostly China. In Egypt at least, there are tons of small stores that import it for you and it's even cheaper than the local variants.
🙏 for amd chip !
@@MaDFroG88 the exynos 2200 has been leaked. it's about 1.5 to 2x better than apple's A14 on graphics.
Had the s21+ for a couple of months, it tends to get HOT very often, probably because it's the exynos chip version.
The cameras, speakers and the charging speed are also kinda meh compared to the competition competition.
The faceID and finger scanners are also not too good but serviceable.
GPS does get confused often.
The good:
Beautiful design
pretty sleek
good screen and size
pretty fast mostly
fluid samsung experience
I wish the exynos version was better tbh
i own an a50s and holy sh*t if it overheats like crazy
2022 my S21+ never heated. Never.
It's fast,long battery,still after 11 months.
Only thing i do miss,(but it's not a reason to sell my S21+) is indeed no SD card.
Camera's are great.
Thanks for your reviews and best regards from me, Amsterdam The Netherlands 🇳🇱
I am going to buy it today, some of people say that you are crazy, it too old. But that is fine I think
@@theleaf11 no,not crazy. This S21+ is very good,and i think now the price is much cheaper. Good choice!
@@SQ773 yess, it is cheap now. I love to take pro photos. What about camera?
@@theleaf11
Camera's are fantastic 👍
@@SQ773 perfect then, seems i wont regrett
S21+ Should have had a QHD. 1080 on a S21+ WTF?
I hear what you're saying, but here's the thing... It's a phone. I doubt if you looked at one resolution next to the other side by side you could even tell the difference. Now, my TV is QHD, but it's also 65" diagonally, and it's a recent upgrade from a 50" 1080p TV. _THAT_ is a difference I can see. On a 6.whatever inch phone, I really doubt it.
@@kevykevTPA only the ultra model is worth it! Other 2 models are a downgrade.
@@MaDFroG88 I didn't find the cost differences got me enough value for the ultra, so I went with the plus. A resolution higher than what my eyes can detect and being able to use the s-pen just weren't worth the extra $500. To _me_ others might disagree with my assessment and that's perfectly fine. My prior phone was a Note, and as much as I liked the concept of the s-pen, the truth is I never really used it. And I have it on my tablet should I really need it.
@@kevykevTPA I mean I miss the premium build quality and qhd also edge displays …. Last but not least pocket size around 6 inches …. That’s why I bought iPhone 12pro
I have a S20+. I have never used micro card slot, but it was a feature that I perceived as added value in my purchase. Not in the market for S21+ since my S20+ is less than a year old and at the price of Samsung phones, don't think I would upgrade to the S21 lineup, unless necessary.
Hopefully, I won't have to purchase another phone for several years.
Thanks for the update.
Thanks for watching! The S20 is still a fantastic phone. Very little is different with this one honestly
Do you have the Exynos version or Snapdragon?
I don't see the wireless car mount charger link that you mentioned...
would you suggest the s21 plus or the iphone 12
I have had terrible problems with the S21 taking incoming calls. It does not even show a missed call. I sent the phone back to Samsung, they sent it back saying it was fine, even after telling me that they know they have a lot of issues and plan to address them in an update..........in a few months.......thoughts?
Great video! Are you using a case?
I got the gps thing on my s10 aswell. Not sure about the reason either. U found anything yet?
Good video. As far as fingerprints on the phone, every samsung phone needs a case. They will break.
I've been buying budget phones for years. In order of purchase: LG Optimus V, ZTE Awe, Kyocera Hydro Vibe, ZTE Warp Elite, ZTE Max XL, Motorola E5 plus and the LG k51. I got this phone as a gift. Now I'm not an expert on phone specs but each phone that succeeded my last has cemented my idea that budget phones are catching up to some extent.: even my old LG K51 would be considered a flagship level some 10 years ago but that is my opinion. The S21 allows me to take some very good, not great pics and I can play my games at high res even at the cost of battery life and heating.
For me, and only me on my opinion, regardless of a lack of an SD card slot, this phone is tops.
Have had the phone for a month now, battery is by far the worst i have had for years in a phone, my Note10+ battery lasted MUCH longer. It makes the phone experience SUCK
Can you post a link with a specific headphone adapter that works for this phone? Mine isn't working and it seems like a lot of people are having issues with this.
The sound on with headphones is terrible on my jbl wireless earbuds. My a51 5g had better sound, more crisp
Amazing video as always. You deserve more subscribers ! 👍
I think the overheating might be do to the difference between the european and american variant. The american, with Snapdragon, is a for superior processor to the exynos in the european. The exynos has had overheating in s8, s9, s10 and s20. I don't think that will change
Yes I always feel bad for my European friends who are stuck with the Exynos model. Snapdragon has been superior for years
@@MikeOBrienMedia i don't understand why samsung is so persistent on giving us europeans an inferior phone when it's more expensive here. It's annoying. I chose not to buy samsung because of exynos. Sometimes you just have to be accept that your processor just isn't good enough.
I have a Samsung galaxy S21 Plus in phantom silver and it does get warm when scrolling through articles, social media, and watching UA-cam videos. I have also noticed after having it for a few weeks the standby time is not good I've lost 12% in my battery after 8 hours of not using it. Another issue I've noticed is that when you open the camera the view finder lags a lot for a second when you open the camera and when you switch to the 3X zoom but when I go to the directors view it doesn't lag at all when switching between lenses.
It sounds like the international models have a higher chance of overheating
What launcher are you using?
I feel like the sd card removal (as well as headphone jack etc) would be fine if there were simply 2 usbc connectors allowing you you have a 3rd party case that basically acts as a docking station.
One big thing I don't like this phone is it no SD card support.
Why is it called a Daily Driver? Why wouldn't it just be daily phone? The hell is the driver part
Yooo, what camera did u use for this video?
Ya you're pretty good at this. Very good video!!
my S21 is awesome on batterty life. 6 hrs. Fantastic
Is that sarcasm?
@@Red.exe7 nope