Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G vs. ZTE nubia Flip
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | ZTE nubia Flip | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Form Factor | Standard | Foldable | ZTE nubia Flip offers a unique foldable design for increased screen real estate and portability. The S21+ is a standard slab design. |
| Dimensions | 161.5 × 75.6 × 7.8 mm | 170 × 75.5 × 7 mm | The Nubia Flip is taller and slightly thinner. The S21+ is wider and a bit thicker. |
| Weight | 200g | 214g | The S21+ is slightly lighter, which may be preferable for extended one-handed use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.9" | The Nubia Flip has a slightly larger display, providing a more immersive viewing experience, especially for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1188x2790 | The ZTE nubia Flip has a higher resolution, resulting in sharper images and text. |
| Pixel Density | 394 PPI | 439 PPI | The ZTE nubia Flip offers a slightly sharper display. |
| Technology | AMOLED | Unknown | The S21+ offers superior image quality with deeper blacks, better contrast, and vibrant colors thanks to its AMOLED display. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 0 nits | The S21+ display is much brighter, offering better outdoor visibility and easier use in bright conditions. The Nubia Flip has no specified brightness, which is a significant drawback. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Different chips. The S21+ has a slightly higher benchmark score, potentially resulting in better performance. |
| Antutu Score | 749,100 | 690,000 | The S21+ scores a bit higher, indicating generally better processing power. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Adreno 644 | Different GPUs, which can impact gaming and graphics-intensive tasks; performance would vary depending on the specific application. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 12MP, f/1.8, 1/1.76", Sony IMX555 | 50MP, f/1.7, Unknown Sensor | The Nubia Flip's higher megapixel count may capture more detail; Wider aperture will perform better in low-light scenarios. |
| Telephoto Camera | 64MP, f/2.0, 1/1.72", Samsung Bright S5KGW2 | None | The S21+ offers better zoom capabilities and more diverse shooting options. |
| Selfie Camera | 10MP, f/2.2, 1/3.2", Sony IMX374 | 16MP, Unknown Sensor | The Nubia Flip has a higher megapixel count for selfies, potentially resulting in higher detail. |
| Depth Sensor | None | 2MP, f/2.4, Unknown Sensor | The Nubia Flip has a dedicated depth sensor for potentially better bokeh effects. |
| Wide Angle/Macro | 12.2MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55", Sony IMX563 | None | The S21+ offers the ability to take wide-angle photos and macro shots; It provides versatility for different photography situations. |
| Video Recording | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps, 1080p@240fps | No Specified; Slow Motion 120fps | The S21+ offers higher resolution and frame rate recording, superior for higher quality content creation. The Nubia Flip's video recording capabilities are not specified, but it does offer slow-motion recording. |
| Camera DXOMARK Score | 111 (Mobile), 118 (Photo), 89 (Video) | Not Tested | The S21+ has a tested and benchmarked camera performance, where as the Nubia Flip does not. |
| Camera Features | 4K, 8K, OIS, RAW, PDAF | 4K, Ultra stable video | The S21+ offers OIS, RAW, PDAF for more photography control and stabilization. The Nubia Flip offers ultra-stable video recording, but is missing features. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4800mAh | 4310mAh | The S21+ has a slightly larger battery, potentially providing a longer battery life. |
| Charging | 25W | 33W | The Nubia Flip charges faster. |
| Features | Wireless Charging, Reverse Charging | Reverse Charging | The S21+ has the added benefit of wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 15) | Android 13 | The Nubia Flip comes with a newer version of Android out of the box. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | WiFi 6, Dual Band, Hotspot, Direct, Display | WiFi 6, Dual Band, Hotspot, Direct, Display, MIMO | Both have similar WiFi connectivity, with Nubia having the benefit of MIMO. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0, LE, APT-x | 5.2, LE, APT-x, LDAC, AAC | The Nubia Flip has newer Bluetooth with LDAC and AAC support. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo (L1+L5), Galileo (E1+E5a) | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2) | The Nubia Flip has more satellite support for better GPS accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual Nano SIM + eSIM | Dual Nano SIM + eSIM | Both support Dual SIM, with eSIM support. |
| Storage & RAM | |||
| Internal Storage | 128/256GB | 256/512GB | The Nubia Flip offers more base storage. |
| RAM | 8GB | 8/12GB | The Nubia Flip offers a 12 GB ram variant, which will improve multitasking ability. |
| Expandable Storage | None | None | Neither phone supports microSD cards. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res, Noise Cancellation, Stereo Speakers | Basic audio | The S21+ offers a superior audio experience with advanced features. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic Fingerprint Sensor | Side-mounted Fingerprint Sensor | The Nubia Flip has a more convenient fingerprint sensor location. |
| Build | |||
| Protection | Gorilla Glass Victus | Unknown Screen Protection | The S21+ has more protection for its display. |
| Sensors | |||
| Features | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Barometer | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Pedometer | The S21+ offers additional sensors for environmental measurements. The Nubia Flip has a pedometer built in for fitness tracking. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G Advantages:
- Superior Display Technology: AMOLED display with vibrant colors and better contrast, along with higher peak brightness for better outdoor visibility.
- Better Camera System: Includes a telephoto lens, wide-angle lens, and 8K video recording; also has tested and confirmed camera performance through DXOMARK.
- Advanced Battery Features: Wireless charging and reverse wireless charging support.
- Enhanced Audio: Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res audio, and stereo speakers.
- Robust Build: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for better display protection.
- More Comprehensive Sensor Suite: Including a barometer for environmental data.
- Better video stabilization technologies
ZTE nubia Flip Advantages:
- Foldable Design: Offers a unique form factor with a larger screen that's still pocketable.
- Higher Resolution Display: Slightly sharper display with more pixels.
- Faster Charging: 33W fast charging.
- Newer Bluetooth: Supports Bluetooth 5.2 with LDAC and AAC codecs.
- More Internal Storage: 512 GB vs 256 GB.
- More RAM: The option of 12 GB RAM vs 8 GB RAM.
- Better GPS Accuracy: Offers better location accuracy with more satellite support.
- Lower base operating system
Trade-offs:
- The Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G lacks the novelty of a foldable design.
- The ZTE nubia Flip lacks the superior display technology, peak brightness, camera features, battery features, and audio quality of the Samsung Galaxy S21+.
- The Nubia has no protection listed for it's screen.
- The Nubia Flip's display brightness is unknown, it also has no DXOmark Score for its camera performance.
- The S21+ is a 2021 phone, so may struggle in other aspects as a result of its age.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G Ideal User:
- Media Consumers: Those who prioritize a high-quality display for watching videos and consuming content with enhanced sound.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who need a versatile camera system with a telephoto lens, wide-angle lens, and advanced video recording features.
- Power Users: Users who need all the features, and better performance, despite the age of the device.
- Users who want a traditional form factor: If the user does not want a foldable device.
Specific Use Cases for Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G:
- Professional photography and video recording.
- Watching high-resolution videos and movies with immersive audio.
- Gaming, due to its higher performance scores, and better display technology.
- Outdoor use in bright sunlight.
ZTE nubia Flip Ideal User:
- Early Adopters: Individuals who want the latest tech, and want a foldable phone with a large screen.
- Multitaskers: Those who need more screen real estate for multitasking with a more affordable foldable.
- Users on a budget: Those looking for a foldable phone without paying the premium prices from larger manufacturers
- GPS Tracking: People who need more accurate GPS data while on the go.
Specific Use Cases for ZTE nubia Flip:
- Reading e-books or browsing the web with a larger, foldable screen.
- Quickly multitasking between apps on a larger screen and switching to the smaller form factor for portability.
- Longer outdoor trips, where a more accurate GPS might come in handy.
- People wanting the latest phone form factor.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G, being an older device is likely more affordable than at launch, with a focus on overall performance and features.
- The ZTE nubia Flip offers a unique foldable design at a lower price point, making it attractive to those wanting a foldable without breaking the bank.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Do you prioritize a high-quality display and camera system, or a foldable design with larger screen? The Samsung S21+ is the better choice for display and camera quality, while the ZTE nubia Flip offers a large, folding display.
- How important is outdoor visibility? The S21+'s higher screen brightness makes it superior in sunny conditions. The Nubia's brightness is not stated.
- Is having a reliable, feature rich, flagship phone more important than the latest form factor? The S21+ offers more features, along with a known reliable performance rating, while the ZTE Nubia Flip has the novel fold.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Professional Photographer/Videographer: The Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G is the better choice with its better camera system (including optical zoom and 8K video) and the additional features that are not included on the Nubia flip.
- Scenario 2: Tech Enthusiast wanting a Foldable: The ZTE nubia Flip is the better choice with it's foldable design, and larger screen, without having to spend a premium.
- Scenario 3: Budget-Conscious User: If both phones were near eachother in price, the Nubia flip might be better value with the larger screen, but with some sacrifices.
- Scenario 4: Everyday User: The S21+ is more reliable, but the Nubia might be more modern. The S21+ would provide a better experience day to day.
What I would choose and why!
Based on my analysis, I would choose the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G. While the ZTE nubia Flip has a cool foldable design, the lack of concrete screen specifications, and lack of camera performance testing, combined with a less powerful chipset is a bit of a gamble. The S21+, while a few years older, is a more complete and reliable experience with its superior display, better camera system, wireless charging, and audio features. While the S21+ is an older device, it's flagship specs, and features, make it the better overall choice. The lack of specifications for the Nubia Flip, means that too much is left up to assumption, and the lower processor is a bit of a concern.
