Samsung has yet to formally announce the date it will launch the Galaxy S21, but thanks to previous leaks we know it’s just two weeks away. As the year comes to a close later today, Samsung is releasing the first official Galaxy S21 teaser.
This first teaser for Samsung’s next flagship doesn’t address dates, but simply teases that a “new Galaxy awaits,” referring to the S21 series. The video mentions that the new year and new device will bring “new ways to express yourself,” possibly teasing some new camera or software features.
After those vague messages, Samsung dives into the history of the Galaxy S series with each older model transforming into the next year’s revision and with each change highlighting the biggest physical differences between each phone. For example, we can see design changes, the addition of water resistance on Galaxy S5, the curved screen of S6 and S7, the home button removal on S8, and the arrival of the hole-punch on Galaxy S10 and S20. It’s a slick little video.
Of course, we already know a lot about what the Galaxy S21 will bring to the table despite this teaser not confirming anything officially. The Galaxy S21 will have the same centered hole-punch as the S20, but with a flat display and slimmer bezels. The phone is also adopting a new camera module design on the back which melds into the frame. The leaked renders so far have been pretty gorgeous.
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I don’t say that to make you feel sorry for me — I still enjoy unboxing a new phone and putting it through its paces — but it used to be easier.
In previous years, the major players like Apple and Samsung released one phone per year (roughly) and the prices grew as new features were added.
Now Samsung is releasing new phones every few months and both companies (plus Google, OnePlus and Motorola) are releasing high-end flagship phones as well as more moderately priced models.
Apple, for example, sells new phones ranging from the $399 iPhone SE on up to the $1,399 iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Samsung’s offerings range from the $99 Galaxy A series to the $1,449 Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G.
That’s a long name, so I’m just going to call it the FE, which stands for Fan Edition.
Family tree
I’ll start by making a comparison to the Galaxy S20 5G, which is a similarly-sized phone but carries a slightly heftier sticker price at $799.
To lower the price, Samsung had to cut corners on some features, like a plastic rear cover. But the South Korean-based company with a sizable operation in Plano also included features not available on the more expensive S20 5G, such as a better selfie camera and more color options.
Mid-priced phones always require comparisons to higher- or lower-priced models to figure out if the features are the right fit for your needs.
Specs
The 6.5″ display on the FE is larger than the 6.2″ screen on the S20 5G.
The tradeoff is in the screen’s resolution. The S20 has a resolution of 1,440 x 3,200 pixels, while the FE has a resolution of 2,400 x 1,080.
The screen takes up most of the front of the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G(Samsung)
Both phones have a 120Hz refresh rate, which means scrolling is extremely smooth.
Both phones also run Android 10 and are upgradable to Android 11. And both are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865.
The FE has 6GB of RAM while the S20 5G has 12GB.
Both have a slot to add storage with a microSD card and both have Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.
Unless you have Verizon, the FE only has sub-6 5G (the slower of the two 5G variants), while the Verizon version of the FE also comes with mmWave 5G (the fastest 5G).
Physically, the FE is a bit larger than the S20 5G, but that means the FE’s got more room inside for a bigger battery. The FE’s battery is 4,500 milliamp hours, while the S20′s battery is 4,000 mAh.
Both phones have fast wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, meaning they can provide power for other wireless-compatible devices.
Both have fingerprint readers under the display, but the S20′s reader is ultrasonic, while the FE uses an optical reader.
I didn’t have any issues with the FE unlocking with my fingerprint every time, and it was plenty fast.
The FE is resistant to dust, dirt and is waterproof. It can survive a dunk in 6 feet of water for 30 minutes.
Cameras
Both have three cameras on the back.
The wide and ultrawide cameras have 12-megapixel sensors.
Samsung's Galaxy S20 FE 5G has a very familiar design.(Samsung)
The FE’s telephoto sensor is eight megapixels while the S20 has a 64-megapixel sensor.
Where the FE gains an edge is the selfie camera.
The FE has a 32-megapixel selfie camera, while the front camera on the S20 is only 10-megapixel.
Both phones can shoot 4K video at 30/60 frames-per-second.
Colors
OK, so the color of the phones doesn’t make a difference, but younger people like more color choices.
The FE comes in lavender, green, blue, white, red and orange.
The S20 comes in gray, blue, pink, white and red.
Conclusions
This is where I get to be subjective.
I’ve been a fan and owner of big, feature-laden flagship phones. I carry an iPhone XS Max, which is 2 years old but still looks and acts like a top-of-the-line phone.
I realize it’s been passed a few times over, but it’s good enough for me.
In those two years, I’ve also reviewed several mid-priced phones, both iPhone and Android, and I’ve come to like and recommend a few of them as well.
I’ve also come to realize I don’t need to own the biggest and most expensive phone to be happy.
I’m fairly sure my next phone will not cost $1,249 like my current iPhone. Heck, after more than two years, I’ve still got a few payments left on my 30-month purchase agreement with my phone company.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is a great phone, and it is a bargain compared to some of Samsung’s more expensive offerings.
The combination of a large, clear and fast screen with a great processor, really good cameras and storage expandability means the FE can hold its own with phones costing twice as much.
Sure, there is always going to be a phone with one more camera or a screen that’s a quarter of an inch longer. If you’re the kind of person who needs to own the biggest and the best, you won’t be disappointed.
But if you don’t mind trading off a few of the top-tier features, you’ll be thrilled with the FE.
Cheaper, big screen, fast CPU, storage expandable, great selfie camera.
Plastic back, doesn’t include a fast charger.
Cheaper is better, especially when the phone performs this well.
Samsung may get rid of its Note lineup as it expands its foldables in 2021.
Angela Lang/CNET
An expanded foldables lineup. More 5Gphones. Smarter gadgets. Computers, TVs, home appliances and a host of other devices. Maybe even lower prices. After a crazy 2020, the coming year could be one of Samsung's busiest yet.
To take advantage of the opportunity 2021 brings, the South Korean company needs to be bolder to regain its status as an innovation powerhouse, while also delivering on its promises to make consumers' lives easier.
Already, the company's head of mobile has given a glimpse of what Samsung has in store. Tae-moon Roh, Samsung president and head of mobile communications, said in a mid-December blog post that his company will expand its foldables lineup and make the devices more "accessible," likely a polite way to say cheaper. It also will put more emphasis on camera and video capabilities, and bring features from its Galaxy Note devices, like S Pen support, to its upcoming Galaxy S21 phones.
Now playing:Watch this: Galaxy Note 20 vs. Ultra: Which should you buy?
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"We have never believed in a one-size-fits-all mobile experience, and we never will," Roh said in the blog post. He added that Samsung is working on "revolutionary advancements" in 5G, artificial intelligence and the internet of things to reset the boundaries of what mobile can do and to let consumers "tailor their mobile experiences to fit their lives -- not the other way around."
If those topics sound familiar, it's because Samsung largely targeted the same areas in 2020. Samsung was one of the first companies to dive into 5G and foldables, though those bets haven't yet paid off. There aren't enough compelling reasons for consumers to need one of the 20 5G phones Samsung has introduced, and its foldables are too expensive to sell in high numbers. Despite the millions Samsung's sunk into AI, its devices aren't much better at talking to each other or interacting with their owners. And though the coronavirus pandemic created the opportunity to put the smart home at the center of everyone's life, Samsung has been slower than Google and Amazon to make the internet of things a reality. Even with four Unpacked mobile events -- Samsung's flashy product showcases -- the company wasn't top of mind for most consumers in 2020.
"Samsung was just forgotten for a lot of the time," Creative Strategies analyst Carolina Milanesi said. "It lost a little bit of that cool factor it used to have."
Still, Samsung's lineup hasn't created the buzz that tech products like Apple's new 5G-enabled iPhone 12 devices have managed to generate. In 2021, the company will have to find a way to capture attention in a world that won't look like the one when 2020 began. Samsung may get its first chance with an earlier-than-normal Unpacked event that's expected on Jan. 14, a month ahead of the usual schedule.
A whole new world
Like its competition, Samsung is grappling with the novel coronavirus pandemic and the impact that's having on consumers. When COVID-19 first started spreading, worries about the illness caused a dramatic slowdown in phone purchases as people around the globe decided the device they had was good enough. Demand eventually recovered as new 5G phones began to hit the market, but not soon enough to boost Samsung's Galaxy S21 sales. Computers and TVs have been hot items with people stuck at home, and appliances are purchases consumers can put off only so long. Samsung has benefited from surging demand for all of those products.
Discover the latest news and best reviews in smartphones and carriers from CNET's mobile experts.
In 2021, Samsung plans to expand the lineup of devices crucial to its future, specifically foldables. It will possibly kill off those that don't fit with its vision, like the Note family. The first glimpses of Samsung's plans for mobile in 2021 will come at Unpacked.
Samsung is expected to launch three new Galaxy S devices in January. The new S21 models will likely be the 6.2-inch S21, the 6.7-inch S21 Plus and the 6.8-inch S21 Ultra. The devices are expected to look largely the same but have bigger camera modules, boosting their photo and video capabilities. Overall, those devices aren't expected to be major overhauls from their predecessors.
Unpacked could also mark Samsung's expansion into new areas, including Tile-like smart trackers.
Samsung likely won't shake up pricing for the Galaxy S lineup. But it could make bigger changes with its other devices, including its foldables.
Hello foldables, goodbye Note?
Samsung, like most tech companies, has struggled to sell its pricey smartphones during the pandemic. While Samsung was one of the first companies to release a phone with 5G, Huawei quickly surpassed it in shipments. The Chinese handset maker became the biggest smartphone vendor in the world in the second quarter, the first time in nine years that Samsung or Apple hadn't held the title.
The Korean company's 2021 phone lineup may offer more price points, including more affordable foldables. Roh said the company is "expanding [its] portfolio of foldables, so this groundbreaking category is more accessible to everyone." That's almost assuredly code for lower prices, which could help lure consumers to what are currently budget-busting devices. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 retails for $2,000, while the Galaxy Z Flip with 5G costs $1,450.
Samsung could keep the older generations of its foldables around at lower prices, as well as introduce new and cheaper designs as it tries to help the devices break out of their tiny niche. Still, its rivals, like LG, will move beyond just foldable displays in 2021. LG is expected to show off a phone with a rollable display, similar to its rollable TVs.
Galaxy Z Fold 2: Samsung's most luxe foldable phone yet
Samsung will have to make sure it doesn't overwhelm buyers with too many choices. One way it can do that is by trimming its phone lineup. As it expands foldable options, Samsung could also kill off the Galaxy Note.
"It's hard for Samsung to justify the Galaxy S21 and a Note 21 when they outwardly look very similar," Strategy Analytics analyst Ken Hyers said. "If the market for ulta-premium [phones] is limited and you don't want to crowd it with too many of these products, the Note series seems to be the one that made the most sense to cut."
Samsung's Note has struggled to stand out for the past several years. When the big-screen devices debuted in 2011, they created a new category of devices that straddled the line between tablets and smartphones. So-called phablets were first mocked, then copied. Now the phablet category no longer exists, and it's nearly impossible to buy a phone that comes with a small screen. Apple's iPhone SE is one notable exception.
Along with packing in the biggest display possible, Samsung's Note had two other selling points: it came with an S Pen stylus, and it featured the highest-end specs possible. When Samsung's first foldable, the Galaxy Fold, debuted in 2019, the Note lineup no longer had the flashiest components or biggest screen. The Note's main differentiator from Samsung's flagship Galaxy S lineup and its Galaxy Z foldables became the stylus.
In his blog post, Roh noted that Samsung is "excited to add some of [the Note's] most well-loved features to other devices in our lineup." That could be a hint the stylus is coming to the Galaxy S21, removing the last differentiator for the Note.
Smarter gadgets?
In previous years, Samsung has had one of the biggest booths -- and flashiest press conferences -- at CES. In 2020, the buzziest news of the show was a secretive artificial intelligence company created by a Samsung executive, and its Neon "artificial humans" emerged from Samsung Technology and Advanced Research Labs (STAR Labs) before Neon became its own company. Though the technology wasn't included in any Samsung products, Neon made a splash.
Samsung also had a cute robot, called Ballie, at the show. The idea was for the robot, which looks like a big tennis ball, to serve as a companion that follows its owner around and responds to commands. At CES 2019, Samsung showed off four different types of robots for consumers.
HS Kim, the head of Samsung's electronics business, shows off the Ballie robot at CES 2020.
James Martin/CNET
Like nearly all major technology companies, Samsung is making a big push in artificial intelligence. The technology, which gives devices some ability to act on their own, is seen as the next big wave of computing -- the way we'll interact with our gadgets in the future. Instead of swiping on our phone screens, we'll talk to our devices or to ever-listening microphones around our homes and offices. The ultimate promise for the AI is to predict what you want before you ask.
Samsung's major push with AI in its devices has revolved around its Bixby voice assistant, which first arrived in 2017's Galaxy S8. The digital assistant has since made its way to smart TVs, refrigerators, washers, air conditioners, speakers and more. Samsung previously aimed to put Bixby voice controls into every device it sells by 2020. But the company hasn't talked much about Bixby over the past year, and the tech is viewed as lagging behind Amazon's Alexa, Google's Assistant and Apple's Siri. The Galaxy Home smart speaker Samsung started talking about three years ago hasn't materialized as an actual product.
Instead, Samsung appears to have put its AI efforts into features that work behind the scenes, like improved camera technology, or into robots that wow audiences but little else. Ballie was possibly the cutest example of Samsung's AI push, but the company hasn't said anything more about the robot. (Similarly, Neon could have proved popular as people stayed at home during the pandemic but it isn't available for consumers.) Samsung could use its CES 2021 press conference to show off more robots even though it would be better served focusing on how its devices work well together.
Roh, in his mid-December blog post, said Samsung will have more ahead in artificial intelligence for mobile in 2021. The company has been "working hard to expand highly advanced on-device AI capabilities within the Galaxy family, enabling our devices to continually learn from daily activities and routines to take better pictures and videos, maximize battery life and storage space, optimize displays and much more," Roh wrote. "We're planning to expand these personalized capabilities to every facet of Galaxy's product portfolio to empower people to be productive and do all the things they enjoy."
Now Samsung has to make its new offering live up to that promise.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus may have been revealed in new leaked images, revealing its layout and the possibility that it could do away with the waterfall curves the series is known for – or perhaps be so slight that they’re barely rounded at all.
The photos come courtesy of leaker Mauri QHD, who tweeted a trio of images that show the front and back of the alleged S21 Plus. The handset depicted has a punch-hole for the selfie camera in the center-top of the display, thin bezels, a volume rocker and lock button on the right side, and on the back, the triple rear camera array in a cutout we’ve come to expect from previous leaks.
S21+ ?i never leak images,but a friend sent me these, so hey.. pic.twitter.com/npjamUSlThDecember 29, 2020
The new images align with prior leaks of supposedly official renders and marketing pics, but this is the first time we’re seeing alleged photos of the front of the phone (a prior leak showed the rear of the S21 Plus and S21 Ultra). While the new photos could end up being inaccurate, they line up with prior rumors enough to suggest this is the layout we’re going to see when the S21 line is revealed on January 14.
CES 2021: everything we're expecting at the all-virtual tech show
Was the Samsung Galaxy S21 release date just teased by Samsung itself?
Samsung Galaxy S21: 5 big facts we've got left to learn
What’s changed from the S20 to the S21?
We’ve relied a lot on rumors, leaked specs and possible renders to paint a picture of the upcoming S21 phones, so – assuming the images are accurate – it’s a big deal to see a real-world version of the handsets for the first time. And... not much has changed from the S20 to S21.
The biggest difference lies in the rear camera suite, which seemingly keeps the 12MP main + 12MP ultrawide + 64MP telephoto trio used in the S20, per a prior rumor, but may lose the time-of-flight depth sensor. Perhaps this will be made up by software.
Otherwise, the S21 might differ from its predecessor in its main display, which could lose the curves that the S-series is known for. It’s hard to tell from the new photos, though there’s a telltale vertical line of reflection on the edges of the screen that indicate a rounded edge.
In any case, the curves look far more subtle than the sides of other phones that have adopted similar ‘waterfall’ designs, like the Motorola Edge Plus. We’ll have to wait for more images to leak to confirm or refute our suspicions before the phone comes out on January 14, 2021.
If you're looking for the best TV to buy right now, it's probably been a long time since you bought your last one. You may be new to all of the current TV jargon: HDR, Ultra HD 4K, 8K, OLED, QLED, 120Hz and HDMI 2.1. I've reviewed TVs for nearly 20 years, since the days of plasma and rear projection. My focus is on finding the best picture quality for the money, whether you're looking for a top-of-the-line OLED TV or something a little less flashy.
The list below represents the best TVs I've reviewed in CNET's test lab (for 2020, that's my basement), where I compare their picture quality, smart TV, design and features side by side to see which ones are most worth buying -- 4K ultra HD is nice, but TV shows still look good even if you're not watching an HDR TV. I look at things like contrast ratio, local dimming, viewing angle and uniformity, gaming input lag and refresh rate, as well as the number of HDMI ports and how well the television supports your streaming app (or apps) of choice, like Netflix, Hulu and Disney Plus. Here are my recommendations, with the following notes to keep in mind:
Unless noted otherwise, all of the prices you'll see are for 65-inch models.
The end of the year, starting around Black Friday and Cyber Monday, is usually the best time to get a good deal.
If you're worried that next year's TV will have some great feature you'll miss out on if you buy a TV now, relax. TVs are generally a mature technology and our advice is that if you need a new TV now, you should get one.
This list is updated periodically.
Stay tuned
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No TV I've ever tested offers this much picture quality for this little cash. The 2020 TCL 6-Series has even better image quality than its predecessor, thanks to mini-LED tech and well-implemented full-array local dimming that helps it run circles around just about any other TV at this price. It's also a solid choice for gamers with a new THX mode that combines low input lag and high contrast. As if that's not enough, the Roku TV operating system is our hands-down favorite.
What's that you say? You just want the best TV, money no object? Here you go. In my side-by-side tests, the 2020 LG CX is the best TV I've ever reviewed, with world-beating contrast, perfect off-angle viewing and excellent uniformity. If you can afford it, this LG OLED TV is the TV to get.
Aside from the TCL 6-Series above, this is the runner-up for best TV for the money. The TCL has a better picture and better smart HDTV system so it's a superior TV overall, but it's also a couple hundred dollars more expensive. If you can't afford the 6-Series, this Vizio is a very good runner-up.
If you value Sony's brand X900H is an excellent choice, with image quality on par with the TCL 6-Series and a price that's not that much more expensive. And its suite of connections is actually better than the TCL's. In winter 2020 it will get full 4K/120Hz HDMI input capability to maximize the potential of the new Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, and right now it's the cheapest TV that works with ATSC 3.0 antenna broadcasts.
Roku is our favorite platform for a live TV streaming service like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video, and it's even better baked into the TV. This TCL 4-Series can't beat any of the models above on image quality -- its 4K resolution and HDR compatibility don't do anything to help the picture -- but it's perfectly fine for most people, especially at this price.
TCL's 8-Series also features mini-LED and the result is superb contrast, brightness and high dynamic range that beats the less expensive 6-Series in my side-by-side comparison. The overall image quality doesn't quite hit OLED TV levels, but it comes pretty close and costs a lot less, especially in the 75-inch size.
Samsung is the TV brand that sells more TVs than anyone and our favorite for 2020 is the Q80T series. Its sleek design stands out compared to the other TVs on this list -- although the ultra-thin LG CX OLED is even sleeker -- and it also offers excellent image quality, next-gen gaming connectivity and a great smart TV system. The TVs above are superior values but if you want a Samsung anyway, this is a great choice for gaming or watching TV shows, movies, YouTube TV and more. Read our Samsung Q80T series (2020) review.
Sarah Tew/CNET
For sizes smaller than 55 inches, and for people who value smarts over image quality, these non-4K Roku TVs make the most sense. The picture is "good enough" and the built-in smarts are superb -- just enough to watch the final season of "The Office" or "Friends" content. And the price is perfect for a kids' room or secondary room where you don't need a massive screen.
I'm pretty sure you'd be happy with any one of the TVs above, but a new set can be a big investment, so maybe you're looking for a bit more information. Here's a quick and dirty list.
In my opinion, bigger is better. Big TVs are cheaper than ever, and your money is best spent on large screen sizes rather than a slight upgrade in image quality.
If you don't like the built-in smart TV system, you can always add a media streamer. They're cheap and easy to use, and receive updates more frequently than most smart TVs. See our picks of the best media streamers.
The sound quality of most built-in speakers is terrible, so it's worthwhile to pair your new set with a sound bar or other speaker system. Good ones start at around $100. See the best soundbars.
Looking for even more info?
Now playing:Watch this: TCL 6-Series: Best TV for the money in 2020
Samsung’s One UI 3.0 update has started hitting older Samsung devices, starting with the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus, according to SamMobile. The update, which brings Android 11-specific feature changes and some small visual and interface tweaks to Samsung smartphones, is only arriving on last year’s Note 10 devices in Germany, Spain, and Switzerland for now, but a wider release is expected at some point early next year if not in just a few weeks.
Samsung first began beta testing One UI 3.0 this past fall following the release of Android 11, and it’s been at various stages of availability for different smartphones depending on your region. The Note 10 and Note 10 Plus versions have been available in beta since October, and in early December Samsung began its official rollout of the update to phones in its Galaxy S20 line, with plans to bring the update to its foldables and Samsung’s 2019 devices in the “coming weeks.”
That would imply we’ll see a One UI 3.0 release for the Z Fold, Z Fold 2, and Z Flip shortly, as well as wider availability of the update on the Note 10 line beyond Europe. We’ve reached out to Samsung to ask whether the company has a concrete timetable for this broader release outside the initial three markets.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean prosecutors on Wednesday requested a nine-year prison term for Samsung’s de facto chief, Lee Jae-yong, during his bribery retrial, where Lee apologized and vowed not to be implicated in similar allegations in an apparent plea for leniency.
The case is a key element in an explosive 2016 scandal that triggered months of public protests and toppled South Korea’s president. A ruling on Lee could send him back to prison on charges that he bribed former President Park Geun-hye and her longtime confidante to get the government’s backing for his push to solidify his control over Samsung.
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The retrial comes as Lee faces immense pressure to navigate Samsung’s transition after his father and Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-Hee died in October.
A team of prosecutors led by independent counsel Park Young-soo demanded the Seoul High Court sentence Lee to prison. They said Samsung “more actively sought unjust benefits” than other businesses with regard to the 2016 scandal. The prosecutors said Samsung, which is South Korea’s biggest company, should “set the example” for efforts to root out corruption.
“Samsung is a business group with overwhelming power, and there is even a saying that South Korean companies are divided into Samsung and non-Samsung ones,” the prosecutors said in closing comments. “The rule of law and the egalitarianism principle ... are meant to punish those in power and those with the economic power in line with the equal standard.”
Prosecutors also asked the court to sentence three former Samsung executives to seven years in prison and another former executive to five years.
Lee, 52, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, was sentenced in 2017 to five years in prison for offering 8.6 billion won ($7 million) in bribes to Park and her longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil. But he was freed in early 2018 after the Seoul High Court reduced his term to 2½ years and suspended his sentence, overturning key convictions and reducing the amount of his bribes.
Last year, the Supreme Court returned the case to the high court, ruling that the amount of Lee’s bribes had been undervalued. It said the money that Samsung spent to purchase three racehorses used by Choi’s equestrian daughter and fund a winter sports foundation run by Choi’s niece should also be considered bribes.
During Wednesday’s court session, Lee’s lawyers said the basic nature of the 2016 scandal was about ex-President Park’s abuse of power that infringed upon the freedom and property rights of businesses. The lawyers said Lee and the other ex-Samsung executives embroiled in the scandal weren’t able to resist the pressure by Park and Choi and that they and Samsung didn’t receive any special favors from Park’s government.
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Lee apologized over the case, saying that “everything is my fault” and that “I deeply repent and am ashamed of myself.” Lee said he’ll never engage in any activity that can cause misunderstanding and pledged to focus on making contribution to South Korean society.
Lee also reiterated his earlier promise not to pass the management rights to his children and to stop suppressing employee attempts to organize unions.
The Seoul High Court is to issue a ruling on Jan. 18, according to South Korean media reports.
In September, prosecutors separately indicted Lee on charges of stock price manipulation, breach of trust and auditing violations related to a 2015 merger between two Samsung affiliates that helped strengthen Lee’s control over the group’s crown jewel, Samsung Electronics.
Lee’s lawyers denied the charges, calling them “one-sided claims.” They say the 2015 merger was “normal business activity.”
Samsung’s Galaxy S21 lineup of phones will reportedly debut on January 14th. If there’s even a slight chance you might pick one up, you can now place a reservation to guarantee a preorder slot when those become available, which they usually do right after an Unpacked event ends.
Samsung’s page will take down some basic information like your name, email address, and zip code in exchange for dibs on buying one of these new phones. You won’t pay anything to reserve your preorder — Samsung will collect that once you actually order the phone yourself. But what you can also do now is get a quote for a phone you might like to trade in.
You can get up to $700 of instant trade-in credit toward the purchase of a Galaxy S21 if you trade an iPhone 12 series phone, or one of Samsung’s own Note 20 and S20 phones. It’s even offering up to $550 of trade-in credit for certain phones with cracked screens. Samsung just really wants you to preorder one of these new phones.
Samsung isn’t showing off the Galaxy S21 yet, but it will soon.Samsung
Reserving one of Samsung’s upcoming phones before the preorders begin will net you $50 to use on accessories like smartwatches and earbuds, and by using the Shop Samsung app for Android, you’ll get an extra $10 on top of that. There’s usually another nice preorder perk announced when the phones launch. For previous launches, Samsung has offered at least $100 in gift cards in addition to other goodies, so it should be a great value if you’re in the market for a new device.
You’ll likely want to catch up on the rumors and leaks if you haven’t already, as there are plenty of them. For starters, Samsung itself confirmed that the Galaxy S21 will support the S Pen stylus. We’ve also seen what appears to be a leak of the official teasers for the S21 series, showing off some phone colors and the revamped rear camera array.
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