Samsung Galaxy S21 vs OnePlus 9 Pro: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the OnePlus 9 Pro emerges as the stronger choice. Its consistent Snapdragon 888 performance, significantly faster charging (65W vs 25W), and comparable battery endurance outweigh the S21’s slightly more compact design. However, the S21 remains a viable option for those prioritizing a smaller phone and potentially benefiting from a lower price.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy S21 | OnePlus 9 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - EU |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - EU |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | Not announced yet | 2021, March 23 |
| Status | Cancelled | Available. Released 2021, March 30 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm (5.97 x 2.80 x 0.31 in) | 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 169 g (5.96 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~421 ppi density) | 1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.2 inches, 94.1 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) | LTPO Fluid2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) |
| Always-on display | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 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 | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 |
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - InternationalQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 - InternationalAdreno 660 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 11, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, OxygenOS 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.X | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Hasselblad Color Calibration, dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 77mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm (ultrawide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, AF 2 MP, f/2.4, (monochrome) |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| 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 | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| 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 | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | FM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent) | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, 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, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless | 65W wired, PD, 100% in 29 min 50W wireless, 100% in 43 min 5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 4000 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink | Morning Mist, Forest Green, Stellar Black |
| Models | SM-G990F, SM-G990F/DS | LE2121, LE2125, LE2123, LE2120, LE2127 |
| Price | - | € 246.17 / $ 264.95 / £ 287.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 86h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | - | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) |
Samsung Galaxy S21
- More compact and pocketable design
- Potentially lower price point (depending on retailer)
- Sleek and minimalist aesthetic
- Exynos variant may exhibit throttling
- Slower charging speeds (25W wired, 15W wireless)
- Less impressive camera processing compared to OnePlus
OnePlus 9 Pro
- Consistent Snapdragon 888 performance
- Significantly faster charging (65W wired, 50W wireless)
- Superior camera system with Hasselblad color science
- Larger and heavier design
- Potentially higher price point
- Less compact for one-handed use
Display Comparison
The OnePlus 9 Pro boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 859 nits, compared to the S21’s unspecified peak brightness. While both utilize Fluid AMOLED technology, the OnePlus 9 Pro’s larger size (6.7 inches vs 6.2 inches) and higher resolution contribute to a more immersive viewing experience. Both likely employ high refresh rates, but the OnePlus 9 Pro’s larger panel benefits from the increased screen real estate for smoother animations. The S21’s smaller size may appeal to users preferring one-handed operation, but sacrifices some visual impact.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature versatile camera systems, but the OnePlus 9 Pro’s collaboration with Hasselblad gives it an edge in color science and image processing. While detailed sensor specs are missing, the OnePlus 9 Pro’s focus on computational photography and natural color reproduction sets it apart. The S21’s camera is capable, but often leans towards more saturated and processed images. Both offer video recording capabilities, but the OnePlus 9 Pro’s larger sensor and improved stabilization likely result in superior low-light video performance. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on the S21 is largely inconsequential, offering minimal benefit over standard digital zoom.
Performance
Both phones are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm), but the Galaxy S21 also shipped with the Exynos 2100 (5nm) in certain regions. While both chipsets are octa-core with a similar CPU configuration (1x Cortex-X1, 3x Cortex-A78, 4x Cortex-A55), the Snapdragon 888 generally exhibits superior sustained performance and thermal management. The S21’s Exynos variant has been reported to experience more throttling under prolonged load. Both utilize LPDDR5 RAM, but the OnePlus 9 Pro’s larger size allows for potentially more efficient heat dissipation, further enhancing sustained performance. The CPU clock speeds are slightly different, with the Exynos 2100 having a 2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 vs the Snapdragon’s 2.84 GHz, but this difference is unlikely to be noticeable in real-world usage.
Battery Life
Both the Samsung Galaxy S21 and OnePlus 9 Pro achieve an endurance rating of 86 hours, suggesting comparable overall battery life despite the S21’s smaller battery capacity. However, the OnePlus 9 Pro’s charging capabilities are dramatically superior. Its 65W wired charging can fully charge the device in just 29 minutes, while the S21’s 25W charging takes considerably longer. The OnePlus 9 Pro also offers 50W wireless charging (43 minutes to full) compared to the S21’s 15W wireless charging. This charging speed advantage is a significant benefit for users who frequently need to top up their battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 if you prioritize a more pocketable flagship experience and are comfortable with the potential variability in performance depending on your region’s chipset. Buy the OnePlus 9 Pro if you demand consistently high performance, lightning-fast charging, and a robust camera system, even if it means a larger device.