1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Size | 161.5 × 75.6 × 7.8 mm | 168.9 × 75.8 × 9.3 mm | The Moto G Stylus is taller and thicker, making it less pocketable and potentially less comfortable for smaller hands. The S21+ is more compact. |
| Weight | 200g | 215g | The S21+ is noticeably lighter, which makes it more comfortable to hold for longer periods, especially during reading or gaming. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.8" | Minimal difference; both offer large screens suitable for media consumption and productivity. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2460 | Similar sharpness; both are adequate for everyday use and media viewing. |
| PPI | 394 | 395 | Practically identical; both displays appear sharp to the human eye. |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | AMOLED offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors. Better for HDR content and outdoor visibility (though brightness is more crucial). |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 0 nits | The S21+ has significantly better screen visibility in bright sunlight. The Moto G Stylus likely has a significantly lower brightness value (although the provided data states 0, this is unlikely and seems to be an error). |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) | The Exynos 2100 offers substantially higher processing power, translating to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,100 | 385,000 | The S21+ has nearly double the performance, indicating a significant advantage in demanding tasks like gaming or video editing. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Adreno 619 | The Mali-G78 is more powerful, resulting in better graphics performance for gaming and GPU-intensive applications. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 12MP, f/1.8, 1/1.76", 1.8µm | 50MP, f/1.9, 1/2.76", 0.64µm | The S21+ has a larger sensor and larger pixel size, typically resulting in better low-light performance and dynamic range despite having lower resolution. The Moto G Stylus offers more resolution for detail, but may struggle in low light. |
| Telephoto + Portrait | 64MP, f/2.0, 1/1.72", 0.8µm | None | The S21+ provides a dedicated telephoto lens for zoom and portrait photography, which the Moto G Stylus lacks. |
| Selfie Camera | 10MP, f/2.2, 1/3.2", 1.22µm | 16MP, f/2.2, 1.0µm | The Moto G Stylus has a higher resolution selfie camera, likely offering more detail in photos. |
| Wide Angle | 12.2MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55", 1.4µm | 8MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | The S21+ has a dedicated wide-angle + macro lens while the G stylus has a separated macro lens (2MP) and wide angle lens. The S21+ provides better images in low light situations while the G stylus allows more flexibility with more different lens type. |
| Video | Up to 8K@24fps | Up to 1080p@60fps | The S21+ supports significantly higher video resolutions (8K), making it better for professional or high-quality video creation. |
| DxOMark (Mobile) | 111 (Photo: 118, Video: 89) | N/A | The S21+ has a rated score, indicating superior image quality. |
| Camera Features | 4K/8K Video, Optical Zoom, OIS, PDAF, RAW | Digital Zoom, OIS | The S21+ provides more features with better control of shooting for a better result. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4800mAh | 5000mAh | The Moto G Stylus has a slightly larger battery, but practical battery life also depends on usage and software optimization. The difference is not significant. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging, 15W Wireless | Standard Charging | The S21+ charges much faster and supports wireless charging, offering more convenience. |
| Features | Reverse Charging, Wireless Charging | None | The S21+ can wirelessly charge other devices, which is a useful feature for some users. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The Exynos 2100 chipset delivers much faster processing speeds, ideal for demanding apps and gaming.
- Better Display: The AMOLED display provides richer colors, deeper blacks, and superior outdoor visibility, with 1300 nits of brightness (in comparison, the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) has 0, although this seems to be a mistake).
- Advanced Camera System: Offers a telephoto lens for zoom and portrait photos, and higher video resolution (8K). Higher rated camera performance by dxoMark.
- Faster Charging & Wireless Charging: Includes 25W fast charging and 15W wireless charging, significantly enhancing convenience.
- Better Audio: Enhanced spatial audio, higher quality audio playback, clearer calls, better audio separation and immersion
- Build Quality: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus provides better screen protection.
Practical Implications: The S21+ provides a more fluid, premium experience, especially with its high performance and high quality display, along with its versatile camera system. It charges much faster.
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) Advantages:
- Slightly Larger Battery: Offers marginally better battery life due to larger capacity.
- Higher Resolution Selfie Camera: Delivers more detailed selfie photos.
- Wide Angle lens and Macro lens: Provides flexibility to shoot wide angle and macro photos.
- Side Mounted Fingerprint Sensor: More advanced design compared to the fingerprint sensor of the S21+
Practical Implications: The Moto G Stylus is geared towards users who prioritize battery life and a lower price point, while still providing a capable experience for everyday tasks.
Significant Trade-offs: The S21+ offers significantly superior performance, a better display, and a more versatile camera system, but its battery life might be slightly shorter. The Moto G Stylus is more affordable but lacks the processing power, screen quality, and camera features of the S21+.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G
- Ideal User: Power users, content creators, gamers, photography enthusiasts.
- Use Cases:
- Demanding mobile games
- Video editing and high-quality video recording
- Viewing HDR content
- Outdoor use in bright sunlight
- Users who appreciate fast charging and wireless charging capabilities
- Price-to-Value: Offers higher performance and premium features, justifying a higher price point for users who require these capabilities.
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022)
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users, those who prioritize long battery life and casual users.
- Use Cases:
- Everyday tasks such as browsing, social media, and messaging
- Users who need a reliable phone for basic use
- Long battery life for extended use without charging
- Users who take basic photos on a regular basis, and use wide-angle lens or macro lens.
- Price-to-Value: Offers a good value proposition for users looking for a lower cost phone with a stylus.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is performance for gaming and demanding applications? If performance is a top priority, the S21+ is the clear choice.
- How important is screen quality and outdoor visibility? If vibrant colors and sunlight readability are essential, the S21+ has a superior display.
- What is your budget, and are the premium features of the S21+ worth the extra cost? If you need premium features, the S21+ will be well worth it. If budget is your key concern, then the Moto G Stylus is a good option.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- For Gamers & Power Users: The Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G is the obvious choice due to its superior processing power, display, and graphics capabilities.
- For Budget-Conscious Users: The Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) is more suitable if cost is the primary concern, although its slower chipset can be an issue.
- For Photography Enthusiasts: The Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G's higher performance camera with telephoto and wide angle + macro lens, along with its 8K video capabilities, are more appealing.
- For Users Who Need Long Battery: The Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) has a slightly larger battery that might result in more usage time on a single charge.
My Choice and Why
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G. Here's why:
- Performance: As someone who uses my phone for a variety of tasks, including gaming and multitasking, the superior processing power of the Exynos 2100 is a significant advantage. The Moto G Stylus, while adequate for basic use, would likely feel sluggish for my needs.
- Display Quality: The AMOLED display is a major draw. The vibrant colors and excellent contrast enhance the viewing experience significantly. This is particularly important for watching videos and playing games. While the refresh rate is the same on both devices, the higher nits and overall quality of the AMOLED screen make a huge difference to my use.
- Camera Versatility: The telephoto lens for optical zoom and the ability to shoot in 8K video are features that I would utilize. The better main camera performance with its larger sensor would also be important for low-light photography, and therefore, crucial for daily photography.
- Charging Speed: Having 25W fast charging and 15W wireless charging adds convenience. Being able to reverse wirelessly charge other devices is also a bonus.
While the Moto G Stylus has a slightly larger battery and a lower price point, the advantages of the Samsung S21+ in performance, display, camera, and charging outweigh these benefits for my personal needs. Ultimately, the S21+ would provide a more satisfying and versatile user experience, even with the higher cost.
