Samsung Galaxy A21 Review: A Budget Smartphone That Gets the Basics Right
When
Samsung announced the Samsung Galaxy A21 in 2020, the company continued its strategy of bringing premium-inspired features to the affordable smartphone market. The Galaxy A series had already become popular among users who wanted dependable smartphones without paying flagship prices, and the Galaxy A21 arrived as a strong contender in the budget category.
With its large Infinity-O display, quad-camera setup, modern design, and long-lasting battery, the Samsung Galaxy A21 was designed for everyday users who wanted value for money. Whether you were a student, casual gamer, social media enthusiast, or someone upgrading from an older phone, the Galaxy A21 offered a balanced smartphone experience at a reasonable price.
In this detailed review, we’ll explore the Samsung Galaxy A21’s design, display, performance, cameras, battery life, software experience, and overall value in the smartphone market of 2020.
Samsung Galaxy A21 Specifications at a Glance
| Feature |
Samsung Galaxy A21 |
| Display |
6.5-inch PLS TFT Infinity-O Display |
| Resolution |
720 x 1600 pixels |
| Processor |
MediaTek Helio P35 |
| RAM |
3GB |
| Storage |
32GB |
| Rear Cameras |
16MP + 8MP Ultra-Wide + 2MP Macro + 2MP Depth |
| Front Camera |
13MP |
| Battery |
4000mAh |
| Charging |
15W Fast Charging |
| Operating System |
Android 10 with One UI |
| Fingerprint Sensor |
Rear-mounted |
| Expandable Storage |
Yes, via microSD |
| Headphone Jack |
Yes |
Design and Build Quality
One of the first things you notice about the Samsung Galaxy A21 is how modern it looks for a budget smartphone. Samsung gave the phone a clean and stylish design that closely resembles some of its more expensive Galaxy devices.
The glossy plastic back panel reflects light nicely and gives the device a premium appearance, even though it is made of plastic. The vertically aligned quad-camera module adds to the modern aesthetic, while the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor remains conveniently placed.
Compared to the
Samsung Galaxy A20, the Galaxy A21 feels slightly more refined and contemporary. The biggest visual difference is the Infinity-O punch-hole display on the A21, replacing the waterdrop notch seen on the Galaxy A20. This small change makes the front look more immersive and modern.
The Galaxy A21 is also a bit taller because of its larger display, but it still feels comfortable enough for daily use. Samsung did a good job optimizing the bezels, especially considering the phone’s affordable pricing.
Available colors included:
The build quality may not compete with premium flagships, but for its price range in 2020, the Galaxy A21 looked surprisingly attractive.
Display Experience
The Samsung Galaxy A21 features a 6.5-inch Infinity-O display with HD+ resolution. While it doesn’t use Samsung’s AMOLED technology like some higher-end Galaxy devices, the screen still delivers decent colors and satisfactory brightness for everyday activities.
Watching YouTube videos, scrolling through social media, browsing the web, and streaming movies all feel enjoyable thanks to the large screen size. The punch-hole selfie camera also helps maximize screen space, giving users a more immersive experience.
The display resolution of 720p may not impress users looking for ultra-sharp visuals, but for casual smartphone users, it gets the job done comfortably.
The screen is especially useful for:
- Watching videos
- Online classes
- Reading articles
- Casual gaming
- Social media browsing
Outdoor visibility is acceptable under sunlight, although not exceptional. Indoors, the display performs quite well and remains vibrant enough for most tasks.
Performance and Hardware
Powering the Samsung Galaxy A21 is the MediaTek Helio P35 processor paired with 3GB of RAM. This hardware combination clearly targets entry-level and budget smartphone users rather than heavy multitaskers or hardcore gamers.
For daily tasks, the Galaxy A21 performs reasonably well. Apps such as:
- WhatsApp
- Facebook
- Instagram
- TikTok
- YouTube
- Chrome
run smoothly for the most part.
Switching between apps is manageable, although you may occasionally notice minor slowdowns when too many apps remain open in the background.
Gaming performance is modest. Lightweight games run fine, while heavier games like PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty Mobile require lower graphics settings for stable performance.
Storage is limited to 32GB internally, but thankfully Samsung included microSD card support, allowing users to expand storage for photos, videos, and apps.
For a budget smartphone in 2020, the Galaxy A21 delivered acceptable performance for basic smartphone users.
Camera Performance
One of the major selling points of the Samsung Galaxy A21 is its quad-camera setup. At a time when multiple cameras were becoming trendy, Samsung ensured the A21 didn’t feel outdated.
Rear Camera Setup
The phone includes:
- 16MP Main Camera
- 8MP Ultra-Wide Camera
- 2MP Macro Camera
- 2MP Depth Sensor
Main Camera
The 16MP primary camera captures decent photos in good lighting conditions. Images come out with respectable detail and balanced colors, especially outdoors during daytime.
Samsung’s image processing tends to make colors appear vibrant, which many users enjoy for social media uploads.
Low-light photography is less impressive, with noticeable noise and reduced sharpness, but this is expected at this price point.
Ultra-Wide Camera
The 8MP ultra-wide camera is useful for landscape photography and group shots. It allows users to capture more content within a single frame, making it fun for travel and outdoor photography.
Macro Camera
The macro camera allows close-up photography of small objects. While it’s more of a bonus feature than a game-changing camera, it can still produce interesting shots under proper lighting.
Depth Sensor
Portrait shots benefit from the depth sensor, helping create background blur effects that look fairly natural for a budget smartphone.
Selfie Camera
The Samsung Galaxy A21 comes with a 13MP front-facing camera housed inside the punch-hole cutout.
Selfies are generally good in bright environments, with decent skin tones and enough detail for social media sharing and video calls.
Beauty filters are available for users who prefer smoother facial effects, though natural-looking selfies are possible when filters are minimized.
Video calling performance is also respectable for apps like Zoom, WhatsApp, and Google Meet.
Battery Life
Battery performance is one of the strongest aspects of the Samsung Galaxy A21.
The phone packs a 4000mAh battery, which comfortably lasts a full day under moderate usage. Users who primarily browse social media, watch videos, and message friends can easily get through the day without needing a recharge.
The Galaxy A21 also supports 15W fast charging, which was a welcome feature in the budget segment during 2020.
Battery life highlights include:
- Strong standby time
- Good video streaming endurance
- Reliable daily usage
- Decent gaming battery backup
Samsung optimized the software reasonably well to help conserve power during lighter tasks.
Software and User Experience
The Samsung Galaxy A21 launched with Android 10 alongside Samsung’s One UI software.
One UI remains one of the most user-friendly Android interfaces available. The software feels clean, organized, and beginner-friendly.
Features included:
- Dark Mode
- Gesture Navigation
- Digital Wellbeing
- Samsung Knox Security
- Device Care Optimization
Samsung’s software also adds useful customization options while maintaining good usability.
The user interface is particularly helpful for users upgrading from older Galaxy devices because of its familiar layout and smooth navigation.
Audio and Connectivity
The Galaxy A21 includes a headphone jack, which many users still appreciated in 2020. Audio quality through wired earphones is decent, and the loudspeaker performs adequately for calls and casual media playback.
Connectivity options include:
- 4G LTE
- Bluetooth
- Wi-Fi
- GPS
- USB Type-C
Samsung also retained expandable storage support, which is always useful for budget-conscious users.
Samsung Galaxy A21 Release Price
At launch in 2020, the Samsung Galaxy A21 was priced at approximately:
| Currency |
Launch Price |
| US Dollar |
$249 |
| Nigerian Naira |
₦95,000 – ₦105,000 |
| British Pound |
£200 |
| Indian Rupee |
₹18,500 |
Prices varied slightly depending on region, taxes, and retailer availability.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Modern punch-hole display design
- Large 6.5-inch screen
- Good battery life
- Quad-camera versatility
- Expandable storage support
- Fast charging support
- User-friendly One UI software
- Stylish appearance for a budget phone
Cons
- HD+ resolution only
- Plastic body attracts fingerprints
- Average gaming performance
- Limited 32GB internal storage
- Low-light camera performance could be better
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy A21 successfully delivered what many budget smartphone users wanted in 2020: a modern-looking phone with dependable battery life, multiple cameras, a large display, and Samsung’s trusted software experience.
It may not have been the most powerful smartphone in its category, but it provided solid overall value for students, casual users, and anyone seeking an affordable Samsung device with contemporary features.
Compared to the Samsung Galaxy A20, the Galaxy A21 introduced a fresher design, more cameras, and a slightly improved overall experience while maintaining the budget-friendly approach that made the A series popular.
For users focused on everyday usability rather than flagship-level performance, the Samsung Galaxy A21 remained a practical and attractive option during its release year.
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