Oppo Reno8 Pro+ vs Samsung Galaxy S21 5G: A Clash of Titans

The smartphone market is brimming with options, making it tough to choose. Today, we pit two compelling contenders against each other: the Oppo Reno8 Pro+ and the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. Both offer premium features, but cater to slightly different needs. Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to help you decide which one deserves your money.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Oppo Reno8 Pro+ boasts significantly faster charging and a powerful Dimensity 8100-Max chipset. However, the Galaxy S21 5G offers a brighter display, a more established ecosystem, and potentially better software support. Ultimately, the Reno8 Pro+ wins on raw power and charging speed, while the S21 5G excels in overall polish.

PHONES
Phone Names Oppo Reno8 Pro+ Samsung Galaxy S21 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 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-G991U1
5G bands1, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-G991U1
SpeedHSPA, LTE-A (CA), 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G991B
Launch
Announced2022, May 232021, January 14
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, June 01Available. Released 2021, January 29
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame
Dimensions161.2 x 74.2 x 7.3 mm (6.35 x 2.92 x 0.29 in)151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm (5.97 x 2.80 x 0.31 in)
SIMDual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight183 g (6.46 oz)169 g (Sub6), 171 g (mmWave) (5.96 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~421 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.2 inches, 94.1 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 800 nits (HBM), 950 nits (peak)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.85 GHz Cortex-A78 & 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
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 8100-Max (5 nm)Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - InternationalQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - USA/China
GPUMali-G610 MC6Mali-G78 MP14 - InternationalAdreno 660 - USA/China
OSAndroid 12, ColorOS 12.1Android 11, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single32 MP, f/2.4, 22mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm, AF-
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro)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
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesPanorama, HDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.4, 22mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm, AF10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jack-No
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoFM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent)
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, color spectrumFingerprint (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)
Battery
Charging80W wired, 1-45% in 10 min, 1-100% in 31 min (advertised) Reverse wired25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAh, non-removableLi-Ion 4000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Silver, MintPhantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink
ModelsPFZM10SM-G991B, SM-G991B/DS, SM-G991U, SM-G991U1, SM-G991W, SM-G991N, SM-G9910, SM-G991Q, SCG09
PriceAbout 520 EUR€ 194.00 / $ 153.58 / £ 149.99
SAR-0.74 W/kg (head)     1.08 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.46 W/kg (head)     1.51 W/kg (body)
Pricing
128GB 8GB RAM-$ 249.00
256GB 8GB RAM-$ 289.99
RENEWED-$ 317.00
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 93h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.4 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 584055 (v8) GeekBench: 3238 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Oppo Reno8 Pro+

  • Blazing-fast 80W charging
  • Powerful Dimensity 8100-Max chipset
  • Sleek and stylish design
  • Good camera performance

  • Software support may be less extensive than Samsung
  • Display not as bright as S21 5G
  • Image processing can be aggressive at times

Samsung Galaxy S21 5G

  • Brighter display (856 nits)
  • Excellent battery life (93h endurance)
  • Established Samsung ecosystem
  • Refined software experience

  • Slower charging (25W wired)
  • Performance slightly behind Reno8 Pro+ in some tests
  • Can be more expensive

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G takes the display crown with a measured peak brightness of 856 nits, offering a noticeably brighter viewing experience, especially outdoors. While the Reno8 Pro+ has a good AMOLED display, it doesn't reach the same level of brightness. Both offer excellent color accuracy and contrast.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer versatile camera systems. The Galaxy S21 5G has a reputation for consistently good image processing and video quality. The Reno8 Pro+ often produces vibrant and detailed photos, but image processing can sometimes be a bit aggressive. Low-light performance is competitive on both devices.

Performance

The Oppo Reno8 Pro+'s Dimensity 8100-Max chipset delivers impressive performance, often outperforming the Galaxy S21 5G in benchmark tests. The S21 5G's performance varies slightly depending on the region (Exynos vs Snapdragon), but generally sits slightly behind. Both phones handle everyday tasks and demanding games with ease.

Battery Life

The Galaxy S21 5G boasts an impressive endurance rating of 93 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. The Reno8 Pro+'s battery life is good, but not as exceptional as the S21 5G. However, the Reno8 Pro+'s 80W charging is a game-changer, allowing for incredibly fast top-ups.

Buying Guide

The Oppo Reno8 Pro+ is ideal for users prioritizing fast charging, smooth performance for gaming, and a sleek design. The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is a better choice for those deeply invested in the Samsung ecosystem, valuing a brighter display, and seeking a more refined software experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better software support?
The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G generally receives longer and more consistent software updates due to Samsung's established support policies.
❓ Is the Oppo Reno8 Pro+ worth buying if I'm already in the Samsung ecosystem?
It depends on your priorities. If fast charging and raw performance are crucial, the Reno8 Pro+ is compelling. However, staying within the Samsung ecosystem offers seamless integration and familiar features.