vivo V21s vs vivo V20 2021: A Detailed Comparison

Choosing between two excellent vivo phones can be tough. The vivo V21s and V20 2021 both offer stylish designs and impressive features, but which one truly delivers the best overall experience? This comprehensive comparison will help you decide.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The vivo V21s edges out the V20 2021 thanks to its more powerful chipset and faster charging. While the V20 2021 remains a solid choice, the V21s provides a noticeable performance boost and quicker top-ups, making it the slightly better value.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo V21s vivo V20 2021
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 661, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands1, 3, 7, 8, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA-
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE
Launch
Announced2022, November 172020, December 24. Released 2020, December 24
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, November 17Discontinued
Body
Build-Glass front, glass back
Dimensions159.7 x 73.9 x 7.3 mm or 7.4 mm161.3 x 74.2 x 7.4 mm (6.35 x 2.92 x 0.29 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight176 g / 177 g (6.21 oz)171 g (6.03 oz)
Display
Resolution1080 x 2404 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)
Size6.44 inches, 100.0 cm2 (~84.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.44 inches, 100.1 cm2 (~83.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 800 nits (HBM)AMOLED
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 800U (7 nm)Qualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730 (8 nm)
GPUMali-G57 MC3Adreno 618
OSAndroid 12, Funtouch 12Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, Funtouch 12
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Triple64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, AF Auxiliary lens
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDRHDR
Single44 MP, f/2.0, (wide), AF, OIS44 MP, f/2.0, (wide), AF
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoFM radio
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging33W wired, 63% in 30 min33W wired
Type4000 mAh4000 mAh
Misc
ColorsDusk Blue, GradientSunset Melody, Midnight Jazz, Moonlight Sonata
Models-V2040, V2043_21
PriceAbout 360 EURAbout 280 EUR

vivo V21s

  • More powerful chipset (Dimensity 800U)
  • Faster 33W charging
  • Versatile quad-camera system
  • Slightly larger display

  • Potentially higher price
  • Design might be less distinctive than V20 2021

vivo V20 2021

  • Excellent selfie camera
  • Stylish design
  • Generally more affordable
  • Good overall performance

  • Slightly older chipset (Snapdragon 730)
  • Slower charging compared to V21s
  • Performance lags behind V21s

Display Comparison

Both phones feature AMOLED displays with a 90Hz refresh rate, offering vibrant colors and smooth scrolling. The V21s has a slightly larger 6.44-inch display compared to the V20 2021's 6.43-inch screen, but the difference is minimal. Both offer FHD+ resolution, ensuring sharp visuals.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature impressive camera setups. The V20 2021 is known for its excellent selfie camera, while the V21s offers a versatile quad-camera system. Both capture detailed photos in good lighting, but the V21s's larger sensor and improved image processing algorithms often result in slightly better low-light performance. Both have good video recording capabilities.

Performance

The vivo V21s boasts the Mediatek Dimensity 800U, a more modern and powerful chipset than the V20 2021's Snapdragon 730. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the V21s. The V20 2021 is still capable, but the V21s has a clear advantage here.

Battery Life

The V21s supports 33W fast charging, which allows it to charge 63% in 30 minutes, a noticeable improvement over the V20 2021's 33W charging. Battery capacities are similar (around 4000mAh), so the faster charging speeds give the V21s an edge in convenience.

Buying Guide

The vivo V21s is ideal for users who prioritize performance and fast charging. If you're a mobile gamer or frequently multitask, the V21s's Dimensity 800U chipset will be a significant advantage. The vivo V20 2021 is a great option for those seeking a stylish phone with a good camera and a more budget-friendly price point, especially if performance isn't your top concern.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the vivo V21s worth the upgrade from the V20 2021?
If you prioritize performance and faster charging, then yes, the V21s is a worthwhile upgrade. However, if you're happy with the V20 2021's performance and camera, the upgrade might not be necessary.
❓ Which phone has better low-light camera performance?
The vivo V21s generally offers better low-light camera performance due to its larger sensor and improved image processing.