Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy S21 5G vs. Nokia G10
1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Nokia G10 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 151.7 × 71.2 × 7.9 mm | 164.9 × 76 × 9.2 mm | The Galaxy S21 is significantly more compact and pocketable. The G10 is larger and may feel less comfortable for one-handed use. |
| Weight | 169g | 194g | The Galaxy S21 is noticeably lighter, making it more comfortable to hold for extended periods. The G10 is heavier and may feel more cumbersome. |
| Build Quality (Screen Protection) | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Unknown | The Galaxy S21 provides superior screen protection against scratches and drops. The G10's screen protection is not specified. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Nokia G10 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.2" | 6.52" | The G10 has a larger screen, which is better for media consumption. The S21 is more compact, making it more portable. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 720x1600 | The Galaxy S21 offers a much sharper display. Text and images are clearer. The G10 will appear less sharp and have lower detail. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 421 | 269 | The Galaxy S21 provides a noticeably sharper and more detailed viewing experience. The G10's screen is less sharp and can appear pixelated. |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | The Galaxy S21's AMOLED panel produces richer colors, deeper blacks, and higher contrast. It's better for media, and more power-efficient for dark themes. The G10's IPS LCD provides decent color accuracy but lacks the contrast of OLED. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | The Galaxy S21's 120Hz refresh rate makes animations and scrolling feel much smoother, resulting in a more responsive feel. The G10 will feel less smooth and less responsive. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 0 nits | The Galaxy S21's high brightness ensures better visibility in direct sunlight. The G10's brightness specification is missing, but expected to be much lower and thus hard to view in bright conditions. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Nokia G10 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Mediatek MT6762G Helio G25 (12 nm) | The Galaxy S21's high-end chip is far more powerful, ensuring smooth performance in all apps and games. The G10's lower-end chipset can feel slow and struggle with demanding tasks. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,100 | 102,700 | The Galaxy S21 is significantly faster, offering a much smoother experience for general use, gaming, and multitasking. The G10 can feel sluggish and is not recommended for intensive use. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | PowerVR GE8320 | The Galaxy S21's GPU allows for much better gaming performance, ensuring high frame rates at higher resolution and graphic settings. The G10's GPU can struggle with demanding games and will require lower settings. |
| RAM | 8 GB | 3 GB or 4 GB | The Galaxy S21 has more RAM, allowing for smoother multitasking and keeping more apps in memory. The G10 with its lesser RAM may encounter more app reloads. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Nokia G10 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 12MP | 13MP | Minor difference in resolution; the S21’s wider aperture is more impactful. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.8 | f/2.2 | The Galaxy S21's wider aperture captures more light, resulting in better low-light performance. The G10's narrower aperture can struggle in low-light conditions. |
| Telephoto + Portrait Lens | 64MP | None | The S21 has a dedicated telephoto lens, providing better optical zoom capabilities and portrait photos. The G10 lacks this feature. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 10MP | 8MP | The S21 takes higher-resolution selfies with more detail. |
| Portrait Mode (Depth) Lens | None | 2MP | The G10 has a dedicated depth sensor for better portrait mode photos, however, the overall quality will likely be lower than the S21’s portrait mode. |
| Macro Lens | None | 2MP | The G10 can take close-up macro shots; the S21 does not have a dedicated macro lens. |
| Wide Angle + Macro Lens | 12.2MP | None | The S21’s dedicated ultrawide lens allows for wide shots. It also has macro capabilities. The G10 does not offer this functionality. |
| Video Recording | Up to 8K@24fps | Up to 1080p@30fps | The S21 records much higher-quality video, suitable for professional use; also offers higher frame-rate recording. The G10 is limited to 1080p with no slow motion support. |
| Camera Features | Extensive, including OIS, PDAF, Night Mode, RAW | Basic, HDR, Panorama | The S21 offers more advanced features for better overall image quality and creative control. The G10 has more limited features for camera operation. |
| DxOMark Scores (Mobile) | 111 (Overall), 118 (Photo), 90 (Video) | Not Available | The S21 has been tested by DxOMark and provides very good performance for all areas. |
| DxOMark Scores (Selfie) | 132 (Overall), 125 (Photo), 145 (Video) | Not Available | The S21 selfie camera has very high scores according to DxOMark. The G10 has not been tested. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Nokia G10 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4000mAh | 5050mAh | The G10 has a larger battery and will generally last longer on a single charge. However, the S21’s processor is also more efficient, so the difference might not be massive in real world use. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 10W Fast Charging | The Galaxy S21 charges much faster, reducing downtime. The G10 has slower charging and will take much longer to fully charge. |
| Features | Wireless Charging, Reverse Charging | None | The Galaxy S21 offers wireless charging and can wirelessly charge other devices. The G10 has no wireless charging features. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G Advantages:
- Superior Display: Significantly sharper, more vibrant, and smoother with a 120Hz AMOLED display. This makes for a far more pleasant media consumption, gaming, and general usage experience.
- Exceptional Performance: The Exynos 2100 chipset offers much faster performance, ensuring a smooth experience with all apps, games, and multitasking. This provides a lag-free user experience with a great deal of headroom for more demanding apps.
- Advanced Camera System: Includes a telephoto lens, wider aperture main sensor, and superior video recording capabilities, providing significantly better overall image and video quality.
- Faster Charging: 25W fast charging and wireless charging, reducing downtime.
- Enhanced Connectivity: Supports Wi-Fi 6 and a wide range of Bluetooth profiles for faster speeds, and better compatibility.
- Premium Features: Offers features such as reverse charging, which can be used to charge wireless earbuds or other devices.
- Better Software Support: Gets updated to Android 15. The Nokia G10 only supports up to Android 13. This means the S21 has access to newer features for longer.
- Significantly Higher Benchmark Scores: The AnTuTu benchmark shows that the S21 is over 600% faster than the G10. This results in vastly superior performance in real-world usage.
- Better Build Quality: The S21 uses Gorilla Glass Victus for screen protection.
Nokia G10 Advantages:
- Larger Battery: The 5050mAh battery offers longer battery life, potentially lasting a full day with moderate usage.
- Lower Price: The G10 is often significantly cheaper, making it a good option for buyers on a tight budget.
- Dedicated Macro and Depth Sensors: Offers some basic functionality with macro and depth lenses. However, the overall image quality from this is not comparable to the quality from the S21’s main or ultrawide cameras.
- Headphone Jack: G10 includes a headphone jack, which the S21 does not.
Significant Trade-offs
- Samsung Galaxy S21 5G: Higher price and potentially lower battery life than the Nokia G10.
- Nokia G10: Significantly inferior performance, display quality, and camera capabilities compared to the Galaxy S21 5G.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Ideal Users for Samsung Galaxy S21 5G:
- Power Users: Those who demand fast performance for gaming, multitasking, and demanding apps.
- Media Enthusiasts: Users who value a high-quality display for watching videos, browsing photos, and gaming.
- Photography Lovers: Individuals who want a capable camera system for capturing high-quality photos and videos in a wide range of conditions.
- Tech Savvy Users: Those who want the latest features and technology, including wireless charging and fast charging.
- Users who value a smooth experience: The superior display smoothness with a 120Hz refresh rate makes general usage more pleasant.
Specific Use Cases: High-end mobile gaming, professional photography/videography, multitasking between apps, media consumption in bright sunlight.
Ideal Users for Nokia G10:
- Budget-Conscious Buyers: Users who need a basic smartphone at an affordable price.
- Battery-Centric Users: Those who prioritize a long battery life over performance or advanced features.
- Basic Smartphone Users: Individuals who primarily use their phones for calls, text messages, web browsing, and social media.
- Users who want a headphone jack: The G10 has a headphone jack, which the S21 lacks.
Specific Use Cases: Basic web browsing, calling and messaging, light social media usage, listening to music with wired headphones, users who prioritize long battery life over other features.
Price-to-Value Ratio
The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G offers a higher price but comes with a premium experience. The value lies in its advanced technology and vastly superior performance. For users who want the best, it is a good option.
The Nokia G10 is very budget-friendly, focusing on basic features and long battery life. Its value proposition lies in its affordability and utility for everyday tasks.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- What is my budget? If you are price sensitive, the G10 may be an option, but if you can spend a bit more, the S21 is worth it.
- How important is performance? If you need a smooth experience for demanding tasks, the S21 is the only option. If you need basic usage, the G10 is good enough.
- What do I value more - camera or battery life? The S21 offers superior image quality while the G10 has better battery capacity.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Professional Photographer/Videographer - Choose the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G for its superior camera system, video recording capabilities, and overall performance.
- Scenario 2: Casual User on a Strict Budget - Choose the Nokia G10 for its affordability and basic functionality, though it has limitations on performance, display and camera.
- Scenario 3: Mobile Gamer - Choose the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G for its high-end chipset, 120Hz display, and superior gaming capabilities.
- Scenario 4: User focused on longevity of phone: Choose the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G for its better software support, receiving updates to Android 15.
My Choice:
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would pick the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G without hesitation. The performance difference between the two phones is far too significant for it to be ignored. The vastly superior display, much better camera quality, faster charging, and enhanced features such as reverse wireless charging, make it a far better device for my needs. Even though the G10 does have a slightly larger battery, the efficiency of the S21's chipset means that the battery life would likely be similar, especially when taking advantage of the S21's vastly superior feature set. Although the G10 is cheaper, it is hard to ignore the performance bottleneck when compared to the S21, so for me, the S21 is a far better device and worth the extra cost.
