Samsung Galaxy S21 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S9+ Comparison and Differences
Smartphone 1
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G
Smartphone 2
Samsung Galaxy S9+
Smartphone 3
Differences between Samsung Galaxy S21 5G and Samsung Galaxy S9+ - Which to Choose?
Reasons to consider the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G:
- Newer model with more recent technology (2021 vs. 2018).
- Support for 5G networks for faster data speeds.
- Better performance with a newer chipset (Exynos 2100 or Snapdragon 888).
- Higher screen refresh rate (120Hz) for smoother visuals.
- Higher resolution cameras with more versatile photography options.
- Better video recording capabilities with 8K video support.
- Improved battery charging features including faster wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.
- More advanced fingerprint sensor technology (under display, ultrasonic).
- IP68 dust/water resistance rating.
- Updated operating system with Android 11 and One UI 3.1.
Reasons to consider the Samsung Galaxy S9+:
- 3.5mm headphone jack for traditional wired headphones.
- MicroSD card slot for expandable storage (up to 512 GB).
- Higher pixel density screen (529 ppi vs. 421 ppi).
- Iris scanner for additional biometric security.
- Slightly lower price at launch (620 EUR vs. 800 USD).
- Features like heart rate and SpO2 sensors that are absent in the newer model.
- Availability of FM radio (in some markets).
- Features Samsung DeX, allowing for a desktop-like experience when connected to a monitor.
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G or Samsung Galaxy S9+ Specs Comparison
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Common specs
| Brand and model | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Samsung Galaxy S9+ | |
| Rating | (+0) | (+0) | |
| Release date | 2021, January 14 | 2018, February | |
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm | 5.97 x 5.97 x 2.8 in | 158.1 x 73.8 x 8.5 mm | 6.22 x 6.22 x 2.91 in | |
| Weight | 169 g | 5.96 oz | 189 g | 6.67 oz | |
| Body Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame | Front/back glass (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame | |
| Case | buy from Amazon | buy from Amazon | |
| Colors | Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink | Midnight Black, Coral Blue, Titanium Gray, Lilac Purple, Burgundy Red, Sunrise Gold, Ice Blue, Polaris Blue | |
| Battery | 4000 mAh, Li-Ion, non-removable | 3500 mAh, Non-removable Li-Ion | |
| Approximate price | $ 800 | 620 EUR | |
| Check price | from Amazon | from Amazon |
Screen
| Technology | Dynamic AMOLED 2X | Super AMOLED | |
| Touchscreen | capacitive touchscreen | capacitive touchscreen | |
| Display colors | 16M | 16M | |
| Screen size | 6.2" in | 6.2" in | |
| Screen area | 94.1 cm2 | 98.3 cm2 | |
| Screen format | 20:9 (height:width) | 18.5:9 (height:width) | |
| Screen to body ratio | 87.2% | 84.2% | |
| Screen resolution | 1080 x 2400 px | 1440 x 2960 px | |
| Screen PPI /points per inch/ | 421 PPI | 529 PPI | |
| Screen protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | |
| Other specs | - Always-on display -120Hz -HDR10+ -1300 nits (peak) |
- HDR10 -3D Touch (home button only) -Always-on display |
|
| Screen protector | buy from Amazon | buy from Amazon |
Camera and Video
| Rear camera, main | 12 MP, Triple | 12 MP, Dual | |
| Camera specs | -12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS -64 MP, f/2.0, 29mm (telephoto), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 1.1x optical zoom, 3x hybrid zoom -12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video |
-12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55'', 1.4µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS -12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.6'', 1.0µm, AF, OIS, 2x optical zoom |
|
| Functions | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama | |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS | 2160p@60fps, 1080p@240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR, dual-video rec. | |
| DxOMark Main Score | 116 | 100 | |
| DxOMark Photo | 123 | 105 | |
| DxOMark Video | 93 | 91 | |
| Front camera, selfie | 10 MP, Single | 8 MP, Single | |
| Specifications | 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24'', 1.22µm, Dual Pixel PDAF | 8 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/3.6'', 1.22µm, AF | |
| Functions | Dual video call, Auto-HDR | Dual video call, Auto-HDR | |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps | 1440p@30fps | |
| DxOMark Selfie Score | 98 | 81 | |
| DxOMark Photo | 100 | 81 | |
| DxOMark Video | 95 | 81 |
Performance
| Operating system - OS | Android 11, One UI 3.1 | Android 8.0 (Oreo) | |
| Chipset | - Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 (5 nm) - USA/China |
- Exynos 9810 Octa (10 nm) - Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm) - USA/LATAM, China |
|
| CPU | - Octa-core (1x2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A55) - International -Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 680 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 680 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 680 - USA/China |
- Octa-core (4x2.7 GHz Mongoose M3 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) - EMEA -Octa-core (4x2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) - USA/LATAM, China |
|
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 - International Adreno 660 - USA/China |
Mali-G72 MP18 - EMEA Adreno 630 - USA/LATAM, China |
|
| External memory | No | microSD, up to 512 GB (uses SIM 2 slot) - dual SIM model only | |
| Internal memory | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 64/128/256 GB, 6 GB RAM - China 128 GB, 6 GB RAM - LATAM |
Benchmark
| Antutu 10 Total | 715197 | ||
| Antutu 10 CPU | 205401 | ||
| Antutu 10 GPU | 214138 | ||
| Antutu 10 Mem | 131954 | ||
| Antutu 10 UX | 205401 | ||
| Antutu 9 Total | 755368 | ||
| Antutu 8 Total | 601547 | 320731 | |
| Antutu 7 Total | |||
| GeekBench 6 Single Core | 511 | ||
| GeekBench 6 Multi Core | 1781 | ||
| GeekBench 6 OpenCL | 2023 | ||
| GeekBench 6 Vulkan | 1981 | ||
| GeekBench 5 Single Core | 945 | 596 | |
| GeekBench 5 Multi-Core | 3061 | 1902 | |
| GeekBench 4 Single Core | 2292 | ||
| GeekBench 4 Multi-Core | 8306 | ||
| GeekBench 4 RenderScript | 8586 | ||
| GeekBench 4 Battery | 4096 |
Communication and Connectivity
| SIM card | Single SIM (Nano-SIM and/or eSIM)Dual SIM (Nano-SIM and/or eSIM, dual stand-by) | Single SIM (Nano-SIM)Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | |
| Network | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | |
| Bands | -2G - GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (Dual SIM model only) CDMA 800 / 1900 & TD-SCDMA -3G - HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO -4G - LTE -5G - SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave |
-2G - GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) CDMA 800 / 1900 - USA -3G - HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global, USA CDMA2000 1xEV-DO - USA -4G - LTE band 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 12(700), 13(700), 17(700), 18(800), 19(800), 20(800), 25(1900), 26(850), 28(700), 32(1500), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500), 66(1700/2100) - Global LTE band 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 12(700), 13(700), 14(700), 17(700), 18(800), 19(800), 20(800), 25(1900), 26(850), 28(700), 29(700), 30(2300), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500), 46, 66(1700/2100), 71(600) - USA |
|
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (CA), 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (6CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps | |
| GPRS | Yes | Yes | |
| Edge | Yes | Yes | |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | |
| GPS | Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | |
| NFC | Yes | Yes | |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, USB On-The-Go | 3.1, Type-C 1.0 reversible connector | |
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX | |
| Harmful irradiation |
SAR - 0.74 W/kg (head) 1.08 W/kg (body) SAR EU - 0.46 W/kg (head) 1.51 W/kg (body) |
Music and Audio
| Radio | FM radio (Snapdragon only) | FM radio (USA & Canada only) | |
| Headphone jack | No | Yes | |
| Others | - 32-bit/384kHz audio -Tuned by AKG |
- 32-bit/384kHz audio -Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic |
Other features
| Sensors | - Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | - Iris scanner, fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2 | |
| Other extras |
- Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) -ANT+ -Bixby natural language commands and dictation - Fast charging 25W -USB Power Delivery 3.0 -Fast Qi/PMA wireless charging 15W -Reverse wireless charging 4.5W - Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) |
- Samsung DeX (desktop experience support) -ANT+ -Bixby natural language commands and dictation - -Fast battery charging (Quick Charge 2.0) -Qi/PMA wireless charging (market dependent) - Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) -IP68 dust/water proof (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) |
|
| Versions |
- Versions: SM-G991B, SM-G991B/DS (International); SM-G991U (USA); SM-G991U1 (USA unlocked); SM-G991W (Canada); SM-G991N (Korea); SM-G9910 (China) |
- Versions: G965F (Europe, Global Single-SIM); G965F/DS (Europe, Global Dual-SIM); G965U (USA); G965W (Canada); G9650 (China, LATAM) |
Reviews and Opinions on Samsung Galaxy S21 5G and Samsung Galaxy S9+
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