vivo S15 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G: A Deep Dive into Performance and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the vivo S15 offers a more consistently smooth experience thanks to the Snapdragon 870's thermal efficiency. While the Galaxy S21 FE's brighter display and potential for faster peak performance (Snapdragon 888 version) are appealing, the risk of throttling and slower charging make the S15 the more practical choice.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | vivo S15 | Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 19, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1600/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1x | 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, May 19 | 2022, January 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, May 27 | Available. Released 2022, January 07 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 161.1 x 74.3 x 8 mm (6.34 x 2.93 x 0.31 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 |
| Weight | 197 g (6.95 oz) | 177 g (6.24 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~398 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.62 inches, 105.8 cm2 (~88.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585) | 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 SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - Version 1Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - Version 2 |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 660 - Version 1Mali-G78 MP14 - Version 2 |
| OS | Android 12, OriginOS Ocean | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.72", PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 120˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) | 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@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | 32-bit/384kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | Unspecified |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C, 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 |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, 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 | 66W wired, 50% in 18 min | 25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | 4500 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Blue, Black, Yellow | White, Graphite, Lavender, Olive |
| Models | V2203A | SM-G990B, SM-G990B/DS, SM-G990U, SM-G990U1, SM-G990W, SM-G990E, SM-G9900, SM-G990B2, SM-G990U2, SM-G990W2, SM-G990U3 |
| Price | About 380 EUR | € 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) |
vivo S15
- Faster 66W charging
- More thermally efficient Snapdragon 870
- Potentially better sustained performance
- Display brightness likely lower than S21 FE
- Wireless charging absent
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Potentially higher peak performance (Snapdragon 888 version)
- Slower 25W charging
- Potential for thermal throttling (especially Exynos version)
- Chipset efficiency lower than Snapdragon 870
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 792 nits, compared to an unstated value for the vivo S15. This brightness advantage is crucial for outdoor use under direct sunlight. Both displays feature an 'infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, the S15's display technology is not specified, while the S21 FE's panel is likely a high-quality AMOLED. The lack of refresh rate information for the S15 is a notable omission, while the S21 FE is expected to have a 120Hz panel.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific details. However, the S21 FE's camera system is generally considered more versatile, though the S15's image processing could offer a different aesthetic. Sensor sizes and lens apertures are not specified, making a direct comparison difficult. The inclusion of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) is likely on both devices, but unconfirmed. The S21 FE's camera is known for its vibrant colors and detailed images, while the S15's camera performance is less documented. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on either device is largely inconsequential due to its limited sensor size and image quality.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The vivo S15 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G (7nm), known for its excellent balance of power and efficiency. Its octa-core CPU configuration (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585, 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585, 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585) provides ample processing power. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G comes in two variants: one with the Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) and another with the Exynos 2100 (5nm). While the Snapdragon 888 offers higher peak performance with its Cortex-X1 prime core (2.84/2.9 GHz), it's also known for thermal throttling under sustained load. The Exynos 2100 variant, while improved, still faces similar thermal concerns. The 7nm process of the Snapdragon 870 in the S15 generally results in lower temperatures and more consistent performance. RAM specifications are not provided for either device, but both are expected to utilize LPDDR5 for fast memory access.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G has an endurance rating of 92 hours, indicating solid battery life. It supports 25W wired charging (PD3.0), taking approximately 30 minutes to reach 50% charge, 15W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging. The vivo S15, however, boasts a significantly faster 66W wired charging, reaching 50% charge in just 18 minutes. While the S15's battery capacity is not specified, the faster charging speed compensates for any potential difference in mAh. The S21 FE's wireless and reverse wireless charging are convenient features absent on the S15.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo S15 if you prioritize sustained performance during gaming and everyday tasks, and value faster charging speeds. It's ideal for users who want a reliable, efficient phone without compromising on power. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G if you absolutely need a brighter display for outdoor visibility, and are willing to potentially manage thermal throttling, especially if you opt for the Exynos 2100 variant. It's best for multimedia enthusiasts and those heavily invested in the Samsung ecosystem.