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.
🏆 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.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 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 |
| Speed | HSPA | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL) |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G998B |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2011, November. Released 2011, November | 2021, January 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, January 29 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 115 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) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | 118 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 |
| Resolution | 480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~267 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~515 ppi density) |
| Size | 3.5 inches, 34.9 cm2 (~52.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 112.1 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT, 256K colors | Dynamic 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 |
| OS | Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) | Android 11, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 2 GB included | No |
| Internal | 512MB | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 3.1
|
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | Laser 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 |
| Single | 5 MP | - |
| Video | Yes | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | Yes | 40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.7µm, PDAF |
| Video | - | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 32-bit/384kHz audio
Tuned by AKG |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | - | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | FM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent) |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (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 input | Samsung 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-by | Up to 200 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 4 h | - |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black | Phantom 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 |
| Price | About 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.