1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Realme C35 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 151.7 × 71.2 × 7.9 mm | 164.4 × 75.6 × 8.1 mm | The S21 is more compact and easier to handle with one hand. The C35 is larger, potentially less comfortable for smaller hands. |
| Weight | 169g | 189g | The S21 is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for prolonged use and carrying. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.2" | 6.6" | The C35 offers a larger viewing area for media consumption and gaming. The S21 is smaller, which may be more comfortable for some users. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2408 | Both offer a Full HD+ experience, with minimal practical difference. |
| PPI | 421 | 401 | The S21 has a slightly sharper display, but the difference may not be noticeable to the average user. |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | The S21's AMOLED offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors, resulting in a much richer visual experience, especially for HDR content. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | The S21's 120Hz refresh rate provides smoother scrolling and animations, making the user interface feel more fluid. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 0 nits | The S21 offers significantly better outdoor visibility in bright sunlight. The Realme C35's brightness specification is missing, meaning its outdoor visibility is unknown but likely worse than the S21 |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Unisoc Tiger T616 (12 nm) | The S21's Exynos 2100 is a high-performance chip, offering much faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming capabilities. The C35's chip is considerably weaker and will struggle with demanding tasks. |
| Antutu Score | 749,100 | 230,726 | The S21 is significantly more powerful, handling demanding applications much better and running more complex games smoothly. The C35 is better for basic use. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Mali-G57 MP1 | The S21's GPU is far more powerful, providing significantly better graphics performance for gaming and graphically intensive apps. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera Resolution | 12MP | 50MP | The C35's higher megapixel count may allow for more detailed photos in some scenarios. However, megapixel count isn't the only factor in camera quality. |
| Telephoto Camera | 64MP | None | The S21 has a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom, allowing users to get closer to the subject without losing image quality, the C35 relies on digital zoom. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 10MP | 8MP | The S21's front camera offers higher resolution, potentially resulting in more detailed selfies. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.0 | The C35 has a wider aperture for potentially better low-light selfies. |
| Macro Lens | None | 2MP | The C35 offers a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots, a feature the S21 lacks. |
| Wide Angle Camera | 12.2MP | None | The S21's wide-angle lens allows for capturing more of a scene within a single frame, a feature the C35 lacks. |
| Black & White Lens | None | 2MP | The C35 has a dedicated black and white lens for unique, artistic photos, a feature the S21 lacks. |
| Video Recording | Up to 8K@24fps | Up to 1080p@30fps | The S21 offers much higher video recording resolution and frame rate, making it significantly more capable for video recording. |
| DXOMARK Mobile Score | 111 | None | The S21 camera performance has been professionally rated and is considered very good. The C35 camera performance is untested and unknown. |
| DXOMARK Selfie Score | 132 | None | The S21's selfie camera performance has been professionally rated and is considered very good. The C35 camera performance is untested and unknown. |
| Camera Features | OIS, RAW, Night Mode, etc | CDAF | The S21 offers more advanced camera features like OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), RAW image capture, and dedicated night mode. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4000mAh | 5000mAh | The C35 has a significantly larger battery capacity, potentially offering longer battery life, though real-world endurance depends on power consumption. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 18W Fast Charging | The S21 supports faster charging, allowing users to quickly top up their batteries. |
| Wireless Charging | 15W | None | The S21 supports wireless charging, providing additional convenience for users. |
| Reverse Charging | Yes | None | The S21 supports reverse charging, which can be used to charge other wireless devices. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G Advantages:
- Superior Display: AMOLED with 120Hz refresh rate and high brightness, leading to a much better viewing experience, especially outdoors.
- Significantly Better Performance: High-end chipset and GPU for smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming.
- More Advanced Camera System: Telephoto lens, Wide Angle lens, better video capabilities (up to 8K), OIS, RAW capabilities, and better low-light performance, as demonstrated in DXOmark scores.
- Faster Charging & Wireless Charging: Faster wired charging and the convenience of wireless charging with the reverse charging ability.
- Enhanced Audio Features: Dolby Atmos, stereo speakers, and noise cancellation.
- Better Build Quality: Superior screen protection with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus.
- More Advanced Sensors: Barometer and additional biometric sensor suite
Realme C35 Advantages:
- Larger Display: Larger screen for media consumption.
- Larger Battery: Significantly larger battery capacity that might translate to longer battery life.
- Macro Lens & Black and White Lens: Additional lenses for unique photo opportunities.
- Potentially Lower Price: Likely to be more budget-friendly.
- Side Mounted Fingerprint Scanner: Generally faster and more reliable than in-screen fingerprint scanners in this price range.
Trade-offs:
- The S21 sacrifices battery capacity for a more premium design and powerful performance.
- The C35 offers better battery life and additional lenses at the cost of display quality, performance, and a lower-grade camera system.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G Ideal User:
- Power Users: Those who need a device for demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, and multitasking.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who value camera quality, zoom capabilities, and advanced features like OIS and RAW capture.
- Multimedia Consumers: Individuals who prioritize display quality and a smooth user experience.
- Users Who Value Premium Design and Features: People willing to pay more for a high-end smartphone experience with features like wireless charging, reverse charging, etc.
Specific Use Cases for S21:
- Mobile gaming with high frame rates and smooth graphics.
- Capturing professional-quality videos and photos.
- Enjoying HDR content with vibrant colors and deep blacks.
- Using power-intensive apps with seamless multitasking.
Realme C35 Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious Buyers: Those looking for a reliable smartphone with good battery life at a more affordable price.
- Casual Users: Individuals who primarily use their phones for browsing, social media, and basic communication.
- Users Who Prioritize Battery Life: People who need a phone that can last a full day or more on a single charge.
- Users interested in unique photography: Those who like using macro and black and white modes
Specific Use Cases for C35:
- Day-to-day tasks like browsing, messaging, and social media.
- Extended use without needing to charge frequently.
- Basic photography and occasional close up photography
- Users who want a large screen for videos
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The S21 offers a premium experience but comes at a higher price. It's worth it for users who value performance and quality.
- The C35 provides excellent battery life and is a better value choice for budget-minded buyers who don't need top-tier performance.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- What is your budget? The S21 is likely to be more expensive, while the C35 is a budget-friendly option.
- What are your primary needs? Are you looking for performance, camera quality, display quality, or battery life?
- How important are high-end features? Do you need wireless charging, a high refresh rate display, a telephoto camera, etc?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- If you are a gamer or power user: The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is the clear choice due to its superior performance, display, and camera capabilities.
- If you are a casual user on a budget: The Realme C35 will provide a good experience for basic tasks with its long battery life.
- If you value photography: The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is significantly better overall due to its better sensors, lenses and advanced features.
- If battery life is your top priority: The Realme C35 is the better choice due to its significantly larger battery.
- If you value a premium display: The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G with its AMOLED display and high refresh rate will be much better.
What I Would Choose and Why
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would personally choose the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. While the Realme C35 has a larger battery and a couple of extra camera lenses, the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G offers a far more superior overall experience due to the following reasons:
- Display Quality: The AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and high brightness is a game-changer for daily use. The vibrant colors, deep blacks, and smooth scrolling make the visual experience much more enjoyable, especially for watching videos, browsing social media and playing games.
- Performance: The Exynos 2100 chipset ensures a fluid and responsive user experience. I do not want to worry about lag or performance bottlenecks, especially when multitasking or playing more demanding games.
- Camera Capabilities: The camera system of the S21 is vastly superior with its telephoto, wide angle, and advanced features like OIS, RAW, and better video resolution capabilities.
- Additional Features: The convenience of wireless charging, reverse charging, and the faster wired charging is something I would certainly benefit from. The enhanced audio quality with Dolby Atmos and stereo speakers is also a major advantage.
While I acknowledge the Realme C35's bigger battery capacity, I believe that the vastly superior display, performance, and camera of the S21 are worth the trade-off in battery life. I would rather charge my phone a bit more often than deal with a sub-par display and limited performance. The overall user experience of the S21 is simply much higher, making it the better choice for my needs.
