The Sony Xperia 5 Plus, released in 2020, represented a niche appeal for those desiring a compact flagship. Now, with the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G’s price dropping, it presents a compelling alternative. This comparison dissects the key differences between these two devices, focusing on performance, camera capabilities, and overall user experience, to determine which offers the best value in 2024.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 888 (or Exynos 2100) chipset delivers a substantial performance uplift over the Xperia 5 Plus’s Snapdragon 855, and the inclusion of 25W fast charging and wireless charging adds significant convenience. While the Xperia 5 Plus retains a loyal following for its form factor, the S21 FE’s broader feature set justifies the price difference.
| 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 | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1600/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | Not announced yet | 2022, January 04 |
| Status | Cancelled | Available. Released 2022, January 07 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 168.2 x 71.6 x 8.1 mm (6.62 x 2.82 x 0.32 in) | 155.7 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm (6.13 x 2.93 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | - | 177 g (6.24 oz) |
| | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~415 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 101.8 cm2 (~84.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR BT.2020 | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| | Triluminos display
X-Reality Engine | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) - Version 1Octa-core (1x2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A55) - Version 2 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - Version 1Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - Version 2 |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Adreno 660 - Version 1Mali-G78 MP14 - Version 2 |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 12 MP, (wide), 1/1.5", predictive dual pixel PDAF, 5-axis OIS
8 MP, (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom
64 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS
12 MP, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm
2 MP, TOF 3D, (depth) | - |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Triple | - | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.4, 76mm (telephoto), 1/4.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom
12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@24/30/60fps HDR, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS) | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS) | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio
Dynamic vibration system | 32-bit/384kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | Unspecified |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | - | Bixby natural language commands and dictation
Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)
Samsung DeX (desktop experience support) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, PD2.0 | 25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min
15W wireless
Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 4000 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Blue, Red, Black, Grey | White, Graphite, Lavender, Olive |
| Models | - | SM-G990B, SM-G990B/DS, SM-G990U, SM-G990U1, SM-G990W, SM-G990E, SM-G9900, SM-G990B2, SM-G990U2, SM-G990W2, SM-G990U3 |
| Price | - | € 199.00 / $ 143.95 / £ 154.99 / ₹ 29,990 |
| SAR | - | 0.77 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.95 W/kg (head) 1.48 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 92h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.9 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 566529 (v8), 719696 (v9)
GeekBench: 3049 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 56fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia 5 Plus
- Compact and ergonomic design
- Clean and minimalist software experience
- Headphone jack (likely, based on Sony's history)
- Outdated Snapdragon 855 chipset
- Slower charging speeds (18W)
- Less versatile camera system
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
- Significantly faster Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100 chipset
- Faster charging (25W wired, 15W wireless)
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Larger and heavier than the Xperia 5 Plus
- Potential for Exynos variant to throttle under heavy load
- Samsung's One UI can be divisive
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 792 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the Xperia 5 Plus. While both likely utilize OLED panels, the S21 FE’s higher peak brightness translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. The S21 FE’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a superior black level performance, enhancing the viewing experience. The Xperia 5 Plus’s display details are less readily available, but its focus was on color accuracy, potentially appealing to content creators.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature capable camera systems, but the S21 FE likely holds an advantage. While both are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the S21 FE benefits from newer image processing algorithms and potentially larger sensor sizes (details unavailable). The Xperia 5 Plus’s camera system, while competent, is older technology. The S21 FE’s inclusion of features like Single Take and Director’s View provides more creative options. The presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on the S21 FE is almost certain, improving low-light performance and video stabilization. The 2MP macro camera on the S21 FE is likely a marketing feature with limited real-world utility.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xperia 5 Plus utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm), while the S21 FE comes in two variants: one with the Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) and another with the Exynos 2100 (5nm). The Snapdragon 888 and Exynos 2100 represent a generational leap in performance and efficiency over the Snapdragon 855. The 5nm process node used in both S21 FE variants offers improved thermal efficiency, reducing throttling during sustained workloads. The S21 FE’s Cortex-X1 prime core, present in both chipsets, further enhances single-core performance, crucial for responsive UI and app loading. The S21 FE’s RAM configuration (likely LPDDR5) is also faster than the Xperia 5 Plus’s, contributing to smoother multitasking.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 92 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life despite the S21 FE’s more powerful processor. However, the S21 FE’s charging capabilities are significantly superior. It supports 25W wired charging with PD3.0, achieving 50% charge in 30 minutes, alongside 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. The Xperia 5 Plus is limited to 18W wired charging with PD2.0, resulting in a slower charging experience. The S21 FE’s wireless charging options provide added convenience, a feature absent on the Xperia 5 Plus.
Buying Guide
Buy the Sony Xperia 5 Plus if you prioritize a truly compact form factor and a more understated design, and are willing to compromise on raw processing power and charging speed. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G if you value performance for gaming and demanding applications, a brighter display, faster charging, and a more versatile camera system. The S21 FE is the better all-rounder for the majority of users.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 2100 chip in the S21 FE overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 888 variant is generally preferred, the Exynos 2100 can experience some thermal throttling during extended gaming. However, the S21 FE’s vapor chamber cooling system mitigates this issue to a degree, and performance remains acceptable for most users. The 5nm process node is more efficient than the 7nm Snapdragon 855 in the Xperia 5 Plus, meaning even with throttling, the S21 FE will likely maintain higher average frame rates.
❓ Is the 18W charging on the Xperia 5 Plus slow compared to modern standards?
Yes, 18W charging is considerably slower than the 25W charging on the S21 FE. Expect a significantly longer time to fully charge the Xperia 5 Plus. The S21 FE’s support for PD3.0 also allows for faster charging with compatible chargers. The lack of wireless charging on the Xperia 5 Plus further limits its charging convenience.
❓ How does the compact size of the Xperia 5 Plus affect usability for users with larger hands?
The Xperia 5 Plus’s compact size is a double-edged sword. While ideal for one-handed use and pocketability, users with larger hands may find the keyboard and on-screen controls cramped. The S21 FE, being larger, offers a more comfortable experience for those with bigger hands, though it sacrifices some portability.
