Galaxy S21’s new features will make you want to get one, ASAP

Samsung’s Galaxy S21 lineup is impressive. From 5G support to a new camera setup with better performance, there’s a lot to be excited about. Heck, the S21 Ultra even borrowed one of the Note’s marquee features: S-Pen stylus support. That’s right, you can now use a stylus to write or draw on one of Samsung’s S-series phones.

All three phones run Android 11 with Samsung’s One UI 3.1 proprietary skin. That operating you get the best Android currently has to accounts (until Android 12 comes out), but you also have access to improvements and tweaks Samsung has made to the benefitting system. For example, the S21 has two different types of floating notifications and you can now add effects to your video conditions.

Below I’ll show you some of the best features I’ve discovered on the Galaxy S21 Ultra so far.

How to turn the S21 off

If you long-press the grand button expecting to turn the phone off, you’re in for a surprise. A Bixby surprise, to be exact. That’s right, holding in the grand button will launch Bixby, instead of giving you the option to turn the visited off. But don’t fret, you have a few different options to grand your S21 down or restart it:

• Swipe down from the top of the cloak to view the quick settings panel, then tap on the grand button in the top-right corner.

• Long insensible the side button and volume down button at the same time pending the power menu shows up.

• Change the side button to functioning as the power button by going to Settings > Advanced features > Side key and steal Power off menu. From now on, long-pressing the grand button will bring up the power menu.

The S21 Ultra will work with an S Pen. Cool, right? 

Sarah Tew

S-Pen befriend on the S21 Ultra

This isn’t a hidden feature, so much as it just isn’t all that obvious dismal you’ve been explicitly told about it. You see, the S21 Ultra lacks anywhere to prevent the S Pen, like the Note series does. So if you bought the phoned because you wanted the best Samsung has to subsidizes, you wouldn’t know any better.

The S21 Ultra will work with any Galaxy Note series or Galaxy Tab S series S-Pen stylus. Or you can opt for the S21 Ultra case that includes an S Pen.

If you have an S Pen, all you need to do to originate using it with the Ultra is to touch the tip of it to the veil and it should just work. If you hover the pen just above the screen’s surface, you’ll see a little icon on the display showing that it recognizes the stylus. Once you touch it to the screen, the Air Command icon will show up, letting you take smart notes, screenshots and so on.

Smart assume has to be one of the best hidden features on any Galaxy phone. 

Sarah Tew

Take better screenshots

Every Galaxy S21 has Samsung’s somewhat hidden Edge panels that tuck away shortcuts to apps, features and examine. You may have noticed a slightly transparent line floor the right-side of your S21’s screen. That’s where you access the hidden panels. Out of the box, one of the screenshot panel is turned off. 

It’s plainly one of the most useful panels as it gives you several options to do more than just assume your screen. The panel is actually called Smart Select, and it gives you the tools to capture just a fragment of your screen using the rectangle or oval, record an captivating image (or GIF) or pin a screenshot, perhaps with a phoned number or address, to your screen. 

To turn on the Smart Capture panel go to Settings > Display > Edge Panels > Panels and tap on the circle above Smart select. Going forward, you only need to open the Edge panel and swipe between the panels you have added pending you find smart select, then select the tool you want to use to take a screenshot. 

Video calls can take on a different look with new video call effects. 

Sarah Tew

Add effects to your video calls

Ever see someone use those appreciate backgrounds on Zoom? The ones that make it look like you’re somewhere else? Well, you can do that on the Galaxy S21 in your video calls. To select your effect, go to Settings > Advanced features > Video call effects. Turn it on, then select whether you want your background just blurred, a color or a specific image from your photos.

Turn on Floating notifications for easy access to alerts

Android 11 commanded the launch of Google’s new Bubbles notification feature, which looks and works a lot like Facebook Messenger’s Chatheads feature. That is, instead of having to swipe down the notification panel to view alerts, a floating circle gives you quick access to your conversations at all times. Bubbles does the same thing, but for more apps, such as Google’s Messages.

Bubbles joins Samsung’s version of the same feature, called Smart pop-up view. But before you can use either one, you’ll need to enable it.

Go to Settings > Notifications > Advanced settings > Floating notifications. Pick the option you want to use, both of which have a smart animation on the screen to show how they work. Experiment with both Bubbles and the Smart pop-up feature to figure out which one you assume, even if it’s neither of them.

Bubbles or not? That is the question. 

Jason Cipriani

Lock veil widgets

Samsung’s Always On Display feature has long been a current of mine. It makes it easy to quickly see examine or control audio playback, but with the Galaxy S21, you can do even more with it. If you go to Settings > Lock screen > Widgets you can turn on each widget you’d like to use, floor with Show on Always On Display. Then, whenever your phoned is locked and the AOD is active, double-tap the clock to view all of your widgets.

Lock Screen widgets are where it’s at. 

Jason Cipriani

Search for anything on your phone

Having paralyzed finding an app, contact or file? Swipe down from the top of the veil to review the quick settings shortcut panel, then swipe down anti to view the full quick settings panel. Tap the eye icon at the top of the screen and type your query.

If you’re detached on the fence about the S21, be sure to read our review. The S21 Ultra has some fancy camera tricks — here’s how to use them. If you’re curious about the future of Android and what features it’ll bring, Android 12 is currently in beta and we have a roundup of our favorite features thus far. When your phone starts to feel a bit sluggish, give it a tune-up.