Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G vs. Oppo Find X5 Pro
1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Oppo Find X5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 165.1 × 75.6 × 8.9 mm | 163.7 × 73.9 × 8.5 mm | The S21 Ultra is slightly larger and thicker, potentially less comfortable for smaller hands. The Find X5 Pro is more pocketable and ergonomic. |
| Weight | 227g | 218g | The Find X5 Pro is 9g lighter, making it slightly more comfortable during extended use. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Oppo Find X5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.8" | 6.7" | Minimal difference in size, both provide immersive viewing. |
| Resolution | 1440x3200 | 1440x3216 | Both offer very sharp and detailed visuals. |
| PPI | 515 | 525 | Both offer excellent sharpness, negligible real-world difference. |
| Technology | AMOLED | - | Samsung's AMOLED provides superior contrast, black levels, and potentially more vibrant colors. The Oppo Find X5 Pro display technology is not specified, making comparison incomplete. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 1500 nits | 1300 nits | The S21 Ultra is brighter, providing better outdoor visibility in bright sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Oppo Find X5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 generally offers better performance and power efficiency. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,000 | 1,138,104 | The Find X5 Pro demonstrates significantly faster performance, especially for gaming and heavy multitasking. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Adreno 730 | The Adreno 730 in the Find X5 Pro generally offers superior graphics performance. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Oppo Find X5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 108MP | 50MP | The S21 Ultra captures more detailed images. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/1.33" | 1/1.56" | S21 Ultra has a physically larger sensor, generally better in low light conditions. |
| Main Camera Pixel Size | 0.80 µm | 1.00 µm | The Find X5 Pro's larger pixels can gather more light, improving low light performance. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.8 | f/1.7 | Find X5 Pro's slightly wider aperture may capture more light. |
| Telephoto + Portrait | 10.8MP | Not available | The S21 Ultra offers a dedicated telephoto + portrait lens for zoom and portrait effects. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 44MP | 32MP | S21 Ultra captures more detailed selfies. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.4 | S21 Ultra's wider aperture potentially allows for better low-light selfies. |
| Selfie Camera Sensor Size | 1/2.65" | 1/2.74" | S21 Ultra's slightly larger sensor may capture more light. |
| Telephoto Lens Resolution | 10.8MP | 13MP | Negligible difference in terms of practical usage |
| Telephoto Lens Aperture | f/4.9 | f/2.4 | The Find X5 Pro's much wider aperture will allow in more light and improved performance in low light |
| Telephoto Lens Sensor Size | 1/2.65" | 1/3.4" | The S21 Ultra has a larger sensor that allows for more light. |
| Wide Angle + Macro Resolution | 12.2MP | 50MP | Find X5 Pro captures much more detailed ultrawide and macro images. |
| Wide Angle + Macro Sensor Size | 1/2.55" | 1/1.56" | Find X5 Pro has larger sensor, resulting in more detail and superior low light capability |
| Video Recording | 8K@24fps | 4K@60fps | S21 Ultra can record in higher resolution; Find X5 Pro prioritizes smoother 4K capture. |
| DxoMark Mobile Score | 115 | 130 | Find X5 Pro scores higher in photo and video quality. |
| DxoMark Selfie Score | 135 | 116 | S21 Ultra scores higher in selfie photo and video quality. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Oppo Find X5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both offer comparable battery life. |
| Charging | 25W | 80W | The Find X5 Pro charges much faster, significantly reducing downtime. |
| Wireless Charging | 15W | 50W | Find X5 Pro offers faster wireless charging. |
| Reverse Wireless Charging | 9W | 10W | Similar performance in reverse wireless charging. |
Other
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Oppo Find X5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Operating System | Android 11 (upgradable to 15) | Android 12 (upgradable to 14) | Find X5 Pro has newer Android version out of the box but likely won't have support for as long as the S21 Ultra |
| Storage | 128/256/512GB | 256/512GB | The S21 Ultra offers a lower base storage variant for more budget conscious buyers. |
| RAM | 12/16GB | 8/12GB | The S21 Ultra offers a higher RAM configuration (16GB) for more extreme users. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Both lack expandable storage, so users must carefully consider storage needs. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G Advantages
- Higher Main Camera Resolution: 108MP sensor allows for more detailed images when resolution is paramount.
- Better Selfie Camera: Higher resolution and wider aperture for enhanced selfies.
- 8K Video Recording: Offers professional-grade 8K video capture for higher fidelity footage.
- Higher Maximum RAM: 16GB RAM for extreme multitasking.
- Telephoto + Portrait Lens: Dedicated lens for optical zoom and high-quality portrait photography
- Brighter Display: 1500 nits provides better readability in bright sunlight.
- Potentially Longer Software Support: The S21 Ultra will likely receive software updates for longer than the Find X5 Pro.
Oppo Find X5 Pro Advantages
- Faster Performance: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset provides significantly better performance.
- Superior Main Camera Sensor: Larger pixel size on the main sensor results in better low-light performance.
- Faster Charging: 80W fast charging and 50W wireless charging significantly reduce charging times.
- Higher DxoMark Scores: Higher scores in mobile photo and video tests by DxoMark.
- Wider aperture on telephoto lens: Allows for significantly improved zoom photos in lower light conditions
- Superior Wide Angle Lens: Larger sensor and higher resolution result in better performance.
Trade-offs
- The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra sacrifices processing performance and charging speed for higher camera resolution, a brighter display and a dedicated telephoto + portrait lens.
- The Oppo Find X5 Pro sacrifices high resolution on its main sensor and its selfie camera for superior low-light performance, faster charging, and a more powerful processor.
- Both phones do not offer expandable storage
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G Ideal Users:
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who want very high-resolution images and a versatile zoom system.
- Video Content Creators: Those who need 8K video recording capabilities for professional content.
- Heavy Multitaskers: Users who require large amounts of RAM.
- Users Who Need A Bright Screen: If brightness is a key factor for the user, the S21 Ultra is the ideal choice
- Users Seeking Long Term Support: Users who want software updates for as long as possible.
Specific Use Cases:
- Professional photography/videography, capturing detailed landscapes, producing high quality video content.
- Multitasking heavy applications, running multiple virtual machines or emulators.
Oppo Find X5 Pro Ideal Users:
- Gamers: Users who prioritize performance and fast load times.
- Mobile Photographers: Those who value low-light performance and overall image quality.
- Users Always On The Go: Those who need faster charging and minimal downtime.
- Users seeking cutting-edge features: Users who prioritize the best available features and performance.
Specific Use Cases:
- Playing graphically intense mobile games, capturing high-quality night-time photos, keeping battery topped up during a busy day.
Price-to-Value Ratio
- The S21 Ultra, being an older model, might offer better value now due to price drops.
- The Find X5 Pro, being newer, may come at a higher price but offers significantly better performance and charging capabilities.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is top-tier processing power and faster charging? If high performance and fast charging is a priority, the Oppo Find X5 Pro is the stronger choice.
- Do you prioritize a higher resolution camera, especially for selfies and 8K video? If so, the S21 Ultra is the better choice.
- Are you going to be using the phone in very bright environments? If so, the S21 Ultra is the better choice due to its brighter screen.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: High-Performance Gaming & Media: The Oppo Find X5 Pro is the better choice due to its superior chipset and GPU for gaming and smooth playback.
- Scenario 2: Professional Photography & Videography: The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is better due to its 8K recording capabilities, higher resolution main camera, additional telephoto + portrait camera, and brighter display.
- Scenario 3: Everyday Use with Fast Charging: The Oppo Find X5 Pro is preferable due to its significantly faster 80W charging, making it more convenient.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would personally pick the Oppo Find X5 Pro. While I appreciate the versatility of the S21 Ultra's camera system and its bright display, the performance improvements offered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset are too significant to ignore for my daily usage. Additionally, the vastly superior charging speeds of the Find X5 Pro would make it much more convenient for my needs. I don't capture 8k footage and I don't find myself using the telephoto lens very often, so for me personally the increased performance is much more useful. The improvements in the main camera sensor and wide angle lenses, along with the DxoMark scores also show a noticeable improvement in picture quality which is a big factor for me. Ultimately, the Find X5 Pro is the more well-rounded device and will likely offer a more enjoyable day-to-day experience.
