I particularly like how the metal border around the edge of the phone makes everything pop. Regardless, only the most extreme pixel peepers will notice a difference using the S20 and S21 side by side. Unreal Engine 4.24 Release Notes. Doubly confusing for many people will be the choice of texting app. Apple’s self-driving vehicle test fleet recorded twice as many m... Tesla moves to accept Bitcoin payments for its cars, Apple’s EV talks with Hyundai reportedly break down. And a few times there were some issues with the physics and object interactions. One less super-fragile part of the phone to break if it takes a tumble. As for the camera bump, the controversial design works in person. At 10x, it’s harder to make out. I think Samsung is really close to nailing the software experience, but the company keeps missing the mark. Samsung Galaxy S21 Review: Budget cuts. NBA in VR – How to Watch and What it’s Like. CRTC announces five projects receiving $26.7 million through Broadband... Canada ranks in top ten countries for 5G gaming and voice app experien... Canada had the third fastest 5G median download speed of G7 countries ... U.K. banning installation of Huawei 5G equipment from September 2021. Compared to the first generation, the Quest 2 … Unfortunately, I seldom find ultrawide lenses useful. With zoom, the text is still legible at the 3x hybrid option. Budget Cuts is an interesting stealth experience marred by a lack of polish . Within a few hours I was feeling pretty good. If you're a fan of Samsung devices and you're upgrading from an older phone, such as an S10 series, you'll likely enjoy a lot of what the S21 offers. HP Omen 15 (2020) Review: Improved formula make it a gaming laptop wor... Apple’s iPad (2020) is the tablet most people should buy, Nanoleaf Essentials get me excited for more smart bulbs from the company, Roomba i3+ Review: Lower cost, but not less capable. Not everyone will agree, but when you consider what Samsung dropped from the S21 hardware — and what the phone gained — it mostly balances out. Canadian games Jurassic World Alive and LoveLink get Valentine’s... Amazon reportedly working on wall-mounted Alexa ‘command centre&... Chromecast with Google TV update brings fixes for common issues, Latest Android TV update brings Google TV visual design to the masses, Xiaomi shares teaser of wireless charging tech that works through the air, Ring’s new Video Doorbell is wired only and costs $80. The resolution ‘downgrade’ with the S21 is perhaps one of the most ridiculous complaints I’ve ever heard in relation to a smartphone. Leaked OnePlus 9 Pro images show Hasselblad camera branding, Samsung’s Z Flip 3 and Flip 3 are reportedly five months away. Here’s what to expect from Samsung’s Galaxy S21 Unpacked e... Streaming in Canada on Amazon Prime Video, Crave, Disney+, Netflix and... Games to ‘Stream ‘n Load’ on Google Stadia and Xbox ... Freedom Mobile offering deals on plans and phones for Lunar New Year, Public Mobile offering 1GB bonus data for eight months on new activations. There’s less RAM, a lower resolution display, a plastic back and no curved edge on the screen (if you even consider that a downgrade). Discount Breakdown -50% Store Discount US$29.99 US$14.99. Save Saved Saved-25% OFF. In the roughly week and a half I’ve had with the S21, I’ve encountered no significant issues like app crashes or freezes. The main issue is the learning curve. Depending on what you’re looking for in a smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S21 will range from must-buy to not worth the money. This was a welcoming surprise for virtual reality fans, but only a small portion of them. Fortunately, Budget Cuts gets that part right. Huawei says Trump administration put Canada in a ‘difficult situ... British Columbia currently has no intention of adopting COVID Alert app. Yes, you can turn them off, but that’s beside the point. Considering I know my way around most phones, I can’t imagine how someone who isn’t super into tech would feel using a One UI device. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Again, I’d avoid the scene optimizer if possible for the best results. Scene optimizer didn’t always mess up the image. When it comes to zoom, you’re probably safe using the 3x zoom camera, but in my experience, pushing much beyond that yielded poor results. This year, the S21 comes with both Google Messages and Samsung Messages out of the box. This is a first hands-on with a vertical slice of Budget Cuts 2, the sequel to the stealth assassin game.... 'GORN' Launch Trailer. This allows for an additional dimension of planning that you don’t see very often. Also disappointing was the software, which is more frustrating this time around. The first 10 minutes are extremely reminiscent of the office escape scene from The Matrix. Overall it compounded the frustration of death and long load times into something I found I had to force myself to play. For most people, I think the Ultra offers significantly more than what’s necessary. As such, you can expect the images you take to be more vivid. Rogers acquires Ontario-based independent internet service provider Ru... Rogers plans to work from home for at least the rest of 2020. I found I preferred photos taken without it, but there were some scenarios where it helped. Bitwarden offers excellent password management tools with great value ... Google’s Nest Audio vs Amazon’s Echo (2020): Which smart speaker i... MobileSyrup back-to-school Gear Guide [2020 Edition], With the OLED CX, LG struggles to improve on its already stellar TVs, MobileSyrup Father’s Day Gift Guide [2020 Edition], MobileSyrup Mother’s Day Gift Guide [2020 Edition], MobileSyrup Back-to-school Gift Guide [2019 Edition], MobileSyrup Father’s Day Gift Guide [2019 Edition], Here are eight Canadian-made games to look out for in 2021. Thanks to the flat display, the metal edge stands out, contrasting with the screen. Hulu VR. 4: Living in an ‘Anon’-ymous... Viewer Experience Ep. Accessories. The Pixel 5 comes in at 432 PPI, the iPhone 12 Pro at around 460 PPI and the Huawei P40 Pro around 441 PPI. For comparison, the S20 Ultra scored 800 and 2,644 respectively (unfortunately, at the time of writing MobileSyrup didn’t have a regular S20 to test against). Jan 27, 2021. ... Borderlands 2 VR - coming exclusively to PlayStation VR this December! It’s super sharp, the colours are vibrant (Samsung’s typical oversaturation is alive and well here). The company could improve its image processing with an update in the future, but don’t buy a phone for the promise of a future fix. Developed and Published by WarpedCore Studios, Aqua Lungers brings back that often forgotten... A fast-paced and hectic twin-stick shooter that allows you to manipulate time. As such, I was connected to Wi-Fi for most of my time with the S21. You can also read our full reviews of the Galaxy S21+ and the S21 Ultra. Huawei Canada to be ‘diplomatically forceful’ in talks with Trudea... Huawei Canada president says company would survive 5G ban, but will lo... From roadless to the technological runway: Quebec’s Lower North ... Rogers’ CEO says 365,000 subscribers on Infinite plans, device f... Patrick O’Rourke’s favourite things of 2020. I tried a few different titles, and, with the exception of one game that seemed locked to 30fps, performance was incredibly smooth across the board. Learn how your comment data is processed. Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains reportedly leaving cabinet. The S21 with scene optimizer muddied the objects on the window sill, but performed better without the scene optimizer. If you’re looking for a VR headset that doesn’t need to be wired up to an expensive PC and offers a lot of movement and freedom, then the Quest 2 is the best option. The iPhone 12 mini is an impossibly cute high-end iPhone, iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini Review: The one to buy, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max Review: Low-light powerhouse, Apples future: A look at M1-powered MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and Mac mini, Microsoft Surface Pro X (2020) Review: All dressed up with no where to go, Surface Laptop Go Review: Best mini laptop you shouldn’t buy, iPad Air (2020) Review: The colourful ‘Pro’. Apple’s ‘A Day in the Life of Your Data’ is a data p... What EB Games Canada’s PS5 privacy breach could mean for customers, Facebook users’ phone numbers being sold via automated Telegram bot. While that was enough to leave the phone off the charger overnight, it usually just meant throwing it on charge shortly after getting up in the morning. There are no changes to the necessary strategy. With that in mind, the bigger Galaxy S21+ might be problematic for some. The high refresh rate display helped things feel smooth, but there’s also something to be said for the capability of the Snapdragon 888. In my case, I prefer a smaller display, and the S21 felt great in my hands, if a tad tall. Netflix VR. Of course, replaying the game is an option. Again, these didn’t last very long and once completed they offer little replayability unless you are just hunting for a high score. Lenovo Smart Clock Essential Review: Mediocre smart speaker, superb al... HomePod mini Review: Big sound in a small package. Nomad’s Base Station Pro almost fills the void left by AppleR... Asus’ ZenScreen Touch offers great extra screen space while on t... Nest Audio Review: Worthwhile, long-overdue upgrade, PlayStation 5 Review: Undeniably next-gen, The PlayStation 5’s SSD and DualSense controller are game-changers, Xbox Series X Review: Holding tremendous potential. That makes all the shortcomings so much worse. Published: 2 years ago. There are still lots of issues with virtual reality, including a significant upfront price and the fact it requires a gaming PC. Apple will replace batteries in 2016/17 MacBook Pros with charging iss... LG launches 2021 Gram laptops in Canada with new CPUs, longer battery, Check out this laptop monstrosity with seven displays. MobileSyrup senior staff reporter Dean Daley noted in his review of the S21+ that it looks noticeably less sharp compared to the S20+. The S21 keeps more detail in selfies, but loses some with skin smoothing (even when the feature is disabled). Plus, the phone sports an excellent ‘adaptive’ refresh rate of up to 120Hz. When it comes to night mode, the S21 camera was again unreliable. I’d hoped to see better battery life on the S21, but what Samsung delivered will be fine for most people. The big bonus here, before making your move through the next portal, you’re able to see your next location through the opening. Budget Cuts on the PSVR is the exact definition of a mixed bag. Samsung managed to pull off one of its best smartphone designs in years with the S21. budget cuts … The bump is also unique — I hope Samsung sticks with the design for at least a few years since it’s so unlike other options on the market. Before I get into the test shots, I want to point out that in almost every photo, I left the settings on default. It falls slightly below the magic number with 394 PPI. While this can help with battery life, it also seemed to mess with apps like Fitbit that worked with connected wearables. Telus ranked Canada’s most respected mobile service provider: su... Netflix announces plans to open an office in Canada. For me, the S21 hardware consistently impressed and worked well for my typical day-to-day activities. If you want the best looking Switch graphics possible, get an mClassic, Animal Crossing: New Horizons was worth waiting seven years for. Lenovo Star Wars Jedi Challenges Hands-on: The Force is moderately str... New Daydream View Review: Virtual reality’s low-end future, New Daydream View Hands-on: Incremental upgrades, Google announces new Daydream View virtual reality headset, Windows Mixed Reality Hands-on: True, seamless immersion, Acer Windows Mixed Reality Hands-on: A compelling virtual experience, Intel’s Project Alloy Hands-on: Shooting drones in merged reality. 7:09 PM EST. Much like last year’s S20, the S21 easily makes it through a day with some juice left in the tank, but it’s usually not enough to get through a second day. Updated COVID-19 exposure notification API may reduce false positives,... COVID Alert will soon be available in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island. Resident Evil 7 VR – What Happened To The PC Version? The sPot is a modded iPod that can stream music from Spotify. While I think some people will really appreciate the camera and the improvements Samsung made, I found it unreliable. A fun SRPG that doesn't break the mould. Half the time, I had no idea which apps were even asking — every piece of Samsung software seemed to demand access at once, instead of waiting for me to interact with it. Levels loaded quickly, animations were smooth, and even after playing for upwards of 30 minutes, the S21 never got noticeably warm. 9: Black Mirror: Bandersnatch wants to t... Viewer Experience podcast Ep. Overall, the S21 image is less sharp and it even removed the lines caused by the screen in the window. Subway offering buy two, get one free footlong deal through its mobile... Virgin Mobile offering $50/10GB BYOD plan and more for Lunar New Year, Here are the free games hitting PlayStation Plus in February 2021, Here are the free games hitting Xbox Games with Gold in February 2021, Cineplex CEO suggests using theatres as vaccine distribution sites, 5G median download speeds 205 percent faster than 4G in Canada: report. Disabling the scene optimizer helped improve the shot, and shooting in 64-megapixel high-res mode also improved the detail, but every photo I took with the S21 featured a bluish halo around the window that wasn’t present in other images. Physically leaning in your chair to see around corners is always a great feeling. ENDER LILIES bucks the trend by expertly marrying playability and graphical excellence. We're getting closer and closer to November and the Holiday season. Upgrade Your VR It’s likely related to the panel having to quickly transition pixels from an off state (black) to a bright state (like white). 1:45 PM EST. Some would put that number around 400 PPI. Explore an expansive library of awe-inspiring games and immersive experiences with unparalleled freedom. Viewer Experience podcast Ep. This year’s S21 Ultra — also with a Snapdragon 888 — slightly outperformed the S21 with scores of 1,108 for single-core and 3,411 for multi-core. It not only allows you to move through the halls of the office building, but up above the ceilings as well. 8: Burning down the ‘Tau’-se, Viewer Experience podcast Ep. Virtual reality takes Microsoft Flight Simulator to even greater heights, New technologies are coming as Canada’s 5G future dawns. Streaming in Canada on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Crave, Netflix a... Here’s what’s coming to PlayStation Now in February 2021. One problem the S21 screen does have is that when using dark mode, apps using a dark grey tone instead of true black create a sort of ‘halo’ glow around the camera cut out. “There's so much to like about 'Budget Cuts', from it's humorous take on workplace automation to its adrenaline-filled action.” 9.2/10 – RoadtoVR “The immortal Portal 2 of the VR scene.” 9.1/10 – VR-Freaks “I can’t wait to play more of Budget Cuts, which might be the best, most interesting VR … The S21+ is basically the same as the S21 aside from size and battery, while the S21 Ultra boasts better camera hardware and other benefits. If long load times, trial and error, and a steep learning curve will ruin an experience for you, look somewhere else. The enemies walk the same patrol routes. Canada’s Nanoleaf is all … I found the smoothing was less evident if there was plenty of light, such as outdoor selfies, but indoor pictures with less lighting made the smoothing more obvious. Budget Cuts (Purchased on Steam) 5.) If you’re after a decent Samsung flagship at a reasonable price, look no further than the S21. What’s even more frustrating is the ads often disrupt apps in the worst way. With a bunch of fiddling, I was able to get things working properly, but if you’ve got a wearable, be ready for One UI to cause problems. Microsoft planning several events to share news on Windows, gaming and... Apple ranked world’s most admired company for 14th year in a row, Samsung sees 26.4 percent increase in profit despite drop in phone sales. Rogers, Bell and Telus received over $240 million from wage subsidy pr... Government announces three new projects receiving support via Universa... Toronto city council approves plan to expand affordable high-speed int... Xplornet launches 70 new towers to bring high-speed internet across ru... Distributel acquires Primus, brings it under Canadian ownership, Shaw reports 31 percent increase in postpaid net additions in Q1 2021, Toronto’s dotmobile approved as first full MVNO in Canada, Telus launches $100 million social impact fund to invest in startups, Shaw gained 60,000 net wireless subscribers in Q4 2020, CRTC approves request to extend Bell’s AI call blocking trial. For everything that I came to enjoy, there was at least one thing that became an exercise in frustration. In other instances (as you’ll see in the gallery below), scene optimizer can totally change the colour of an image for no apparent reason. Oculus Quest 2. If you spend a lot of time connected to mobile networks instead, it may reduce your battery life, especially if those networks are 5G. Dashing from spot to spot while being pursued is a pain due to the control scheme. However, the S21 really disappointed here compared to both a Pixel 4a 5G and even an S10e that I had laying around. Even when fully disabled, there’s still a disappointing amount of smoothing going on. Despite that decrease, practically no one will notice the difference. Court rules U.S. border agents can search all travellers’ phones... Telus reports 87,000 mobile phone net additions in Q4 2020. I’ve noticed other OLED panels in smartphones can have a smearing effect when scrolling through dark mode apps with lots of images, like social media. The choice between these two phones purely comes down to your screen size preference. It’s also worth noting that the 3x zoom option is a ‘hybrid’ zoom that uses the phone’s 1.1x optical zoom and some digital zoom to get 3x total zoom. Finally, for the iPhone users out there, I'd say the S21 isn't the best way to make the switch to the Android ecosystem. In the top test, the S21 night mode beats the Pixel 4a 5G with more detail in the Domos and a brighter image. The S21 managed the sky better, keeping it more blue than the Pixel did. At the screen size we’re working with, it’s pretty hard to tell the difference between display resolutions above a certain point. Coming from a Pixel 4a, I’d say the S21 is faster, but the few seconds you might save opening an app honestly doesn’t make a huge difference in daily use. The Oculus Quest 2 is the successor to the original Quest, a mighty fine VR system in its own right. In the bottom test, both phones messed up, but the S21 image is much worse. I’d prefer to point, shoot and put the phone away. Some of it comes down to preference — I definitely prefer the more ‘realistic’ colours you’d get from a Pixel or iPhone camera to what Samsung does with its photos — but there’s plenty of processing going on that just makes images worse. 7:00 AM EST. US$18.71 Add Buy. While I appreciated not needing to download Google Messages myself, Samsung doesn’t do a good job explaining the difference between the two and why people should pick one over the other. Check out some of the Canadian apps on the Huawei AppGallery. Viewer Experience podcast Ep. My only real complaint with the design relates to the power button. Toronto-based Dbrand releases black PS5 plates, says ‘Go ahead, ... Nintendo’s $399 ‘Mario Red & Blue Edition Switch̵... Samsung’s Chromebook 4 and Chromebook 4+ are now available in Ca... Gmail search results to display email address aliases with latest update, Rogers extends its device return policy to 30 days, Bell Media cuts continue as three sports radio stations eliminated, Telus and Google form 10-year alliance to launch new digital solutions. The phone scored 1,080 for single-core and 3,199 for multi-core, a decent leap over last year’s Snapdragon 865. The motion tracking isn’t where it should be, but that’s probably a PSVR issue instead of a Budget Cuts issue. Straight Outta Funding. And for those worried about the plastic back, it’s fine. OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei’s next company is called ‘Noth... Huawei reportedly in talks to sell its P and Mate smartphone brands, Microsoft Surface Duo coming to Canada on February 18th, OnePlus 9, 9 Pro to feature 4,500mAh battery according to leak, Google ARCore now supports Samsung’s Galaxy S21 series, Android 12 screenshots show off stark new design. If you’re like me and only pull the headset out every once in a … The RX100 is small as far cameras go, but it does come with a large 1.2 … Huawei’s Watch GT 2 Pro features a bold design and is full of fe... OnePlus Buds Z earbuds offer huge sound for a low cost, Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 Review: The premium Android smartwatch, Apple Watch SE Review: Great starter smartwatch, Apple Watch Series 6 Review: Worthwhile iterative steps forward, Fitbit Sense Review: Great hardware hindered by frustrating software, Apple Watch SE is almost the perfect entry-level smartwatch, AirPods Max Review: Stunning sound with an expensive price. It’s honestly one of the best AMOLED panels I’ve used. Unfortunately, the software situation does leave me wanting, especially when it comes to the camera. Budget Cuts Gets PSVR Release Date. Most people don’t mess around with camera settings or even tap-to-focus. If you like using your phone in dark mode, this display is even better. Then it hit me…the game ended and the credits rolled after four short hours. The Galaxy S21 with scene optimizer kept the detail in this image and made colours pop more than the Pixel 4a 5G. More than anything else, I seek consistency in phone cameras because I’d rather not worry about whether I get the shot. The issues that are present are found within areas that stand out horribly amongst the average background of the rest of the game. No one should have to dig through settings menus to turn off ads on their $1,000+ smartphone. The default Samsung keyboard, for example, is a pain to use.