1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Realme GT2 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm | 163.2 x 74.7 x 8.2 mm | The Realme GT2 Pro is noticeably larger, which could be less comfortable for one-handed use, but provides a bigger screen for media consumption. The S21 is more pocketable. |
| Weight | 169g | 199g | The S21 is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use and carrying around. The GT2 Pro is heavier, which may be noticeable. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Realme GT2 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.2" | 6.7" | The Realme GT2 Pro provides a significantly larger viewing area, better for watching videos, playing games, and multitasking. The S21 is more compact. |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 | 1440 x 3216 | The Realme GT2 Pro has a much sharper display with more detail, leading to a noticeably clearer visual experience. |
| PPI | 421 | 526 | The higher PPI on the GT2 Pro means text and images are crisper, making the display look more refined and less pixelated. |
| Technology | AMOLED | The S21's AMOLED display offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors, resulting in a richer visual experience, especially in dark mode or for viewing HDR content. The type of display for the Realme GT2 Pro is unspecified, making it difficult to analyze it's display comparatively. | |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both provide smooth scrolling and animations, ideal for gaming and general use. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 1400 nits | The Realme GT2 Pro is slightly brighter, offering better visibility in bright sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Realme GT2 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the GT2 Pro is significantly more powerful, leading to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better performance in demanding games. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,100 | 1,054,189 | The GT2 Pro has substantially higher performance, resulting in a noticeable difference in overall speed and responsiveness for everyday tasks and intensive applications. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Adreno 730 | The Adreno 730 GPU in the GT2 Pro offers better graphics performance, leading to smoother gameplay and better graphics rendering in apps. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Realme GT2 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4000mAh | 5000mAh | The larger battery on the GT2 Pro offers significantly better battery life, meaning less frequent charging and more usage time. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 65W Fast Charging | The Realme GT2 Pro charges much faster, reducing downtime significantly. |
| Features | Reverse Charging, 15W Wireless Charging, 4.5W Reverse Wireless Charging, No Charger In-Box | 2*2500mAh Battery, Non-Removable | The S21 provides wireless charging convenience and the ability to charge other devices wirelessly. The Realme GT2 Pro's dual-cell design and 65W fast charging provide a faster and efficient charging experience. Both have non-removable batteries. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Realme GT2 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Camera | 12MP, f/1.8, 1/1.76", 1.80µm, Sony IMX555 | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.56", 1.00µm, Sony IMX766 | The GT2 Pro's 50MP sensor should capture more detail in good lighting and has a slightly larger sensor to pull in more light overall. |
| Telephoto + Portrait Camera | 64MP, f/2.0, 1/1.72", 0.80µm, Samsung Bright S5KGW2 | None | The S21 has a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom capabilities and portrait shots, offering greater versatility for different types of photography. |
| Selfie Camera | 10MP, f/2.2, 1/3.2", 1.22µm, Sony IMX374 | 32MP, f/2.4, 1/2.74", 0.80µm, Sony IMX615 | The GT2 Pro's selfie camera has a higher resolution, capturing more detailed selfies. However, the S21 has a slightly wider aperture, potentially better in low light. |
| Wide Angle Lens | None | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/2.76", 0.64µm, Samsung S5KJN1 | The GT2 Pro has a dedicated wide-angle lens, allowing you to capture more of the scene in your photos. |
| Macro Lens | None | 2MP, f/3.0, 1/5", 1.75µm, GalaxyCore GC02M1 | The GT2 Pro offers a dedicated macro lens for capturing detailed close-up shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | 12.2MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55", 1.40µm, Sony IMX563 | None | The S21 has a dedicated combined wide angle and macro lens for greater flexibility. |
| Video | Up to 8K@24fps, EIS, HDR, Stereo Sound, Slow-motion up to 960 fps | Up to 8K@24fps, EIS, Slow-motion up to 240 fps | Both offer high-quality video recording, but the S21 offers higher slow motion options. |
| DxOMark | Mobile: 111, Photo: 118, Video: 90; Selfie: 132, Photo: 125, Video: 145 | Not Available | The S21 camera has been evaluated by DxOMark. The Realme has not been evaluated, making it impossible to make a direct camera comparison based on these scores. |
| Features | 4K Video, 8K Video, Digital zoom, Optical zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous autofocus, Manual focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW, Night Mode | 4K Video, 8K Video, Digital zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Ultra stable video, Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous autofocus, Manual focus, Laser autofocus (LAF), Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, Night Mode | Both provide comprehensive camera features; The S21 offers Optical Zoom and RAW image capture while the GT2 Pro provides Laser Autofocus and Ultra Stable video mode. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G Advantages
- Compact and Lightweight Design: More comfortable for one-handed use and portability.
- Superior Display Technology (AMOLED): Provides richer colors and deeper blacks for a better viewing experience, especially for HDR content.
- Wireless Charging and Reverse Charging: Offers convenient ways to charge the phone and other devices.
- Optical Zoom: The dedicated telephoto lens allows for a better zoom and portrait capability than digital zoom, and the dedicated telephoto lens is a big advantage for those who value a good zoom.
- DxOMark scores: Indicates higher performance in selfies and video quality.
- More Advanced Bluetooth Features: It has support for more bluetooth profiles.
- Barometer Sensor: Provides atmospheric pressure data useful for weather tracking and other applications
Realme GT2 Pro Advantages
- Larger and Sharper Display: Offers a bigger and more detailed viewing experience for multimedia consumption.
- Significantly More Powerful Processor: Provides faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance.
- Much Larger Battery: Offers significantly better battery life and less frequent charging.
- Faster Charging: Reduces charging time significantly.
- Dedicated Wide Angle and Macro Lenses: Provides additional versatility in photography.
- Newer Bluetooth Version: Offers potential for better connection stability, range, and improved audio quality.
- Hi-Res Audio: Provides an enhanced audio experience for users who value better audio playback.
- More RAM: Improves multitasking performance
Trade-offs
- S21: While the AMOLED display is great, it has less screen real estate than the GT2 Pro. The battery life is also likely to be noticeably inferior to the Realme GT2 Pro and the processor is not as powerful.
- GT2 Pro: The larger size and weight make it less convenient for single handed use and pocketability. It lacks a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom and wireless charging capabilities. The lack of a DxOMark score also makes comparisons to the S21 camera more difficult.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G Ideal User
- Users who value portability and one-handed use: The smaller size and lighter weight are ideal for those who prefer a more compact device.
- Those who prioritize display quality: The AMOLED display offers superior visual experience, especially for dark content and HDR videos.
- Users who want wireless charging and reverse wireless charging: Provides convenient ways to charge the phone and other devices.
- Users who value zoom capabilities: The dedicated telephoto lens and optical zoom offers more flexibility in photography.
- Users who prioritize front facing camera performance: The DxOMark scores show higher performance on the selfie camera for video and photos.
- Users who need a barometer: Provides atmospheric pressure data useful for weather tracking and other applications.
Use Cases:
- Daily use, where portability is key
- Casual gaming
- Watching videos, especially in dark environments
- Taking photos that require optical zoom
- Taking high quality selfies
Realme GT2 Pro Ideal User
- Power Users: Those who demand maximum performance for gaming, demanding applications, and multitasking.
- Users who need long battery life: The larger battery ensures all-day usage without needing frequent charging.
- Those who want a larger screen: Ideal for enjoying multimedia content, gaming, and productivity apps.
- Users who want versatile photography options: The dedicated wide-angle and macro lenses offer more creative freedom.
- Users who value fast charging speeds: The fast 65W charging offers less charging downtime.
- Users who want the best audio quality: The Hi-Res audio option will improve the audio quality of the device.
Use Cases:
- Intense gaming and running demanding apps
- Watching videos and movies on a larger screen
- Photography with wide-angle and macro shots
- All day usage without worrying about battery life.
- High quality audio experience.
Price-to-Value Ratio
- Samsung Galaxy S21 5G: Offers a premium display, wireless charging, and good overall performance in a compact form factor, potentially at a lower price point due to its age.
- Realme GT2 Pro: Provides a more powerful processor, larger battery, and versatile camera system, but it might be priced higher, reflecting its newer hardware.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- Size and Portability: Do you prioritize a compact phone that's easy to handle or a larger screen for more immersive experiences?
- Performance: Do you need the most powerful processor for demanding tasks or is good performance sufficient for your needs?
- Battery Life: Do you need long-lasting battery for all-day usage or is having wireless charging a must?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: The casual user who wants a premium display: The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is the better option, since they will benefit more from the AMOLED display, convenient features like wireless charging and reverse charging.
- Scenario 2: The gamer/power user who needs the best performance: The Realme GT2 Pro is the better option, due to it's more powerful processor, larger battery, and faster charging.
- Scenario 3: The value conscious photographer: The Realme GT2 Pro is better for users who prioritize versatile photography with a wide-angle and macro lens, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is better for users who prioritize optical zoom and selfie quality, especially in video.
Which phone would I choose?
If I were to choose, I would pick the Realme GT2 Pro. While the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G offers a premium AMOLED display and wireless charging, the GT2 Pro excels in the areas that matter most to me: raw performance and battery life. As a user who often engages in gaming and other demanding tasks, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 offers a more powerful performance and the larger battery is essential for me throughout the day, and faster charging further enhances the user experience.
The larger display is a bonus for media consumption. Although the S21 has a good camera with telephoto, the versatile options of the GT2 Pro's main, wide-angle, and macro lenses would be more beneficial in the variety of scenarios I would be using it in. Overall, the Realme GT2 Pro's combination of performance and battery makes it a better choice for my specific needs and use cases. However, for those who value a compact size and wireless charging, the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is also a very capable phone.
