Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G vs. Sony Xperia 1 VI
1. Specifications Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison of the key specifications for the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G and the Sony Xperia 1 VI, focusing on their practical implications:
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Sony Xperia 1 VI | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 161.5 x 75.6 x 7.8 mm | 162 x 74 x 8.2 mm | Slightly wider, thinner vs Slightly taller, thicker. Impact on hand comfort is minimal, pocket fit similar |
| Weight | 200g | 192g | Sony is slightly lighter, which may be noticeable over prolonged use |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.5" | Samsung has a slightly larger screen. Minimal difference for most users |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 | 1080 x 2340 | Practically identical sharpness; not a noticeable difference in daily use |
| PPI | 394 | 396 | Essentially identical pixel density, both very sharp displays |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Similar quality, both offer excellent colours, contrast, and blacks |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Smooth scrolling and animations on both |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 0 nits | Samsung has much higher brightness; noticeably better visibility in bright sunlight. Sony spec is missing and cannot be evaluated |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Sony's chipset is significantly more powerful, resulting in much faster performance |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,100 | 2,110,000 | Sony is much faster and more responsive in all tasks, including gaming |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Adreno 750 | Sony has a significantly more powerful GPU, offering better graphics for gaming |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera Resolution | 12MP | 48MP | Sony captures much more detail; better for printing and cropping |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/1.76" | 1/1.4" | Sony has a larger sensor; better low-light performance |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.8 | f/1.9 | Samsung has a slightly wider aperture, potentially collecting more light |
| Telephoto Camera | 64MP | 12MP | Samsung has a dedicated telephoto camera for zoomed-in shots (Note: Sony has a dedicated telephoto lens) |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 10MP | 12MP | Sony captures slightly more detail for selfies |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.0 | Sony captures slightly more light in selfies |
| Telephoto Lens | No | Yes | Sony has a dedicated telephoto lens, great for distant subjects. |
| Wide Angle lens | No | Yes | Sony has a dedicated wide-angle lens, great for expansive views. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | Yes | No | Samsung has a wide-angle macro lens, ideal for closeup photography. |
| Video | Up to 8K@24fps | Up to 4K@120fps | Samsung offers higher video resolution, Sony offers higher frame rate, better stabilization |
| DxoMark Main Score | 111 | Not Available | Samsung's camera performance has been rated; Sony's is not |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4800 mAh | 5000 mAh | Sony's slightly larger battery might offer marginally better battery life |
| Charging | 25W | 30W | Sony charges faster |
| Wireless Charging | 15W | No | Samsung supports 15W Wireless Charging |
| Features | 15W Wireless Charging, 4.5W Reverse Wireless | Bypass Charging | Samsung offers wireless charging capabilities, Sony offers battery bypass for gaming |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 14 | Sony has a much newer OS and will receive more updates |
| Max OS Version | 15 | 17 | Sony provides longer software support |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 | Sony supports the latest Wi-Fi standard |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.4 | Sony has a newer Bluetooth version with potentially better features |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), Galileo (E1+E5a) | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5) | Both have accurate GPS; Sony has slightly more global satellite coverage |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 128/256 GB | 256/512 GB | Sony offers more storage options |
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB | Sony has more RAM for improved multitasking and performance |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone allows for expandable storage |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Noise cancellation microphone, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Samsung has slightly better audio due to hi-res support and dedicated microphone. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic fingerprint sensor | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Sony has a more advanced sensor that may be easier to access |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Gorilla Glass Victus | Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Both offer excellent screen protection, Sony offers a newer version |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G Advantages:
- Higher Brightness Display: The 1300 nits display makes it much more usable in direct sunlight, a significant advantage for outdoor use.
- 8K Video Recording: Offers 8K video recording, appealing to users who need the highest video resolution, albeit with lower frame rates.
- Dedicated Macro lens: Has a dedicated macro lens for close-up photography
- Hi-Res Audio and Noise Cancellation Microphone: Superior audio quality for music lovers and better voice clarity during calls.
- Wireless Charging: Has both wireless charging and reverse wireless charging capabilities
- Lower Initial Cost: As an older device, it is likely to be significantly cheaper.
- Rated camera performance: It has a DxoMark score making it easy to determine camera performance.
Sony Xperia 1 VI Advantages:
- Superior Performance: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset offers dramatically better performance.
- Newer operating System: comes with android 14 vs android 11.
- Significantly Higher AnTuTu Score: Demonstrates superior performance in both CPU and GPU-intensive tasks.
- Much better GPU The Adreno 750 offers significantly more graphics power
- Better Main Camera: Larger sensor, higher resolution results in better images, especially in low light.
- More RAM & Storage: Offers more RAM (12GB) and storage options (up to 512GB).
- Faster Charging: Supports 30W charging vs 25W on Samsung.
- Dedicated Telephoto Lens: The dedicated telephoto lens provides better quality zoomed-in photos.
- Latest Connectivity Standards: Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 for the latest speeds and features.
- Bypass Charging: Better for gaming or other high-intensity usage, where heat may be a problem.
- Dedicated Wide-Angle Lens: has a dedicated wide-angle lens for more immersive shots.
- More software support: Is expected to have 2 more OS upgrades than the Samsung.
Significant Trade-offs:
- Samsung: While the Samsung excels in outdoor visibility and has a high-resolution video, its performance is considerably lower, the OS is older, and the camera sensors are smaller than on the Sony.
- Sony: While the Sony has more powerful hardware and better cameras, it doesn't have wireless charging, and the screen brightness is unknown, which may make it harder to use in direct sunlight.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Those seeking a decent smartphone with a good display at a lower price point.
- Outdoor Use Cases: Individuals who frequently use their phone in bright sunlight and need a very bright display.
- Video Content Creators: People who need 8K video recording and are less reliant on cutting-edge processing power.
- Users Prioritising Audio: People who appreciate high-quality audio with Hi-Res audio and a noise-cancelling microphone.
- Users who need wireless charging: People who value wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.
Sony Xperia 1 VI Ideal User:
- Performance Enthusiasts: Gamers and power users who require top-tier performance and speed.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Individuals who prioritize camera quality with larger sensors, higher resolutions, dedicated telephoto and wide angle lenses, and advanced autofocus.
- Tech-Savvy Users: Those who value the latest technology standards such as Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.
- Users wanting better software support: Those who want longer software support and want to stay up to date on the latest Android version.
- Professionals/Creatives: Users who need a powerful device for editing photos and videos on the go.
Use Case Examples:
- Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G: Excellent for streaming videos outdoors, making calls in noisy environments, taking high resolution videos, and casual mobile gaming.
- Sony Xperia 1 VI: Ideal for competitive mobile gaming, capturing professional-grade photos and videos, using resource-intensive applications, and consuming media with a high level of graphical fidelity.
4. Decision Framework
Here are 3 key questions a buyer should consider:
- How important is top-tier performance? If performance is crucial for gaming, multitasking, or running heavy applications, the Sony Xperia 1 VI is a much better choice.
- Do you frequently use your phone in bright sunlight? If so, the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G with its higher screen brightness may be more practical.
- How critical is the camera system? The Sony Xperia 1 VI's advanced camera system is more capable in low-light and for professional-level photography.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget-Conscious Shopper: Choose the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G for a more affordable option that still provides a good display, decent camera and great audio.
- Scenario 2: Power User: Choose the Sony Xperia 1 VI if you require the fastest performance, the latest technology, and are willing to pay more for it.
- Scenario 3: Outdoor Photographer: If high brightness outdoors is important, the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G is a good choice, if not, the Sony Xperia 1 VI has a much better sensor for taking photos.
- Scenario 4: User who values software support: The Sony Xperia 1 VI is a better choice as it will be supported for a longer period of time and have more up-to-date versions of Android.
My Choice and Why
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Sony Xperia 1 VI. Here’s why:
- Performance is King: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset in the Sony provides a huge leap in performance compared to the Exynos 2100. For my use case which involves gaming and running various resource intensive apps, this difference is critical. The much higher AnTuTu score of 2,110,000 vs the 749,100 on the Samsung clearly illustrates this difference.
- Camera Versatility and Quality: Although I do like that the Samsung has 8k video recording, I value the photo quality and camera versatility much more. The larger sensor and higher-resolution main camera, along with dedicated telephoto and wide angle lenses, allow for better photos in all environments and especially low-light. This outweighs the benefits of a brighter screen in my daily use.
- Future-Proofing: The Sony has a more modern OS and a longer expected software update cycle (Android 17 vs Android 15), meaning I'll receive new features and security updates for a longer period. This is critical as it protects my investment and makes the phone usable for longer. Additionally, features such as Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 ensure that the phone is compatible with the latest technology for years to come.
- Better Overall Experience: Although the brightness of the Sony is not specified, I am willing to risk this shortcoming to be able to have much more impressive specs in every other department.
While the Samsung S21+ 5G is a good option at a lower price point, the superior performance, camera system, software and future-proofing of the Sony Xperia 1 VI are worth the extra cost for my needs. The lack of a dedicated brightness on the Sony is my only real concern, however, for me this is an acceptable tradeoff for all the other benefits.
