1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | vivo V21 5G | vivo X100 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-05-06 | 2023-11-21 | The X100 Pro is much newer, with likely better software support and newer technology. |
| Form Factor | Standard | Standard | Both are standard smartphones, no foldables or flip phones. |
| Dimensions | 159.7 × 73.9 × 7.3 mm | 164.1 × 75.3 × 8.9 mm | The X100 Pro is larger, slightly thicker, and will be less pocketable for some users. The V21 5G is more compact and easier to handle with one hand. |
| Weight | 176g | 221g | The V21 5G is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use and less tiring to hold for long durations. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.44" | 6.78" | The X100 Pro's larger display offers a more immersive experience for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1260x2800 | The X100 Pro has a much sharper display, resulting in crisper text and more detailed images. |
| Pixel Density | 409 PPI | 452 PPI | The X100 Pro has a slightly sharper display, with a higher density that results in smoother visuals. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks typical of AMOLED, so no practical difference here. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | The X100 Pro will have slightly smoother scrolling and animations, making the interface feel more fluid. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 3000 nits | The X100 Pro is far brighter, offering much better visibility in direct sunlight. The V21 is likely very difficult to use in daylight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 800U (7 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 9300 (4 nm) | The X100 Pro has a significantly more powerful and efficient chipset, offering much better performance for demanding tasks, gaming, and general use. |
| AnTuTu Score | 343,150 | 1,881,325 | The X100 Pro has dramatically better performance, loading apps faster, handling multitasking more smoothly, and is much better for gaming. |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC3 (ARM Mali-G57 MC3) | Immortalis-G720 MC12 (Immortalis-G720 MC12) | The X100 Pro has a much more capable GPU, offering significantly better graphics performance for gaming and demanding applications. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4000mAh | 5400mAh | The X100 Pro has a much larger battery, likely resulting in significantly better battery life, though actual endurance depends on usage. |
| Charging | 33W fast charging, Li-Polymer | 100W fast charging, Lithium | The X100 Pro charges much faster, allowing for quicker top-ups and less downtime. |
| Features | Non-removable | Reverse charging, Non-removable, Wireless charging 50W | The X100 Pro offers more versatile charging options including wireless and reverse charging, making it more convenient for many. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 64MP, f/1.79, 0.80 µm pixel size | 50MP, f/1.75, 1", 1.60 µm pixel size, Sony IMX989 | The X100 Pro has larger sensor, bigger pixels for better low-light performance, and a wider aperture for better light capture. It should offer superior image quality. |
| Selfie Camera | 44MP, f/2.0, 1/2.65", 0.70 µm pixel size, Samsung S5KGH1 | 32MP, f/2.0, 1/2.8", 0.80 µm pixel size, Samsung S5KGD2 | The V21 5G has a higher resolution sensor, but the X100 Pro has larger pixels. Both should take good selfies, but X100 Pro would have better low-light performance. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2 | 50MP, f/2.0, 1/2.76", 0.64 µm pixel size, Samsung S5KJN1 | The X100 Pro has a vastly superior wide angle lens in terms of resolution, aperture, and sensor size. It will capture much more detailed and brighter wide-angle photos. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | The V21 5G has a dedicated macro lens, while the X100 Pro does not. The X100 Pro uses the telephoto lens for macro shots. |
| Telephoto + Macro | None | 50MP, f/2.5, 1/2", 0.70 µm pixel size, Omnivision OV64B (50Mp) | The X100 Pro has a dedicated telephoto lens with macro capabilities. It offers better zoom and close-up photography than the V21. |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps w/ OIS | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps w/ EIS | The X100 Pro can record 8k video and 4K at 60fps. The V21 is limited to 4k@30 and 1080p@60fps. Both have stabilization. |
| DxOMark | Not Tested | Mobile: 150 (Photo: 149, Video: 145) | The X100 Pro's camera has been tested by DxOMark and received a score of 150, indicating high-quality performance. The V21 5G lacks public testing data. |
| Camera Features | Digital zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Ultra stable video, Autofocus, Touch focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, Front Flash | Cinematic Mode, Flicker sensor, Noise reduction, 4K Video, Digital zoom, Optical zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Ultra stable video, Gimbal, Autofocus, Touch focus, Manual focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Laser autofocus (LAF), Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW, Night Mode | The X100 Pro offers more advanced camera features such as optical zoom, gimbal stabilization, cinematic mode, manual controls and RAW capture, making it much more versatile for advanced photographers. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 14 | The X100 Pro has a newer operating system with potential for longer updates and access to the latest Android features. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ac, Dual band | 802.11be (WiFi 7), Dual band | The X100 Pro supports the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard for faster and more reliable wireless connectivity. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.1 LE | Bluetooth 5.4 LE | The X100 Pro has a newer Bluetooth version, offering slightly better range and efficiency, while maintaining backwards compatibility. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5) | The X100 Pro has more accurate location tracking with support for more satellite systems. |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano SIM + Nano SIM) | Dual SIM (Nano SIM + Nano SIM / eSIM) | The X100 Pro additionally offers eSIM functionality, potentially allowing for more flexibility in managing multiple phone numbers. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128 GB or 256 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1024 GB | The X100 Pro offers significantly more storage, which is crucial for those who capture a lot of photos or videos. |
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB or 16 GB | The X100 Pro has significantly more RAM, providing a smoother experience while multitasking and running demanding apps. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage via MicroSD cards. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Basic audio features | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | The X100 Pro has a significantly enhanced audio experience with stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res Audio. |
| Security | |||
| Features | basic fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | Both use a standard fingerprint sensor for basic biometric security. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Both phones lack specific information regarding screen protection. |
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Gravity | The X100 Pro has an additional gravity sensor. Both phones have a comprehensive sensor suite suitable for advanced features and gaming. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
vivo V21 5G Advantages:
- Lighter and More Compact: The V21 5G is significantly lighter and slimmer, making it more comfortable for extended use and easier to handle one-handed.
- Dedicated Macro Lens: It has a dedicated macro lens for close-up photography, which the X100 Pro lacks (although it uses the telephoto).
- Front Flash: Offers a front flash for better selfies in low-light conditions, which X100 Pro does not have.
- Lower Price: Given its age and specifications, it is likely to be more affordable.
vivo X100 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The Dimensity 9300 chipset provides vastly superior performance in app loading, multitasking, and gaming compared to the Dimensity 800U of V21 5G.
- Significantly Better Display: Larger, higher resolution, and much brighter AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate. The display is especially much better for bright sunlight use.
- Superior Camera System: The X100 Pro's camera system features a 1" sensor, larger pixels, better low-light performance, a much better wide-angle camera, and optical zoom (with macro) in the telephoto. It also has more advanced photo/video features like RAW, Gimbal, Cinematic mode etc.
- Much Longer Battery Life With a 5400mAh battery the phone would last much longer and will likely last a full day with ease.
- Much Faster Charging & Wireless Charging: 100W fast charging compared to 33W of the V21 5G. It also offers wireless charging (50W) and reverse charging
- Newer Operating System & Features: Comes with Android 14, a more modern OS, as well as newer connectivity standards such as Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 and eSIM support.
- Much more storage: 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1024 GB vs 128GB or 256GB.
- Much better audio experience: Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers.
Significant Trade-offs:
- Size and Weight: The X100 Pro is heavier and bulkier, which might be a drawback for users who prioritize portability.
- Price: The X100 Pro will be much more expensive due to its advanced features, so it is a significantly larger investment.
- No Macro Lens: While its telephoto lens can be used for macro shots, it does not have a dedicated macro lens like the V21 5G.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
vivo V21 5G Ideal User:
- Budget-conscious users: Those looking for an affordable smartphone with a decent display and good camera for everyday use.
- Users preferring lightweight devices: Those who value a lightweight and slim design for comfortable, one-handed operation.
- Casual photographers: Users who want a good selfie camera with front flash and a decent main camera for social media posts and casual photography.
- Users who prioritize a macro lens for close up photography: Those who want a dedicated macro lens for close up shots.
Use Cases:
- Social media browsing, messaging, and casual web surfing.
- Everyday photography and video recording.
- Basic gaming.
- Making and taking calls.
vivo X100 Pro Ideal User:
- Power users: Those who demand top-tier performance for gaming, multitasking, and demanding applications.
- Photography enthusiasts: Users who require a versatile and high-quality camera system with features like optical zoom, raw image capture, and cinematic video capabilities.
- Media consumers: Those who value a large, high-resolution, and bright display for watching videos, gaming, and browsing.
- Users that prefer high-quality audio experience: Those who want a high quality audio with stereo speakers, Hi-Res Audio, and Dolby Atmos.
- Users who prioritize battery life and fast charging Those who want a long lasting battery and the convenience of fast charging and wireless charging.
- Users seeking the latest technology: Those who want the newest features available, including Wi-Fi 7, the newest bluetooth, and eSIM capability.
Use Cases:
- High-end gaming and graphic-intensive applications.
- Professional-quality photography and videography.
- Immersive media consumption with high-quality audio.
- Heavy multitasking and productivity.
- Extensive usage throughout the day without frequent charging.
- Travel photography and videography.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- What is my budget? The V21 5G is significantly more affordable, making it a better choice for those on a tight budget. The X100 Pro is at the top end of the price scale.
- What is my primary use case? If it is casual use (social media, light browsing) the V21 is adequate, but if it is gaming, photography, videography, or demanding tasks, the X100 Pro is a much better choice.
- How important is portability vs. display and battery life? The V21 5G is more compact and lightweight, but the X100 Pro offers a larger screen, much longer battery life and fast charging.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget-conscious user wanting a decent everyday phone: The vivo V21 5G is suitable if you prioritize affordability, lighter weight, and basic functionality.
- Scenario 2: Mobile Photographer/Videographer: The vivo X100 Pro is the clear choice, given its top-tier camera system, which gives you vastly superior image quality, optical zoom, better low light performance and more video recording capabilities.
- Scenario 3: Heavy Gamer or Power User: The vivo X100 Pro offers the best performance with its much more powerful processor, better graphics, more RAM, and a better display with a higher refresh rate.
- Scenario 4: User desiring the most modern features and longevity: The vivo X100 Pro is the clear choice because it offers a newer OS, eSIM capability, fast charging, wireless charging, and much newer connectivity standards.
- Scenario 5: User needing maximum battery life: The vivo X100 Pro is the clear choice given its much larger battery and very fast charging.
My Choice
If I were choosing, I would choose the vivo X100 Pro. Despite the higher price point, its vastly superior performance, significantly better display, much more versatile camera system with better photo/video quality, significantly longer battery life, much faster charging, and more modern features would be well worth the investment for me. The performance difference is just massive and the camera system is leaps and bounds ahead of the V21 5G. The X100 Pro is the better choice for me, as it offers a much better overall experience and is likely to be supported for a longer period. While the V21 5G is decent, its age and weaker performance in nearly all key areas make the X100 Pro the better choice overall.
