(REUTERS): Samsung has launched the first Galaxy S smartphone today (Thursday) with a stylus for on-screen work called the S Pen, more than a month ahead of its usual annual release schedule.
In the United States, the Galaxy S21 price starts at $799.99, S21 Plus at $999.99, and S21 Ultra at $1,199.99. The series will be widely available starting January 29 through Samsung.com, carriers and retailers online, Samsung said.
With the most advanced processing chip in any Galaxy device, the S21 is 5G compatible and designed for shooting and viewing video and images as well as on-screen work.
The top end of the range, the Ultra — the only version compliant with the S Pen stylus, which has to be bought separately — sports a four-lens rear camera that allows different angles and zoom shots.
The standard S21’s screen size is 6.2 inches, with the S21 Plus at 6.7 inches and S21 Ultra is 6.8 inches, optimal for watching videos and gaming. An early Galaxy S21 launch is a likely tactic to capitalise on Huawei’s woes, said Counterpoint Research analyst Sujeong Lim.
Samsung is looking to grab market share after China’s Huawei Technologies was hit with US sanctions that restricted its supply and hurt sales, analysts have said.
Analysts have said offering a stylus within the Galaxy S21 series might signal the South Korean tech giant will merge the S line with its other premium smartphone range, the Note, already equipped with a note-taking stylus.
