Samsung Galaxy M21 2021 Review
Samsung Galaxy J-series was instantly killed off after the growing popularity of its affordable price-to-feature promising M-series came into play. The Galaxy M21 2021 Edition is a refreshed version of last year’s Galaxy M21 and offers a large display, an excellent battery life, and a competitive price tag although almost 99% of its specifications remain untouched compared to the 2020 version so let’s see how different the new version is. It all boils down to its actual performance.
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I got my hands on Samsung Galaxy M21 2021 Edition for a hands-on review that should uncover mysteriously and answer questions potential customers might have.
Galaxy M21 2021 Review Price in India
Samsung Galaxy M21 2021 Edition is available in two colour variants i.e. Arctic Blue and Charcoal Black. Its 4GB+64GB variant is up for sale at Rs 12,499/- while the topmost 6GB+128GB variant fetches a price tag of Rs 14,999/-. Available via Amazon India and Samsung India online store, you can avail several deals with the device. Amazon offers an exchange offer discounting up to Rs 13,400/- on eligible exchanges. Similarly, there are multiple No Cost and Low-cost EMIs, instant discounts of up to Rs 1,000/- on ICICI Bank CC and CC/DC EMI among others.
Galaxy M21 2021 Specs at a glance
Before we talk in detail about the Galaxy M21 2021 let’s see what the on-paper specs look like?
- Display: 16.21 centimetres (6.4-inch) Super AMOLED
- Processor: Exynos 9611
- Storage: 4GB/64GB, 6GB/128GB
- Software: OneUI 3.1 based on Android 11
- Rear cameras: 48MP+8MP+5MP
- Front camera: 20MP
- Battery: 6000 mAh
- Weight: 192g
- Dimensions: 159 x 75.1 x 9 mm
Galaxy M21 2021 Design and Build
Speaking about the design, the new Galaxy M21 2021 Edition is slightly different especially if you look at the back panel of the phone. First up, the display is huge and there’s no denying it and I will talk about the display tech in the next section. There’s a U-shaped notch that Samsung calls Infinity-U. The chin is chunky although the bezels are of considerable size which goes in line with the price tag.
The back panel sees the biggest differences between the 2020 and 2021 editions. Unlike last year’s glossy back panel, this year’s M21 2021 has a textured back panel. A hoard of lines run through the back panel diagonally and this gives you an enhanced grip on the phone. Also, it wards off any smudges and fingerprints sticking on the panel.
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Samsung is using a plastic frame and back panel that looks slightly cheaper but it is way more durable than a glass back. Plus, the back panel is curved, which improves grip as well. The triple rear camera module appears flush with the back panel and there’s no rectangular camera bump around. There’s an oval-shaped fingerprint scanner with its placement too high on the back panel that you would certainly have to stretch your fingers to unlock the phone for sure.
There’s a mic, a bottom-firing loudspeaker, a USB Type-C port right at the centre, and a 3.5mm headphone jack at the bottom. The power button is nearby on the right, however, the volume rocker is way too high so you might’ve problems reaching it if you have small hands. There’s a secondary mic on top and a SIM card slot on the left. That’s all about the button and port placement found on M21 2021 Edition which isn’t much different from last year’s M21.
At the end of the day, it all boils down to what you need versus what you are ready to compromise when it comes to a Sub-15K INR smartphone. Samsung Galaxy M21 2021 Edition is the same as its older 2020 version except for some cosmetic changes and upgraded software. Battery life is great and there’s no doubt about it but you get slower charging support. The chipset performance is satisfactory but I expect better performance at this price tag. This doesn’t mean the chipset cannot handle stuff, it does but it could have been better.
The camera is okayish and there’s no oomph factor about it. I guess Samsung could improve camera performance via software updates but for that, you will have to actually buy the device and wait. Samsung Galaxy M21 2021 Edition is a cool day-to-day usage promising a splendid battery backup and decent performance overall.
