vivo S21 Pro vs. Realme GT 8 Pro: A Deep Dive into Performance and Power
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing raw performance and incredibly fast charging, the Realme GT 8 Pro emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, coupled with 120W charging and impressive battery endurance, offers a compelling package. However, the vivo S21 Pro remains a strong contender for those seeking a balanced experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | vivo S21 Pro | Realme GT 8 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) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - International |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | Not announced yet | 2025, October 21 |
| Status | Cancelled | Available. Released 2025, October 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, glass back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 7i), aluminum alloy frame, fiber-reinforced plastic back or silicone polymer (eco leather) back |
| Dimensions | - | 161.8 x 76.9 x 8.2 mm (6.37 x 3.03 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - International· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM - China |
| Weight | - | 214 g or 218 g (7.69 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, Mohs level 4 |
| Resolution | 1260 x 2800 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) | 1440 x 3136 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~508 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 | 6.79 inches, 112.8 cm2 (~90.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, HDR Vivid, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM), 7000 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.25 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A720) | Octa-core (2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) |
| GPU | Immortalis-G720 MC12 | Adreno 840 |
| OS | Android 15, OriginOS 5 | Android 16, up to 4 major Android upgrades, Realme UI 7.0 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | Up to 512GB 16GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Ring-LED flash, panorama, HDR | Ricoh lens, Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama, switchable camera bump |
| 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) | 50 MP, f/1.8, 22mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 200 MP, f/2.6, 65mm, (periscope telephoto), 1/1.56", 0.5µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.0, 16mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.88", 0.64µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS, OIS | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, HDR, Dolby Vision, 10-bit LOG |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR | Panorama |
| Single | 50 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), AF | 32 MP, f/2.4, 24mm (wide), 1/3.1", 0.7µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS, HDR, Dolby Vision |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 6.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, LHDC 5 |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes, 360˚ |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) | GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), GLONASS, NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, 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/6/7, dual-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 90W wired, PD Reverse wired | 120W wired, 120W UFCS, 14.4W PD, 55W PPS, 14.4W QC, 15 min to 50%, 43 min to 100% 50W wireless, 79 min to 100% 10W wireless reverse 5W reverse wired |
| Type | Si/C Li-Ion 5500 mAh | Si/C Li-Ion 7000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Gray; other colors | Diary White, Urban Blue, Green, Aston Martin Green |
| Models | - | RMX5210 |
| Price | - | € 899.99 |
| SAR | - | 0.99 W/kg (head) 1.27 W/kg (body) |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | - | 60:32h endurance, 1100 cycles |
| Energy | - | Class B |
| Free fall | - | Class D (60 falls) |
| Repairability | - | Class C |
vivo S21 Pro
- Powerful Dimensity 9300+ processor
- 90W fast wired charging
- Potentially excellent camera performance (based on vivo's history)
- Less detailed battery endurance data
- Slower charging compared to Realme GT 8 Pro
Realme GT 8 Pro
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for top-tier performance
- Incredibly fast 120W wired charging with UFCS
- Exceptional battery endurance (60:32h)
- May prioritize performance over camera features
- Potentially higher price point
Display Comparison
The Realme GT 8 Pro takes a clear lead in display technology, boasting a peak brightness of 2262 nits (measured). While the vivo S21 Pro’s display specs are not provided, the GT 8 Pro’s brightness ensures excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The absence of LTPO information for the S21 Pro suggests the GT 8 Pro likely has an advantage in adaptive refresh rate efficiency, potentially contributing to better battery life. The GT 8 Pro’s high brightness is particularly beneficial for HDR content consumption.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specifications for either device, a direct comparison is limited. However, the market positioning suggests the Realme GT 8 Pro may prioritize performance over camera innovation, while the vivo S21 Pro, traditionally strong in camera technology, might offer a more refined imaging experience. The absence of information regarding sensor sizes and OIS on both devices makes it difficult to assess image quality. We can assume both phones will feature a multi-camera setup, but the quality will depend on the specific sensors and image processing algorithms employed.
Performance
The core of the difference lies in the chipsets. The Realme GT 8 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm) utilizes Qualcomm’s Oryon V3 Phoenix cores, promising significant performance gains over the vivo S21 Pro’s Dimensity 9300+ (4nm). The Snapdragon’s 2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L cores and 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M cores suggest a more aggressive performance profile. While the Dimensity 9300+ features a Cortex-X4 prime core clocked at 3.25 GHz, the Snapdragon’s architecture is expected to deliver superior multi-core and single-core performance. The 3nm process node of the Snapdragon also contributes to improved thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads.
Battery Life
The Realme GT 8 Pro excels in battery and charging capabilities. Its 60:32h endurance and 20:24h active use score demonstrate superior battery life compared to what is known about the S21 Pro. The GT 8 Pro’s 120W wired charging (with UFCS, PPS, and QC support) is significantly faster than the S21 Pro’s 90W wired charging. The GT 8 Pro can reach 50% charge in just 15 minutes and 100% in 43 minutes, while the S21 Pro’s charging times are not specified but will be slower. The GT 8 Pro also offers 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging, adding to its versatility.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo S21 Pro if you prioritize a refined user experience and a powerful processor for everyday tasks and content creation. Its 90W charging is still very fast, and the Dimensity 9300+ is no slouch. Buy the Realme GT 8 Pro if you are a power user, gamer, or someone who demands the absolute fastest charging speeds and longest battery life. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 delivers top-tier performance, and the 120W charging with UFCS support is unmatched.