OnePlus 9E vs. Samsung Galaxy S21+: A Deep Dive into Performance and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a smooth daily experience and affordability, the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G is the superior choice. While the OnePlus 9E offers respectable performance, the S21+'s significantly more powerful processor and brighter display justify the price difference, especially considering comparable battery endurance.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | OnePlus 9E | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 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-G996U1 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-G996U1 |
| 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-G996B | |
| 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 | - | 161.5 x 75.6 x 7.8 mm (6.36 x 2.98 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | - | 200 g (Sub6), 202 g (mmWave) (7.05 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 | 6.7 inches, 107.8 cm2 (~88.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 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, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | 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 | - |
| 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 | 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 | 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel 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 | 5.0, 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/6, 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 4800 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Blue; other colours | Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink, Phantom Gold, Phantom Red |
| Models | - | SM-G996B, SM-G996B/DS, SM-G996U, SM-G996U1, SM-G996W, SM-G996N, SM-G9960 |
| Price | - | $ 162.99 / £ 185.00 / € 199.00 |
| SAR | - | 0.65 W/kg (head) 0.95 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.54 W/kg (head) 1.33 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 114h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.8 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 622276 (v8) GeekBench: 3476 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
OnePlus 9E
- More affordable price point
- Decent performance for everyday tasks
- 5G connectivity
- Significantly less powerful processor
- Likely inferior camera performance
- Slower charging speeds
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G
- Flagship-level performance with Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100
- Brighter and higher-quality display
- Faster charging and wireless charging capabilities
- Higher price tag
- Potential for thermal throttling (Exynos variant)
- May be larger and heavier than the 9E
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S21+ boasts a notably brighter display, reaching a measured 883 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the OnePlus 9E. This difference is crucial for outdoor visibility. While both displays likely feature high refresh rates (a common feature in this price bracket, though not explicitly stated for the 9E), the S21+'s 'Infinite' contrast ratio suggests a superior panel technology, likely AMOLED, offering deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. The S21+'s display is geared towards media consumption and gaming in all lighting conditions.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature capable camera systems, but the S21+ likely holds an advantage in image quality and versatility. While both are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the S21+'s flagship status suggests a larger main sensor and more advanced image processing algorithms. The OnePlus 9E likely relies on software optimization to compensate for its less powerful ISP. Details on sensor sizes and apertures are missing, but the S21+'s overall system is expected to deliver superior low-light performance and dynamic range. The inclusion of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on the S21+ is also probable, further enhancing image and video stability.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus 9E's Snapdragon 690, built on an 8nm process, is a capable mid-range processor. However, the Samsung Galaxy S21+'s Exynos 2100 (International) or Snapdragon 888 (USA/China), both fabricated on a more efficient 5nm node, represent a substantial leap in performance. The S21+'s CPU configuration – a Cortex-X1 prime core alongside Cortex-A78 and A55 cores – delivers significantly faster processing speeds (up to 2.9 GHz vs 2.0 GHz) and improved multi-tasking capabilities. This translates to quicker app launches, smoother gaming, and better performance in demanding applications. The 5nm process also contributes to better thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads.
Battery Life
Interestingly, both phones share an endurance rating of 114 hours, suggesting comparable real-world battery life despite the S21+'s more powerful processor. This is likely due to the S21+'s more efficient 5nm chipset and optimized software. The S21+ offers faster charging at 25W wired, with support for PD3.0, alongside 15W wireless and 4.5W reverse wireless charging – features absent or less advanced on the 9E. While the S21+'s battery capacity isn't specified, the faster charging speeds provide a significant convenience advantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the OnePlus 9E if you need a reliable 5G phone for basic tasks, social media, and light gaming, and are on a strict budget. It's a solid option for those who don't demand top-tier performance. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G if you prioritize a premium display, significantly faster processing power for demanding apps and games, and a more versatile camera system, and are willing to invest in a higher-end device.