1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Samsung Galaxy A32 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 161.5 × 75.6 × 7.8 mm | 158.9 × 73.6 × 8.4 mm | S21+ is slightly taller and wider, A32 is slightly thicker. S21+ might feel larger in the hand. |
| Weight | 200g | 184g | A32 is lighter, making it more comfortable for extended one-handed use. S21+ feels more premium but heavier. |
| Build Material | Unknown | Unknown | The materials used will affect overall feel in hand but we don't know what they are. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Samsung Galaxy A32 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.4" | S21+ provides a slightly larger viewing area, better for media consumption and multitasking. A32 slightly more pocketable. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Identical sharpness for both phones. |
| PPI | 394 | 411 | Very similar pixel density, both screens look sharp. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Vibrant colors and deep blacks on both phones. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 90Hz | S21+ offers smoother scrolling and animations, more fluid user experience. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 0 nits | S21+ is significantly brighter, much better outdoor visibility in bright sunlight. The A32 brightness is unknown, but it is clearly far below the S21+ |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Samsung Galaxy A32 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Mediatek Helio G80 (12 nm) | S21+ offers significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming due to its more powerful and efficient chipset. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,100 | 200,458 | S21+ has significantly higher benchmark performance, translating to a much smoother user experience overall. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Mali-G52 MC2 | S21+ has a much more powerful GPU, leading to better graphics performance, especially in demanding games and apps. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Samsung Galaxy A32 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Standard | 12MP, f/1.8, 1/1.76", Sony IMX555, 1.8µm | 64.2MP, f/1.8, Unknown sensor, Unknown pixel size | A32 has higher resolution, potentially more detail in good lighting conditions. S21+'s sensor is bigger with better pixel size, better in low lighting and potentially overall better image quality with more natural colors. |
| Telephoto + Portrait | 64MP, f/2.0, 1/1.72", Samsung S5KGW2, 0.8µm | None | S21+ offers optical zoom capabilities and dedicated telephoto features. |
| Selfie | 10MP, f/2.2, 1/3.2", Sony IMX374, 1.22µm | 20MP, f/2.2, Unknown sensor, Unknown pixel size | A32 offers higher resolution, resulting in more detailed selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12.2MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55", Sony IMX563, 1.4µm | 8MP, f/2.2, Unknown sensor, Unknown pixel size | A32 offers dedicated ultrawide functionality. |
| Portrait Mode (Depth) | None | 5MP, f/2.4, Unknown sensor, Unknown pixel size | A32 has a dedicated depth sensor for enhanced portrait mode effects. |
| Macro Lens | None | 5MP, f/2.4, Unknown sensor, Unknown pixel size | A32 has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | 12.2MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55", Sony IMX563, 1.4µm | None | S21+ offers wide angle capability with macro functionality. |
| Video | Up to 8K@24fps with HDR, EIS, Stereo Sound | 1080p@30fps | S21+ offers vastly superior video capabilities, including higher resolution, better stabilization, and HDR support, better sound capture. |
| DxOMark Mobile Score | 111 | Not Tested | S21+ provides better overall camera performance, as benchmarked by DxOMark. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Samsung Galaxy A32 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 4800mAh | 5000mAh | A32 has a slightly larger battery, potentially longer battery life. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | Unknown | S21+ offers fast charging, faster to get back up and running. |
| Features | Wireless charging, Reverse Charging | Non-removable | S21+ has more convenient features like wireless and reverse wireless charging for accessories. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The Exynos 2100 chipset offers significantly faster processing speeds, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance compared to the Helio G80.
- Higher Quality Display: The 120Hz refresh rate and significantly higher brightness (1300 nits vs unknown) deliver a more fluid and vibrant viewing experience, especially outdoors.
- Advanced Camera System: Offers telephoto capabilities, better video recording with 8K, and has a better DxOMark score, suggesting better overall image quality, and the presence of optical image stabilization.
- Faster Charging: Supports 25W fast charging, allowing quicker battery refills.
- Premium Features: Includes wireless and reverse wireless charging, which add to user convenience.
- Better Connectivity: Includes WiFi 6 and advanced GPS capabilities
- Better Audio: Includes Dolby Atmos and Stereo Speakers.
- Better Software Support: Up to Android 15, versus Android 13 for the A32
Practical Implications: The S21+ is suitable for users who prioritize performance, display quality, camera capabilities, and premium features for an enhanced overall user experience.
Samsung Galaxy A32 Advantages:
- Lighter Weight: Slightly lighter, offering better ergonomics for one-handed use.
- Larger Battery Capacity: Has a slightly larger battery (5000mAh vs 4800mAh) which might translate to slightly longer battery life in certain usage scenarios.
- More Camera Lenses: Offers a variety of lenses for added versatility.
- Lower Cost: The A32 is likely cheaper than the S21+
Practical Implications: The A32 is ideal for users who want a lighter phone, have a more limited budget, and may not need top-tier performance and features.
Trade-offs:
- S21+: Significantly higher price, heavier, lacks dedicated macro and depth lenses for portrait mode.
- A32: Much lower performance, inferior display quality, less capable camera system, basic audio, and slower charging speeds.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G:
- Ideal Users: Power users, gamers, media enthusiasts, photography lovers, users who want a premium experience, and those who value performance above all else.
- Use Cases:
- Playing graphically intensive games.
- Editing photos and videos.
- Consuming high-definition media in bright sunlight.
- Multitasking between demanding applications
- Traveling and needing good video and photo capture
- Those who value high audio fidelity
- Those who value consistent software updates
Samsung Galaxy A32:
- Ideal Users: Budget-conscious users, casual smartphone users, users who prioritize a comfortable, lightweight device, users who value camera versatility.
- Use Cases:
- Daily communication (calls, texts, social media).
- Browsing the web and using basic apps.
- Taking casual photos and videos with its different lenses
- Users who prioritize extended battery life.
- Users who require a cost effective smartphone.
Price-to-Value Ratio
- S21+: High price point, but offers superior performance and premium features.
- A32: More affordable, but comes with performance and feature trade-offs.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? The S21+ is likely significantly more expensive than the A32.
- How important is performance? If you do gaming, multi-tasking, or want the best performance the S21+ is a clear winner.
- How important is the camera? If you plan on taking a lot of photos or videos, especially in low-light, and wish to take optical zoom shots, then the S21+ is better. If you want lots of lenses to cover different modes then the A32 is more versatile.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: High-Performance & Premium Experience If budget is not a major concern, and the user wants the best possible performance, display, and camera capabilities, the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G is the better choice.
- Scenario 2: Budget-Conscious & Basic Use If the user primarily needs a phone for daily communication, casual use, and wants a budget-friendly option, the Samsung Galaxy A32 is a better pick.
- Scenario 3: Versatile Camera & Lightweight Build: If a user want the most versatile camera system and a lighter weight phone with a large battery capacity then the Samsung Galaxy A32 is better.
Personal Recommendation
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G. While it's likely to be more expensive, the significant improvements in performance (chipset, RAM, GPU), the much higher quality display (120Hz, 1300 nits brightness), the superior camera system (optical zoom, better video, OIS), faster charging, and the overall premium features justify the higher price for my use case. I often use my phone for demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, and outdoor use in bright sunlight, and the S21+ is much better suited to handle these scenarios. While the A32 has more camera lenses, the S21+ is better for overall image quality and video quality, which is more important to me than the lens versatility of the A32. The fact it will get more software updates means it will be usable for longer, making the cost more worthwhile.
The only real advantages of the A32 are its lower price and marginally larger battery, which are less important to me than performance, camera capabilities, and display quality.
