1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Nokia G100 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 165.1 × 75.6 × 8.9 mm | 166.6 × 76.7 × 8.9 mm | Nokia G100 is slightly taller and wider, might feel marginally less comfortable in smaller hands, but both have the same thickness. |
| Weight | 227g | 195.1g | Nokia G100 is noticeably lighter, making it more comfortable for prolonged use and easier to carry around. |
| Build | Standard | Standard | Both phones have standard smartphone form factor, no foldable or unique design features. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Nokia G100 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.8" | 6.52" | Samsung has a slightly larger display providing a more immersive experience for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 1440x3200 | 720x1600 | Samsung's significantly higher resolution provides much sharper visuals, text, and images. This is especially noticeable when viewing high-resolution content or reading small text. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 515 | 269 | Samsung's display is much sharper, with finer details and less pixelation. Text and images are noticeably crisper. |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | Samsung's AMOLED display provides deeper blacks, richer colors, and better contrast, resulting in a more vibrant viewing experience, especially for videos and images. Also, better for dark mode efficiency. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | Samsung's 120Hz display is much smoother, making scrolling, animations, and gaming look and feel significantly more fluid. |
| Brightness | 1500 nits | 0 nits | Samsung's display is much brighter, ensuring better visibility outdoors, especially in direct sunlight. The Nokia G100's brightness is not specified, suggesting it might be significantly dimmer. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Nokia G100 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - International | Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) | Samsung's 5nm chipset offers substantially faster processing, making the device much more responsive, suitable for demanding apps and games, better power efficiency. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,000 | 201,615 | Samsung's device is dramatically faster in real-world performance, excelling at multitasking, gaming, and demanding apps. Nokia is significantly slower in app loading and general usage. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 - International | Adreno 610 | Samsung's GPU is significantly more powerful, providing much better graphics rendering for gaming and graphically intensive applications. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Nokia G100 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Camera | 108MP, f/1.8, 1/1.33", Samsung S5KHM3, 0.80µm pixel size | 13MP, f/2.0 | Samsung captures significantly more detailed images with a larger sensor, wider aperture, and higher resolution; performing better in low-light situations and when cropping in on photos. |
| Telephoto + Portrait | 10.8MP, f/2.4, 1/2.65", Samsung S5K3J1, 1.22 µm pixel size | N/A | Samsung has a dedicated telephoto lens, allowing for optical zoom and better portrait shots, whereas Nokia lacks this feature. |
| Selfie Camera | 44MP, f/2.2, 1/2.65", Samsung S5KGH1, 0.70µm pixel size | 8MP, f/2.4 | Samsung captures more detailed selfies, better low-light performance, and wider aperture leading to more light intake than the Nokia G100. |
| Telephoto Lens | 10.8MP, f/4.9, 1/2.65", Samsung S5K3J1, 1.22 µm pixel size | N/A | Samsung offers a dedicated telephoto lens, enabling optical zoom and superior image quality at longer distances; not available on Nokia. |
| Wide Angle Lens | N/A | 5MP, f/2.2 | Nokia provides the option for wide-angle shots which are not available on the Samsung phone. |
| Portrait Mode (Depth) | N/A | 2MP, f/2.4 | Nokia offers a dedicated depth sensor for improved portrait mode effects, not found in Samsung's setup. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | 12.2MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55", Sony IMX563, 1.40 µm pixel size | N/A | Samsung's camera is capable of taking ultra-wide shots and macro shots, providing more versatile shooting options. |
| Video Recording | Up to 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps with HDR, EIS, Stereo Sound | 1080p@30fps | Samsung provides much more high-quality video recording capabilities, including 8K video, 4k with higher frames and slo-motion capabilities, plus better stabilization. |
| DXOMark Score | Mobile: 115 (Photo: 121, Video: 100), Selfie: 135 (Photo: 133, Video: 140) | N/A | Samsung's Camera performance is significantly better based on DXOMark Scores; demonstrating much higher video and photo capabilities. |
| Camera Features | 4K Video, 8K Video, Optical Zoom, Quadruple Camera, OIS, Laser AF, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), RAW | Digital zoom, Triple camera | Samsung has a more extensive range of camera features, offering manual controls, optical zoom, stabilization, advanced focusing, and RAW image capture, while Nokia provides only essential features. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Nokia G100 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones have the same battery capacity, suggesting comparable battery endurance; however, overall battery life depends on usage patterns. |
| Charging | 25W fast charging, Li-Polymer | 15W fast charging, Li-Ion | Samsung charges faster, thus reducing downtime for charging the battery. Li-Polymer batteries typically have a longer lifespan than Li-Ion. |
| Features | Wireless charging, Reverse charging | No notable additional features | Samsung offers additional useful features like wireless charging, reverse wireless charging for convenience. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G Advantages:
- Superior Display: Significantly higher resolution, pixel density, AMOLED technology, 120Hz refresh rate, and brightness. This results in a much sharper, more vibrant, and smoother viewing experience, especially for media consumption, gaming, and outdoor use.
- Much Faster Performance: The Exynos 2100 chipset provides significantly better processing power, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. The AnTuTu score clearly reflects this performance gap.
- Far Superior Camera System: The 108MP main camera, multiple telephoto lenses, and a high-resolution selfie camera capture much more detail and offer significantly better image quality, wider aperture and zoom capabilities. The camera features are more extensive.
- Advanced Battery Features: Wireless charging, faster 25W charging, and reverse charging for greater convenience.
- Better Connectivity: Newer Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 for faster wireless performance, wider range, and lower latency.
- Premium Audio: Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, and stereo speakers provide better sound quality for media consumption.
- Higher RAM Options and Storage Capacity: 12 GB/16 GB of RAM options and up to 512GB storage ensures smoother multitasking and ample space for media.
- Stronger Build Quality: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus screen protection ensures more robust protection from scratches and drops
Nokia G100 Advantages:
- Lighter Weight: More comfortable to hold for extended periods and easier to carry.
- Wide Angle Lens and Depth Sensor: Offers a wide-angle camera and dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode, which Samsung lacks.
- Newer OS: Comes with Android 12 out of the box, though it is not clear if it will be receiving updates.
- Lower Price Point: Usually sold at a more affordable price range compared to the high-end Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G.
Significant Trade-offs:
- Display Quality: The Nokia G100's display is considerably inferior with a lower resolution, IPS LCD technology, 60Hz refresh rate, and less impressive brightness. This greatly affects the viewing experience.
- Performance: The Snapdragon 662 chipset is significantly slower than the Exynos 2100, impacting overall device responsiveness and gaming performance.
- Camera Capabilities: The camera system is much less advanced than that of the Samsung, with lower resolution, less versatile lenses, and fewer features.
- Charging Speeds and Features: Slower 15W charging and no wireless charging option.
- Audio Features: Lacks the advanced audio features and stereo speakers of the Samsung phone.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Ideal Users for Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G:
- Professional photographers and videographers: The superior camera system and 8K video recording are ideal for content creation.
- Mobile gamers: The powerful chipset, higher refresh rate display, and superior GPU provide a great gaming experience.
- Heavy smartphone users: The larger screen, faster performance and better battery life with fast and wireless charging is ideal for power users who need the best experience possible on a mobile phone.
- Media enthusiasts: The high-quality AMOLED display and advanced audio features are perfect for immersive media consumption.
Ideal Users for Nokia G100:
- Budget-conscious consumers: Those looking for a more affordable phone with basic smartphone functionality.
- Casual users: People who need a phone for basic tasks like calling, texting, social media browsing, and casual photography.
- Users who prefer lightweight phones: Those who value a lighter and more comfortable device for everyday use.
- Users looking for a wide-angle camera: Those who enjoy taking wide-angle pictures.
Use Cases Where Each Excels:
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G:
- Professional photography and videography, high-end gaming, watching high-resolution videos, working on productivity tasks, using apps and multitasking.
- Outdoor use in bright sunlight conditions.
- Nokia G100:
- Basic day-to-day tasks, social media browsing, taking the odd picture with a wider angle, calling, texting, and email.
- Users who prefer a lightweight phone.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is a high-end phone with a premium price tag. It provides top-tier performance, excellent camera, better screen, and advanced features, reflecting its higher cost.
- The Nokia G100 offers better price-to-value if your budget is very limited, providing basic functionalities at a lower cost. It provides a usable experience for basic tasks, but does not perform as well as the Samsung in other areas.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is my budget? The price difference is substantial. If budget is the biggest constraint, the Nokia is a better option.
- What is my primary use case? Am I a heavy user, a mobile gamer, a content creator, or a basic user? This will greatly influence which phone is more suitable.
- How important are display quality and camera performance? If these are crucial factors, the Samsung is the far better choice.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
Scenario 1: Limited Budget, Basic Use: If the buyer is on a very tight budget and primarily uses their phone for basic communication, social media, and casual use, the Nokia G100 is a more sensible choice.
Scenario 2: High Performance, Camera and Display: If the buyer values performance, wants a great camera, and enjoys high-quality video and media consumption, they should choose the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G. The price reflects the greatly increased performance, display and camera capabilities.
Scenario 3: Prioritizing Lightweight, Basic Functionality: If the buyer prioritizes lightweight design and requires only basic functionality with an occasional wide angle picture, and is on a budget, the Nokia G100 is a better option.
My Choice
Given the information, I would choose the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G. My primary usage of a smartphone involves a multitude of demanding tasks, including heavy media consumption, and the camera capabilities are extremely important to me. The Samsung provides a vastly superior display for media consumption, higher performance for multitasking, and a substantially better camera for high-quality photos and videos, with many professional features. While the Nokia G100 is a functional device, the stark differences in core experience make the Samsung a more attractive option for my needs, as the price difference is justified by the vastly increased performance and quality it provides. For me, the practical implications of the superior display, faster performance and advanced camera outweigh the advantages of the lighter weight and lower cost of the Nokia.
