Honor 30S vs Samsung Galaxy A21s: A Detailed Comparison

Choosing a new smartphone can be overwhelming. The Honor 30S and Samsung Galaxy A21s both offer compelling features at accessible price points, but cater to different needs. This comprehensive comparison will help you decide which device is the right fit for you.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Honor 30S takes the lead with its significantly faster Kirin 820 chipset and 40W fast charging. However, the Galaxy A21s boasts exceptional battery life and a reliable Samsung experience. If performance is key, choose the Honor; if longevity is your priority, the Samsung is a strong contender.

PHONES
Phone Names	Honor 30S	Samsung Galaxy A21s

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41
5G bands	1, 3, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA	-
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA	-

Launch
Announced	2020, March 30. Released 2020, April 07	2020, May 15. Released 2020, June 02
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front (Aluminosilicate glass), glass back, aluminum frame	Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions	162.3 x 75 x 8.6 mm (6.39 x 2.95 x 0.34 in)	163.7 x 75.3 x 8.9 mm (6.44 x 2.96 x 0.35 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	190 g (6.70 oz)	192 g (6.77 oz)

Display
Protection	Aluminosilicate glass	-
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density)	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density)
Size	6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~83.8% screen-to-body ratio)	6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~82.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, HDR10	PLS LCD

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 3x2.22 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.84 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Kirin 820 5G (7 nm)	Exynos 850 (8 nm)
GPU	Mali-G57 6	Mali-G52
OS	Android 10, Magic UI 3, no Google Play Services	Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1

Memory
Card slot	Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM	32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 2GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 4/6GB RAM
	UFS 2.1	eMMC 5.1

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad	64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), AF, 3x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.4, 17mm (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens	48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	-
Single	16 MP, f/2.0, (wide)	13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes
	32-bit/192kHz audio	-

Comms
Bluetooth	5.1, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	No	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Radio	No	FM radio, RDS, recording
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	40W wired, 70% in 30 min	15W wired
Type	Li-Po 4000 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, Blue, Green, Gradient, Butterfly Feather Red	Black, White, Blue, Red
Models	CDY-AN90, CDY-AN95, CDY-TN90	SM-A217F, SM-A217F/DS, SM-A217F/DSN, SM-A217M, SM-A217M/DS, SM-A217N
Price	About 310 EUR	About 220 EUR
SAR EU	-	0.42 W/kg (head) 1.54 W/kg (body)

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 119h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 1287:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-30.0 LUFS (Average)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 107157 (v8) GeekBench: 1100 (v5.1) GFXBench: 11fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor 30S

Faster Processor (Kirin 820)
5G Connectivity
40W Fast Charging
Likely better camera quality

Potentially shorter battery life
Less bright display (estimated)

Samsung Galaxy A21s

Exceptional Battery Life (119h endurance)
Samsung's One UI
Reliable Performance for Basic Tasks
Brighter Display (490 nits)

Slower Processor (Exynos 850)
No 5G
15W Slow Charging

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a respectable 6.5-inch display with a 1287:1 contrast ratio. However, the Galaxy A21s measures a brighter 490 nits, offering slightly better visibility in direct sunlight. The Honor 30S's display is likely slightly less bright, but still adequate for indoor use. Resolution is likely FHD+ on both, providing sharp visuals.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Honor 30S likely has a more advanced camera system. The Kirin 820 typically includes a capable ISP. The Galaxy A21s' camera is reliable but lacks the processing power of the Honor. Expect better low-light performance and more detail from the Honor 30S.

Performance

The Honor 30S's Kirin 820 chipset with its Cortex-A76 cores provides a substantial performance advantage over the Galaxy A21s' Exynos 850. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Honor 30S. The A21s is adequate for basic tasks but will struggle with more demanding applications.

Battery Life

The Galaxy A21s shines in this category. Its endurance rating of 119h is exceptional, suggesting significantly longer battery life than the Honor 30S. While the Honor 30S has 40W fast charging, the A21s' battery capacity is likely larger, offsetting the slower charging speed.

Buying Guide

The Honor 30S is ideal for users who prioritize performance, 5G connectivity, and faster charging. It's great for gaming and demanding apps. The Samsung Galaxy A21s is a better choice for those seeking long battery life, a familiar Samsung interface, and a dependable, budget-friendly device for everyday use.