OnePlus 10R vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G: A Deep Dive into Performance and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing blazing-fast charging and sustained performance in demanding tasks, the OnePlus 10R is the clear winner. However, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G provides a more balanced experience with a brighter display and a potentially more consistent camera experience, making it ideal for everyday users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | OnePlus 10R | Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G |
| 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 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA), Cat12 600/150 Mbps, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1600/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, April 28 | 2022, January 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, May 04 | Available. Released 2022, January 07 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.3 x 75.5 x 8.2 mm (6.43 x 2.97 x 0.32 in) | 155.7 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm (6.13 x 2.93 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 186 g (6.56 oz) | 177 g (6.24 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~87.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Fluid AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+ | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.85 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) - Version 1Octa-core (1x2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A55) - Version 2 |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 8100 Max (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - Version 1Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - Version 2 |
| GPU | Mali-G610 MC6 | Adreno 660 - Version 1Mali-G78 MP14 - Version 2 |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 76mm (telephoto), 1/4.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 32-bit/384kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | Unspecified |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| - | Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Samsung DeX (desktop experience support) | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 80W wired, 100% in 32 min | 25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Sierra Black, Forest Green, Prime Blue | White, Graphite, Lavender, Olive |
| Models | CPH2411 | SM-G990B, SM-G990B/DS, SM-G990U, SM-G990U1, SM-G990W, SM-G990E, SM-G9900, SM-G990B2, SM-G990U2, SM-G990W2, SM-G990U3 |
| Price | ₹ 34,999 | € 199.00 / $ 143.95 / £ 154.99 / ₹ 29,990 |
| SAR | 0.95 W/kg (head) 0.96 W/kg (body) | 0.77 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.95 W/kg (head) 1.48 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 92h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -26.9 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 566529 (v8), 719696 (v9) GeekBench: 3049 (v5.1) GFXBench: 56fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
OnePlus 10R
- Blazing-fast 80W charging
- Powerful Mediatek Dimensity 8100 Max chipset
- Potentially better sustained performance
- Limited information on camera performance
- No wireless charging
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Refined Samsung software experience
- Versatile camera system with established image processing
- Slower 25W charging
- Potential for thermal throttling with Exynos variant
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 792 nits, crucial for outdoor use. While the OnePlus 10R’s display specs aren’t provided, Samsung’s panel offers an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. The S21 FE’s display technology is likely to be more color accurate out of the box, benefiting content consumers. The absence of LTPO on either device means refresh rate scaling isn’t as efficient as on higher-end models, impacting battery life during dynamic content viewing.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature capable camera systems, but details are limited. The S21 FE’s strength lies in Samsung’s established image processing pipeline, known for vibrant colors and strong dynamic range. The OnePlus 10R’s camera performance is less well-documented, but the Dimensity 8100 Max’s ISP capabilities are significant. The presence of OIS on both devices is crucial for stable video recording and low-light photography. The S21 FE’s camera is likely to offer more consistent results across various shooting scenarios due to Samsung’s software optimization. The 2MP macro cameras on both devices are likely to offer limited utility.
Performance
The OnePlus 10R’s Mediatek Dimensity 8100 Max (5nm) is a formidable opponent to the Snapdragon 888 (5nm) found in some S21 FE variants. The Dimensity 8100 Max’s Cortex-A78 cores clock slightly higher (2.85 GHz vs 2.84 GHz/2.9 GHz) and its architecture is generally more efficient. However, the S21 FE’s Snapdragon 888 version 1 and 2 have different CPU clock speeds. The S21 FE also has a version with the Exynos 2100 (5nm), which historically has shown more thermal throttling under sustained load compared to the Snapdragon 888. The 10R’s superior thermal design, coupled with the Dimensity 8100 Max, should translate to more consistent performance during extended gaming sessions.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 92 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified for the 10R). However, the OnePlus 10R’s 80W wired charging is a game-changer, achieving 100% charge in just 32 minutes. The S21 FE’s 25W charging, while supporting PD3.0, takes 30 minutes to reach 50% and significantly longer for a full charge. The S21 FE also offers 15W wireless and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the 10R. The 10R’s charging speed is a major advantage for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.
Buying Guide
Buy the OnePlus 10R if you need unparalleled charging speeds (80W) and consistently high performance for gaming or content creation. Its Dimensity 8100 Max chipset excels in sustained workloads. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G if you prefer a more polished software experience, a brighter display for outdoor visibility, and a versatile camera system with Samsung’s signature image processing, even if it means sacrificing some charging speed.