1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Honor Magic V3 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Form Factor | Standard | Foldable | Foldable design offers a larger screen in a more compact form when folded, ideal for multitasking and media consumption, though introduces a hinge and potential durability concerns. |
| Dimensions (Unfolded) | 161.5 × 75.6 × 7.8 mm | 156.6 × 145.3 × 4.35 mm | The Honor Magic V3 is significantly wider when unfolded, offering more screen real estate for tasks but may be less pocketable. The Samsung is taller and thicker when unfolded, and the Honor is thinner |
| Weight | 200g | 226g | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G is lighter, making it more comfortable to hold for extended periods. Honor Magic V3 will feel more substantial. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 7.92" | Honor Magic V3 provides a significantly larger display, better for media consumption and productivity. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 2156x2344 | Honor Magic V3 has a sharper display with higher pixel count, leading to a more detailed and crisp viewing experience. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 394 | 402 | Both phones have very similar pixel density, so both will appear similarly sharp. |
| Technology | AMOLED | Unknown | Samsung's AMOLED offers superior contrast, deeper blacks and better color accuracy. The Honor's tech is not specified, so we can assume it is LCD |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 5000 nits | Honor Magic V3 has drastically higher peak brightness, providing significantly better visibility in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Honor Magic V3’s Snapdragon chipset is significantly faster, offering superior performance in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,100 | 2,220,000 | Honor Magic V3 offers vastly superior performance in benchmarks, indicating a big difference in app loading, multi-tasking and gaming capabilities. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Adreno 750 | Honor Magic V3 has a newer, more powerful GPU, allowing for better gaming performance. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera Resolution | 12MP | 50MP | Honor Magic V3’s main sensor captures more detail and offers more flexibility for cropping and editing. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.8 | f/1.6 | Honor Magic V3 has a slightly wider aperture, which should allow more light in and is better for low light performance. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/1.76" | 1/1.55" | Honor Magic V3 has a larger sensor, allowing for better light capture and dynamic range. |
| Telephoto Camera | 64MP, f/2.0 (Samsung), None (Honor) | 50MP, f/3.0 (Honor), None (Samsung) | The Samsung has a dedicated Telephoto/Portrait camera while the Honor has a dedicated Telephoto. |
| Wide Angle Camera Resolution | 12.2MP | 40MP | The Honor’s wide-angle lens captures much more detail, better for group photos and landscapes. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 10MP | 20MP | Honor Magic V3's selfie camera captures more detail, better for selfies and video calls. |
| Video Recording | Up to 8K@24fps | Up to 4K@60fps | Samsung's phone can record higher resolution videos, better for professional videography. Honor offers stabilization. |
| DxOMark Mobile Score | 111 | 137 | Honor Magic V3 has significantly better camera performance across all metrics. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4800mAh | 5150mAh | Honor Magic V3 has a slightly larger battery, likely to offer slightly longer battery life. |
| Charging | 25W | 66W | Honor Magic V3 charges much faster, providing quicker replenishment of battery when in a hurry. |
| Wireless Charging | 15W (Samsung), 50W (Honor) | 50W | Honor Magic V3 has significantly faster wireless charging speeds. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 15) | Android 14 | Honor Magic V3 comes with a more recent version of Android, which means it is up to date and more secure, and will likely receive more future updates. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 (MIMO) | Honor Magic V3 has better wireless communication capabilities with MIMO. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 | Honor Magic V3 uses a newer version of Bluetooth, which offers better efficiency and is more stable. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 128/256 GB | 256/512/1024 GB | Honor Magic V3 has more storage options, catering to users with different storage needs. |
| RAM | 8 GB | 12/16 GB | Honor Magic V3 offers significantly more RAM, which allows for better multitasking. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone allows for storage expansion, so the internal storage is what you have. |
| Other | |||
| Audio Quality | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio | DTS/DTS:X | Both have good quality audio, but each use different encoding. |
| Security | Basic Fingerprint | Side-Mounted Fingerprint | Side-mounted fingerprint is generally faster and easier to use. |
| Build Quality | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Unknown | The Samsung offers better screen protection. The Honor's screen protection is not specified. |
| Sensors | Barometer | Gravity | Samsung has a Barometer, which is useful for outdoor activities and weather. Honor has a gravity sensor which is useful for games. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G Advantages:
- Lighter and Thinner: More comfortable for one-handed use.
- AMOLED Display: Offers superior display quality with better contrast, blacks and colour.
- 8K Video Recording: Can capture higher resolution video.
- Wireless and Reverse Wireless Charging: Greater flexibility in charging other devices.
- Barometer: Allows tracking atmospheric pressure, good for hikers.
Honor Magic V3 Advantages:
- Foldable Design: Larger display when unfolded for enhanced multitasking and media consumption, and more portable when folded.
- Significantly Larger Display: Better for multimedia and productivity, but is wider than a normal phone.
- Significantly Higher Performance: Newer and much faster processor and GPU, meaning better gaming and faster app loading.
- Significantly Brighter Display: Better outdoor visibility in sunlight.
- Significantly Better Camera System: Larger sensors, higher resolution, higher DxOMark, offering better overall photo and video quality.
- Much Faster Charging: Both wired and wireless charging is much faster than Samsung, meaning you're on the go faster.
- More RAM: More RAM improves multitasking and overall system performance.
- More Storage Options: Larger storage options caters to users with higher storage needs.
- Modern Android Version: Comes with a newer version of Android, with the latest security patches.
- Advanced Sensors: Includes a gravity sensor
- Wi-Fi MIMO: Greater wireless communication capability.
Trade-offs:
- Samsung: Trades performance and camera quality for a traditional design, and is significantly less powerful.
- Honor: Trades pocketability and weight for screen real estate and better performance.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G Ideal User:
- Users Prioritizing Comfort and Portability: Prefers a standard, lightweight phone for easy handling.
- Users Focused on Display Quality: Values the deep blacks and vibrant colours of an AMOLED screen.
- Users Requiring 8K Video Recording: Needs the higher resolution for professional use cases.
- Outdoor Enthusiasts: Can use the barometer for outdoor activities.
- Price-conscious users: Looking for a phone that is more affordable with some flagship-level features.
Use Cases:
- Everyday use, consuming media on the go.
- Occasional photography and video recording.
- Users who value battery and wireless charging convenience.
Honor Magic V3 Ideal User:
- Multitasking Power Users: Requires a large screen and excellent performance for productivity.
- Media Consumers: Prioritizes a large, bright, high-resolution display for immersive viewing.
- Mobile Gamers: Needs a powerful processor and GPU for smooth, high-fidelity gaming.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Wants a versatile camera system with high-quality results.
- Users who want the newest technology: Comes with modern components and a foldable screen.
Use Cases:
- Heavy multitasking, managing multiple apps simultaneously.
- Immersive movie watching and gaming experiences.
- High-quality photo and video capture and editing.
- Professionals needing maximum productivity on the go.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions:
- Do you value portability and one-handed usability over a larger display and enhanced performance? The Samsung is much thinner and lighter than the Honor, meaning it will be more pocketable and easier to use with one hand, but you will be sacrificing a lot of performance and camera quality.
- How important is top-tier performance and camera quality for your daily usage? The Honor has dramatically better performance and camera quality than the Samsung. If these are your priority, the Honor is the better choice.
- What is your budget and what value do you prioritize? Both phones were top of the line when released, but the Samsung is now a few years old and will be cheaper than the Honor. Both have different strengths, so you need to see which aligns best with your budget.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: You want a good everyday phone without breaking the bank: The Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G is a better choice as it is more affordable, it’s lighter, and it has an AMOLED screen.
- Scenario 2: You want top of the line performance and a top of the line camera: The Honor Magic V3 is the clear choice as it will give you the best performance and cameras.
- Scenario 3: You prioritize having a big screen for movies and gaming: The Honor Magic V3 will be the best choice as it has a much bigger screen for immersive content consumption.
My Choice and Why
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would pick the Honor Magic V3. While I appreciate the lighter weight and more familiar form factor of the Samsung Galaxy S21+, the Honor offers a much more compelling package.
Here's why:
- Future-Proof Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset provides a massive performance leap over the Exynos 2100. As a mobile gaming enthusiast and a developer, having a phone that can handle heavy workloads and demanding games without breaking a sweat is critical.
- Superior Camera System: The Honor's camera specs alone are a huge improvement over the Samsung. Higher resolution sensors, better low-light performance, and higher DXO scores are important for me since I am a big fan of mobile photography.
- Immersive Display: I frequently watch videos, so having a larger screen with higher peak brightness, and a better resolution is crucial. It also makes multitasking much easier and more comfortable.
- Latest Tech: The Honor has the latest connectivity tech including MIMO WiFi, and Bluetooth 5.3, along with newer Android software that is more future-proof.
While I would miss the convenience of Samsung's wireless charging and compact size, the benefits of the Honor outweigh those losses. The Honor Magic V3, for me, is the best of both worlds; excellent at both gaming and productivity, with an excellent camera. It is definitely the superior choice.
