Oppo Reno5 Pro+ 5G vs. Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing fast charging and a consistently smooth experience, the Oppo Reno5 Pro+ 5G emerges as the winner. Its 65W charging significantly outperforms the S21+'s 25W, and the Snapdragon 865, while a generation older, provides ample power for most tasks. However, the S21+ boasts a brighter display and a more established software ecosystem.
| 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, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 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, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 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 |
| CDMA2000 1x | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G996B | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, December 24 | 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 | 159.9 x 72.5 x 8 mm (6.30 x 2.85 x 0.31 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 | 184 g (6.49 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 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 107.8 cm2 (~88.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | 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 (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 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 | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - InternationalQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - USA/China |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Mali-G78 MP14 - InternationalAdreno 660 - USA/China |
| OS | Android 11, ColorOS 11.1 | Android 11, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm 2 MP (macro) | - |
| 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@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps; gyro-EIS, HDR | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Panorama | 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, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) | 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/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, 100% in 35 min Reverse wired | 25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Ion 4800 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Galactic Silver, Starlight Black | Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink, Phantom Gold, Phantom Red |
| Models | PDRM00, PDRT00 | SM-G996B, SM-G996B/DS, SM-G996U, SM-G996U1, SM-G996W, SM-G996N, SM-G9960 |
| Price | About 500 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 Snapdragon 865 performance
- Reverse wired charging capability
- Potentially less frequent software updates
- Display specs are unknown and likely inferior to S21+
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G
- Brighter and more color-accurate display
- More modern Exynos 2100 (or Snapdragon 888) chipset
- Guaranteed software updates from Samsung
- Slower 25W charging
- Potential for thermal throttling with Exynos variant
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G holds a clear advantage in display technology, achieving a measured peak brightness of 883 nits. While the Reno5 Pro+’s display specs aren’t provided, Samsung’s panel offers a superior viewing experience in direct sunlight. The S21+’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio, typical of AMOLED displays, delivers deep blacks and vibrant colors. The lack of LTPO support on either device means refresh rate scaling isn’t as power-efficient as newer flagships, but both likely offer a 120Hz experience. Bezels are comparable, but the S21+’s overall display quality is demonstrably higher.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature capable camera systems, but details are limited. The Reno5 Pro+’s camera setup is not specified beyond 'Photo / Video', while the S21+ also lacks detailed sensor information. The S21+ likely benefits from Samsung’s advanced image processing algorithms and potentially larger sensor sizes. The absence of detailed specs makes a direct comparison difficult, but Samsung’s history suggests a focus on vibrant, saturated colors, while Oppo often aims for a more natural look. The inclusion of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is expected on both devices, crucial for stable video recording and low-light photography. Ignoring the likely inclusion of low-resolution auxiliary lenses on both devices, the main sensor and image processing will be the key differentiators.
Performance
The chipset battle pits Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 (7nm+) in the Reno5 Pro+ against Samsung’s Exynos 2100 (5nm) – or Snapdragon 888 in US/China variants – in the S21+. The Exynos 2100, built on a smaller 5nm process, theoretically offers better power efficiency and thermal performance. However, the Cortex-X1 prime core in the Exynos 2100 and Snapdragon 888 is a significant upgrade over the Cortex-A77 in the Snapdragon 865, providing a noticeable boost in single-core performance. The Reno5 Pro+’s CPU configuration (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) is well-balanced, but the S21+’s architecture offers a more modern and efficient design. The S21+’s LPDDR5 RAM likely provides a slight edge in memory bandwidth.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy S21+ boasts an endurance rating of 114 hours, indicating respectable battery life. However, the Oppo Reno5 Pro+’s 65W wired charging is a game-changer, achieving a full charge in just 35 minutes. The S21+’s 25W charging, while supporting PD3.0, is significantly slower. The Reno5 Pro+ also offers reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the S21+. While the S21+ supports 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless, the Reno5 Pro+'s charging speed advantage is substantial, mitigating any potential battery capacity differences.
Buying Guide
Buy the Oppo Reno5 Pro+ 5G if you need blazing-fast charging, a smooth user experience, and don't mind potentially less frequent software updates. It's ideal for power users who prioritize convenience and performance-per-dollar. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G if you prefer a brighter, more color-accurate display, a more polished software experience with guaranteed updates, and a wider range of ecosystem integration with other Samsung devices.