Smartphone Comparison: Oppo Reno5 5G vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G
1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Oppo Reno5 5G | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 159.1 x 73.4 x 7.9 mm | 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm | The Oppo Reno5 5G is noticeably taller and wider, making it slightly less pocketable, while the S21 5G is more compact. |
| Weight | 172g | 169g | Both phones are very similar in weight, with a negligible difference of 3g. |
| Build | Gorilla Glass 3+ (screen), material unspecified | Gorilla Glass Victus (screen), material unspecified | S21 has a significantly more durable screen, offering better protection against scratches and drops. Oppo's body material is not specified which raises concerns about its overall durability. |
Display
| Feature | Oppo Reno5 5G | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.43" | 6.2" | Oppo has a slightly larger display, offering a more immersive viewing experience, particularly for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Both displays have the same resolution, resulting in sharp and detailed images on both phones. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 409 | 421 | Both phones have very similar pixel density, offering excellent clarity, with the S21 having a negligibly sharper display. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both use vibrant AMOLED displays with deep blacks and excellent contrast. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | S21 has a smoother display, making scrolling and animations feel more fluid and responsive. |
| Brightness | 750 nits | 1300 nits | S21 is significantly brighter, providing much better outdoor visibility in bright sunlight, making it more practical for outdoor use. |
Performance
| Feature | Oppo Reno5 5G | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G (7nm) | Exynos 2100 (5nm) - International | The S21's Exynos 2100 chipset offers significantly higher performance, leading to snappier app launches, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 325,000 | 749,100 | S21 provides a much more powerful user experience for all tasks. The S21 scores more than twice as high as the Reno5 in benchmark tests |
| GPU | Adreno 620 | Mali-G78 MP14 | S21's GPU is substantially more powerful for graphically intensive tasks such as high-end gaming, offering smoother frame rates and better visuals |
Camera
| Feature | Oppo Reno5 5G | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 64MP, f/1.7, 1/1.7", 0.8µm | 12MP, f/1.8, 1/1.76", 1.8µm | While the Reno5 has higher megapixel count, the S21's larger pixel size allows for better low-light performance and dynamic range. S21 has significantly more advanced image processing than the Reno5. |
| Telephoto/Portrait | None | 64MP, f/2.0, 1/1.72", 0.8µm | S21 offers a dedicated zoom lens for better clarity at longer ranges and better portrait photos with natural background blur |
| Ultra-Wide | 8MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | 12.2MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55", 1.4µm | S21 has a slightly wider angle view, capturing more of the scene. The larger pixel size of the S21 offers better low light performance |
| Macro | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | Oppo Reno5 5G offers a dedicated macro camera for close-up shots, however this is usually a lower quality camera. The S21 does not offer a macro lens. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP, f/2.4, 0.8µm | 10MP, f/2.2, 1/3.2", 1.22µm | Oppo has a higher megapixel count, however the S21 has a wider aperture, resulting in better low-light performance. |
| Video | Up to 4K@30fps, EIS | Up to 8K@24fps, EIS, OIS | S21 offers significantly more advanced video capabilities, including higher resolution video recording, optical stabilization and stereo sound recording. |
| DxOMark | N/A | Mobile: 111, Selfie: 132 | S21's superior camera performance is validated with a higher DxOMark score indicating better overall photo and video quality compared to the Oppo. |
Battery
| Feature | Oppo Reno5 5G | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4300mAh | 4000mAh | The Oppo Reno5 has a slightly larger battery, which may provide marginally longer battery life, depending on usage. |
| Charging | 65W Fast Charging | 25W Fast Charging | Oppo offers significantly faster charging capabilities, allowing for much quicker top-ups. |
| Features | Reverse Charging, Dual-cell 2100mAh | Wireless 15W, Reverse wireless 4.5W | The S21 has wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, offering convenience over the Reno 5's reverse charging using a cable. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Oppo Reno5 5G Advantages:
- Faster Charging: 65W charging is significantly faster than the 25W charging of the S21, reducing downtime for charging.
- Larger Battery: 4300mAh vs. 4000mAh might translate to slightly longer battery life under similar usage conditions.
- Macro Camera: Offers a dedicated macro camera lens.
- Potentially more RAM: In the highest spec version the Reno5 offers up to 12gb RAM, compared to the S21's maximum of 8gb, improving multitasking capabilities.
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The Exynos 2100 chipset provides significantly higher processing power, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance.
- Better Display: Higher refresh rate (120Hz vs 90Hz) and brightness (1300 nits vs 750 nits) make the display more fluid and visible in bright outdoor conditions.
- Superior Camera System: Offers a telephoto lens for optical zoom, optical image stabilization (OIS), 8k video recording, and generally better image quality in most lighting conditions, and a higher DxOMark score.
- Wireless Charging: Offers convenient wireless charging and reverse wireless charging capabilities.
- Better Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus provides significantly better screen protection.
- Better Connectivity: Supports newer Wi-Fi 6 standard with improved connectivity speeds.
- Software Updates: Offers up to Android 15 compared to Android 12 on the Oppo.
Trade-offs:
- Oppo sacrifices overall performance and camera capabilities for faster charging and a dedicated macro lens.
- Samsung sacrifices slightly faster charging for a more premium build, wireless charging, superior display and camera technology, and greater overall performance.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Ideal Users for Oppo Reno5 5G:
- Users who prioritize fast charging: People who need a quick top-up during the day.
- Users who value a larger screen
- Budget-conscious users: Those looking for a capable phone with decent performance without the premium price tag.
- Casual Photographers: Users who want a wide range of cameras, including a dedicated macro lens, without the expectation of professional grade quality.
Use Cases for Oppo Reno5 5G:
- Daily social media browsing, video streaming, and casual gaming.
- Users who need a phone to last the entire day without constantly being connected to a charger.
- Users who want macro photography
- A secondary phone for basic tasks.
Ideal Users for Samsung Galaxy S21 5G:
- Users who prioritize performance: Gamers and power users who require smooth multitasking and high-end gaming performance.
- Users who want a premium camera experience: Individuals who value high-quality photos and videos in various lighting conditions.
- Users who want a premium experience: Those who want a better quality screen, build, better video recording and overall experience.
- Users who value convenience: Users who want wireless charging capabilities.
- Tech enthusiasts: Users who want the best tech available in a flagship device.
Use Cases for Samsung Galaxy S21 5G:
- High-end gaming, video editing, and heavy multitasking.
- Professional photography and videography.
- Frequent travelers who need a dependable camera and display with excellent outdoor visibility.
- Those who want the latest software.
- People who prefer wireless charging, or want the convenience of reverse wireless charging.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- How important is fast charging? If fast charging is critical, the Oppo Reno5 5G is the better option. If a quick charge is not a high priority then the S21 is the better option.
- How important is overall performance and camera quality? The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is the clear winner here for the camera performance and overall performance. If those are not high priorities for you, then the Reno5 is fine.
- Do you prefer a smaller phone? The S21 is smaller, lighter, and more pocketable than the Reno5.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget Conscious User The Oppo Reno5 5G may be a better choice for a user looking for a capable device with reasonable performance, and faster charging on a budget. The tradeoff is a less powerful chipset, and a less advanced camera system, as well as a slightly lower quality display.
- Scenario 2: Performance and Camera Enthusiast The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is the clear choice with its significantly more powerful processor and more advanced camera system, as well as its support for wireless charging.
- Scenario 3: Outdoor User The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G's much brighter screen offers better outdoor visibility making it the obvious choice for someone who will spend a lot of time outdoors.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. While the Oppo Reno5 5G offers faster charging, the S21 5G's superior overall performance, significantly better display, more advanced camera system (with optical zoom and better video capabilities), wireless charging, better connectivity, and superior screen protection make it the better overall device for my needs and preferred use cases. I value a high-quality camera and smooth performance, which the S21 provides, and would be willing to sacrifice slightly slower charging to get these improvements. The longer software support is also a major plus. While the Reno5 offers a macro lens, that is not an essential feature for me, and the general image quality of the S21 would outweigh the macro lens for me. The larger screen size of the Reno5 would be a slight preference, however the improved display quality of the S21 would make it my preferred device.
