1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 151.7 × 71.2 × 7.9 mm | 162.8 × 75.4 × 8.6 mm | The Poco F5 Pro is noticeably larger and may be less comfortable for one-handed use; the S21 is more compact and pocketable. |
| Weight | 169g | 204g | The S21 is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended periods. The Poco F5 Pro is heavier and may feel more substantial. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.2" | 6.67" | The Poco F5 Pro offers a larger screen, better for media consumption and gaming. The S21 is more compact and easier to handle. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1440x3200 | The Poco F5 Pro has a significantly sharper display, resulting in crisper images and text, and a better experience overall. |
| Pixel Density | 421 PPI | 526 PPI | The Poco F5 Pro's higher pixel density translates to a noticeably clearer and more detailed display. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks, ensuring excellent visual quality, but difference in brightness and resolution is the key |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both provide smooth scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 1400 nits | The Poco F5 Pro offers better outdoor visibility with higher peak brightness. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5nm) | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm) | The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Poco F5 Pro provides significantly higher performance, resulting in faster app loading, better gaming, and smoother multitasking. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,100 | 1,317,798 | The Poco F5 Pro scores 76% higher, indicating much faster performance and responsiveness. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Adreno 730 | The Adreno 730 in the Poco F5 Pro provides superior graphics performance, making it better for gaming. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4000 mAh | 5160 mAh | The Poco F5 Pro has a significantly larger battery, likely resulting in much longer battery life. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 67W Fast Charging | The Poco F5 Pro charges much faster, which is beneficial when you're short on time. |
| Charging Features | 15W Wireless, 4.5W Reverse Wireless, No Charger in-box | 30W Wireless Charging | The S21 offers more versatile wireless charging options (reverse), while the Poco F5 Pro has faster wireless charging. No charger in-box for S21 is a con. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera Res. | 12MP | 64MP | The Poco F5 Pro's main camera has higher resolution, potentially capturing more detail in good lighting conditions; the S21 has larger sensor with larger pixel size. |
| Main Aperture | f/1.8 | f/1.79 | Very similar apertures, resulting in comparable low-light performance. |
| Main Sensor Size | 1/1.76" | 1/2" | The larger sensor of the S21 generally helps with low-light performance and dynamic range. |
| Telephoto Camera | 64MP | None | The S21 has a telephoto camera for better zoomed images. |
| Selfie Camera Res | 10MP | 16MP | The Poco F5 Pro has a higher resolution front camera, potentially capturing more detailed selfies. |
| Selfie Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.45 | The S21's wider aperture may allow better low-light selfie performance. |
| Wide Angle Lens | None | 8MP | The Poco F5 Pro includes a wide angle lens, giving more options for shots. |
| Macro Lens | None | 2MP | The Poco F5 Pro includes a macro lens for very close up shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | 12.2MP | None | The S21 has a dedicated wide angle + macro camera setup |
| Video | Up to 8K@24fps | Up to 8K@24fps | Both record video up to 8k for highest resolution content creation; the Poco F5 Pro does have 1920fps slow motion which is much better |
| DXOMark Mobile | 111 | N/A | The S21 has a decent rating, although this doesn't mean Poco has a bad camera, but there is no data |
| DXOMark Selfie | 132 | N/A | The S21 has a decent selfie rating, although this doesn't mean Poco has a bad camera, but there is no data |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 15) | Android 13 | The Poco F5 Pro has a newer version out of the box. S21 will eventually catch up. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 | Both support fast Wi-Fi standards. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 | Poco F5 Pro has the newer version of Bluetooth. |
| GPS | GPS (L1+L5), Galileo (E1+E5a) | A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), QZSS (L1 + L5) | The Poco F5 Pro supports more satellite systems which allows for more precise location. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 128GB/256GB | 256GB/512GB | The Poco F5 Pro offers more storage space at the same price point. |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB/12GB | The Poco F5 Pro is available with 12GB of RAM, which is advantageous for heavy multitasking and gaming. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Features | Dolby Atmos, Noise cancellation microphone, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Both phones offer good audio experience; Poco F5 has Hi-Res audio, and S21 has noise cancellation microphone. |
| Security | |||
| Security Features | basic fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | Both phones have a basic fingerprint sensor for security. |
| Build | |||
| Screen protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Samsung has stronger screen protection. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Barometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Samsung has the additional Barometer sensor, but both have all the essential sensors. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G Advantages:
- More Compact and Lighter: Easier to handle and more pocketable, particularly for those who prefer smaller phones.
- Telephoto Camera: Offers a dedicated telephoto camera for better zoomed images.
- Versatile Wireless Charging: Offers 15W Wireless charging, 4.5W Reverse Wireless charging, which can be useful in many situations.
- Better Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus offers better protection against scratches and drops.
- Barometer Sensor: Useful for specific applications and activities that require pressure readings.
- DXOMark Scores: The S21 has detailed camera performance scores, while Poco F5 Pro lacks this, although this does not imply a bad camera.
Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro Advantages:
- Significantly Higher Performance: Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset provides superior processing power and graphics, better for gaming and demanding apps.
- Larger, Higher Resolution Display: Offers a larger, sharper, and brighter display, better for media consumption.
- Significantly Larger Battery: Provides much longer battery life, ideal for users who require all-day endurance.
- Faster Charging: 67W fast charging and 30W wireless charging enables much quicker refills.
- More Storage and RAM Options: Offers higher base storage and an option for more RAM, improving multitasking performance.
- Wide Angle and Macro Cameras: Additional camera lenses for more shooting flexibility.
- Newer Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth 5.3 provides more efficiency and stability, with a greater range and faster data transfer rates compared to 5.0
- More accurate GPS: With more satellite navigation options, this phone offers more accurate GPS tracking
- Higher Refresh rate slow motion video recording: Offers 1920fps slow motion while S21 offers 960fps
Trade-offs:
- The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G sacrifices some performance, battery life, and display size for a more compact and lighter form factor and versatile wireless charging.
- The Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro prioritizes performance, battery life, and a larger display at the cost of a larger, heavier body, and misses out on telephoto camera.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is ideal for:
- Users who prioritize a smaller, lightweight phone that is easy to handle and carry.
- Users who require a good zoom camera.
- Those who value wireless charging features.
- Users who may appreciate the additional barometer sensor.
- Users who prefer proven camera performance, as indicated by DXOMark scores.
Use Cases:
- Everyday carry for those who don't like large phones.
- Casual photography and videography with good zoom capabilities.
- Situations where reverse wireless charging is frequently required.
- Hiking and other outdoor activities that benefit from a barometer.
Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro is ideal for:
- Users who prioritize raw performance for gaming and demanding apps.
- Users who want the best possible display for multimedia consumption.
- Users who need all-day battery life and fast charging.
- Users who want maximum storage space on a phone.
- Users who want to take more versatile photos (wide angle and macro)
Use Cases:
- Mobile gaming enthusiasts.
- Heavy multitaskers who run demanding apps frequently.
- Users who travel frequently and need long battery life.
- Media consumption (movies, videos, etc.).
- Those who want more GPS accuracy for navigation.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Size and Portability: Do you prefer a compact phone or are you okay with a larger one for a bigger screen and other benefits?
- Performance vs. Battery Life: Do you prioritize raw processing power and gaming capabilities, or longer battery life?
- Camera Needs: Do you need a telephoto camera for better zoom, or do you prefer a larger main camera resolution with an additional wide angle camera?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- For the Casual User: If you prefer a compact phone for everyday tasks, the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is the better option. It's easy to carry and use with one hand, while still offering a decent camera and display, along with the benefits of versatile wireless charging.
- For the Power User: If you are a gamer or a heavy multitasker who needs maximum performance and battery life, the Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro is the clear choice. Its superior processor, larger display, and faster charging make it better suited for these tasks.
- For the Photographer If you prefer versatile cameras for all types of photography, the Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro would be a better choice, but if you need telephoto camera, the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G would be more ideal.
My Choice
I would personally choose the Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro.
Here's why:
- Performance: I value smooth and fast performance, especially for gaming and demanding apps, and the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset provides a much better experience in this regard.
- Battery Life: I often need my phone to last through a full day of use, and the significantly larger battery in the Poco F5 Pro makes it much more reliable. I also like the faster charging speed, since I often don't have a lot of time to charge my phone.
- Display: The larger, higher resolution display of the Poco F5 Pro would be much more enjoyable for me for media consumption, I think it would be worth the extra size of the phone.
- Versatile Cameras: While the S21 offers the telephoto camera for better zoom, I value the versatility that the wide angle camera provides.
- Storage: The 256 GB base storage is a huge plus for me, as I don't like to worry about running out of space for pictures and videos.
- Trade-offs: While the S21 is smaller and more pocketable, I think the performance and battery life trade-offs are too high for me, I'm willing to use a larger phone for these benefits. The same goes for wireless charging, I think the much faster charging speed makes up for the lack of reverse wireless charging.
Ultimately, the choice depends on personal preference, but the Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro aligns better with my typical usage patterns and priorities.
