vivo S21 Pro vs OnePlus 9 Pro: A Detailed Comparison of Performance, Camera, and Battery
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the vivo S21 Pro emerges as the superior choice. Its Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ chipset delivers a significant performance leap over the OnePlus 9 Pro’s Snapdragon 888, coupled with substantially faster 90W charging. While the OnePlus 9 Pro boasts a comparable endurance rating, the S21 Pro’s charging speed mitigates any potential battery anxiety.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | vivo S21 Pro | OnePlus 9 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - EU |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - EU |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | Not announced yet | 2021, March 23 |
| Status | Cancelled | Available. Released 2021, March 30 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, glass back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | - | 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | - | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1260 x 2800 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) | 1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz | LTPO Fluid2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.25 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A720) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Immortalis-G720 MC12 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 15, OriginOS 5 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, OxygenOS 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | Up to 512GB 16GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Ring-LED flash, panorama, HDR | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Hasselblad Color Calibration, dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 77mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm (ultrawide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, AF 2 MP, f/2.4, (monochrome) |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.56", PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/1.9, (telephoto), 1/1.95", PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS, OIS | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR | HDR |
| Single | 50 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), AF | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 90W wired, PD Reverse wired | 65W wired, PD, 100% in 29 min 50W wireless, 100% in 43 min 5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Si/C Li-Ion 5500 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Gray; other colors | Morning Mist, Forest Green, Stellar Black |
| Models | - | LE2121, LE2125, LE2123, LE2120, LE2127 |
| Price | - | € 246.17 / $ 264.95 / £ 287.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 86h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | - | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) |
vivo S21 Pro
- Significantly faster 90W charging
- More powerful and efficient Dimensity 9300+ chipset
- Potential for improved thermal management
- Camera specifications currently unknown
- Software experience may not be as refined as OnePlus
OnePlus 9 Pro
- Proven camera system with Hasselblad color calibration
- Mature and refined software experience
- 50W wireless charging support
- Older Snapdragon 888 chipset prone to throttling
- Slower 65W wired charging
Display Comparison
The OnePlus 9 Pro achieves a measured peak brightness of 859 nits, a respectable figure, but the vivo S21 Pro’s display specifications are currently unavailable. Given vivo’s recent focus on display quality, it’s reasonable to expect a comparable or superior brightness level. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s display technology is not specified as LTPO, suggesting a standard 120Hz refresh rate, while the S21 Pro may benefit from a more power-efficient adaptive refresh rate if it incorporates LTPO technology. Without further data on the S21 Pro’s panel, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but the OnePlus 9 Pro’s established brightness is a known quantity.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are described as having capable Photo/Video capabilities, but specific details are lacking. The OnePlus 9 Pro benefited from Hasselblad color calibration, a key differentiator at launch. Without sensor size or aperture information for the vivo S21 Pro, it’s difficult to assess its low-light performance. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s camera system was well-regarded for its dynamic range and color accuracy. The absence of details regarding the S21 Pro’s camera system makes a direct comparison challenging, but the newer chipset may offer improved image signal processing (ISP) capabilities.
Performance
The vivo S21 Pro’s Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ (4nm) represents a substantial architectural upgrade over the OnePlus 9 Pro’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5nm). The Dimensity 9300+ features a unique core configuration – 1x3.25 GHz Cortex-X4, 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-X4, and 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A720 – designed for peak performance and efficiency. The Snapdragon 888’s 1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 configuration, while powerful for its time, is demonstrably less efficient. The 4nm process node of the Dimensity 9300+ further enhances thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of throttling during sustained workloads, a known issue with the Snapdragon 888. This translates to a smoother gaming experience and faster processing speeds for demanding applications on the S21 Pro.
Battery Life
Both the vivo S21 Pro and OnePlus 9 Pro share an endurance rating of 86 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life under comparable usage scenarios. However, the charging capabilities are where the S21 Pro pulls ahead significantly. The S21 Pro’s 90W wired charging, coupled with PD support and reverse wired charging, allows for a much faster recharge compared to the OnePlus 9 Pro’s 65W wired charging (29 minutes to 100%). The OnePlus 9 Pro also offers 50W wireless charging (43 minutes to 100%) and 5W reverse wireless charging, but the S21 Pro’s wired charging speed is a clear advantage for users who prioritize quick top-ups.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo S21 Pro if you prioritize raw performance, exceptionally fast charging, and a modern chipset. This phone is ideal for demanding users who game frequently or rely heavily on their smartphone for productivity. Buy the OnePlus 9 Pro if you value a refined software experience, a proven camera system, and are comfortable with a slightly older, but still capable, processor. It's a strong option for those seeking a reliable flagship at a potentially lower price point.