1. Specifications Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison of the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G and vivo iQOO 12, focusing on practical user experience:
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | vivo iQOO 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 151.7 × 71.2 × 7.9 mm | 163.2 × 75.9 × 8.1 mm | The iQOO 12 is noticeably larger and slightly thicker, making it less pocketable but potentially offering a more immersive experience due to the bigger screen. |
| Weight | 169g | 198.5g | The S21 5G is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended single-handed use and less fatiguing to carry around. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | vivo iQOO 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.2" | 6.78" | The iQOO 12's larger screen is better for media consumption, gaming, and multitasking. The S21 5G is more compact. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1260x2800 | The iQOO 12 has noticeably sharper text and images due to its higher resolution. |
| PPI | 421 | 453 | The iQOO 12 has slightly sharper display, though the difference may not be noticeable to most users. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both displays offer vibrant colors and deep blacks. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | The iQOO 12 offers slightly smoother scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 3000 nits | The iQOO 12 is dramatically better for outdoor visibility in bright sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | vivo iQOO 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | The iQOO 12's newer chip provides significantly faster performance for demanding tasks, smoother gaming, and improved power efficiency. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,100 | 2,020,000 | The iQOO 12 has significantly superior performance, loading apps faster and handling demanding games with ease. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Adreno 750 | The iQOO 12's GPU provides noticeably superior graphics performance, offering better gaming experience. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | vivo iQOO 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Camera | 12MP (f/1.8, 1/1.76") | 50MP (f/1.69, 1/1.3") | The iQOO 12's higher resolution and larger sensor should capture more detailed and brighter images, especially in low light. |
| Telephoto Camera | 64MP (f/2.0, 1/1.72") | None | The S21 5G has a dedicated Telephoto camera for zoomed in photos with great quality, whereas the iQOO 12 does not have a dedicated telephoto lens, its telephoto capabilities are covered by its main camera. |
| Selfie Camera | 10MP (f/2.2, 1/3.2") | 16MP (f/2.45, 1/3.1") | The iQOO 12 has a higher resolution selfie camera, though the S21 5G has a slightly wider aperture, both can result in good looking selfies. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 64MP (f/2.6, 1/2") | The iQOO 12 has a dedicated telephoto lens for zoomed images |
| Wide Angle + Macro | 12.2MP (f/2.2, 1/2.55") | 50MP (f/2.0, 1/2.76") | The iQOO 12's higher resolution wide angle camera will capture more detail, while the S21 5G's larger sensor might perform slightly better in low light. |
| Video | Up to 8K@24fps | Up to 8K@30fps | Both offer high-quality video recording. |
| DxOMark | Main: 111, Selfie: 132 | N/A | The S21 5G camera performs fairly well, the iQOO 12 was not tested |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | vivo iQOO 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4000mAh | 5000mAh | The iQOO 12 has a significantly larger battery, likely offering longer battery life. |
| Charging | 25W fast charging | 120W fast charging | The iQOO 12 has dramatically faster charging times, allowing for quicker power-ups. |
| Features | 15W Wireless Charging, Reverse Wireless Charging | None | The S21 5G offers wireless and reverse wireless charging for convenience. |
Other
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | vivo iQOO 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS | Android 11 (Upgradable to 15) | Android 14 (Upgradable to 16) | The iQOO 12 has a newer operating system and future update potential, providing access to the latest features. |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 | The iQOO 12 supports the latest WiFi standard for faster internet speeds and better performance on supported networks. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.4 | The iQOO 12 has a newer Bluetooth version with faster and more energy efficient performance. |
| Storage | 128/256 GB | 256/512/1024GB | The iQOO 12 offers significantly more storage, more space for apps, media and large files. |
| RAM | 8 GB | 12/16GB | The iQOO 12 has significantly more RAM, better multitasking capabilities, and more responsive performance. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, Noise Cancellation Microphone | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | The S21 5G has a Noise Cancellation Microphone for better call quality. |
| Security | Fingerprint sensor | Fingerprint sensor | Both have similar fingerprint sensor for security. |
| Screen Protection | Gorilla Glass Victus | Unknown | The S21 5G has confirmed superior screen protection. |
| Sensors | Barometer | None | The S21 5G has more environmental sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G Advantages:
- More Compact and Lighter: Easier to handle and carry around.
- Wireless Charging: Offers convenient wireless and reverse wireless charging, a feature not present in iQOO 12.
- Confirmed Superior Screen Protection: Gorilla Glass Victus offers better scratch and shatter resistance.
- Telephoto camera for zoom: Has a dedicated telephoto camera for zoomed images
- Noise cancellation microphone: Offers better quality during calls.
- Additional sensors: Includes a barometer for more precise environmental readings.
Practical Implications: Ideal for users who prioritize portability, convenience of wireless charging, want a solid camera experience for zoomed pictures, and more features for audiophiles.
vivo iQOO 12 Advantages:
- Significantly Higher Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 offers drastically better performance, especially for gaming and demanding tasks.
- Superior Display: Larger, higher resolution, and dramatically brighter screen offers much better visual experience for all use cases.
- Much Faster Charging: The 120W charging speed dramatically reduces charging time.
- Larger Battery: Offers potentially significantly longer battery life.
- Larger Storage: Offers more space for apps, photos and files.
- More RAM: Offers better multitasking performance.
- Newer Software: Has a newer Android version and more future update potential.
- Newer Wifi Standard: Supports the latest Wifi standards for much faster internet speeds.
- Dedicated Telephoto Lens: Has a dedicated telephoto camera for zoomed images
- Latest Bluetooth Version: Has the latest Bluetooth version for more energy efficient experience.
Practical Implications: Ideal for power users, gamers, and those who need long battery life and fast charging.
Trade-offs:
- S21 5G sacrifices performance, display quality, battery and charging speed for a more compact design and features like wireless charging and a telephoto lens.
- iQOO 12 is bulkier and lacks wireless charging, but provides a much better experience in performance, display and battery.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G Ideal User:
- Users who prioritize compactness and portability: Users who want a smaller, lighter phone that is easy to use with one hand and fit into small pockets.
- Users who value wireless charging: Those who prefer the convenience of wireless and reverse wireless charging options.
- Users who value a good quality telephoto camera and better audio: Those who prefer a great quality zoom camera, and a better audio experience during calls.
Use Cases: Daily use, casual photography, travel (lighter and more portable), those who prefer a smaller phone, users who prioritize wireless charging, and audiophiles.
vivo iQOO 12 Ideal User:
- Gamers and Power Users: Those who need the highest possible performance for demanding games and applications.
- Users who value a premium display and longer battery life: Those who want a large, sharp, and bright screen, with excellent battery and fast charging for an outstanding overall experience.
- Users who want the latest software and connectivity: Those who value having the newest features with future software upgrades.
Use Cases: Mobile gaming, video editing, media consumption, multitasking, photography and video, and anyone who needs long battery life and the fastest possible charging.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The iQOO 12 offers far superior performance and a much better display, but it will likely be more expensive than an older S21 5G. The S21 5G can be found much cheaper at this point in time. The value is dependent on your priorities.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- How important is portability and ease of handling to you? (Smaller phone vs. larger)
- Do you need the latest hardware for demanding tasks (gaming, intensive apps), and battery performance, or is moderate performance adequate?
- Do you use wireless charging frequently, and if you do is it an essential feature?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
Scenario 1: Performance and Display are most important. Choose the vivo iQOO 12. Its superior chipset, display, battery, and charging make it the clear winner for demanding users.
Scenario 2: Portability, Wireless Charging and telephoto camera are paramount. Choose the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. It's lighter, more compact, offers wireless charging, a noise cancelling microphone and a telephoto camera.
Scenario 3: Balanced user who is on a tighter budget: Depending on pricing and availability, the S21 5G can offer a great experience for a user that does not need the very best performance, and can benefit from its compact design and wireless charging.
My Choice
Given the specifications and my personal priorities, I would choose the vivo iQOO 12.
Reasoning:
I prioritize performance, display quality, and battery life over the convenience of wireless charging and portability in this comparison. The iQOO 12's significantly superior chipset, larger and higher quality display with higher refresh rate, much larger battery with faster charging, and newer software would provide a significantly better user experience for my specific use cases, which includes mobile gaming, video editing and media consumption, making the trade-off of not having wireless charging worth it. While the S21 5G has a more compact design and confirmed screen protection, the substantial gains in display, performance and battery life offered by the iQOO 12 outweigh these advantages for me. Additionally, the newer WiFi and Bluetooth standards, as well as increased storage and RAM, make it a much more future-proof option.
