Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy S21 5G vs. Motorola Moto E22
1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Motorola Moto E22 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm | 163.6 x 74.7 x 8 mm | The Moto E22 is noticeably larger, making it less pocketable and potentially harder to use with one hand. The S21 5G is more compact and easier to handle. |
| Weight | 169g | 169g | Both phones have the same weight, meaning neither will feel significantly heavier. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Motorola Moto E22 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.2" | 6.5" | The Moto E22 offers slightly more screen real estate, better for media consumption but potentially less comfortable in smaller hands. |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 | 720 x 1600 | The S21 5G's higher resolution results in a much sharper and clearer image, with finer details visible, making text crisper and images more vibrant. The Moto E22's display will appear less sharp. |
| PPI | 421 | 270 | The higher PPI on the S21 5G means noticeably sharper text and images, especially for reading and viewing photos. |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | AMOLED provides superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors than IPS LCD, resulting in a significantly more engaging visual experience on the S21 5G. AMOLED is also more energy-efficient when displaying dark content. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 90Hz | The 120Hz refresh rate on the S21 5G offers smoother scrolling and animations compared to the 90Hz of the Moto E22. It is more noticeable when gaming or in fast-moving content. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 0 nits | The S21 5G's significantly higher brightness ensures better screen visibility in bright sunlight compared to the Moto E22 which has an unspecified brightness and is not suitable for outdoor visibility. |
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Unknown | The S21 5G screen is more resistant to scratches and drops, adding durability. Screen protection on the Moto E22 is unknown |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Motorola Moto E22 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Mediatek Helio G37 (12 nm) | The Exynos 2100 offers significantly more processing power for faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and more demanding tasks like gaming, compared to the much weaker Helio G37 in the Moto E22. The S21 5G handles intensive tasks and multitasking with much higher performance and fluidity. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,100 | 159,800 | The S21 5G benchmark performance is vastly superior, indicating a huge difference in real-world responsiveness and gaming capability. The Moto E22 is suitable for very light use only. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | PowerVR GE8320 | The Mali-G78 offers much better graphics processing, enabling smoother and higher-quality gaming compared to the PowerVR GE8320 in the Moto E22. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Motorola Moto E22 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 12MP | 16MP | While the Moto E22 has a higher resolution sensor, the S21 5G's larger sensor and wider aperture often result in better image quality, particularly in low light. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.8 | f/2.2 | The wider f/1.8 aperture on the S21 5G allows more light to reach the sensor, resulting in better low-light performance and shallower depth of field. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/1.76" | Unspecified | The S21 5G has a larger main camera sensor, which can capture more light and detail, leading to better image quality. |
| Main Camera Pixel Size | 1.8 µm | 0.65 µm | Larger pixels on the S21 5G's main camera capture more light and result in better low-light performance and less noise in images. |
| Telephoto/Portrait Camera | 64MP, f/2.0 | None | The S21 5G offers a dedicated telephoto camera for zoom and portrait shots, which the Moto E22 lacks, providing greater versatility. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 10MP | 5MP | The S21 5G has a higher resolution selfie camera capturing more detail, resulting in clearer, more vibrant selfies. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.4 | The wider aperture on the S21 5G means better low-light selfie performance. |
| Portrait Mode (depth) Camera | None | 2MP, f/2.4 | The Moto E22 has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode, lacking in the S21 5G. |
| Wide Angle/Macro Camera | 12.2MP, f/2.2 | None | The S21 5G's wide-angle lens lets users capture a wider field of view, good for landscape and group photos, with an additional macro feature. |
| Video Recording | Up to 8K@24fps | Up to 1080p@30fps | The S21 5G is capable of capturing much higher-resolution videos, making it far better for professional-grade video recording compared to the Moto E22. |
| Video Stabilisation | Yes (EIS) | No | The S21 5G offers electronic image stabilization (EIS) for smoother video recording, especially when walking or moving, while the Moto E22 does not provide image stabilization. |
| Slow-motion | 960 fps | None | The S21 5G offers slow-motion capabilities for creative videos, whereas the Moto E22 does not. |
| DXOMark (Mobile) | 111 | Unspecified | The S21 5G has a known camera benchmark score for mobile, whereas this has not been recorded for the Moto E22. The higher score suggests better quality overall. |
| DXOMark (Selfie) | 132 | Unspecified | The S21 5G has a known camera benchmark score for selfie, whereas this has not been recorded for the Moto E22. The higher score suggests better quality overall. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Motorola Moto E22 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 4000mAh | 4020mAh | Both phones have similar battery capacities, suggesting similar battery life under normal usage scenarios. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 10W Fast Charging | The S21 5G charges much faster, reducing downtime. |
| Charging Tech | Li-Polymer | Li-Ion | Li-Polymer batteries often have better longevity and safety, though the real-world difference is marginal. |
| Features | Wireless, Reverse Wireless Charging | None | The S21 5G provides additional charging convenience by allowing both wireless charging and reverse wireless charging for other devices. |
Software
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Motorola Moto E22 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 15) | Android 12 | The Moto E22 has a more recent version of Android out of the box, however the S21 has been confirmed to upgrade to the latest version. |
Connectivity
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Motorola Moto E22 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | 802.11ac | The S21 5G supports the newer Wi-Fi 6 standard, which allows faster connection speeds with compatible networks. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 LE, various audio profiles | Bluetooth 5.0 LE, A2DP, LE | The S21 5G offers a wider range of Bluetooth audio profiles providing compatibility with more devices and features. |
| GPS | GPS (L1+L5), Galileo (E1+E5a), Beidou, GLONASS, A-GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo | The S21 5G utilizes more satellite systems allowing faster and more accurate location tracking. |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano) | Dual SIM (Nano) | Both devices feature the same dual sim functionality |
Storage
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Motorola Moto E22 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Internal | 128GB/256GB | 32GB/64GB/128GB | The S21 5G provides much greater storage capacity in its base model for apps, photos, and videos. |
| RAM | 8GB | 2GB/3GB/4GB | The S21 5G offers significantly more RAM, resulting in smoother multitasking, faster app switching, and better gaming performance. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone allows storage expansion, which can be limiting for users with extensive media libraries. |
Audio
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Motorola Moto E22 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Noise cancellation mic, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | The S21 5G has a noise-canceling microphone, offering clearer calls and better voice recording and slightly better spatial audio. |
Security
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Motorola Moto E22 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Fingerprint | Basic Fingerprint Sensor | Side-Mounted Fingerprint Sensor | The side-mounted sensor on the Moto E22 is often more convenient than a sensor within the display. |
Sensors
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Motorola Moto E22 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope; Environmental: Barometer, Hall, Geomagnetic | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope; Environmental: Barometer | The S21 5G offers more sensors, including hall and geomagnetic, which can provide additional capabilities or improve certain app experiences. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G Advantages:
- Superior Display: AMOLED, higher resolution, higher pixel density, higher refresh rate, higher brightness, and superior screen protection leads to a noticeably better viewing experience.
- Significantly Higher Performance: The Exynos 2100 chipset offers vastly better CPU and GPU performance, making it suitable for demanding tasks, multitasking, and gaming.
- Superior Camera System: Telephoto, wide-angle, macro cameras, and high-resolution video recording capabilities provide greater photographic and videography versatility. Better image quality due to the larger sensor and wider aperture.
- Faster Charging and Wireless Charging: Significantly faster wired charging and the convenience of wireless and reverse wireless charging.
- More RAM and Storage: More storage and RAM ensures smooth multitasking and less need to frequently clear memory.
- More advanced connectivity Faster Wi-Fi 6 connectivity and more Bluetooth profiles
Motorola Moto E22 Advantages:
- Lower Price: The Moto E22 is significantly more affordable, making it a budget-friendly option.
- Larger Screen: Slightly larger display for consuming media (though with a lower resolution and quality).
- Side-Mounted Fingerprint Sensor: Convenient and reliable side mounted fingerprint sensor.
- Depth sensor: This enhances portrait photos and is lacking from the S21
Significant Trade-offs:
- S21 5G: Higher price, No headphone jack and no expandable storage.
- Moto E22: Much weaker performance, inferior display, limited camera features, and slower charging.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G Ideal User:
- Power users: Those who need a high-performance phone for gaming, multitasking, and demanding applications.
- Photography enthusiasts: Users who want a versatile camera system with good image quality and various shooting options.
- Media consumers: Those who enjoy watching videos and movies and appreciate a vibrant, high-quality display.
- Users who value premium features: Those seeking wireless charging, fast charging, and the most updated features.
Specific Use Cases:
- Mobile gaming with high graphic settings.
- Professional or semi-professional photography and video recording.
- Extensive multitasking between resource-intensive apps.
- Viewing high-definition content on the go.
Motorola Moto E22 Ideal User:
- Budget-conscious users: Those who need a basic smartphone for everyday tasks and aren't looking to spend a lot of money.
- Light users: Individuals who primarily use their phone for calling, texting, browsing, and social media.
- First-time smartphone buyers: Those who want an easy-to-use phone at an affordable price.
- Users who prioritise portability and size Those who need something that fits in the pocket and is easy to handle.
Specific Use Cases:
- Basic web browsing and social media.
- Simple photo capture.
- Basic multimedia consumption.
- Calling and texting.
- Users who do not require high performance
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- Samsung Galaxy S21 5G: Offers a much better overall experience and is a better value for users looking for premium features and performance at a mid-range price point.
- Motorola Moto E22: Offers a basic smartphone experience for an entry-level price.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is my budget? If budget is a primary concern, the Moto E22 will be the only option. If you have a mid-range budget, then the S21 5G would be the preferred option.
- How important is performance? If you want a phone for gaming or multitasking, the S21 5G is the clear choice.
- How important is display and camera quality? If image quality is important to you, the S21 5G provides much more vivid and vibrant images, better video, and more versatile camera options.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Casual User on a Budget: If you primarily need a phone for basic tasks and are extremely budget-conscious, then the Moto E22 is suitable. However, consider the low performance and poor screen compared to the S21 5G.
- Scenario 2: Moderate User with Mid-Range Budget: If you want a versatile phone with good performance, a great display, and good cameras, then the S21 5G is highly recommended. The S21 provides a far superior experience for the price.
- Scenario 3: Power User or Photography Enthusiast: If you want a phone for gaming, multitasking, or professional photography, the S21 5G is the only logical choice due to its superior performance and versatile camera system.
My Choice and Why
I would choose the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G.
Here's why:
- Superior Performance: The Exynos 2100 chipset offers a huge performance advantage, ensuring smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and a better gaming experience. This difference is significant enough to affect daily usage in a very noticeable way.
- Exceptional Display: The AMOLED display is not just a slight upgrade, but a transformative difference. The higher resolution, pixel density, vibrant colors, and 120Hz refresh rate will noticeably enhance my viewing experience for everything from browsing the web to consuming media. The brightness is also a key factor for outdoor visibility.
- Versatile Camera System: As someone who values good photography, the S21's multi-camera setup with a dedicated telephoto and wide-angle lens provides more options and produces better-quality images in various conditions. The high-quality video recording, slow-motion capability, and camera features provide an enjoyable experience.
- Overall User Experience: While I appreciate the value of a budget-friendly phone, the overall user experience with the S21 5G is simply far better. It offers a much more premium feel, features, and level of responsiveness that is worth the additional cost.
- More Features: The extra features like wireless charging, reverse wireless charging, better audio experience, and more up-to-date connectivity are all very desirable and will enhance the day to day usage of this phone.
While the Motorola Moto E22 may be a good option for extremely budget-conscious users, the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G offers an experience that I personally value highly, significantly better performance, significantly better display, better cameras, and a more well-rounded set of features. For me, the investment in a device that enhances my daily usage is worth the extra cost, and I think that the S21 5G is a more future-proof device as a result of this.
