HTC Desire 21 Pro 5G vs Realme 8 5G: A Detailed Comparison of Mid-Range 5G Contenders
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing efficiency and potentially longer software support, the Realme 8 5G emerges as the slightly better choice. Its Mediatek Dimensity 700, built on a 7nm process, offers a marginal efficiency advantage over the HTC’s Snapdragon 690 (8nm), translating to potentially better battery life during sustained use. However, the Desire 21 Pro 5G remains a viable option for those specifically seeking the Qualcomm ecosystem.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | HTC Desire 21 Pro 5G | Realme 8 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - India | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, January 13 | 2021, April 21 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, January 21 | Available. Released 2021, April 28 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 167.1 x 78.1 x 9.4 mm (6.58 x 3.07 x 0.37 in) | 162.5 x 74.8 x 8.5 mm (6.40 x 2.94 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 205 g (7.23 oz) | 185 g (6.53 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~83.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, HDR10, 90Hz | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 480 nits (typ), 600 nits |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G57 MC2 |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, Realme UI 4.0 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| - | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide) |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | Unspecified |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC4 | 18W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Blue, Purple | Supersonic Blue, Supersonic Black |
| Models | - | RMX3241 |
| Price | About 350 EUR | About 170 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 118h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: 1413:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -27.8 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 302059 (v8), 361505 (v9) GeekBench: 1784 (v5.1) GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
HTC Desire 21 Pro 5G
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 5G chipset
- Quick Charge 4 support
- Potentially better Qualcomm ecosystem compatibility
- Less efficient 8nm process
- Limited display specifications
- Uncertain battery life
Realme 8 5G
- More efficient Mediatek Dimensity 700 chipset
- Stronger endurance rating (118h)
- Potentially better value for money
- Less brand recognition than HTC
- 18W charging is relatively slow
- Camera details are sparse
Display Comparison
Both the HTC Desire 21 Pro 5G and Realme 8 5G share a nominal contrast ratio of 1413:1, suggesting similar visual pop. However, detailed display specifications like peak brightness, color gamut coverage (DCI-P3), and refresh rate are missing for the Desire 21 Pro 5G. Given Realme’s focus on display quality in this segment, it’s likely the 8 5G offers a more vibrant and accurate viewing experience. The absence of LTPO technology on either device means neither will dynamically adjust refresh rates for power saving.
Camera Comparison
Both phones list 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details regarding sensor size, aperture, or image stabilization. This makes a direct comparison difficult. However, given Realme’s marketing emphasis on camera features, it’s reasonable to assume the Realme 8 5G benefits from more sophisticated image processing algorithms. The absence of information regarding OIS on either device suggests reliance on software stabilization, which can be less effective in low-light conditions. The usefulness of a 2MP macro camera, often found in this price range, is questionable due to its limited resolution and image quality.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 690 5G (8nm) in the Desire 21 Pro 5G versus Mediatek’s Dimensity 700 (7nm) in the Realme 8 5G. The Dimensity 700, fabricated on a smaller 7nm node, generally exhibits better power efficiency. While both CPUs feature an octa-core configuration with similar core counts (2 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores), the Dimensity 700’s Cortex-A76 performance cores clock slightly higher at 2.2 GHz compared to the Desire’s 2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold cores. This translates to a small but noticeable performance advantage for the Realme 8 5G in CPU-intensive tasks. The GPU performance is also likely to favor the Realme 8 5G, though real-world gaming differences will depend on optimization.
Battery Life
Both devices feature 18W wired charging, suggesting similar charging speeds – approximately 2-2.5 hours for a full charge. The Realme 8 5G boasts an endurance rating of 118 hours, indicating a well-optimized power management system. While the Desire 21 Pro 5G’s battery capacity is unknown, the Snapdragon 690’s 8nm process is less efficient than the Dimensity 700’s 7nm process. Therefore, the Realme 8 5G is likely to offer longer battery life under similar usage conditions.
Buying Guide
Buy the HTC Desire 21 Pro 5G if you specifically prefer Qualcomm chipsets for compatibility reasons or anticipate needing Quick Charge 4 support. Buy the Realme 8 5G if you prioritize a potentially more efficient processor, a slightly better value proposition, and a brand with a stronger track record of consistent software updates in this price segment.