Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy S21 5G vs. Samsung Galaxy S24
1. Specifications Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison of the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G and the Samsung Galaxy S24, focusing on the practical implications of their specifications:
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Samsung Galaxy S24 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 151.7 × 71.2 × 7.9 mm | 147 × 70.6 × 7.6 mm | The S24 is slightly smaller and thinner, making it potentially more comfortable for one-handed use and pocketable. The S21 5G has a slightly larger volume. |
| Weight | 169g | 167g | Both phones are very light with minimal difference, so both will be comfortable to hold. |
| Build | Gorilla Glass Victus front | Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front | The S24’s Victus 2 offers a slightly better resistance to scratches and drop damage. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Samsung Galaxy S24 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.2" | 6.2" | Both phones have identical screen size. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2340 | Both offer a sharp image. The resolution difference is minimal and not noticeable during regular use. |
| PPI | 421 | 416 | The pixel density is virtually identical, providing similar sharpness. |
| Technology | AMOLED | - | The S21's AMOLED display offers better contrast, color vibrancy, and power efficiency compared to the S24 which we do not have the information for. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both provide smooth scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 2600 nits | The S24 has significantly higher brightness, resulting in much better outdoor visibility and less strain in direct sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Samsung Galaxy S24 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | The S24's newer chipset offers vastly superior performance. Apps launch faster, multi-tasking is smoother, and demanding games run better with enhanced power efficiency. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,100 | 1,639,695 | The S24 has much better benchmark score translating to a significantly faster and more responsive device. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Adreno 750 | The S24’s GPU provides vastly improved graphics performance. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Samsung Galaxy S24 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera | 12MP, f/1.8, 1/1.76" sensor, 1.8µm pixels | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.57" sensor, 1.0µm pixels | The S24 has a much higher resolution sensor with slightly larger sensor that captures more detail, especially in good lighting conditions, but the smaller pixel size may not handle low-light as well. |
| Telephoto + Portrait | 64MP, f/2.0, 1/1.72" sensor, 0.8µm pixels | None | The S21 5G has a dedicated telephoto lens for portraits and zoomed images. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 10MP, f/2.4, 1/3.9" sensor, 1.0µm pixels | The S24 has a dedicated telephoto lens for zoom capabilities. |
| Wide Angle Lens | None | 12.2MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55" sensor, 1.4µm pixels | The S24 has a dedicated wide-angle camera for expansive shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | 12.2MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55" sensor, 1.4µm pixels | None | The S21 has a dedicated wide angle and macro lens for detail. |
| Selfie Camera | 10MP, f/2.2, 1/3.2" sensor, 1.22µm pixels | 12MP, f/2.2 | Both phones will capture detailed and well-exposed selfies, but the S24 offers 2MP more and we are missing the information for the pixel size. |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps | Both offer high-resolution video recording with stabilization and stereo sound. The S24 offers a slightly higher framerate for 8K footage. The S21 5G has better slow-motion. |
| DxoMark | Main: 111, Selfie: 132 | Not Available | The S21 5G has a camera that is well tested. S24 results are not available. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Samsung Galaxy S24 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 4000mAh | 4000mAh | Both phones have the same battery capacity, but the S24's newer chipset may allow for better efficiency. |
| Charging | 25W fast charging (Li-Polymer) | 25W fast charging (Li-Ion) | Both phones offer the same fast-charging speed but may have different battery chemistries |
| Features | 15W wireless charging, 4.5W reverse wireless charging | Bypass Charging | S21 has Wireless charging, The S24 has bypass charging, both of them are not available on the other model. |
Software
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Samsung Galaxy S24 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 15) | Android 14 (upgradable to 21) | S24 has a more recent OS with more updates. |
Connectivity
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Samsung Galaxy S24 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| WiFi | WiFi 6 | WiFi 6E | The S24 supports WiFi 6E, offering faster speeds, lower latency, and less interference in crowded networks. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.3 | The S24 has a newer Bluetooth version that is more stable and has better power efficiency. |
| GPS | GPS (L1+L5), Galileo (E1+E5a) | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), Galileo (E1+E5a), QZSS | S24 offers better location accuracy due to QZSS and additional GLONASS support. |
| SIM | Dual Nano SIM | Dual Nano SIM/eSIM | The S24 has a more versatile SIM setup with eSIM support, while the S21 5G supports two physical SIMs. |
Storage
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Samsung Galaxy S24 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Internal | 128GB/256GB | 128GB/256GB/512GB | The S24 has a larger 512GB option for users who need extra storage for media. |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB/12GB | S24 can be purchased with more RAM for heavy users. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone has microSD expansion. |
Audio
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Samsung Galaxy S24 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Quality | Dolby Atmos | - | S21 5G has better audio due to Dolby Atmos support. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S24 Advantages:
- Significantly Faster Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset offers a massive leap in performance, making the phone much smoother, faster, and more suitable for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing.
- Superior Display Brightness: The S24's much brighter display is a major advantage in outdoor conditions.
- Newer Connectivity: The S24's Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 provide faster, more reliable wireless connections.
- Camera System: Has more versatile camera system for telephoto, wide, and standard photos, but the S21 has a more comprehensive camera system.
- Larger Storage Option: The 512GB storage option on the S24 gives more space for media.
- eSIM Support: For users who want to switch carriers digitally, eSIM support offers a lot of flexibility
- Bypass Charging: Allows for gaming while charging without impacting battery life.
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G Advantages:
- More Affordable: As an older model, the S21 5G is likely to be significantly more budget-friendly.
- Dolby Atmos Support: Provides immersive sound.
- Wireless charging & Reverse wireless charging: Provides convenience.
- More comprehensive camera system S21 5G has Telephoto, Wide Angle + Macro and Portrait lenses.
- Proven Camera: DxoMark tests are only available for S21 5G
Significant Trade-offs:
- Performance: The S21 5G lags far behind the S24 in terms of performance, which may be noticeable in heavy use.
- Display Brightness: The S21 5G's screen is significantly dimmer than the S24.
- Software Updates: The S21 5G is nearing the end of its software update cycle, while the S24 has several years of updates to go.
- Features: S21 has the feature of wireless charging while S24 has bypass charging
- Camera system S24 has telephoto and wide angle while S21 has telephoto + portrait and wide angle + macro.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S24: Ideal User
- Power Users: Users who require top-tier performance for demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, or heavy multitasking.
- Outdoor Enthusiasts: Users who often use their phone in bright sunlight will appreciate the brighter display.
- Tech Enthusiasts: Users who want the latest connectivity standards and software updates.
- Frequent Travelers: The S24's eSIM support and better GPS are beneficial for international use.
- Heavy Media Consumers: Users who need a large amount of storage for photos, videos, and apps.
Specific Use Cases:
- Playing graphically intensive games at high settings.
- Editing 4K video content on the go.
- Using the phone for GPS navigation in bright sunlight.
- Multi-tasking with multiple apps at once.
- Switching easily between carriers when traveling.
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G: Ideal User
- Budget-Conscious Users: Users who want a capable smartphone but are not looking for the latest technology and are constrained by budget.
- Casual Users: Users who primarily use their phone for social media, browsing, and basic photography.
- Users who value wireless and reverse wireless charging:
- Users who want a tested camera: DxoMark results show promising camera performance.
- Users who need a very comprehensive camera system: S21 5G has 4 different camera lenses (Telephoto, Wide Angle + Macro, Portrait, and standard)
Specific Use Cases:
- Basic photography and video recording.
- Social media browsing and messaging.
- Watching videos and streaming music.
- Casual gaming.
4. Decision Framework
Consider these three questions when making your decision:
- Performance Needs: How important is top-tier performance for your daily usage? (e.g., Do you game a lot, or do you just browse the web?)
- Budget: How much are you willing to spend on a new phone? Is it more important to get a current phone or save some money?
- Display and Camera Priority: Do you prioritize a brighter display and a more versatile camera system, or is a solid display with wireless charging enough?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Maximum Performance and Features: If you want the best possible performance, display, and features, and have the budget, the Samsung Galaxy S24 is the clear choice.
- Scenario 2: Budget-Conscious and Basic Needs: If you are on a tight budget and only need a capable smartphone for basic tasks, the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is a good choice.
- Scenario 3: Specific Camera Requirements: If you require more camera lenses, consider the S21 5G which has 4 while the S24 only has 3.
- Scenario 4: User who prioritize wireless charging: S21 5G has wireless charging which S24 does not have.
My Choice
I would choose the Samsung Galaxy S24. While the S21 5G has some benefits like Dolby Atmos and a tested camera system, the improvements in processing power, display brightness, and overall future-proofing of the S24 are too significant to ignore. The vastly superior performance, especially with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, is a major advantage for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. The significantly brighter screen also makes a practical difference in daily outdoor usage. Although the S21 5G is more affordable, I feel the better investment is the S24 due to its performance and future proofing for software updates. Ultimately, for me, the S24 offers a much more compelling experience that aligns with the needs of a power user.
