1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-01-29 | 2024-07-24 | The Z Fold6 is significantly newer (3.5 years difference), likely having newer features and longer software support. |
| Foldable | Standard | Foldable | Z Fold6 offers a larger screen in a more compact form when folded; S21+ is a standard slab phone. |
| Dimensions | 161.5 × 75.6 × 7.8 mm | 153.5 × 132.6 × 5.6 mm | S21+ is taller and thinner when unfolded. Z Fold6 is wider when unfolded and thinner when folded. |
| Weight | 200g | 239g | S21+ is lighter (39g difference), easier for single-hand use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 7.6" | Z Fold6 offers a significantly larger screen for media consumption and productivity. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1856x2160 | Z Fold6 has noticeably higher resolution, resulting in sharper, clearer image. |
| PPI | 394 | 374 | S21+ has a slightly sharper display; minimal difference in real-world use. |
| Technology | AMOLED | S21+ has superior display technology (AMOLED), which offers better contrast, black levels and vibrancy. Z Fold 6 display tech is not specified, thus its performance is unknown. | |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 0 nits | S21+ screen is significantly more visible in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Z Fold6 has a much newer and more powerful chipset, offering significantly better app performance, gaming capabilities, and power efficiency. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,100 | 2,200,000 | Z Fold6 delivers vastly superior performance, suitable for heavy tasks and gaming. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Adreno 750 | Z Fold6's GPU provides superior graphics processing. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 12MP (f/1.8, 1/1.76", 1.8µm) | 50MP (f/1.8) | Z Fold6's main camera has much higher resolution, enabling better detail and larger prints; S21+ has detailed sensor information. |
| Telephoto Camera | 64MP (f/2.0, 1/1.72", 0.8µm) | 10MP (f/2.4, 1.00µm) | Both have telephoto capabilities, but the Fold6 has dedicated telephoto lens with unknown sensor details, while the S21+ has a high resolution telephoto sensor. |
| Wide Angle Camera | 12.2MP (f/2.2, 1/2.55", 1.4µm) | 12MP (f/2.2, 1.12µm) | Both have similar wide angle capabilities, with S21+ having additional macro. |
| Selfie Camera | 10MP (f/2.2, 1/3.2", 1.22µm) | 10MP (f/2.2) | Both have similar selfie camera resolution and aperture, but no sensor info for the Z Fold6. |
| Video | Up to 8K@24fps | Up to 8K@30fps | Both capable of 8K recording. Z Fold6 supports a higher frame rate for 8K. |
| DxOMark Score | Mobile: 111 Photo: 118 Video: 89 | Mobile: 133 Photo: 132 Video: 128 | Z Fold6 has a significantly higher camera score, showing a better overall camera system. |
| Camera Features | OIS, PDAF, RAW, Night mode, etc. + Continuous autofocus | OIS, PDAF, RAW, Night mode, etc. + Laser AF, NPU AI, Dual front cam, under display cam | Z Fold6 offers more advanced features like laser autofocus and AI-powered image processing. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4800mAh | 4400mAh | S21+ has a slightly larger battery, which may offer a little longer battery life. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 25W Fast Charging | Both phones have identical charging speeds. |
| Features | Reverse, Wireless, No charger in box | Bypass, Reverse, Wireless | Z Fold6 features Bypass Charging for gaming, S21+ does not come with charger in the box. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 15) | Android 14 (upgradable to 18) | Z Fold6 ships with a newer OS with more updates, future proof. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | WiFi 6 (802.11ax) | WiFi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi MiMO | Z Fold6 has more advanced WiFi features, that can result in better signal stability. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 LE | 5.3 LE | Z Fold6 features a newer Bluetooth version for better performance and battery management with compatible devices. |
| GPS | GPS (L1+L5), Galileo (E1+E5a) | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a) | Z Fold6 supports more satellite systems, enabling better location accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual SIM, eSIM | Dual SIM, eSIM | Both offer dual SIM capabilities. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256 GB | 256/512/1024 GB | Z Fold6 offers significantly more storage options, especially a 1TB version. |
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB | Z Fold6 has more RAM, which improves multitasking and overall performance. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither device supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Noise Cancellation Mic, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | S21+ provides more advanced audio features for immersive sound and noise cancellation. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic fingerprint sensor | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Z Fold6 has a more convenient side-mounted fingerprint sensor. |
| Build | |||
| Screen Protection | Gorilla Glass Victus | Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Both use top-tier screen protection, but Z Fold6 uses a newer generation. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Barometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Barometer, Gravity | Z Fold6 has more sensors offering more advanced functions. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G Advantages:
- Lighter and More Compact: The S21+ is significantly lighter (200g vs 239g) and thinner, making it more comfortable for prolonged single-handed use.
- Brighter Display: The display of the S21+ is significantly brighter at 1300 nits, making it much more visible in direct sunlight.
- More Detailed Audio: The S21+ offers high-res audio and noise cancelling microphone, providing more advanced audio features.
- Slightly Larger Battery: The S21+ has a larger battery (4800mAh vs 4400mAh), which may translate to slightly longer battery life (depending on use).
- More Established Camera Sensors: The S21+ has more detail about the camera sensors, including size, aperture, and pixel size.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 Advantages:
- Larger Foldable Display: The Z Fold6 has a significantly larger 7.6" foldable display, ideal for multitasking, media consumption, and productivity.
- Superior Performance: The Z Fold6 features a much newer and more powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, offering vastly better performance for all tasks.
- More Storage Options: The Z Fold6 offers significantly more storage options (up to 1TB), ideal for users with lots of media or app data.
- Better Camera System: DxOMark scores indicate that the Z Fold6 has a significantly better overall camera system, especially for video and low light photography.
- Newer Software: The Z Fold6 comes with a newer version of Android, with more guaranteed updates, offering more modern features and security.
- Advanced Features: The Z Fold6 has features like bypass charging, Wi-Fi MIMO, laser auto focus, dual front camera, under display camera, and other advanced camera features.
- Newer Bluetooth Version: The Z Fold6 features Bluetooth 5.3 for better performance and battery management.
- More Accurate GPS: Supports more satellite systems, enabling more accurate location tracking.
Trade-offs:
- S21+: The S21+ sacrifices processing power, camera capabilities, and expandable storage for a more traditional, lightweight, and potentially more affordable form factor.
- Z Fold6: The Z Fold6's heavier and bulkier design, higher price and unknown display tech could be major trade-offs for some users.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G:
- Ideal User: Users who prefer a traditional smartphone design, value lightweight portability, and prioritize good display visibility under direct sunlight. Users who don't need top-tier performance and prefer detailed camera information.
- Use Cases: Casual daily usage, social media browsing, media consumption (video/music), taking photos/videos in bright daylight. Good for everyday users not needing peak performance or folding capabilities.
- Price-to-Value: More budget-friendly, but older technology might mean its value is diminishing.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6:
- Ideal User: Power users who want a large screen experience for media, gaming and productivity and need the best performance and modern features.
- Use Cases: Heavy multitasking, demanding games, professional tasks, media consumption, reading/editing documents, and more. Users who value the convenience of a larger screen that can be folded for portability.
- Price-to-Value: Premium-priced due to its cutting-edge technology and foldable design, the value is in its performance and versatility.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your primary usage scenario? (Casual use, gaming, productivity, etc.)
- What is more important: portability or screen real estate? (Lightweight and easy to handle vs large, immersive display)
- What is your budget? (Are you looking for a more affordable option or the latest technology regardless of price?)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Everyday User on a Budget: If you're looking for a capable smartphone for everyday tasks, prefer a standard design and a lightweight phone, the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G would be a decent choice.
- Scenario 2: Performance-Oriented User: If you need the best performance for demanding tasks and gaming, or want the versatility of a large, foldable display, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 is a better choice.
- Scenario 3: Professional User: If you need a large screen for document work, presentations, or multi-tasking, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 will offer superior usability.
- Scenario 4: Photographer: If you need a more established, well-documented camera, prefer detail, and don't need the advanced features or low light performance, then the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G will suffice. If you want the better overall camera and are not interested in the sensor details, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 is a superior choice.
My Choice:
If I were choosing, I would pick the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6. While the S21+ has some advantages such as brightness and audio features, the Z Fold6 offers a significant leap in overall performance, a larger more versatile screen, and a superior camera system. As a user who prioritizes performance and productivity, and also enjoys consuming media, the trade off for weight and bulk are worth it for the more advanced features and improved experience that the Z Fold6 offers. The unknown display technology of the Z Fold6 is my biggest concern, since this would affect the viewing experience, but assuming it is comparable to AMOLED, it will be the best choice.
