1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | vivo V21 5G | Huawei nova 8i | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 159.7 × 73.9 × 7.3 mm | 161.9 × 74.7 × 8.6 mm | The vivo is slightly shorter, thinner, and less bulky. The Huawei is slightly larger, potentially feeling less comfortable in hand but providing more screen real estate. |
| Weight | 176g | 190g | The vivo is lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use and carrying around. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.44" | 6.67" | Huawei has a marginally larger display, which is good for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2376 | Very similar sharpness; minimal difference in daily use. |
| PPI | 409 | 391 | The vivo has slightly sharper display but the difference is hardly noticeable. |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | AMOLED offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors for better visual experience, especially in dark mode or when watching videos. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 60Hz | The vivo's 90Hz refresh rate provides smoother scrolling and animations, resulting in a more fluid user experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Brightness is identical, which isn't useful for comparison without actual nits data. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 800U (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) | The Dimensity 800U is more powerful, leading to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better performance in games. |
| AnTuTu Score | 343,150 | 201,000 | The vivo offers significantly better performance for demanding tasks and gaming. |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC3 | Adreno 610 | The Mali-G57 MC3 offers better graphics processing power, resulting in smoother gameplay. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4000mAh | 4300mAh | The Huawei has slightly larger battery, potentially offering a slightly longer battery life. |
| Charging | 33W Fast Charging | 66W Fast Charging | Huawei charges much faster, reducing the time you need to be plugged into a charger. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Lens | 64MP, f/1.79 | 64MP, f/1.9 | The vivo has slightly wider aperture, which can improve low-light performance. |
| Selfie Lens | 44MP, f/2.0, 1/2.65" Sensor (Samsung S5KGH1) | 16MP, f/2.0 | The vivo has much higher resolution selfie camera, for detailed selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2 | 8MP, f/2.2, 1.12 µm pixels | Comparable wide-angle performance. |
| Depth Sensor | None | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75 µm pixels | Huawei has a dedicated depth sensor for better portrait mode photos. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75 µm pixels | Comparable macro performance. |
| Video | 4K@30fps (with OIS) , 1080p@60fps (with OIS) | 1080p@30fps | The vivo offers higher resolution video and OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) for smoother videos. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 10 | vivo has newer Android version out of the box |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Dual band, Hotspot, Direct, Display | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Hotspot, Display | vivo has Wi-Fi Direct, allowing easier file transfer to compatible devices. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 (LE), A2DP, APT-x, LDAC, SBC | 5.0 (LE), A2DP, APT-x, LDAC, AAC | vivo has newer Bluetooth version and supports SBC codec. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128GB or 256 GB | 128GB | The vivo has options for more storage (256GB), which is beneficial for storing large media files. |
| RAM | 8GB | 6GB | The vivo has more RAM for smoother multitasking and better performance in demanding applications. |
| Expandable | No | No | No expandable storage for either device. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Basic Audio | Noise cancellation mic, Stereo Speakers, 2 microphones | Huawei provides superior audio experience for calls and listening to music or videos. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic fingerprint sensor | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | The Huawei has a more convenient side-mounted sensor, though both provide basic biometric security. |
| Sensors | |||
| Features | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Gravity | Huawei includes gravity sensor in addition to standard ones. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
vivo V21 5G Advantages:
- Superior Display: The AMOLED display provides better contrast and more vibrant colors compared to the IPS LCD on the Huawei.
- Better Performance: The Dimensity 800U chipset offers significantly better performance compared to the Snapdragon 662, making it suitable for demanding applications and gaming.
- Higher Resolution Selfie Camera: The 44MP front camera on the vivo captures more detailed selfies.
- Better Video Recording: The vivo supports 4K video recording at 30fps with Optical Image Stabilization, resulting in sharper and more stable videos.
- More RAM and Storage: The vivo offers 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB storage option, which can significantly enhance multitasking and storage capabilities.
- Newer Android Version: Comes with Android 11 out of the box.
- Newer Bluetooth Version: Has Bluetooth 5.1.
Huawei nova 8i Advantages:
- Faster Charging: The 66W fast charging is much faster than the 33W on the vivo, making it more convenient for quick top-ups.
- Slightly Larger Battery: The slightly larger battery capacity (4300mAh vs 4000mAh) might offer slightly longer battery life.
- Better Audio: Includes Stereo Speakers for better audio immersion. Has noise cancelling mic for clearer calls and also includes 2 microphones.
- Portrait Mode Depth Sensor: Includes dedicated depth sensor for enhanced portrait photos.
- Side-mounted Fingerprint Sensor: Offers a more convenient fingerprint sensor location.
- More Sensors: Has a gravity sensor in addition to standard ones.
Significant Trade-offs:
- The vivo prioritizes display quality, performance, and selfie capabilities over battery and audio and charging speed.
- The Huawei focuses on faster charging, battery life, and better audio over performance and display.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
vivo V21 5G Ideal Users:
- Content Creators: The superior selfie camera, 4K video recording with OIS and better screen makes it great for creating content.
- Gamers: The more powerful chipset and better GPU provide smoother gaming experience.
- Media Enthusiasts: The AMOLED display with 90Hz refresh rate offers an enhanced visual experience for movies and videos.
- Multitaskers: The higher RAM helps in handling multiple tasks.
- Users who want more storage: The 256GB version of the device is suitable for users with large media files.
Specific Use Cases:
- High-quality selfie videos for social media.
- Playing graphics intensive games.
- Watching movies and videos with vibrant colors.
- Smooth and responsive daily usage.
Huawei nova 8i Ideal Users:
- Frequent Travelers: The fast charging ensures less time spent plugged in during travel.
- Casual Users: Prioritizes battery life and good audio quality.
- Budget-Conscious Consumers: Offers essential features at a lower price point.
- Users who prefer side mounted fingerprint sensors: The side mounted fingerprint scanner is convenient to use.
- Users who prefer to have good audio quality: The device offers stereo speakers and a noise cancelling microphone.
Specific Use Cases:
- Long days with minimal charging opportunities.
- Clear audio for conference calls and media playback.
- Casual gaming and social media browsing.
- Users who take lots of portrait photos.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is display quality to you? (AMOLED with 90Hz on vivo vs IPS LCD on Huawei)
- Do you prioritize performance and gaming or battery life and fast charging? (More powerful chipset and better GPU on vivo vs faster charging on Huawei)
- Are you a content creator who takes lots of selfies and videos or just casual user? (Better selfie and video on vivo vs slightly better audio and side mounted fingerprint sensor on Huawei)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: High Performance & Media Consumption: If you need a phone for demanding games and enjoying high-quality media, the vivo V21 5G is the better choice.
- Scenario 2: All-Day Battery & Fast Charging: If you prioritize battery life and quick top-ups, then the Huawei nova 8i is more suitable.
- Scenario 3: Balanced Use with Budget Consideration: If you are looking for a good balance and are price conscious, and prioritize audio, then the Huawei nova 8i is a good option.
My Choice
If I had to choose, I would pick the vivo V21 5G. My reasoning is as follows:
- Superior Display: As someone who consumes a lot of media, the AMOLED display with its vibrant colors and deeper blacks is very important to me. I also appreciate the smoother experience the 90Hz refresh rate offers.
- Performance: I sometimes play games on my phone, and the Dimensity 800U chipset offers much better performance than the Snapdragon 662. This means I will be able to play more demanding games smoothly.
- Camera: I prefer to have higher-quality selfies and videos, and the 44MP front camera and 4K video recording on the vivo are very important to me.
- Software: The fact that the phone runs on Android 11 from the get go means it will be supported for longer.
Although the Huawei nova 8i has faster charging, better audio and the convenience of a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, the overall package of better screen, performance and camera of the vivo V21 5G makes it more appealing to my usage patterns.
