1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Xiaomi 12 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 161.5 × 75.6 × 7.8 mm | 163.6 × 74.6 × 8.2 mm | Xiaomi 12 Pro is slightly taller and thicker, may feel slightly bulkier in hand. |
| Weight | 200g | 204g | Both are similarly weighted, the difference won't be noticeable in daily use. |
| Build | Gorilla Glass Victus (Front), Aluminum Frame, Glass back | Gorilla Glass Victus (Front), Aluminum Frame, Glass back | Both phones offer premium build quality and protection against scratches and drops. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Xiaomi 12 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.73" | Negligible size difference. Both offer ample screen real estate for content consumption. |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 | 1440 x 3200 | Xiaomi 12 Pro's higher resolution results in a sharper, more detailed picture, especially noticeable when viewing high-resolution images and videos. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 394 | 521 | Xiaomi 12 Pro has significantly sharper text and images, leading to an improved viewing experience. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both deliver vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both provide smooth scrolling and animations, making for a fluid user interface and better gaming. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 1500 nits | Xiaomi 12 Pro offers better outdoor visibility in bright sunlight due to higher peak brightness. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Xiaomi 12 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm) | Xiaomi 12 Pro's newer chip provides a significant performance boost, leading to faster app loading, better multitasking, and smoother gaming. |
| Antutu Score | 749,100 | 1,177,498 | Xiaomi 12 Pro has considerably higher performance in benchmarks; it handles demanding tasks much more smoothly. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Adreno 730 | Xiaomi 12 Pro provides significantly better gaming performance with a more powerful GPU. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Xiaomi 12 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 12MP | 50MP | Xiaomi 12 Pro captures significantly more detail in standard photos. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/1.76" | 1/1.28" | Xiaomi 12 Pro's larger sensor gathers more light, resulting in better low-light performance and dynamic range. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.8 | f/1.9 | S21+ has a slightly wider aperture which means more light, which slightly helps in low light. |
| Telephoto/Portrait Camera | 64MP | None | Samsung S21+ offers an optical zoom option, providing higher quality zoomed images than digital zoom. Xiaomi 12 Pro lacks a dedicated telephoto lens. |
| Wide Angle Camera | 12.2MP | 50MP | Xiaomi 12 Pro's wide-angle camera has a higher resolution for detailed and wider shots than the Samsung. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 10MP | 32MP | Xiaomi 12 Pro captures more detailed selfies with higher resolution. |
| Portrait (Depth) Lens | None | 50MP | Xiaomi 12 Pro can capture more detailed portrait mode images. |
| Video Recording | Up to 8K@24fps | Up to 8K@24fps | Both phones can capture high-resolution videos with stabilization. |
| Slow Motion | 960fps (720p) | 1920fps (720p) | Xiaomi 12 Pro captures slow motion video at higher frame rates. |
| DXOMark Score | 111 | 129 | Xiaomi 12 Pro's camera is ranked significantly higher than Samsung's, in both photo and video. |
| Additional Features | Digital zoom, Optical zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous autofocus, Manual focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW, Night Mode | Digital zoom, Optical zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Ultra stable video, Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous autofocus, Manual focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW, Night Mode | Both phones have similar functionalities, with the Xiaomi 12 Pro offering the addition of an "Ultra stable video" feature. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Xiaomi 12 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4800mAh | 4600mAh | S21+ has a slightly larger battery but, the battery life differences are negligible. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 120W Fast Charging | Xiaomi 12 Pro charges significantly faster, reducing waiting times for full charge. |
| Wireless Charging | 15W | 50W | Xiaomi 12 Pro can be charged wirelessly significantly faster. |
| Reverse Wireless Charging | 4.5W | 10W | Xiaomi 12 Pro can reverse wirelessly charge other devices faster. |
| Other Features | Reverse Charging, Non-removable, No charger in-box | Reverse Charging, Non-removable, Xiaomi Surge P1 chip for fast wired charging | Both offer reverse charging, with the Xiaomi 12 Pro's chip improving the stability and speed of its faster charging. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G Advantages
- Telephoto Lens: Dedicated telephoto lens for superior optical zoom capabilities.
- Slightly Larger Battery: Marginal advantage in battery capacity.
- eSIM Support: Offers flexibility with digital carrier switching in addition to dual sim slots.
- More Bluetooth Features: Supports a wider range of Bluetooth protocols and features.
- Wider Aperture in Main Camera: The f/1.8 aperture should let in slightly more light and help in low-light scenarios.
- Noise Cancellation Microphone: Should provide better call clarity in noisy environments.
- Geomagnetic, Hall and Proximity Sensor: These sensors enable more advanced functionalities.
Xiaomi 12 Pro Advantages
- Superior Performance: Significantly faster processor and GPU for smoother and more responsive performance.
- Higher Resolution Display: Sharper screen with more detail for better viewing.
- Brighter Display: Better outdoor visibility in bright sunlight.
- Faster Charging: Significantly faster wired and wireless charging, minimizing downtime.
- Larger Main Camera Sensor: Captures more detail and light, with better image quality.
- Higher Resolution Wide Angle Camera: Can capture wider angles with more detail.
- Dedicated Portrait Lens: A portrait lens adds more options for portraits.
- Higher Resolution Selfie Camera: Captures more detail in selfies.
- Higher DXOMark Score: Camera performs better in both photos and videos.
- Newer Bluetooth Version: Supports a newer version of Bluetooth for faster and more reliable connections.
- More GPS Satellites: Better location accuracy with more satellite support.
- More RAM Available: 12GB is available for heavy multitasking and gaming.
Trade-offs
- Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G users sacrifice overall performance and charging speeds for a dedicated telephoto lens and slightly longer battery life.
- Xiaomi 12 Pro users sacrifice the telephoto lens and the slightly larger battery for faster charging, better display, and significantly faster performance and superior camera overall.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G Ideal User:
- Users who prioritize camera zoom: The dedicated telephoto lens is excellent for users who frequently use zoom.
- Those who need an eSIM: People who need the flexibility of digital carrier switching.
- Users who want a robust build quality: S21+ offers a sturdy build with glass on both sides and an aluminum frame.
- Users who do not need the best performance: Those who are not interested in heavy gaming or heavy multitasking and are happy with decent performance.
Use Cases:
- Travel photography where optical zoom is critical.
- Business professionals who travel and require eSIM compatibility.
- Users who prioritize solid battery life over fast charging.
Xiaomi 12 Pro Ideal User:
- Users who prioritize performance: Gamers and heavy multitaskers will benefit from the faster chipset and larger RAM.
- Those who want a vibrant display: Users who watch a lot of videos and consume content will enjoy the brighter, sharper display.
- Users who need fast charging: Those who want to spend less time charging their phone.
- Users who prioritize camera quality: Excellent main camera and selfie camera for high quality images and video.
Use Cases:
- Mobile gamers who need smooth graphics and performance.
- Users who frequently consume video content on their phone.
- Users who take many pictures.
- People who value fast charging over everything else.
Price-to-Value
- The Xiaomi 12 Pro offers a higher price-to-value ratio for most users given it's newer tech, performance and camera quality.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is camera zoom to you? If optical zoom is essential, the S21+ is preferable, otherwise, the Xiaomi 12 Pro is better in most other scenarios.
- How important is fast charging to you? If rapid charging is a must, the Xiaomi 12 Pro’s 120W charging is a clear winner.
- How important is peak performance to you? The Xiaomi 12 Pro has a newer, more performant processor that will be noticeable in everyday use, multitasking and gaming.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1 (Travel Photographer): If zoom capabilities are a priority, the Samsung S21+ is better, otherwise the Xiaomi 12 Pro has a more capable camera system and also offers a wide angle lens.
- Scenario 2 (Mobile Gamer/Power User): The Xiaomi 12 Pro is the superior choice due to significantly better performance, gaming, and multitasking.
- Scenario 3 (Everyday User/Content Consumer): The Xiaomi 12 Pro’s better display, faster charging, and better performance would make it the more desirable option.
Final Decision
I would choose the Xiaomi 12 Pro. Despite the S21+ having a telephoto lens, the Xiaomi 12 Pro excels in most areas that matter to me for daily use including: the higher quality display, significantly faster charging, and superior performance. The better main camera and better selfie camera also make this the superior choice. While I would miss the telephoto zoom at times, the improvements in other key areas outweigh this loss. I value a smooth and responsive user experience, coupled with the convenience of fast charging, making the Xiaomi 12 Pro the better fit for my needs.
