1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Xiaomi Redmi A3 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 161.5 × 75.6 × 7.8 mm | 168.3 × 76.3 × 8.3 mm | The Redmi A3 is noticeably taller and slightly thicker, potentially making it feel less comfortable in smaller hands and pockets. The S21+ is more compact and may feel more premium. |
| Weight | 200g | 193g | The Redmi A3 is slightly lighter, but the difference is not substantial enough to impact user experience significantly. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Xiaomi Redmi A3 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.71" | Both offer a large screen for media consumption and gaming. The difference is negligible and unlikely to be noticeable in daily use. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 720x1650 | The S21+ has a much sharper display. Text and images will appear significantly clearer on the S21+, improving readability and visual fidelity. The Redmi A3's display is noticeably less sharp. |
| PPI | 394 | 268 | The S21+ offers a significantly sharper image. This difference is noticeable, with the S21+ rendering much finer details. |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | The AMOLED display on the S21+ offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors than the IPS LCD on the Redmi A3. This provides a richer and more immersive viewing experience. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 90Hz | The S21+'s higher refresh rate provides smoother animations, making scrolling and gaming feel more fluid. The Redmi A3's 90Hz is still smoother than standard 60Hz, but not as good as 120Hz. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 0 nits | The S21+ provides much better visibility in bright sunlight. The Redmi A3's brightness is not specified, but likely cannot compete with the S21+, making it more difficult to use outdoors. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Xiaomi Redmi A3 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Mediatek Helio G36 (12 nm) | The Exynos 2100 is much more powerful, providing significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. The Helio G36 is a budget chipset meant for basic tasks and light usage. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,100 | 127,000 | The S21+ offers dramatically superior performance, handling demanding games and apps with ease. The Redmi A3's lower score indicates slow performance with demanding tasks, and may stutter or lag in regular use. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | PowerVR GE8320 | The S21+'s GPU is far more capable for graphics-intensive tasks, such as gaming. The Redmi A3's GPU is only suitable for basic 2D games. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Xiaomi Redmi A3 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera | 12MP, f/1.8 | 8MP, f/2.0 | The S21+’s main camera will likely produce more detailed images, particularly in low-light, due to wider aperture and higher resolution. The Redmi A3's camera is lower resolution with a narrower aperture. |
| Telephoto | 64MP, f/2.0 | None | The S21+ offers telephoto zoom capabilities for improved image quality when zooming, which the Redmi A3 lacks. |
| Selfie Camera | 10MP, f/2.2 | 5MP, f/2.2 | The S21+ captures higher quality selfies with more detail. The difference will be very noticeable when viewed on larger displays. |
| Wide Angle | 12.2MP, f/2.2 | None | The S21+ can capture wider landscape and group photos, a feature the Redmi A3 lacks. |
| Video | Up to 8K@24fps | 1080p@30fps | The S21+ is capable of recording significantly higher resolution and smoother videos, with advanced stabilization and slow motion features. The Redmi A3 is limited to basic video recording with no stabilization. |
| DxOMark | 111 (Mobile), 118 (Photo), 89 (Video) | 45 (Mobile), 53 (Photo), 37 (Video) | The S21+ camera performs significantly better in photo and video quality, indicating superior image and video capture. The Redmi A3 has a very poor DxOMark score, showing low-quality image and video capture. |
| Features | OIS, 4K, 8K, RAW, Night Mode | Digital Zoom | The S21+ includes advanced camera features like optical image stabilization, 8K video recording, and night mode for improved photo quality. The Redmi A3 has more basic features and lacks specialized photography modes. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | Xiaomi Redmi A3 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 4800 mAh | 5000 mAh | The Redmi A3 has a slightly larger battery, potentially offering slightly longer battery life depending on usage. However, the S21+ has a more power-efficient display. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 10W Fast Charging | The S21+ charges much faster, reducing downtime. The Redmi A3 charges slower, which means it can take significantly longer to charge fully. |
| Features | Wireless Charging, Reverse Charging | None | The S21+ has wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, useful for convenience. The Redmi A3 doesn't have these convenient features. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G Advantages:
- Superior Display: AMOLED screen with higher resolution, PPI, and 120Hz refresh rate offers a much better viewing experience, especially outdoors.
- Much Higher Performance: The Exynos 2100 chipset and GPU provide substantially better performance for demanding tasks and gaming.
- Advanced Camera System: A versatile camera with telephoto, wide-angle lenses, 8K video recording, and superior image quality. Also supports advanced camera features like OIS.
- Faster Charging: 25W fast charging and wireless charging provide a more convenient charging experience.
- More advanced features: Offers wireless charging, reverse wireless charging and eSIM support
Xiaomi Redmi A3 Advantages:
- Slightly Larger Battery: A marginally larger battery might offer slightly longer battery life, but this could be offset by the performance differences.
- Newer Android Version: It ships with Android 14, while the S21+ is on Android 11 (can be upgraded to 15).
- Potentially Lower Price: The Redmi A3 is intended to be an entry-level device and will likely be priced lower than the S21+.
Trade-offs:
- The S21+ trades a higher price for premium performance, display, and camera capabilities.
- The Redmi A3 trades performance and visual quality for a lower price point and a marginally larger battery, and newer Android version.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G:
- Ideal Users:
- Users who prioritize a high-quality display experience for media consumption and gaming.
- Users who need high performance for demanding applications and games.
- Users who require a versatile, advanced camera system for photography and videography.
- Users who need fast charging and wireless charging capabilities.
- Users who don't mind a higher price for premium features and performance.
- Use Cases:
- High-end mobile gaming and demanding apps.
- Professional and high quality photo and video capture.
- Watching videos and consuming media content.
- Outdoor use in bright sunlight.
Xiaomi Redmi A3:
- Ideal Users:
- Budget-conscious users who need a basic smartphone for everyday tasks.
- Users who prioritize battery life over high performance and display quality.
- Users who don't need advanced camera features or high performance.
- Users who are primarily focused on basic communication and web browsing.
- Use Cases:
- Basic communication (calls, texts).
- Light web browsing and social media use.
- Casual photography in good lighting conditions.
- Users who need a backup phone for emergencies.
4. Decision Framework
Here are three questions buyers should consider:
- What is my budget? The Redmi A3 is likely a far more budget friendly option. If money is an issue the Redmi A3 is the only choice.
- How important is display and performance? If a premium display and smooth, fast performance are critical, the S21+ is necessary. If a less powerful display is not an issue, then the Redmi A3 will work just fine.
- What will I use the camera for? If quality photos and videos are a priority, the S21+ is a better choice. If you only need basic photos, then the Redmi A3 is the correct choice.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Premium User: If your budget is flexible and you value a high-end display, top performance, and excellent camera capabilities, choose the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G.
- Scenario 2: Budget User: If you need a basic phone for calls, texts, and light browsing, and want to save money, choose the Xiaomi Redmi A3.
- Scenario 3: Balanced User: If you need a good camera and performance, the S21+ will be the best option. The Redmi A3 does not provide any of those features.
My Choice
If I had to choose, I would pick the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G. The substantial improvements in display quality, performance, and camera capabilities are significant enough to justify the higher cost. As someone who uses their phone extensively for media, gaming, and photography, the S21+ offers a superior experience in almost every aspect. While the Redmi A3 is a viable option for those with tighter budgets, the trade-offs in performance and visual experience are too great for my needs. The S21+ would be a phone I would use for a much longer period of time before upgrading.
