Evan Blass
This story is part of CES, where our editors will present the latest news and the hottest gadgets from CES 2021 entirely virtual.
Samsung Galaxy S21, the follow-up from last year Galaxy S20 flagship, it’s almost here. On January 14, Samsung will host a virtual Galaxy Unpacked event on the last day of CES (here’s how to watch it live), where the latest Galaxy S smartphone is due to be unveiled, about a month before last year’s announcement. Rumors are circulating months ago about the new device, powered by leaks in abundance. Will the Galaxy S21 come with a stylus?? Will it have a new stylish design? It will replace the Galaxy Note line?
And the perennial question: will it include a headset? All we can say now is, probably not. But if we’ve learned anything since then Samsung launched its latest flagship Galaxy S (on the same day the new coronavirus was officially named COVID-19), is that anything is possible.
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Leaked Galaxy S21 teasers show a design similar to the S20 line, with a fingerprint reader on the screen and a centralized front camera. But one thing that you won’t see in leaked images it’s a headset, which tells us that it’s probably not on the S21 cards. Latest leaks showing Samsung specs for all three models the S21 also did not include the mention of a headset.
Over there have it was some unsubstantiated conjecture about Samsung reintroducing the headphone connector as a kind of experiment in 2021. The thought here is that a headset may be enough to differentiate the Galaxy flagship from other premium phones, like Apple and Google, which have also forced users to convert to the wireless headphones or dongle lifestyle in recent years.
It’s an interesting theory, especially if you remember Samsung’s initial reaction to the original removal of the headset from its 2016 iPhone 7 device. Apple’s move became a highlight at the Galaxy Note 7 launch event from Samsung that same year. AND the Galaxy Note 8 ads went a step further, mocking the heavy configuration of the iPhone dongle. But the tide changed and, when Samsung launched its Galaxy Note 10 in 2019, he also left the headphone jack in the editing room. Last year’s Galaxy S20 also lacked a headphone jack, the first in the Galaxy S line to eliminate it.
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History can repeat itself with the Galaxy S21. When Apple decided not to include a charger or headphones in the iPhone 12 case, Samsung also scoffed at that decision. But now rumors suggest that Samsung may follow suit. A leak from informant Evan Blass shows a Samsung’s “What’s in the Box” page which only lists a USB-C cable (without a charging block), eject pin and Quick Start Guide, citing environmental reasons. And not including headphones in the box is further proof against including a corresponding headset connector.
One of the reasons phone manufacturers love to lose their plug: finer bezels. Thin is inside, and a smaller bezel dimension allows for a larger screen without increasing the overall size of the phone.
The supposed Galaxy Buds Pro.
Voice
Another reason, perhaps more cynical: the company’s own wireless headsets should sell better when their phones didn’t have a wired headset jack. Apple AirPods have been going like gangbusters, probably thanks in large part to the iPhone’s stripped connector. And Samsung has its own line of wireless headsets, the Galaxy Buds, Galaxy Buds Plus and Galaxy Buds Live, with an equally prolific rumor spreading the supposedly close Galaxy Buds Pro. Therefore, it would make sense for Samsung to follow its decision to bid farewell to the headphone jack. Also, if the last leaked promotional slides are accurate, Samsung may be offering a pair of wireless headphones along with the S21 as a pre-order bonus, although it is not clear whether this offer will be available in the U.S.
We look forward to receiving our response on January 14 at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked Event, but in the meantime, here’s everything else we’ve heard about the Galaxy S21 so far.
More rumors about the Samsung Galaxy S21: