Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo vs. Galaxy M21 2021: A Detailed Comparison

Choosing a new smartphone can be overwhelming, especially with so many options available. Today, we're pitting two Samsung contenders against each other: the older Galaxy S5 Neo and the more recent Galaxy M21 2021. Let's see which one offers the best value and performance.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy M21 2021 is the clear winner. Its newer chipset, improved display, and larger battery provide a significantly better user experience than the aging S5 Neo. While the S5 Neo might be cheaper, the M21 2021 offers a much more modern and capable device.

PHONES
Phone Names	Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo	Samsung Galaxy M21 2021

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - G903F	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - G903F	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 20, 29 - G903W	-

Launch
Announced	2015, August. Released 2015, August	2021, July 21
Status	Discontinued	Available. Released 2021, July 26

Body
Build	-	Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions	142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm (5.59 x 2.85 x 0.32 in)	159 x 75.1 x 9 mm (6.26 x 2.96 x 0.35 in)
SIM	Micro-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	145 g (5.11 oz)	192 g (6.77 oz)
	IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)	-

Display
Resolution	1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~432 ppi density)	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size	5.1 inches, 71.7 cm2 (~69.6% screen-to-body ratio)	6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Super AMOLED	Super AMOLED, 420 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53	Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53)
Chipset	Exynos 7580 Octa (28 nm)	Exynos 9611 (10 nm)
GPU	Mali-T720MP2	Mali-G72 MP3
OS	Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 7.0 (Nougat)	Android 11, One UI 3.1 Core

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	16GB 2GB RAM	64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM
	eMMC 5.0	-

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, panorama, HDR	LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single	16 MP, f/1.9, 31mm (standard), AF	-
Triple	-	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 Auxiliary lens
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@240fps, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	-	HDR
Single	5 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide)	20 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide)
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	4.1, A2DP, EDR, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Radio	FM radio	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	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, heart rate	Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	ANT+ S-Voice	-

Battery
Charging	-	15W wired
Music play	Up to 73 h	-
Talk time	Up to 15 h (3G)	-
Type	Li-Ion 2800 mAh, removable	Li-Po 6000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, Gray, Gold	Charcoal Black, Arctic Blue
Models	SM-G903F, SM-G903W, SM-G903M, SM-S903VL	SM-M215G, SM-M215G/DS
Price	About 300 EUR	About 130 EUR
SAR	1.03 W/kg (head) 1.27 W/kg (body)	0.47 W/kg (head)
SAR EU	0.46 W/kg (head) 0.58 W/kg (body)	-

Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo

Compact size
Super AMOLED display
Durable build (water and dust resistant)

Outdated chipset
Lower resolution display
Smaller battery
Limited software updates

Samsung Galaxy M21 2021

Large Super AMOLED display
Powerful Exynos 9611 chipset
Excellent battery life
Versatile camera system
Modern design

Plastic build
15W charging is relatively slow

Display Comparison

The Galaxy M21 2021 boasts a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution, offering vibrant colors and excellent viewing angles. The S5 Neo has a smaller 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display, but with a lower resolution. The M21 2021's larger, higher-resolution screen provides a much more immersive experience.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy M21 2021 features a triple-camera setup (48MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP depth sensor) offering more versatility and better image quality, especially in low light. The S5 Neo has a 16MP main camera, which is decent but lacks the advanced features and image processing capabilities of the M21 2021.

Performance

Here's where the M21 2021 truly shines. Its Exynos 9611 chipset, built on a 10nm process, is significantly faster and more efficient than the S5 Neo's Exynos 7580 (28nm). The M21 2021's CPU architecture (Cortex-A73 cores) also contributes to smoother multitasking and gaming performance. The S5 Neo will feel sluggish by comparison.

Battery Life

The Galaxy M21 2021 packs a large 6000mAh battery, providing excellent battery life – easily lasting a full day or more. The S5 Neo has a smaller 2800mAh battery, which will require more frequent charging.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo is best suited for users on an extremely tight budget who prioritize basic functionality and are comfortable with an older device. The Samsung Galaxy M21 2021 is ideal for those seeking a reliable, feature-rich phone with a good camera, decent performance, and a long-lasting battery without breaking the bank.