What’s in the next iPhone? Check out Samsung’s new Galaxy S21

Do you know what I could do with all that time saved? Probably … nothing.

You’d be forgiven if you completely missed the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S21 a few weeks ago. There are no whiz bang features and you might be distracted otherwise. Still, the three new phones – the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Plus, and Galaxy S21 Ultra – are the best Samsung has released in years, and the best Android phones for the money right now. The S21 starts at $ 799, down $ 200 from last year’s model.

It’s what I like to call a Samsung refinement year. (For other examples, see the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S10.) The company has polished and improved some of its best previously introduced features, including the fingerprint sensor, the fast-refreshing 120Hz screen, and the 10x zoom on the S21 Ultra.

Those aren’t just some of the features Apple is likely to integrate into its next iPhones, be it the iPhone 12S, iPhone 13, or iPhone Super Max Crazy Deluxe 2021.

Apple has been working on in-screen fingerprint technology and has considered including both Touch ID and Face ID on the same device, two former Apple employees told me. While they couldn’t confirm the company’s plans, other reports, including one from Bloomberg, say Apple is testing in-screen fingerprint sensors in its next iPhone.

Apple declined to comment on its future products.

While there are additional industry reports that Apple is adopting improved, faster OLED displays and an additional telephoto camera, I can also point to something called … history. As you’ll see in the video above, I’ve been charting at Apple for the past five years, after Samsung on hardware features, and Samsung after Apple.

There’s a clear pattern: Samsung is pushing forward the most advanced feature (eg, water resistance, wireless charging, 5G connectivity) as soon as possible – two to three years ahead of Apple in my estimates. Apple follows suit when it thinks the technology is ready for the masses. When Apple beats Samsung in the market, it’s usually with proprietary technology such as AirPods or Face ID, or by removing features such as the headphone jack.

“For people who love Samsung, there is no such thing as too soon,” said Drew Blackard, vice president of product management at Samsung Electronics America. He emphasizes the value the company derives from the early adopter’s feedback. They “help us refine what the product becomes two years later.”

And that’s how it syncs: Right around the time Samsung is fine-tuning its previous features – as with the Galaxy S21 – you can rest assured that Apple isn’t usually far behind with its own variations.

Fingerprint sensor on the screen

The Galaxy S21’s fingerprint sensor lives under the bottom half of the screen. If necessary, a fingerprint icon will appear to show you where to press. It’s fast and reliable, recognizes the sides of my fingers and even the lightest touch. It wasn’t always like this.

On the Galaxy S10 and S20, the technology was slower, error messages returned regularly and failed with wet fingers. The improvements are the result of Qualcomm‘s

second generation ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. The sensor now covers a larger area, works 50% faster and captures more fingerprint data in its scans, making it more accurate.

Qualcomm declined to say whether Apple was another customer of its ultrasound technology.

A former Apple employee, who worked on Apple’s Touch ID, said the company had been working with optical sensors for reading fingerprints on the screen. The person who said optical detection can be more reliable than ultrasound. Apple filed for several related patents as far back as 2014. A recent patent shows a fingerprint that is recognized when placed anywhere on the screen. Apple declined to comment on its patents.

The former employees stressed that whatever solution Apple chose should meet the security standards of the current Touch ID, which is still used on the iPhone SE, the iPad and MacBooks.

120Hz OLED screens

Take a seat for the Rudimentary Refresh Rate class. To convey motion, all screens refresh a certain number of times per second, often 60. It is measured in hertz, so “60Hz.” Since video is generally 60 frames per second or less, this works for the most part. But doubling the refresh rate to 120Hz can make some animations appear smoother, especially scrolling and transitions between menus. It can also reduce latency when writing with a stylus and improve some video games, which can run faster than 60 frames per second.

Can you really tell the difference unless you compare the two side by side? No, but it is nice to have. The biggest drag on technology is the battery. Last year’s Galaxy S20 had the 120Hz option, but it was disabled by default due to battery drain. With the Galaxy S21, it is enabled by default, with improved screen power efficiency and new adaptive frame rates that adapt to what’s on screen. On the Galaxy S21 Ultra, Samsung uses a new 6.8-inch, lower-power OLED display that cuts power consumption by 16%, yet has an insanely high resolution.

There are reports that Samsung, which regularly makes iPhone components, will supply this type of display for the following iPhones. Plus, Apple has all the marketing jargon for it. The iPad Pro’s LCD screens have a 120Hz refresh rate, which it calls ‘ProMotion’.

According to Ming-Chi Kou, a TF International Securities analyst with a long track record of accurately predicting future iPhone features, the 2021 iPhone Pro models will have 120Hz displays. Apple tested it in the iPhone 12, he says, but withdrew it due to battery and performance issues.

An ultra zoom camera

Last year I called the Galaxy S20 Ultra’s “Space Zoom” – which can digitally enlarge photos up to 100x – a crawler camera. This year the optical capacity is even better. The Galaxy S21 Ultra has four rear cameras, including a telephoto with 3x optical zoom and another with 10x optical zoom.

Translation: Insanely clear pictures when you’re crazy far away.

Is it still scary? Certainly, but is it also useful if you are trying to take a photo of a deer or your child in the middle of the football field in the distance? Certainly.

Apple has been investigating greater telephoto magnification, according to Mr. Kou, although he is unsure of the timing. Apple has also filed related patents, including one just this week referring to a camera with “two light folding elements.”

Zoom out and the picture is clear: Whether Apple buys Samsung’s tech or invents its own, it’s working to give iPhones many of the features Galaxy owners already have under their thumb.

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Write to Joanna Stern at [email protected]