Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G vs. Blackview A96
1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Blackview A96 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 161.5 × 75.6 × 7.8 mm | 161.8 × 74.2 × 8.6 mm | S21+ is wider but thinner, A96 is narrower but thicker; differences are subtle, but A96 is slightly bulkier overall. |
| Weight | 200g | 193.9g | A96 is negligibly lighter (6.1g) and may feel slightly less dense when held for longer periods. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Blackview A96 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.5" | S21+ offers a slightly larger viewing area; better for multimedia and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Both offer the same sharpness. |
| Pixel Density | 394 PPI | 405 PPI | Both have comparable sharpness, difference is not noticeable to the human eye. |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | S21+ delivers richer colors, deeper blacks, higher contrast; better for watching videos, especially HDR content, and battery saving with dark mode. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both provide smooth scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 0 nits | S21+ offers superior outdoor visibility in bright sunlight. Blackview A96's brightness is unknown and assumed to be substantially lower. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Blackview A96 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Mediatek Helio G99 (6 nm) | S21+ offers significantly faster processing speed, better for gaming, multitasking and demanding applications. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,100 | 423,393 | S21+ is noticeably more powerful in benchmarks; better for gaming, heavy apps, and smoother overall performance. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Mali-G57 MC2 | S21+ offers better graphics performance; smoother gaming at higher settings. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Blackview A96 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera | 12MP, f/1.8, 1/1.76" | 48MP, f/1.6, 1/2" | A96 has higher resolution and wider aperture; S21+ has larger sensor. The S21+ will likely capture better images in lower light due to larger sensor size. |
| Telephoto/Portrait | 64MP, f/2.0, 1/1.72" | None | S21+ has a dedicated telephoto camera for zoom and portrait photography. |
| Selfie Camera | 10MP, f/2.2, 1/3.2" | 16MP, 1/3" | A96 has a higher resolution selfie camera. |
| Wide Angle lens | None | 8MP, f/2.4 | A96 offers a dedicated wide-angle lens for landscape or group photos. |
| Macro Lens | None | 2MP, f/2.4 | A96 includes a macro lens for close-up shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | 12.2MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55" | None | S21+ has dedicated ultra wide and macro lenses in a single camera. |
| Video Recording | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps, 1080p@240fps; EIS, HDR | 1440p@30fps, 1080p@30fps; No EIS | S21+ offers higher quality video recording, better stabilization, and more frame rate options, especially beneficial for videographers. |
| Camera Features | 4K/8K Video, OIS, Zoom, RAW, Night Mode, more | Digital zoom, Autofocus, PDAF, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR | S21+ has significantly more features for advanced photography and videography, including OIS. A96 has a front flash. |
| DxOMark | 111 | Not Tested | S21+ has been professionally tested and received a good score. A96 has no available data from DxOMark. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Blackview A96 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 4800mAh | 4380mAh | S21+ offers slightly more capacity, leading to potentially longer battery life, although usage will greatly affect longevity. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 18W Fast Charging | S21+ charges faster compared to A96. |
| Features | 15W Wireless charging, Reverse wireless charging, Reverse charging | Non-removable | S21+ offers convenient wireless charging options and the ability to charge other devices. A96 lacks these features. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G Advantages
- Superior Display: AMOLED technology provides significantly better color reproduction, contrast, and viewing experience, especially in bright light.
- Higher Performance: The Exynos 2100 chipset and Mali-G78 MP14 GPU offer far better performance for demanding apps and gaming, compared to the Mediatek Helio G99.
- Advanced Camera System: Features a versatile camera setup with Telephoto/Portrait and Wide Angle + Macro, enhanced video recording capabilities (up to 8K) and Optical Image Stabilization.
- Better Video Quality 8K and 4K resolution options with higher frame rates, plus stabilization.
- Faster Charging and Wireless Charging: 25W fast charging, and wireless charging with reverse wireless charging capabilities.
- Better Audio Quality: Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, and noise cancellation microphone
Blackview A96 Advantages
- Lower Price Point: Likely more affordable, offering a good option for budget-conscious buyers.
- Higher Resolution Main Camera: The 48MP main sensor provides high-resolution images.
- Dedicated Wide Angle and Macro Lens: Provides additional flexibility for creative photography.
- Higher RAM Option: 12GB variant is available, which is beneficial for heavy multitasking.
- Newer OS: Ships with a newer version of Android (13) out of the box.
- Front Flash For better low light selfies
Trade-offs
- Samsung S21+ 5G: Higher price, no expandable storage, and a smaller pixel size on the main camera despite a larger sensor.
- Blackview A96: Lower performance, inferior display, lower video quality, slower charging, lacks OIS and telephoto camera.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G
- Ideal User: Power users, gamers, photography and videography enthusiasts, users who prioritize display quality, and those who want wireless charging.
- Use Cases:
- Mobile Gaming: Smooth performance on high graphics settings.
- Content Creation: High-quality 4K/8K video recording and editing capabilities.
- Multimedia Consumption: Watching movies with excellent picture quality.
- Professional Photography: Capturing diverse shots with optical zoom, wide-angle, and telephoto capabilities, enhanced by OIS, RAW capabilities and Night Mode.
Blackview A96
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users, casual photographers, those seeking a modern OS.
- Use Cases:
- Everyday Use: Social media, browsing, communication, casual gaming.
- Occasional Photography: Capturing family and vacation photos.
- Longer Battery Life: Those who prioritize battery life over top-tier performance.
- Users who want flexibility of a wide and macro lens for photos.
Price-to-Value
- The Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G commands a higher price but justifies it with superior display, performance, camera, and additional features.
- The Blackview A96 provides good value for the price, especially for basic usage, decent camera, and more recent software.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your primary usage for your phone? (e.g., gaming, photography, everyday use)
- How important are display quality and performance to you?
- What is your budget?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- High-Performance & Quality Focus: If you need the best display, performance, and camera capabilities, the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G is the clear winner.
- Budget-Conscious & Everyday Use: If budget is your primary concern, and you need a phone for basic tasks, the Blackview A96 offers a more affordable option.
- Balanced Performance: If you want good performance and camera capabilities at a lower price, consider that the Blackview A96 could provide these, but will not perform nearly as well as the Samsung.
Personal Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G, even though it is older. My priorities are performance, display quality, and camera capabilities. The AMOLED screen, significantly more powerful chipset, and a more versatile camera setup of the S21+ outweigh the newer software of the Blackview A96. The ability to capture high-quality photos and videos, the better viewing experience, and the vastly superior speed when using the device would be a much more satisfying user experience despite the S21+'s age. While the A96 offers some additional camera lens options, it does not have the software and processing ability to fully utilize the additional hardware.
While the newer Android OS and slightly cheaper price point of the Blackview A96 are appealing, the performance and display trade-offs are too significant for my use case.
