1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | vivo V21 5G | Nothing Phone (1) | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-05-06 | 2022-07-16 | Nothing Phone (1) is significantly newer, potentially offering longer software support and more up-to-date features. |
| Dimensions | 159.7 × 73.9 × 7.3 mm | 159.2 × 75.8 × 8.3 mm | vivo V21 5G is slimmer and narrower, making it easier to hold and use one-handed. Nothing Phone (1) has a larger overall volume which may feel more substantial. |
| Weight | 176g | 193.5g | vivo V21 5G is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.44" | 6.55" | Nothing Phone (1) has a slightly larger display, offering a more immersive viewing experience. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Both offer the same level of sharpness. |
| PPI | 409 | 402 | Both displays will appear equally sharp to the naked eye. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Both offer vibrant colors, deep blacks, and good contrast. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | Nothing Phone (1) has a smoother display, resulting in more fluid animations. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1200 nits | Nothing Phone (1) has dramatically higher brightness, making it much better for outdoor use in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 800U (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM7325-AE Snapdragon 778G+ 5G (6 nm) | Nothing Phone (1) has a significantly more powerful chipset, offering better performance in demanding apps and games. |
| AnTuTu Score | 343,150 | 624,253 | Nothing Phone (1) has a much higher benchmark score, indicating a smoother and faster overall experience. |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC3 | Adreno 642L | Nothing Phone (1)'s GPU is better for graphically intensive tasks such as gaming. |
| Camera | |||
| Rear Standard | 64MP, f/1.79, 0.80µm pixel size | 50MP, f/1.88, 1/1.56" sensor, 1.00µm pixel size | Nothing Phone (1) has a larger sensor, which generally captures more light and detail, especially in low-light. While the vivo has more megapixels, sensor size often matters more for image quality. |
| Front Camera | 44MP, f/2.0, 1/2.65" sensor, 0.70µm pixel size | 16MP, f/2.2, 1/3.13" sensor, 1.00µm pixel size | The vivo has a higher resolution and wider aperture for selfies. The Nothing has larger pixel size for more light intake but a smaller sensor |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2 | N/A | vivo V21 5G offers a dedicated ultra-wide lens for capturing expansive landscapes. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | N/A | vivo V21 5G has a dedicated macro lens for close-up photography. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | N/A | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/2.76" sensor, 0.64µm pixel size | Nothing Phone (1) has a single lens that does both ultrawide and macro, offering versatility. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@30fps, OIS, EIS | Up to 4K@30fps, HDR, EIS | Both offer 4K recording with stabilization, but Nothing Phone (1) supports HDR, which captures a wider range of colors and dynamic range. |
| Camera Features | Triple Camera, Front Flash | Dual Camera, Manual Focus, RAW, Night Mode | vivo V21 5G offers a dedicated triple camera setup while Nothing Phone (1) has more advanced shooting modes. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4000mAh | 4500mAh | Nothing Phone (1) has a larger battery, likely resulting in longer battery life. |
| Charging | 33W Fast Charging | 33W Fast Charging | Both have similar fast charging capabilities. |
| Battery Features | Non-removable | Reverse charging, No charger in box, Wireless charging 15W, Reverse wireless charging 5W, Non-removable | Nothing Phone (1) offers more versatile charging options with wireless and reverse charging. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 12 | Nothing Phone (1) ships with a newer version of Android and provides better software update support. |
| Max Android Version | 15 | Nothing Phone (1) will have updates to at least Android 15 | |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Nothing Phone (1) supports faster Wi-Fi speeds and better performance on congested networks. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.2 | Nothing Phone (1) offers slightly improved connection stability and power efficiency with Bluetooth 5.2. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), Galileo (E1+E5a), NavIC System | Nothing Phone (1) uses additional satellite systems for better accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM | Both support dual SIM functionality. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256 GB | 128/256 GB | Both phones have the same internal storage options. |
| RAM | 8 GB | 8/12 GB | Nothing Phone (1) offers a higher RAM option for heavy multitaskers. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Basic audio | Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | Nothing Phone (1) offers a more immersive audio experience with stereo speakers and better voice capture with 3 microphones. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic Fingerprint sensor | Basic Fingerprint sensor | Both have basic fingerprint security. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Nothing Phone (1) offers better protection against scratches and drops. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Fingerprint, Proximity | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Fingerprint, Proximity, RGB | Nothing Phone (1) features an additional RGB sensor |
2. Key Differences Analysis
vivo V21 5G Advantages:
- Lighter and Thinner Design: More comfortable to hold and use for extended periods and better for one-handed use.
- Higher Resolution Front Camera: Better for selfie lovers, providing more detail in photos and videos, and a wider aperture for better low light performance.
- Dedicated Wide-Angle and Macro Lenses: Offers more flexibility in photography, allowing for wide landscape shots and detailed close-ups.
- Front Flash: Better for low-light selfies.
Nothing Phone (1) Advantages:
- Newer and More Powerful Chipset: Significantly faster performance for gaming, multitasking, and demanding applications.
- Brighter Display: Much better visibility in bright sunlight, enhancing the user experience outdoors.
- Higher Refresh Rate: Smoother animations and scrolling, leading to a more fluid overall feel.
- Larger Battery: Longer battery life, reducing the need for frequent charging, and reverse charging.
- Wireless Charging: More convenient charging options.
- Stereo Speakers & 3 Microphones: Better audio quality for media consumption and improved voice capture for calls.
- Better Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 5 means better resistance to scratches and drops.
- More Satellite Systems: Better GPS Accuracy
- Software Support: Longer term Android support.
- Better Main Camera Sensor: Larger sensor generally better image quality, especially in low light.
- HDR Video: Captures video with a wider range of colors and dynamic range.
- Advanced camera features: Offers RAW and night mode.
Significant Trade-offs:
- The vivo V21 5G trades performance and display brightness for a lighter and slimmer design and higher resolution front camera with flash.
- The Nothing Phone (1) offers better overall performance and more features, but is heavier and lacks dedicated macro and wide angle lenses.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Ideal User for vivo V21 5G:
- Users who prioritize a lightweight and slim phone: Those who value portability and comfortable one-handed use.
- Selfie enthusiasts: Users who frequently take selfies and want a higher-resolution front camera with flash.
- Users who appreciate dedicated camera lenses: Those who enjoy different styles of photography and want a dedicated ultra-wide lens and macro lens.
- Users with basic computing needs: Users who don't need to push their phone to the limit with gaming or demanding applications.
- Budget conscious shoppers: Who might be able to find the V21 5G at a discount.
Ideal User for Nothing Phone (1):
- Performance-oriented users: Gamers and users who need a phone that can handle demanding tasks and applications smoothly.
- Users who need a bright display: People who frequently use their phone outdoors in direct sunlight.
- Users who value longer battery life and wireless charging: Those who want a more convenient charging experience and less frequent trips to a power outlet.
- Users who want better audio: People who enjoy listening to music or watching videos on their phone.
- Users who value overall quality: Those who want all-around well performing device with good longevity.
- Users who want to experience newer tech and software: Those who want newer Android and future updates.
Specific Use Cases:
- vivo V21 5G: Ideal for social media browsing, everyday communication, casual photography (especially selfies and standard shots), and those who value portability.
- Nothing Phone (1): Ideal for mobile gaming, intensive multitasking, watching videos, outdoor photography, and users who value longer battery life and faster performance.
Price-to-Value Ratio: The Nothing Phone (1) offers better overall value due to its significantly improved performance and features, it will however cost more as it is the newer device. The V21 5G may offer better value to users on a tighter budget, especially if found at a discount.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is performance and gaming to you?
- Do you prioritize a slimmer and lighter phone or a brighter display and longer battery life?
- How important is dedicated camera hardware (macro, ultrawide) vs advanced camera software (RAW, Night Mode) to you?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Basic User, Budget-Conscious:
- Recommendation: vivo V21 5G, especially if found at a discounted price. The V21 5G would be acceptable for social media, basic tasks, and selfies, while saving money on the purchase.
- Scenario 2: Performance Seeker, Mobile Gamer:
- Recommendation: Nothing Phone (1). The Nothing Phone (1) offers significantly better performance and a smoother display, making it the superior choice for gaming and demanding applications.
- Scenario 3: Outdoor User, Battery-Life Focused:
- Recommendation: Nothing Phone (1). The brighter display and larger battery of the Nothing Phone (1) make it the better option for those who frequently use their phone outdoors and need all day battery life.
- Scenario 4: Photo Enthusiast:
- Recommendation: Nothing Phone (1), for its better sensor, RAW support, and night mode. The V21 5G might be considered if wide and macro lenses are a primary factor.
My Choice
If I were to choose between these two phones, I would pick the Nothing Phone (1). My reasoning is as follows:
- Overall Performance: The Snapdragon 778G+ chipset in the Nothing Phone (1) is significantly more powerful than the Dimensity 800U in the vivo V21 5G. This translates to a smoother and more responsive experience in daily usage, especially when multitasking and gaming.
- Display Quality: While both have similar resolutions and use OLED-based technology, the 120Hz refresh rate on the Nothing Phone (1) is a noticeable upgrade for everyday interactions. More critically, the 1200 nits brightness is a key factor for me as I often use my phone outdoors and have experienced difficulty viewing the screens in bright sunlight.
- Battery: The Nothing Phone (1) provides a larger battery with reverse and wireless charging making it more versatile.
- Software: I prefer having a more up-to-date Android experience and the promise of longer software support, making the Nothing Phone (1) a more future-proof option.
While the vivo V21 5G is a decent phone with advantages in design and camera versatility, the Nothing Phone (1) offers a more compelling package for my use case, which prioritizes a balance of performance, display quality, battery life, and software updates. The trade-off of a slightly heavier design is acceptable given the other benefits.
