1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Oppo Find N3 Flip | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Form Factor | Standard | Foldable | Oppo Find N3 Flip offers a compact form when folded, enhancing portability, and a unique user experience. S21+ is a traditional slab phone. |
| Dimensions | 161.5 × 75.6 × 7.8 mm | 166.4 × 75.8 × 7.8 mm | Oppo is slightly taller, but both are similarly wide and thick. |
| Weight | 200g | 198g | Negligible weight difference; both are comfortable to hold. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.8" | Nearly identical size; a minor difference in screen area. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2520 | Oppo has slightly sharper images due to slightly higher pixel count. |
| PPI | 394 | 403 | Both have sharp displays; difference is negligible. |
| Technology | AMOLED | Unspecified | S21+ offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and better power efficiency with its AMOLED display. Oppo's display tech isn't known. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Smooth scrolling and animations on both. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 1600 nits | Oppo offers superior visibility in direct sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 9200 (4 nm) | Oppo provides significantly faster processing for smoother multitasking, gaming, and app loading times. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,100 | 1,475,000 | Oppo offers nearly double the performance in benchmarks, making it faster overall. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Immortalis-G715 MC11 | Oppo has a much more powerful GPU, improving performance in graphically intensive tasks like gaming. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 12MP, f/1.8, 1/1.76" | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.56" | Oppo offers much higher resolution and a larger sensor for improved low-light performance and detail capture. |
| Telephoto + Portrait | 64MP, f/2.0, 1/1.72" | None | S21+ offers a dedicated telephoto camera, enabling better zoomed shots. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 32MP, f/2.0, 1/2.74" | Oppo has a dedicated telephoto camera for optical zoom capabilities. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | 12.2MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55" | 48MP, f/2.2, 1/2" | Oppo captures much more detailed wide-angle and macro shots. |
| Selfie Camera | 10MP, f/2.2, 1/3.2" | 32MP, f/2.4, 1/2.74" | Oppo takes higher resolution selfies, but S21+ has a slightly wider aperture for better low-light selfies |
| Video | Up to 8K@24fps | Up to 4K@30fps | S21+ offers higher-resolution video recording capabilities. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4800mAh | 4300mAh | S21+ may offer slightly longer battery life. |
| Charging | 25W fast charging | 44W fast charging | Oppo charges the phone faster than the Samsung. |
| Features | Wireless charging, reverse wireless charging | None (beyond reverse charging) | S21+ offers wireless charging features, convenient for users who like to charge wirelessly |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 15) | Android 13 (upgradable to 17) | Oppo provides a more modern operating system and longer software support. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | WiFi 6 | WiFi 7 | Oppo provides the latest WiFi standards for fastest possible data transfers |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 | Oppo has a slightly newer version of Bluetooth |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256GB | 256/512GB | Oppo has double the storage and doesn't offer a smaller base option. |
| RAM | 8GB | 12GB | Oppo handles multitasking and gaming much better |
| Expandable | No | No | No option for expanded storage on either phone. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio | Dolby Atmos | S21+ has superior audio playback and noise canceling features, but both support Dolby Atmos |
| Security | |||
| Fingerprint sensor | Basic | Side-mounted | Oppo's fingerprint sensor is more convenient and potentially more reliable. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G Advantages:
- Wireless Charging: Convenient for users with wireless chargers.
- Higher Video Recording: 8K video recording for professional-grade content creation.
- Hi-Res Audio and Noise Cancellation Mic: Offers enhanced audio for audiophiles.
- Telephoto + Portrait Camera: Offers better zoomed images over the standard camera, along with dedicated portrait shots.
- eSIM Support: Can use a second sim without needing a physical sim card.
- Comprehensive Sensors: Includes Barometer and Compass for advanced features.
- AMOLED Display: Superior contrast, color and blacks for content consumption.
Oppo Find N3 Flip Advantages:
- Foldable Design: Provides a compact form factor, making it more portable than a standard phone.
- Significantly Higher Performance: The Dimensity 9200 chipset and 12 GB of RAM offers smoother multitasking and gaming.
- Larger Storage Options: Comes with more storage on the base model and a higher cap.
- Better Camera Sensors: Larger sensors and higher MP counts lead to better low-light photos and higher detail capture.
- Newer Operating System: Provides more modern OS with longer software support.
- Faster Charging: Significantly reduces charging time, particularly convenient.
- Latest WiFi Standard: Offers the latest WiFi standard for the fastest possible data transfers.
- Dedicated Telephoto Lens: A dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom capabilities.
- Side Mounted Fingerprint Sensor: Easier access and more reliable use.
Trade-offs:
- The S21+ has better audio and wireless charging, but is less powerful than the Oppo.
- The Oppo has superior performance and camera hardware, but no wireless charging and no details about its display technology, which may be inferior to the S21+’s AMOLED panel.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G:
- Ideal Users: Those who prioritize media consumption, wireless charging, and a robust camera with optical zoom and high-resolution video recording. Users who enjoy audiophile grade audio and who like to have the features an eSIM can provide.
- Use Cases: Streaming high-resolution videos, taking advantage of its professional video recording capabilities, listening to hi-res audio with enhanced sound, or using wireless charging at home.
- Price-to-Value: A solid phone, but may not offer the same future-proofing as the Oppo.
Oppo Find N3 Flip:
- Ideal Users: Users who seek a unique foldable design, superior performance for gaming and heavy app usage, and a better camera system and are less worried about some of the S21+’s features. Those who value future-proofing with the latest OS and WiFi standards.
- Use Cases: Gaming, multitasking with multiple apps, capturing high-quality photos and videos, and requiring a compact and powerful phone.
- Price-to-Value: A premium device with cutting-edge performance and features, with the price reflecting this.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Is the foldable form factor important to you? If yes, the Oppo is the clear choice. If not, consider if the unique design is important or distracting for you.
- Do you value performance and future-proofing more than wireless charging or camera resolution? If yes, the Oppo is more likely to satisfy your needs.
- Do you prioritize professional grade video and high-res audio? If yes, the S21+ excels in these areas.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- For the Power User: If you play demanding games, multitask heavily, and need maximum processing power, choose the Oppo Find N3 Flip for its superior chipset, higher RAM, and larger storage.
- For the Media Consumer: If you value high-quality media consumption, wireless charging, and a solid audio experience, the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G is ideal with it's AMOLED panel, high resolution audio, and wireless charging.
- For the Trendsetter: If a unique foldable form-factor is important, the Oppo Find N3 Flip is a better choice due to it's unique design.
- For the Professional Photographer/Videographer: If you value optical zoom and 8K video, the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G is the better option. However, note that the Oppo has superior standard camera performance.
My Choice
If I were to choose, I would pick the Oppo Find N3 Flip. While I appreciate the Samsung S21+'s AMOLED screen and higher-resolution video recording, the Oppo's significantly superior performance, newer software, and updated connectivity options (WiFi 7), make it a more compelling choice for future-proofing and daily use. The foldable design, though potentially more fragile, is a very useful advantage to have in terms of ease of use and storage. I find I am less likely to want to use a phone with an older processor. The combination of a faster chipset, more RAM, and superior camera sensors, outweigh the S21+'s advantages for my specific needs. I also prefer the side-mounted fingerprint sensor, as I find that type of sensor more reliable than the older one used on the S21+. I am willing to trade the wireless charging for the better performance.
