The Samsung Galaxy Note5, a flagship from 2015, still holds a certain appeal. But how does it stack up against the more modern Samsung Galaxy A21s? This comparison dives deep into their specs, performance, and features to help you decide which phone is right for you.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Note5 boasts superior performance and a premium feel, but the A21s offers incredible battery life and a more modern software experience. For raw power and a stylus, the Note5 wins. For longevity and budget-friendliness, the A21s is the better choice.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - N920V, N920R | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 2, 3, 4, 7, 13 - N920V | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE (3CA), EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 2, 4, 5, 12, 25 - N920R | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, August. Released 2015, August | 2020, May 15. Released 2020, June 02 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 153.2 x 76.1 x 7.6 mm (6.03 x 3.00 x 0.30 in) | 163.7 x 75.3 x 8.9 mm (6.44 x 2.96 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 171 g (6.03 oz) | 192 g (6.77 oz) |
| | Stylus | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | - |
| Resolution | 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~515 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.7 inches, 89.6 cm2 (~76.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~82.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | PLS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.1 GHz Cortex-A57 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Exynos 7420 Octa (14 nm) | Exynos 850 (8 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-T760MP8 | Mali-G52 |
| OS | Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 7.0 (Nougat) | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 2GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 4/6GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.0 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 16 MP, f/1.9, 28mm (wide), 1/2.6", 1.12µm, AF, OIS | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 5 MP, f/1.9, 22mm (wide) | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1440p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio
| - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, EDR, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | FM radio, RDS, recording |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2 | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | ANT+
S-Voice natural language commands and dictation | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 15W wired, QC2
Wireless | 15W wired |
| Music play | Up to 57 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 28 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black Sapphire, White Pearl | Black, White, Blue, Red |
| Models | SM-N920, SM-N920P, SM-N920V, SM-N920R, SM-N920W8, SM-N920R4 | SM-A217F, SM-A217F/DS, SM-A217F/DSN, SM-A217M, SM-A217M/DS, SM-A217N |
| Price | About 450 EUR | About 220 EUR |
| SAR | 1.16 W/kg (head) 1.48 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.51 W/kg (head) 0.56 W/kg (body) | 0.42 W/kg (head) 1.54 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 119h |
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1287:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-30.0 LUFS (Average) |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 107157 (v8)
GeekBench: 1100 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 11fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Battery (old) | - | Endurance rating 119h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | 1287:1 contrast ratio, 490 nits max brightness (measured) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -30.0 LUFS (Average) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 107157 (v8)
GeekBench: 1100 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 11fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy Note5 (USA)
- Superior Performance
- Premium Design & Build
- S Pen Stylus
- Excellent Display (for its time)
- Older Device
- Limited Software Updates
- Shorter Battery Life
- Potentially Difficult to Find New
Samsung Galaxy A21s
- Exceptional Battery Life
- Large Display
- Modern Android Experience
- Affordable Price
- Lower Performance
- HD+ Resolution Display
- Plastic Build
- Less Premium Feel
Display Comparison
The Note5 features a 5.7-inch Quad HD (2560 x 1440) Super AMOLED display, offering vibrant colors and sharp details. The A21s has a 6.5-inch HD+ (1600 x 720) display with a 1287:1 contrast ratio. While the A21s has a good contrast ratio, the Note5's higher resolution and AMOLED technology provide a significantly better viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
The Note5 has a 16MP main camera and a 8MP front camera. The A21s features a quad-camera setup (48MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro, 2MP depth). While the A21s has more lenses, the Note5's image processing was generally considered excellent for its time. Low-light performance is likely better on the A21s due to newer sensor technology.
Performance
The Note5's Exynos 7420 chipset and Octa-core CPU deliver noticeably faster performance than the A21s' Exynos 850. The Note5 handles demanding apps and games with ease, while the A21s is better suited for everyday tasks. The Note5's RAM advantage (4GB vs 3GB) also contributes to smoother multitasking.
Battery Life
The A21s shines in this category. Its endurance rating of 119h is exceptional, significantly outperforming the Note5's battery life. The Note5's 3000mAh battery struggles to keep up with modern usage patterns.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy Note5 is ideal for users who prioritize performance, a premium design, and the S Pen stylus. It's a good option for those who can find it at a low price and don't mind an older device. The Samsung Galaxy A21s is perfect for users who value long battery life, a large display, and a modern Android experience on a budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy Note5 still worth buying?
If you can find it at a very low price and prioritize performance and the S Pen, it can be a decent option. However, be aware of its age and limited software support.
❓ Which phone has better battery life?
The Samsung Galaxy A21s has significantly better battery life than the Note5, offering days of usage on a single charge.
