1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Sony Xperia 1 III | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-01-29 | 2021-08-25 | Xperia 1 III is ~7 months newer, potentially benefiting from newer tech. |
| Dimensions | 161.5 × 75.6 × 7.8 mm | 165 × 71 × 8.2 mm | S21+ is wider, while Xperia 1 III is taller and slightly thicker. May affect one-handed use and pocketability. |
| Weight | 200g | 186g | Xperia 1 III is lighter, which may be noticeable during extended use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.5" | S21+ has a slightly larger screen, better for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1644x3840 | Xperia 1 III has a significantly sharper display due to higher pixel density. Text and images will appear crisper. |
| PPI | 394 | 643 | Xperia 1 III has noticeably higher pixel density, enhancing visual clarity. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks; negligible practical difference. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both provide smooth scrolling and animations, excellent for gaming and general usage. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 0 nits | S21+ offers far better outdoor visibility in bright sunlight; Xperia 1 III brightness is not provided. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Different chipsets, Snapdragon 888 generally offers slightly higher performance and efficiency. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,100 | 889,100 | Xperia 1 III has a higher benchmark score, indicating faster overall performance for demanding tasks. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Adreno 660 | Adreno 660 in Xperia 1 III is generally considered superior for gaming. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 12MP, f/1.8, 1/1.76", 1.8µm | 12MP, f/1.7, 1.8µm | Xperia 1 III has a wider aperture (f/1.7), allowing more light for better low-light photos. |
| Telephoto + Portrait | 64MP, f/2.0, 1/1.72", 0.8µm | Not Available | S21+ has a dedicated telephoto camera with a high-resolution sensor for zoomed-in shots. |
| Selfie Camera | 10MP, f/2.2, 1/3.2", 1.22µm | 8MP, f/2.0, 1/4", 1.12µm | S21+ has a higher-resolution selfie camera, but Xperia 1 III has a wider aperture for better low-light performance. |
| Telephoto Lens | Not Available | 12MP, f/2.2, | Xperia 1 III has a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom. |
| Wide Angle Lens | Not Available | 12MP, f/2.3 | Xperia 1 III has a dedicated wide angle lens for expansive landscapes. |
| ToF 3D Sensor | Not Available | Available | Xperia 1 III offers depth information for better portrait mode effects and AR applications. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | 12.2MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55", 1.4µm | Not Available | S21+ features a wide-angle lens that doubles as a macro lens for detailed close-up photos. |
| Video | Up to 8K@24fps | Up to 4K@120fps | S21+ supports higher 8K resolution, while Xperia 1 III excels with 4K@120fps recording for smooth slow motion. |
| DxOMark Mobile Score | 111 (Photo 118, Video 89) | 105 (Photo 107, Video 92) | S21+ performs better in overall photo tests; Xperia 1 III has slightly better video performance. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4800mAh | 4500mAh | S21+ has a slightly larger battery, potentially leading to longer battery life. |
| Charging | 25W Fast | 30W Fast | Xperia 1 III has faster charging, minimizing downtime. |
| Features | 15W Wireless, Reverse, 4.5W Reverse Wireless | Bypass Charging | S21+ offers a more flexible charging solution with wireless and reverse wireless charging; Xperia 1 III offers bypass charging during gaming. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G Advantages:
- Brighter Display: Significantly higher peak brightness, offering superior outdoor visibility in sunny conditions.
- Versatile Camera System: Includes a dedicated Telephoto + Portrait camera, and a wide angle + macro camera for creative and detailed close-up shots, also offers 8K video recording.
- More Flexible Battery Features: Offers wireless and reverse wireless charging capabilities, expanding charging convenience.
- eSIM Support: Enables using an additional digital SIM without physical card, making it more versatile for travel or managing multiple lines.
Sony Xperia 1 III Advantages:
- Sharper Display: Significantly higher resolution and pixel density, making text and images appear exceptionally crisp.
- Superior Performance: Faster chipset, higher benchmark scores, and more RAM translating to smoother multitasking and gaming.
- Dedicated Telephoto and Wide Angle Lenses: Provides more versatility in photography with dedicated zoom and ultrawide lenses.
- Better Video Recording: Captures 4K footage at up to 120fps for excellent slow-motion capabilities, although it lacks the 8K recording available on the S21+.
- Advanced Bluetooth: Has the newer Bluetooth 5.2, along with superior codecs for audiophiles.
- ToF Sensor: Enhanced depth perception for AR and portrait mode photography.
- Faster Charging: 30W fast charging compared to 25W on the S21+, reducing recharge time.
Trade-offs:
- The S21+ sacrifices the premium sharpness of the Xperia 1 III's display and some performance for a brighter screen, a more versatile main camera system with a higher resolution and more features, and more flexible charging.
- The Xperia 1 III sacrifices the convenience of wireless charging and peak brightness for a sharper display, slightly better performance, and a more versatile camera system.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G Ideal Users:
- Content Consumers: Users who watch a lot of videos, browse social media outdoors, and appreciate a large, bright display.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who enjoy taking a variety of photos, including close-ups and portrait shots with the versatile camera system.
- Travelers: Benefit from eSIM support, making it easier to manage multiple SIMs when traveling abroad.
- Everyday Users: Value wireless charging and reverse wireless charging for added convenience.
Use Cases:
- Watching videos outdoors in bright sunlight due to high brightness display.
- Taking detailed portrait shots with the Telephoto + Portrait lens.
- Capturing close-up photos of objects with the Wide Angle + Macro lens.
- Power users who rely on wireless charging for convenience.
Sony Xperia 1 III Ideal Users:
- Multimedia Enthusiasts: Users who value a sharp, high-resolution display for consuming content such as videos, movies and playing games.
- Mobile Gamers: Benefit from the faster chipset, Adreno GPU, and higher RAM, which are essential for demanding games.
- Professional Photographers: Benefit from the dedicated wide angle and telephoto lenses, manual camera controls and RAW image capture.
- Audiophiles: The Xperia 1 III offers support for higher quality audio codecs such as LDAC.
Use Cases:
- Playing graphically intensive games smoothly.
- Viewing high-resolution photos and videos with exceptional clarity.
- Taking photos with multiple focal lengths using the dedicated lenses.
- Recording slow-motion videos at high frame rates.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Display Priority: Is a bright display for outdoor visibility (S21+) or a very sharp, detailed display (Xperia 1 III) more important?
- Camera Needs: Do you need 8k recording and close up macro capability (S21+), or is optical zoom and higher quality video recording and a range of lenses more important (Xperia 1 III)?
- Battery and Convenience: Is wireless charging more valuable, or is faster wired charging the priority?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- For the outdoor enthusiast: The Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G is the better choice due to its superior brightness.
- For the mobile gamer and audiophile: The Sony Xperia 1 III is recommended because of its stronger chipset, better GPU, more RAM and superior audio codecs.
- For a user who wants great all round features: If a versatile camera system and wireless charging are essential, the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G is better.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would personally opt for the Sony Xperia 1 III. While the Samsung S21+ 5G has a brighter display and more versatile battery features, my primary use case involves content consumption, gaming, and occasional photography. The Xperia 1 III's significantly sharper display, superior performance, dedicated camera lenses, better video recording capabilities, and higher quality audio codecs make it a more compelling choice for my specific needs.
Although I value a good display for outdoor use, I spend most of my time indoors and am willing to sacrifice some brightness for the superior clarity the Xperia 1 III offers. The performance difference is a deciding factor as I play games and use demanding applications frequently. Furthermore, as someone who occasionally enjoys taking more than just point-and-shoot photos, I would greatly appreciate the dedicated telephoto and wide angle lenses offered by the Xperia 1 III.
Therefore, despite the convenience of the S21+'s features, the Xperia 1 III's combination of superior display quality, performance, camera versatility, and high-quality audio output aligns better with my preferences.
