Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G vs. Nothing Phone (2)
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Nothing Phone (2) | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-01-29 | 2023-07-17 | Nothing Phone (2) is significantly newer, implying updated technology and software. |
| Dimensions | 161.5 x 75.6 x 7.8 mm, 200g | 162.1 x 76.4 x 8.6 mm, 201.2g | Both phones are similarly sized and weighted; Nothing Phone (2) is slightly thicker. Minor difference in handling |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.7" | Both have the same screen size, providing a similar viewing experience. |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 | 1080 x 2412 | Virtually identical sharpness. No noticeable difference in daily use. |
| PPI | 394 | 394 | Same pixel density means similar display clarity. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Very similar display quality. No significant difference in color reproduction. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations, contributing to a responsive user experience. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 1600 nits | Nothing Phone (2) is much better for outdoor visibility in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) | Nothing Phone (2) has a more powerful and efficient chip, resulting in faster performance and better battery life management. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,100 | 1,135,786 | Nothing Phone (2) is significantly faster; noticeable difference in app loading, multitasking, and gaming. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Adreno 730 | Nothing Phone (2) provides better graphics performance, suitable for high-end mobile gaming. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4800 mAh | 4700 mAh | Both have similar battery capacity, offering comparable battery life. |
| Charging | 25W fast charging (Li-Polymer) | 45W fast charging (Li-Ion) | Nothing Phone (2) charges much faster, reducing downtime. |
| Features | 15W Wireless, 4.5W Reverse, No in-box charger | 15W Wireless, 5W Reverse | Both offer wireless and reverse wireless charging. S21+ includes no charger in box, while charging speeds are higher on Nothing Phone (2) |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 12MP, f/1.8, 1/1.76", 1.8µm | 50MP, f/1.88, 1/1.56", 1.0µm | Nothing Phone (2) has higher resolution and larger sensor, which potentially leads to better low-light performance and more detailed images. |
| Telephoto | 64MP, f/2.0, 1/1.72", 0.8µm | Not present | Samsung S21+ offers optical zoom capabilities with its telephoto camera. |
| Selfie Camera | 10MP, f/2.2, 1/3.2", 1.22µm | 32MP, f/2.45, 1/2.74", 0.8µm | Nothing Phone (2) has a much higher resolution front camera, ideal for detailed selfies. |
| Wide Angle/Macro | 12.2MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55", 1.4µm | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/2.76", 0.64µm | Nothing Phone (2) has a higher resolution wide camera, although the sensor size on the S21+ is larger. |
| Video | Up to 8K@24fps | Up to 4K@60fps | Samsung S21+ can shoot 8K videos, making it more suitable for pro video needs. Nothing Phone 2 provides better stabilization in its recordings. |
| DXOMark | Mobile: 111, Photo: 118, Video: 89 | Not tested | Samsung S21+ Camera has been evaluated in terms of mobile, photo and video. |
| Features | 8K Video, Optical Zoom, Triple Cam, RAW | Time-Lapse, Dual Cam | S21+ has features geared towards photography pros, while Nothing provides basic additional features such as time-lapse. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 15) | Android 13 (upgradable to 16) | Nothing Phone (2) has a more recent OS, implying a more up-to-date user experience. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 6, Dual-band, Hotspot, Direct, Display | WiFi 6, Dual-band, Hotspot, Direct, Display, MIMO | Both provide high-speed Wi-Fi. Nothing Phone 2 features Wi-Fi MIMO for improved speed and bandwidth. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 (LE), aptX, ANT+ | 5.3, aptX, LDAC, AAC | Nothing Phone (2) offers a newer version with a more efficient and higher quality codec support. S21+ has additional profiles including ANT+ |
| GPS | L1+L5, E1+E5a, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | L1+L5, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, NavIC | Nothing Phone 2 offers greater location accuracy by utilizing QZSS and NavIC systems. Both phones have L1+L5 bands. |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano + Nano/eSIM) | Dual SIM (Nano + Nano) | S21+ offers eSIM for digital carrier switching. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128 GB or 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, or 512 GB | Nothing Phone (2) offers 512GB storage, which is great for users who want more storage space. |
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB or 12 GB | Nothing Phone (2) with 12GB option allows for smoother multitasking and handling of demanding applications. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone allows for expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res, Noise cancellation Mic | Hi-Res, Stereo Speakers, 3 Mics | S21+ offers Dolby Atmos for spatial audio, and noise cancellation, whereas Nothing offers better audio pickup with more microphones and great audio quality. |
| Security | |||
| Features | basic fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | Both have basic fingerprint sensors, offering standard biometric security. |
| Build | |||
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Unknown | Samsung S21+ uses a more durable glass protection on the screen. |
| Sensors | |||
| Features | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Barometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Samsung has additional sensors, whereas both have a standard sensor configuration. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G Advantages:
- 8K Video Recording: Supports 8K video recording, making it a more powerful tool for video content creators.
- Telephoto Camera: Features a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom, offering greater versatility in photography.
- Dolby Atmos Audio: Provides an immersive audio experience with Dolby Atmos support.
- eSIM Support: Offers the convenience of eSIM for digital carrier switching.
- Barometer: Includes a barometer for altitude tracking, useful for outdoor activities.
Nothing Phone (2) Advantages:
- Newer Chipset: The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 offers better performance and efficiency compared to the Exynos 2100.
- Higher Brightness Display: Provides superior outdoor visibility with 1600 nits of brightness.
- Faster Charging: Supports 45W fast charging for quicker power-ups.
- Higher Resolution Cameras: Features higher resolution primary and selfie cameras, capturing more details in images.
- More Storage Options: Available with up to 512GB of internal storage.
- Newer Bluetooth: Uses Bluetooth 5.3 for higher quality and efficient connections.
- Better GPS: Uses QZSS and NavIC systems for greater accuracy.
Trade-offs:
- The Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G has more camera features like optical zoom and 8k video, but the Nothing Phone (2) offers higher resolution sensors and better overall performance.
- The Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G offers enhanced audio with Dolby Atmos, while the Nothing Phone (2) has greater microphone pickup and has better Bluetooth codec support.
- Samsung's build is using more durable glass protection, while the screen protection for Nothing is unknown.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G:
- Ideal User: Professional photographers/videographers, those who need the most advanced video capture with good audio and battery life.
- Use Cases: Shooting professional-grade videos in 8K, using optical zoom for distant subjects, recording audio with Dolby Atmos, tracking altitude with the barometer, and use of the eSIM function.
- Price-to-Value: Good value for those seeking a premium phone with pro camera features with robust audio.
Nothing Phone (2):
- Ideal User: Power users, gamers, and those who prioritize fast performance, good photos, and great outdoor screen visibility.
- Use Cases: Playing demanding games, multitasking between multiple apps, capturing high-resolution selfies, and using the phone outdoors in bright sunlight, especially for its great GPS system.
- Price-to-Value: Excellent value for the performance and modern features it offers.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions:
- Do you prioritize professional video recording and optical zoom? If yes, the S21+ is a better choice.
- Do you need top-tier performance and better outdoor screen visibility? If yes, the Nothing Phone (2) is preferable.
- Is having the latest software or a more robust GPS location feature important? If yes, the Nothing Phone (2) is the better option.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- For a user who shoots videos: The Samsung S21+ 5G with 8K recording capabilities.
- For a user who cares about gaming and performance: The Nothing Phone (2) offers a faster chip and GPU.
- For an outdoorsy person: Nothing Phone (2) due to the higher brightness display and greater GPS accuracy.
- For a user wanting a great camera phone: The Nothing Phone (2) with its 50 MP primary lens and selfie lens.
My Choice
I would choose the Nothing Phone (2). While the Samsung S21+ 5G offers some compelling features like 8K video recording and optical zoom, the Nothing Phone (2)'s newer chipset, higher brightness display, faster charging, and significantly higher performance score are more appealing to me. In addition, having access to a higher storage option and better Bluetooth audio codec is an added plus. Given my preference for performance, I value the Snapdragon processor and the much higher resolution cameras the Nothing Phone 2 brings. I believe the Nothing Phone 2 provides a more modern user experience, especially considering the faster charging and newer software, which makes it the more compelling option for me.
