1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Honor X6 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 161.5 × 75.6 × 7.8 mm | 163.7 × 75.1 × 8.7 mm | S21+ is slightly shorter & thinner. Honor X6 is taller & thicker, potentially feeling bulkier in hand. |
| Weight | 200g | 194g | Honor X6 is slightly lighter, potentially more comfortable for extended use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.5" | S21+ has a slightly larger screen, which is better for media consumption and multitasking. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 720x1600 | S21+ provides much sharper visuals with significantly more detail. Honor X6's display will appear less crisp, especially for text. |
| Pixel Density | 394 PPI | 270 PPI | S21+ has a visibly sharper display with significantly more detail. |
| Technology | AMOLED | TFT LCD | S21+ has better contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors. Also more power-efficient with dark themes. Honor X6 might look washed out. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | S21+ offers noticeably smoother scrolling and animations. Honor X6 might appear less fluid and responsive. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 0 nits | S21+ is much better for outdoor use in bright sunlight. Honor X6 has no provided brightness and is likely not usable in direct sunlight |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Helio G25 (12 nm) | S21+ offers significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance due to the newer more powerful processor. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,100 | 100,890 | S21+ is significantly more powerful, leading to a much faster and responsive user experience. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | PowerVR GE8320 | S21+ has superior graphics capabilities, better for gaming and demanding apps. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Rear | 12MP (f/1.8) | 50MP (f/1.8) | Honor X6 captures more detail on paper. S21+ has larger pixel size, which can improve low-light performance. |
| Telephoto + Portrait | 64MP (f/2.0) | N/A | S21+ has telephoto lens for better zoom and portrait shots, allowing for greater versatility. |
| Selfie | 10MP (f/2.2) | 5MP (f/2.2) | S21+ captures higher detail for selfies and video calls. |
| Portrait Mode (Depth) | N/A | 2MP (f/2.4) | Honor X6 has a dedicated depth sensor, which can improve background blur in portrait shots. |
| Macro Lens | N/A | 2MP (f/2.4) | Honor X6 has a dedicated macro lens, which can improve detail in close up shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | 12.2MP (f/2.2) | N/A | S21+ has a wide-angle lens, allowing for more of a scene to be captured. |
| Video | Up to 8K@24fps | 1080p@30fps | S21+ can record higher quality videos with better detail. S21+ has advanced video recording features including HDR, EIS, Stereo sound recording. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4800mAh | 5000mAh | Honor X6 has a slightly larger battery, but practical battery life depends on usage and optimizations. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 10W Fast Charging | S21+ charges much faster, allowing for quicker top-ups. |
| Charging Features | Wireless, Reverse Charging, No in-box Charger | Non-removable | S21+ offers wireless and reverse wireless charging. Honor X6 does not support wireless charging. S21+ no in box charger. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G Advantages:
- Superior Display: AMOLED screen with higher resolution, pixel density, brightness, and refresh rate (120Hz) offers a significantly better visual experience with vibrant colors, smooth animations and better outdoor visibility.
- Much Higher Performance: The Exynos 2100 chipset offers dramatically faster performance for all tasks, including gaming, multitasking, and app loading.
- Advanced Camera System: Includes telephoto and ultrawide lenses, along with 8K video recording capabilities. The DxOMark scores are significantly higher for both photo and video quality.
- Faster Charging and Additional Features: Supports 25W fast charging, wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.
- Enhanced Audio: Features Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, stereo speakers, and a noise-canceling microphone for an enhanced audio experience.
- Better Connectivity: Supports Wi-Fi 6 and more satellite systems for more precise location tracking.
Honor X6 Advantages:
- Slightly Larger Battery: Offers a slightly larger battery capacity (5000mAh vs 4800mAh), which might provide a marginal advantage in battery life.
- More Recent OS Version: Ships with Android 12, though max version for Samsung is 15.
- Dedicated Macro and Depth Sensors: Provides some extra options for different types of photos.
- Lower Price: Likely to be significantly cheaper, focusing on basic functionality over premium features.
Trade-offs:
- The S21+ is more powerful and feature-rich, but it is older and may be more expensive or not as readily available.
- The Honor X6 offers better value for basic use, but it sacrifices performance, display quality, and camera capabilities.
- S21+ does not include a charger in the box, Honor X6 likely does.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G Ideal Users:
- Power Users: Individuals who need high performance for gaming, video editing, or multitasking.
- Multimedia Consumers: Users who prioritize a vibrant, high-resolution display for watching videos, browsing, and playing games.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Those who want a versatile camera system with telephoto, wide-angle, and advanced video recording capabilities.
- Tech Enthusiasts: Users who want a phone with the latest features and connectivity options like wireless charging, Wi-Fi 6 and advanced location services.
- Users who want a premium experience.
Use Cases for Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G:
- High-end mobile gaming with smooth graphics and fast frame rates.
- Professional-quality video recording up to 8K resolution.
- On-the-go editing of photos and videos.
- Extensive multitasking with smooth app switching.
- Enjoying immersive multimedia content with vibrant colors and sharp details.
Honor X6 Ideal Users:
- Budget-Conscious Buyers: Individuals who prioritize affordability and essential smartphone functions over advanced features.
- Basic Smartphone Users: Those who mainly use their phone for calls, messages, social media, and web browsing.
- Users with limited demands: Users who don't need high performance or advanced camera features
- Users who need basic smartphone functions
Use Cases for Honor X6:
- Everyday communication (calls, messages, social media).
- Casual web browsing and light app usage.
- Basic photography with a decent resolution.
- Long battery life for extended usage between charges.
- Users that are looking for a newer phone for basic day to day functions at a budget.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is my budget? If your budget is tight, the Honor X6 is the more affordable option. If budget is flexible, the S21+ offers a much better experience for the money.
- How important is performance? If you need smooth performance for gaming, multitasking, or intensive apps, the S21+ is the better choice. The Honor X6 is adequate for basic usage.
- How important is display quality and camera versatility? If you want a superior display and camera system, the S21+ is the obvious choice. The Honor X6 may be acceptable if camera and display are not a priority.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget-Conscious User with Basic Needs: The Honor X6 is suitable for basic usage on a budget.
- Scenario 2: User Seeking a High-Performance Phone: The Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G is the best option due to its superior processing power, high-quality display and advanced camera features.
- Scenario 3: User Seeking Value for money: The Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G offers an overall much better experience than the Honor X6, however may be more difficult to source and/or cost more due to it being older. If cost is a limiting factor the Honor X6 is an acceptable option for day to day use.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G.
Here's why:
Despite being an older phone the S21+ provides a premium experience with the best display, much more performance and superior camera quality. The user experience would be significantly better than with the Honor X6, especially for tasks like gaming, video consumption, photography, and multitasking. While the Honor X6 is a budget-friendly option with a newer operating system, the trade-offs in performance, display quality, and camera capabilities are too significant for my preferences. I prioritize performance and a quality display and am willing to spend a bit extra on those features, even if the phone is older. The S21+ also supports wireless charging which is a great feature that I would like to have. The newer software of the Honor X6 doesn't outweigh the superior hardware of the S21+, and the S21+ will eventually be upgraded to Android 15, which is only a few versions behind the Honor.
