The best Samsung Galaxy S21 plans in Australia

Like the iPhone 12 before it, a series of leaks left little to the imagination for the inevitable Samsung Galaxy S21. Thanks to Samsung's Unpacked event, we know exactly what the Galaxy S21 is packing, and what you can expect to pay when it launches. Following in the footsteps of the Galaxy S20, the Galaxy S21 family of smartphones is made up of three models: the large Galaxy S21 Plus, the premium-tier (and premium price) Galaxy S21 Ultra, and the more affordable base Galaxy S21 model, which we'll be discussing here.

Before we delve into plans and pricing for the Samsung Galaxy S21, compare the three devices below so you know which option is best for you.

The Galaxy S21 is available through Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and Woolworths Mobile. Samsung fans won't be surprised to hear that Woolworths Mobile is the front-runner for value but the fact that the Telstra MVNO still hasn't rolled out 5G in Australia, it might not be your first option. If you really want to take advantage of the S21's 5G coverage, you're only viable options are Telstra and Optus at the time of writing.

It's the only MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) offering Galaxy S21 plans, and the fresh food people's handset deals are pretty damn fresh. Woolworths Mobile runs on the Telstra wholesale network, which covers 98.8% of the Australian population (even more than Optus and Vodafone), but sadly doesn't offer 5G just yet.

Woolies' plans tend to offer great bang for buck, with plans from $25 for 18GB (plus handset fees). While they're not quite as feature-packed as those on offer by the big three, they all include unlimited talk and text and, perhaps most enticingly, 10 per cent off one shop per month at Woolies, which could feasibly cover the cost of your plan.

Telstra is certainly not the cheapest carrier in Australia, but their Samsung S21 plans do come with some perks that make the expense far more palatable.

Firstly, Telstra has the most extensive coverage in the country, covering up to 99.2% of the population with 4GX connectivity and the fastest 5G rollout of the big three - however, 5G access is only included for customers with a $65 Medium plan or above.

In our review of Telstra's mobile plans, they scored big on included features, such as data-free Apple Music streaming (subscription not included) and data-free streaming of AFL, AFLW, NRL, Netball and the Hyundai A-League. There's also the Telstra Plus rewards program, which allows you to trade points earned by simply being a customer for goodies like speakers, gaming accessories, smartwatches and more.

On the downside, customer reviews for Telstra's support aren't exactly the best in the biz (just 1.4 stars on Product Review), despite having basically every customer service channel known to man.

Here's a look at the Samsung Galaxy S21 plans available through Telstra:

Optus has made some great strides in recent years to make their network more attractive than ever. All their Samsung S21 plans come with generous full-speed data inclusions and (finally) no excess data charges in Australia, plus the usual unlimited talk and text. With coverage for up to 98.5% of the population, it's just behind the big T, but with the added bonus that 5G access is included in all plans - not just those above a certain price point.

For sports lovers, if you opt for a Medium or higher Optus Choice Plan, you'll also get an Optus Sport + Fitness subscription included at no extra cost. As we discovered in our standalone review, Optus Sport is fantastic if you're a big soccer fan, but kind of useless if you're after any other sports. Optus Fitness, on the other hand, is a relatively new addition that allows you to stream 120 dance, yoga and pilates videos.

Unfortunately, like Telstra, Optus hasn't got the most stellar customer reviews with a dismal average of 1.4 stars on Product Review. However, they do have a bunch of contact options for when you do have an issue.

Here's a look at the Samsung Galaxy S21 plans available through Optus.

It may not have the same perks and coverage as Telstra and Optus, but Vodafone's Samsung S21 plans certainly shouldn't be ruled out. Vodafone still covers a massive 96% of the population, and its 5G rollout is well underway, with access included for all plans - even prepaid.

Their plans typically represent great value and are packed with juicy perks, like discounts for bundling multiple plans, bonus data, a tiered-speed infinite data system ranging from 2Mbps to 25Mbps. All plans also currently include free three-month memberships for Amazon Prime and Amazon Music Unlimited.

As with the other big telcos, Vodafone's customer reviews aren't amazing at an average of just 1.6 stars on Product Reviews - marginally better than Telstra and Optus' scores.

Here's a closer look at the Samsung Galaxy S21 plans offered by Vodafone.