T-Mobile Vivacity vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G: A Detailed Comparison

Choosing a new smartphone can be overwhelming. The T-Mobile Vivacity, a lesser-known device, faces off against the powerhouse Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G. This comparison will break down their strengths and weaknesses to help you make the right choice.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is the clear winner, offering superior performance, a stunning display, a versatile camera system, and exceptional battery life. The Vivacity's lack of detailed specs suggests it's a budget-friendly option, but it can't compete with the S21 Ultra's premium features.

PHONES
Phone Names T-Mobile Vivacity Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands-1, 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-G998U1
5G bands-2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-G998U1
SpeedHSPAHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / HSPAGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G998B
Launch
Announced2011, November. Released 2011, November2021, January 14
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, January 29
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions115 x 58 x 10.5 mm (4.53 x 2.28 x 0.41 in)165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm (6.5 x 2.98 x 0.35 in)
SIMMini-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight118 g (4.16 oz)227 g (Sub6), 229 g (mmWave) (8.01 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Stylus support
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~267 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~515 ppi density)
Size3.5 inches, 34.9 cm2 (~52.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 112.1 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeTFT, 256K colorsDynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak)
 -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) - USA/China
Chipset-Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - InternationalQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - USA/China
GPU-Mali-G78 MP14 - InternationalAdreno 660 - USA/China
OSAndroid 2.3 (Gingerbread)Android 11, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDHC (dedicated slot), 2 GB includedNo
Internal512MB128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flashLaser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad-108 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 72mm (telephoto), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 10 MP, f/4.9, 240mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video
Single5 MP-
VideoYes8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
SingleYes40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.7µm, PDAF
Video-4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
BluetoothYes5.2, A2DP, LE
NFC-Yes
PositioningGPS, A-GPSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioStereo FM radio, RDSFM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent)
USBmicroUSB 2.0USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspotWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsAccelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 MP4/WMV/H.264 player MP3/WAV/WMA/eAAC+ player Organizer Document viewer Voice memo/dial Predictive text inputSamsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging-25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
Stand-byUp to 200 h-
Talk timeUp to 4 h-
TypeRemovable Li-Ion 1500 mAh batteryLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlackPhantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Titanium, Phantom Navy, Phantom Brown, Navy
Models-SM-G998B, SM-G998B/DS, SM-G998U, SM-G998U1, SM-G998W, SM-G998N, SM-G9980
PriceAbout 170 EUR$ 240.01 / C$ 353.20 / £ 202.99 / € 264.99
SAR-0.77 W/kg (head)     1.02 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.71 W/kg (head)     1.58 W/kg (body)
Pricing
128GB 12GB RAM-$ 384.99
256GB 12GB RAM-$ 998.00
512GB 12GB RAM-$ 1,179.99
RENEWED-$ 459.00
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 114h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.5 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 657150 (v8) GeekBench: 3518 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

T-Mobile Vivacity

  • Likely more affordable
  • Compact size (assumed)

  • Unknown specs
  • Likely lower performance
  • Basic camera
  • Limited features

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G

  • Flagship performance
  • Stunning display
  • Versatile camera system
  • Excellent battery life
  • Premium design

  • Expensive
  • Large size
  • Can be power-hungry under heavy load

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G boasts a vibrant, incredibly bright (1023 nits) AMOLED display with an infinite contrast ratio. Expect stunning visuals and excellent outdoor visibility. The Vivacity's display details are unavailable, suggesting a more basic LCD panel with likely lower brightness and contrast.

Camera Comparison

The S21 Ultra 5G features a versatile camera system with multiple lenses, offering exceptional photo and video quality. Expect excellent detail, dynamic range, and low-light performance. The Vivacity's camera capabilities are unknown, likely offering a more basic setup.

Performance

The S21 Ultra 5G's Exynos 2100 or Snapdragon 888 5G chipset (depending on region) delivers flagship-level performance, handling demanding games and multitasking with ease. The Vivacity's processor is unknown, but it's safe to assume it's significantly less powerful.

Battery Life

The S21 Ultra 5G provides outstanding battery life, with an endurance rating of 114 hours. This translates to multiple days of use on a single charge. The Vivacity's battery life is unknown, but likely shorter given its potentially less efficient hardware.

Buying Guide

The T-Mobile Vivacity is likely best for budget-conscious users who prioritize affordability over high-end features. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is ideal for power users, photography enthusiasts, and anyone seeking a top-tier Android experience, regardless of price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ What is the T-Mobile Vivacity's processor?
Unfortunately, specific processor details for the T-Mobile Vivacity are unavailable. It's likely a mid-range or lower-end chip.
❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G worth the price?
If you prioritize top-tier performance, a stunning display, and a versatile camera, the S21 Ultra 5G is a worthwhile investment. However, it's a premium device with a premium price tag.