The HTC Panache, a relic of a bygone era, faces off against the powerhouse that is the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. This comparison isn't just about specs; it's about understanding the evolution of smartphone technology and which device best suits your needs. Prepare for a David vs. Goliath battle!
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G utterly dominates this comparison. Its cutting-edge processor, stunning display, advanced camera system, and long-lasting battery leave the HTC Panache in the dust. While the Panache holds nostalgic value, the S21 5G offers a vastly superior user experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 1700 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - SM-G991U1 |
| 5G bands | - | 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-G991U1 |
| Speed | HSPA 14.4/2 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL) |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G991B |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2011, June. Released 2011, July | 2021, January 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, January 29 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 122.2 x 62.5 x 11.1 mm (4.81 x 2.46 x 0.44 in) | 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm (5.97 x 2.80 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | 150 g (5.29 oz) | 169 g (Sub6), 171 g (mmWave) (5.96 oz) |
| | Optical trackpad | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~246 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~421 ppi density) |
| Size | 3.8 inches, 41.1 cm2 (~53.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.2 inches, 94.1 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | 1.0 GHz Scorpion | Octa-core (1x2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A55) - InternationalOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) - USA/China |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2 | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - InternationalQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - USA/China |
| GPU | Adreno 205 | Mali-G78 MP14 - InternationalAdreno 660 - USA/China |
| OS | Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), Sense UI 2 | Android 11, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included | No |
| Internal | 8GB (1.2GB user available), 768MB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 5 MP, AF | - |
| Triple | - | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
64 MP, f/2.0, 29mm (telephoto), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 1.1x optical zoom, 3x hybrid zoom
12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | VGA videocall camera | 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | - | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 32-bit/384kHz audio
Tuned by AKG |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP, EDR | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | - | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent) |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| | MP4/H.264 player
MP3/WAV/eAAC+ player
Organizer
Document viewer
Voice memo/dial/commands
Predictive text input (Swype) | Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support)
Bixby natural language commands and dictation
Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 25W wired, PD3.0
15W wireless (Qi)
4.5W reverse wireless |
| Stand-by | Up to 243 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 6 h 40 min | - |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1400 mAh battery | Li-Ion 4000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black | Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink |
| Models | - | SM-G991B, SM-G991B/DS, SM-G991U, SM-G991U1, SM-G991W, SM-G991N, SM-G9910, SM-G991Q, SCG09 |
| Price | About 200 EUR | € 194.00 / $ 153.58 / £ 149.99 |
| SAR | 0.68 W/kg (head) | 0.74 W/kg (head) 1.08 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.46 W/kg (head) 1.51 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 128GB 8GB RAM | - | $ 249.00 |
| 256GB 8GB RAM | - | $ 289.99 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 317.00 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 93h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.4 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 584055 (v8)
GeekBench: 3238 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
HTC Panache
- Classic Android experience
- Compact size (likely)
- Potentially very affordable
- Extremely outdated processor
- Poor camera quality
- Limited storage
- Short battery life
- Low screen resolution and brightness
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G
- Blazing-fast performance
- Stunning display
- Excellent camera system
- Long battery life
- Fast charging
- Ample storage options
- Relatively expensive
- Can be bulky
- Software updates may eventually cease
Display Comparison
The Galaxy S21 5G boasts a vibrant AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 856 nits, offering incredible clarity and smooth scrolling. The Panache's display, likely a standard LCD, simply can't compete in terms of color accuracy, brightness, or refresh rate. The S21's infinite contrast ratio further enhances the viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Samsung's Galaxy S21 5G features a versatile camera system capable of capturing stunning photos and videos in various conditions. The Panache's camera, likely a basic 3MP sensor, is severely limited in resolution and image quality. The S21 offers features like optical image stabilization, night mode, and 8K video recording – absent in the Panache.
Performance
The Galaxy S21 5G's Exynos 2100 or Snapdragon 888 chipset (depending on region) is a beast, delivering blazing-fast performance for demanding games and multitasking. The Panache's 1.0 GHz Scorpion processor is severely outdated and struggles with even basic tasks. The S21's octa-core architecture provides a significant advantage.
Battery Life
The Galaxy S21 5G offers an endurance rating of 93 hours, indicating excellent battery life. While the Panache's battery capacity is unknown, its inefficient processor likely results in significantly shorter usage times. The S21 also supports 25W wired and 15W wireless charging, further enhancing its convenience.
Buying Guide
The HTC Panache is for collectors or those seeking a very basic, budget-friendly phone with a classic Android experience. The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is for anyone wanting a premium smartphone with top-tier performance, a fantastic camera, and a vibrant display – if you can afford the price.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the HTC Panache worth buying in 2024?
Unless you're a collector or need a very basic phone for minimal tasks, the HTC Panache is not a practical choice in 2024. Its outdated hardware severely limits its functionality.
❓ What is the biggest difference between the HTC Panache and the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G?
The biggest difference is the generational gap. The Galaxy S21 5G represents modern smartphone technology, while the Panache is a relic of the past, showcasing the incredible advancements in processing power, display technology, and camera capabilities.
