Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G vs. Samsung Galaxy S21+: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G offers a better overall package. Its significantly faster 65W charging and competitive performance from the Dimensity 1000+ chipset, combined with a lower price point, outweigh the S21+'s slightly brighter display and brand recognition.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 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, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International | 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 | 1, 3, 7, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International | 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-G996U1 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL) |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G996B | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, December 10 | 2021, January 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, January 05 | Available. Released 2021, January 29 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 159.7 x 73.2 x 7.6 mm (6.29 x 2.88 x 0.30 in) | 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 | 173 g (6.10 oz) | 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 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 107.8 cm2 (~88.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 800 nits (HDR), 1100 nits (peak) | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.6 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | 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 | Mediatek Dimensity 1000+ (7 nm) | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - InternationalQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - USA/China |
| GPU | Mali-G77 MC9 | Mali-G78 MP14 - InternationalAdreno 660 - USA/China |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, ColorOS 12 | Android 11, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 115˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 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, HDR | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | Unspecified | 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/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, 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 | 65W wired 5W reverse wired | 25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4350 mAh | Li-Ion 4800 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Astral Blue, Starry Black, Starry Dream, Star Wish Red | Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink, Phantom Gold, Phantom Red |
| Models | PDSM00, PDST00, CPH2201 | SM-G996B, SM-G996B/DS, SM-G996U, SM-G996U1, SM-G996W, SM-G996N, SM-G9960 |
| Price | About 410 EUR | $ 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) |
Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G
- Significantly faster 65W charging
- Competitive performance with Dimensity 1000+
- Generally more affordable price
- May lack the same level of software support as Samsung
- Display specs are less detailed
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Established Samsung ecosystem and software
- Potentially better sustained performance (Snapdragon variant)
- Slower 25W charging
- Higher price point
- Exynos variant may exhibit thermal throttling
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 883 nits, offering excellent visibility in direct sunlight. While the Reno5 Pro 5G’s display specs aren’t explicitly stated, Oppo typically utilizes high-quality AMOLED panels. The S21+'s 'Infinite' contrast ratio, typical of AMOLED technology, delivers deep blacks and vibrant colors. However, the Reno5 Pro 5G may offer a higher PWM dimming rate, potentially reducing eye strain for sensitive users. The S21+'s display is likely protected by Gorilla Glass Victus, offering superior scratch resistance compared to the Reno5 Pro 5G’s unspecified glass.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer capable camera systems, but details beyond 'Photo/Video' are limited. The S21+ likely features a larger main sensor, benefiting low-light performance. The Reno5 Pro 5G’s camera system is known for its strong video stabilization and AI-powered image processing. The S21+ benefits from Samsung’s established image processing algorithms, known for vibrant colors. The presence of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on both devices is crucial for sharp photos and stable videos. The Reno5 Pro 5G’s camera is geared towards social media-ready images, while the S21+ aims for more natural, detailed shots. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on either device is largely a marketing gimmick and offers limited practical benefit.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G’s performance varies depending on the region. International models feature the Exynos 2100 (5nm), while US/China models get the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5nm). Both chips utilize an octa-core architecture, but the Snapdragon 888 generally exhibits better sustained performance and thermal management. The Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G is powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 1000+ (7nm). While the Dimensity 1000+ is a capable chipset, the 5nm process of the Exynos 2100/Snapdragon 888 offers greater transistor density and efficiency. The S21+'s Cortex-X1 prime core (2.9 GHz) provides a performance edge over the Reno5 Pro’s Cortex-A77 (2.6 GHz) cores. However, the Reno5 Pro 5G’s 8GB/12GB of RAM (likely LPDDR4X) is sufficient for most tasks, though the S21+ may utilize faster LPDDR5 RAM.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G has an endurance rating of 114 hours, indicating solid battery life. However, its 25W wired charging (PD3.0) is significantly slower than the Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G’s 65W SuperVOOC charging. The Reno5 Pro 5G can charge from 0-100% in approximately 35 minutes, while the S21+ takes well over an hour. The Reno5 Pro 5G also offers 5W reverse wired charging, while the S21+ provides 4.5W reverse wireless charging. While the S21+ supports 15W wireless charging (Qi), the Reno5 Pro 5G lacks this feature. The faster charging speed of the Reno5 Pro 5G is a major advantage for users who prioritize convenience.
Buying Guide
Buy the Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G if you prioritize rapid charging, value for money, and a smooth user experience without breaking the bank. It’s ideal for users who frequently top up their phones and want a device that can keep up with their fast-paced lifestyle. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G if you absolutely require the Samsung ecosystem, prefer a potentially brighter display for outdoor visibility, and are willing to pay a premium for the brand and its associated software features.