1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | vivo V21 5G | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | Standard | Foldable | The Z Fold4 offers a unique foldable design, allowing for a tablet-like experience, while the V21 5G is a traditional smartphone. |
| Dimensions | 159.7 x 73.9 x 7.3 mm | 155.1 x 130.1 x 6.3 mm (Unfolded) | The V21 5G is taller and slightly thicker, while the Z Fold4 is significantly wider when unfolded, offering a larger screen. The Fold4 is more compact when folded. |
| Weight | 176g | 263g | The V21 5G is much lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use. The Z Fold4 is heavier, reflecting its more complex design. |
Display
| Feature | vivo V21 5G | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.44" | 7.6" | The Z Fold4 has a much larger display, offering a more immersive experience for media consumption and multitasking. |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 | 1812 x 2176 | The Z Fold4 has a sharper display with a higher pixel count, resulting in more detail and clarity. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 409 | 373 | The V21 5G has slightly higher pixel density, offering slightly sharper text and images on paper, but practically negligible. |
| Technology | AMOLED | Unknown | The V21 5G's AMOLED display provides superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors, though the Z Fold 4 has unknown display technology which does not guarantee it is worse. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | The Z Fold4's higher refresh rate makes scrolling and animations look smoother than V21 5G. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both phones have identical peak brightness, the value of 0 nits is likely missing data. |
Performance
| Feature | vivo V21 5G | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 800U (7 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) | The Z Fold4 has a significantly more powerful and efficient chipset, offering faster processing, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 343,150 | 1,232,800 | The Z Fold4 has a much higher benchmark score, indicating substantially better overall performance. |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC3 | Adreno 730 | The Z Fold4’s GPU is significantly more powerful, providing superior graphics performance for gaming and demanding apps. |
Camera
| Feature | vivo V21 5G | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 64MP, f/1.79 | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.57", 1.0µm | The V21 5G has a higher megapixel count, but the Z Fold4 has a larger sensor, meaning it should perform better in low light. |
| Selfie Camera | 44MP, f/2.0, 1/2.65", 0.7µm | 10MP, f/2.2, 1/3.2", 1.22µm | The V21 5G has a much higher megapixel count for selfies, but the Z Fold4's sensor has larger pixels. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 10MP, f/2.4, 1/3.9", 1.0µm | The Z Fold4 has a dedicated telephoto lens for better optical zoom capabilities, while the V21 5G relies on digital zoom. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2 | 13MP, f/2.2, 1/3.06", 1.12µm | The Z Fold4 offers a higher resolution wide-angle lens, capturing more details in wide shots. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | V21 5G has a dedicated macro lens to capture extreme close-up shots. |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps, 1080p@240fps | The Z Fold4 offers superior video capabilities, including 8K recording and higher frame rates for slow motion. |
| DxOMark Score | - | Main: 124, Photo: 131, Video: 122 | The Z Fold4 has been tested by DxOMark with the provided scores, which are a good indicator of real-world performance. |
| Camera Features | OIS, Autofocus, Touch focus, PDAF, Digital image stabilization, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, Front Flash, Ultra stable video, 4K Video | OIS, Optical zoom, Digital zoom, Autofocus, Touch focus, Manual focus, Laser AF, PDAF, LAF, Digital image stabilization, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW, Night Mode, Dual front camera, Under display camera, 4K Video | The Z Fold4 has a wider range of camera features, providing more creative control for advanced photography. |
Battery
| Feature | vivo V21 5G | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4000mAh | 4400mAh | The Z Fold4 has a slightly larger battery, which should translate to slightly longer battery life, though the screen and processor demand more power. |
| Charging | 33W Fast Charging | 25W Fast Charging | The V21 5G charges faster than the Z Fold4. |
| Features | Non-removable | Bypass Charging, Reverse charging, Non-removable, Wireless charging 15W, Reverse wireless charging 9W | The Z Fold4 has more advanced battery features such as wireless and reverse wireless charging and bypass charging. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
vivo V21 5G Advantages:
- Lighter and Thinner: More comfortable for one-handed use and carrying around all day.
- Faster Charging: Charges quicker with 33W fast charging.
- Higher Resolution Selfie Camera: Offers higher megapixel count for selfies which can translate to better detailed images.
- Macro Lens: Dedicated macro lens offers close-up photography capabilities.
- Lower Cost: Likely to be significantly more affordable than the Z Fold4.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 Advantages:
- Foldable Display: Offers a unique, large-screen experience for media and multitasking.
- Superior Performance: Flagship-level chipset with much better benchmark scores for demanding apps and games.
- Advanced Camera System: Includes a telephoto lens, a wide angle lens with higher resolution and more advanced camera features like manual focus, raw and night mode.
- Better Video Capabilities: Offers 8K recording and better slow-motion recording capabilities.
- More Advanced Battery Features: Wireless charging, reverse wireless charging, and bypass charging.
- More RAM: 12 GB RAM enables smoother multitasking and app performance.
- More Storage Options: Available in 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1024 GB configurations.
- Newer Software: Ships with Android 12, with future updates guaranteed.
- Enhanced Connectivity: Supports Wi-Fi 6 and newer Bluetooth versions.
- Dolby Atmos & Stereo Speakers: Enhanced audio experience for movies and gaming.
- Better Build: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ for superior screen protection.
- Better Sensors: Barometer, Gravity, Hall, and Geomagnetic.
Significant Trade-offs:
- The Z Fold4 is much heavier and bulkier compared to the V21 5G and comes at a premium price.
- While the V21 5G lacks a telephoto lens, it offers a dedicated macro lens and superior selfie resolution.
- The Z Fold4 charges slower compared to the V21 5G's fast charging.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Ideal User for vivo V21 5G:
- Budget-conscious users: Seeking good value for money with a focus on camera features.
- Casual users: Primarily use their phone for social media, browsing, and taking occasional photos.
- Users who prefer a lightweight, ergonomic design: Those who value comfort and ease of one-handed use.
- Users who take a lot of selfies: Will appreciate the higher resolution front facing camera.
Use Cases for vivo V21 5G:
- Daily social media and messaging
- Casual photography, especially selfies and macro photos.
- Video calls and conference calls.
- Everyday browsing and media consumption.
Ideal User for Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4:
- Power users and tech enthusiasts: Seeking cutting-edge technology, maximum performance, and a unique form factor.
- Multitaskers: Need a large display and powerful hardware for running multiple apps simultaneously.
- Professionals: Require a device with a premium build, advanced features, and capabilities for creating content.
- Gamers: Want a device with excellent graphics performance, higher refresh rate, and high-end processor.
- Users who watch movies and listen to music on their phone: Will appreciate Dolby Atmos and stereo speakers.
Use Cases for Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4:
- Professional work, including document editing and presentations.
- Mobile gaming with demanding graphics.
- Multi-tasking with several apps at the same time.
- High-quality photo and video capture.
- Immersive media consumption.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The V21 5G offers excellent value for its price, providing a capable camera and good overall performance for everyday tasks, and is considerably cheaper than the Z Fold4.
- The Z Fold4 is a high-end, premium device. It has a significantly higher price but is justifiable for those who need its advanced features and unique foldable design.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is my budget? The Z Fold4 will be significantly more expensive.
- Do I need a large, foldable screen and advanced performance? Or is a more traditional lightweight phone sufficient?
- What are my primary use cases? What features do I need most (i.e. camera, battery, portability)?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget is a primary concern, with an emphasis on good selfies: The vivo V21 5G is the better choice due to its significantly lower price and higher-resolution front-facing camera.
- Scenario 2: Performance and Multitasking are critical: The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 is the clear winner, as it boasts a much more powerful processor, more RAM and a unique foldable screen, which allows for better productivity.
- Scenario 3: Need a versatile camera system: The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 is the better option due to its telephoto lens and more advanced camera features.
- Scenario 4: Prefer a lighter, more comfortable phone for one-handed use: The vivo V21 5G is preferable due to its lighter build and smaller dimensions.
- Scenario 5: Want the latest tech and a unique form factor: The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 is the obvious choice for its foldable display and flagship-level hardware, provided budget isn't a limiting factor.
My Choice
Personally, I would choose the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4. While the price is a significant factor, the advantages it offers in terms of performance, display, camera capabilities, and battery features align more closely with my needs. I appreciate the larger display for multitasking and media consumption, the superior performance for gaming and demanding apps, and the advanced camera features. The V21 5G is a good phone, but the Z Fold 4 justifies its higher price by offering a substantially superior experience.
