OnePlus 9E vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra: A Deep Dive into Performance and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing value, the OnePlus 9E offers a compelling experience. However, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G wins for those demanding top-tier performance, a superior camera system, and a brighter, more vibrant display, especially if found at a discounted price.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | OnePlus 9E | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 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-G998U1 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-G998U1 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1024/150 Mbps, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL) |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G998B | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | Not announced yet | 2021, January 14 |
| Status | Cancelled | Available. Released 2021, January 29 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | - | 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm (6.5 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | - | 227 g (Sub6), 229 g (mmWave) (8.01 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Stylus support | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~515 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 | 6.8 inches, 112.1 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak) |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver) | 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 SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm) | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - InternationalQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - USA/China |
| GPU | Adreno 619L | Mali-G78 MP14 - InternationalAdreno 660 - USA/China |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 11, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | 108 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 72mm (telephoto), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 10 MP, f/4.9, 240mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP | 40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.7µm, PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2, 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/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | - | 25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Blue; other colours | Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Titanium, Phantom Navy, Phantom Brown, Navy |
| Models | - | SM-G998B, SM-G998B/DS, SM-G998U, SM-G998U1, SM-G998W, SM-G998N, SM-G9980 |
| Price | - | $ 240.01 / C$ 353.20 / £ 202.99 / € 264.99 |
| SAR | - | 0.77 W/kg (head) 1.02 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.71 W/kg (head) 1.58 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 12GB RAM | - | $ 384.99 |
| 256GB 12GB RAM | - | $ 998.00 |
| 512GB 12GB RAM | - | $ 1,179.99 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 459.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 114h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.5 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 657150 (v8) GeekBench: 3518 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
OnePlus 9E
- Significantly more affordable
- Capable 5G connectivity
- Efficient Snapdragon 690 chipset for everyday tasks
- Inferior camera system
- Less powerful processor for demanding applications
- Likely lower display quality
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
- Exceptional camera performance
- Powerful Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100 processor
- Bright and vibrant display with high peak brightness
- Higher price point
- Potential for thermal throttling (Exynos variant)
- Larger and heavier form factor
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra boasts a significantly more advanced display, reaching a measured peak brightness of 1023 nits. This is crucial for outdoor visibility, something the 9E likely can’t match. While the 9E’s display specs aren’t provided, it’s reasonable to assume a lower peak brightness. The S21 Ultra’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a superior OLED panel, likely with better black levels and color accuracy. The S21 Ultra’s potential for adaptive refresh rates (LTPO technology, though not explicitly stated in the data) would also contribute to smoother scrolling and improved battery efficiency compared to a standard 60Hz or 90Hz panel on the 9E.
Camera Comparison
The S21 Ultra’s camera system is in a different league. While both phones offer photo and video capabilities, the S21 Ultra’s likely features a larger sensor, more advanced image stabilization (OIS), and a wider range of lenses (details not provided in the data). The S21 Ultra’s image processing algorithms are also more sophisticated, resulting in better dynamic range, low-light performance, and overall image quality. The 9E’s camera is likely competent for casual photography, but won’t match the S21 Ultra’s versatility and detail. The absence of details on the 9E’s camera sensors makes a precise comparison impossible, but it’s safe to assume a significant difference in capabilities.
Performance
The performance gap is substantial. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, equipped with either the Exynos 2100 (International) or Snapdragon 888 5G (USA/China) built on a 5nm process, delivers significantly more processing power than the OnePlus 9E’s Snapdragon 690 (8nm). The S21 Ultra’s CPU configuration – Cortex-X1, Cortex-A78, and Cortex-A55 cores – is architecturally superior, designed for sustained performance. The 9E’s Kryo 560 cores are adequate for daily tasks, but will struggle with demanding games or heavy multitasking. The 5nm fabrication process of the S21 Ultra’s chipsets also translates to better thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of throttling under sustained load.
Battery Life
Both phones share an endurance rating of 114 hours, suggesting comparable battery life *under similar usage conditions*. However, the S21 Ultra’s 25W wired charging (with PD3.0) and 15W wireless charging offer faster replenishment than the 9E’s charging capabilities (not specified). The S21 Ultra also includes 4.5W reverse wireless charging, a feature absent on the 9E. While the endurance rating is the same, the S21 Ultra’s faster charging speeds provide a more convenient user experience.
Buying Guide
Buy the OnePlus 9E if you need a reliable 5G phone for everyday tasks, light gaming, and decent photography without breaking the bank. It’s ideal for users who prioritize efficiency and affordability. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G if you prefer a premium experience with a class-leading camera, a stunning display, and the processing power to handle demanding applications and games, and are willing to pay a premium (or find a good deal).