Along with many other exciting reveals at the 2021 CES trade show, Samsung introduced its new Galaxy S21 phone series, set to release on January 29th. Like the Galaxy S20 series, the new lineup includes three models: the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra. 

The new Galaxy S21 line includes new Snapdragon 888 processors, a significant step up from the Snapdragon 875 processors in the S20 models. The updated Snapdragon chipset promises better 5G capabilities, improved AI performance, and up to a 35% increase in image processing speed. Samsung also upgraded the camera housing design, introducing what they call a metal “Contour Cut” module to replace the glass housing. The new rear camera module is made of color-coordinated metal, not glass, and blends into the corner of the phone body itself. Samsung made few changes to the camera itself, but the increased image processing power and sleek new design definitely spell an upgrade in the S21 series.

Perhaps one of the most ‘notable’ changes, however, came in the Galaxy S21 Ultra model: Samsung S Pen compatibility. The consumer electronic company’s smartphone stylus has traditionally only worked with their Note series of phones, which comes included with the phone in a slot on the side of the body. Samsung added S Pen compatibility to its premium Galaxy S21 model, the Ultra, leading some to speculate that the Note series could be on its way out.

Truth be told, the only real difference between the Galaxy series and Note series was the stylus. While the Note gave Samsung the opportunity to test out some more innovative features without disrupting its flagship line, that ship may have sailed with the release of the Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold series. Many believe that Samsung may be shifting away from its production of the Note in lieu of its robust Galaxy S21 and Z series lineups.

The S21 Ultra also comes with a lower introductory price point than the S20 Ultra, possibly with the intention of offsetting the additional cost of the new S Pen and matching stylus slot case. The S21 Ultra can be purchased for $1,199 for the 128GB model, with the S Pen coming in at $39.99. The S Pen and matching silicone phone case with the stylus slot can also be purchased as a set for $69.99 from Samsung’s website.

For years, it has seemed like only one smartphone feature matters: the camera. Social media users’ desire to capture and share photos in an instant quickly resulted in making the phone camera one of the main focuses of design upgrades. Over a decade since the explosion of smartphones’ popularity, the formerly-dubbed ‘camera phone’ has been nearly perfected, with an industry standard of multiple 12MP rear cameras that feature image stabilization, optical zoom, and 4K (and increasingly, 8K) video capabilities. Now that smartphone cameras have little room to improve, with some even rivalling those in the arsenal of a professional photographer, what can the phone industry do to keep consumers engaged?

Expandable phones could be one answer. Along with the drastic improvements to their cameras, smartphones have grown significantly in size since their initial descent into our everyday lives. The original iPhone (c. 2007) display was a mere 3.5-inch screen with 320 x 480 pixel resolution. Now, the iPhone 12 comes in a variety of sizes, from a 5.4-inch screen with 2,532 x 1,170 pixel resolution on their Mini model, to a 6.7-inch screen with 2,778 x 1,284 pixel resolution on their Pro Max model. Other smartphone manufacturers have made similar changes to the dimensions of their phones. 

The foldable phone is a recent manifestation of consumers’ desire for larger screens. Phones that fold out from their side, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 and LG ThinQ™ series, offer a large, versatile screen in a compact package that resembles the rectangular smartphones we’re used to. LG has also been exploring other ways to shake up the traditional rectangular smartphone design. 

The consumer electronics company debuted their ‘Explorer Project’ line, intended to denote deviation from the typical metal-box phone design, when it released the LG Wing in October 2020. The Wing features two stacked screens, where the 6.8-inch main display swivels 90º to reveal a second 3.9-inch panel underneath. LG’s new phone concept yielded mixed reception of the non-traditional phone configuration, with a review from The Verge aptly summarizing the collective experience: “it’s weird, but it works.”

During CES 2021, LG hinted at the release of yet another expanded-phone concept design. The LG Rollable appeared twice in the company’s promotional videos, however received no mention from LG executives during the tradeshow. Some sources indicate that the rollable phone, which appears to expand from the side into a tablet-like display, could be available for purchase by the end of the year.