vivo X51 5G vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G: A Deep Dive into Performance and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing value, the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is the clear winner. Its significantly more powerful Snapdragon 888 (or Exynos 2100) chipset and brighter display justify the price difference, despite the vivo X51 5G offering respectable performance and a competitive camera. However, the X51 remains a compelling option for budget-conscious buyers.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | vivo X51 5G | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 | 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-G991U1 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-G991U1 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL) |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA 800 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G991B | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, October 21. Released 2020, October 23 | 2021, January 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, January 29 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 158.5 x 72.8 x 8 mm (6.24 x 2.87 x 0.31 in) | 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm (5.97 x 2.80 x 0.31 in) |
| Keyboard | QWERTY | - |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | 181.5 g (6.42 oz) | 169 g (Sub6), 171 g (mmWave) (5.96 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2376 pixels (~398 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~421 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.56 inches, 104.6 cm2 (~90.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.2 inches, 94.1 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+ | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) | 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 | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - InternationalQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - USA/China |
| GPU | Adreno 620 | Mali-G78 MP14 - InternationalAdreno 660 - USA/China |
| OS | Android 10, Funtouch 10.0 | Android 11, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.6, (wide), PDAF, gimbal OIS 8 MP, f/3.4, 135mm (periscope telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.5, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | - |
| Single | 3.15 MP | - |
| Triple | - | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/2.0, 29mm (telephoto), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 1.1x optical zoom, 3x hybrid zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/192kHz audio | 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Browser | HTML | - |
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 33W wired, 57% in 30 min | 25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Music play | Up to 5 h | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 312 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 3 h | - |
| Type | 4315 mAh | Li-Ion 4000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Gray | Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink |
| Models | XE710 | SM-G991B, SM-G991B/DS, SM-G991U, SM-G991U1, SM-G991W, SM-G991N, SM-G9910, SM-G991Q, SCG09 |
| Price | About 760 EUR | € 194.00 / $ 153.58 / £ 149.99 |
| SAR | 0.35 W/kg (head) 0.95 W/kg (body) | 0.74 W/kg (head) 1.08 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.20 W/kg (head) | 0.46 W/kg (head) 1.51 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 8GB RAM | - | $ 249.00 |
| 256GB 8GB RAM | $ 885.00 | $ 289.99 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 317.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 93h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -26.4 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 584055 (v8) GeekBench: 3238 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
vivo X51 5G
- More affordable price point
- Competitive 5G connectivity
- 33W fast charging
- Less powerful processor
- Display specifications are less detailed
- Camera details are limited
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G
- Significantly faster processor (Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100)
- Brighter and smoother display
- Excellent battery life and versatile charging options
- Higher price
- Potential for thermal throttling with Snapdragon 888
- Exynos variant may exhibit slightly lower performance
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 856 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the vivo X51 5G. This translates to better outdoor visibility. While both likely utilize AMOLED technology, the S21’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio suggests a more refined panel. The X51’s display specs are less detailed, leaving questions about color accuracy and refresh rate unanswered, while the S21 is known for its smooth 120Hz adaptive refresh rate.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are advertised as having strong camera systems, but details are sparse. The X51 5G’s camera capabilities are not specified beyond 'Photo / Video'. The S21’s camera system is more widely reviewed, but specific sensor details are missing in the provided data. The S21’s image processing benefits from the more powerful ISP within the Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100, enabling faster processing and potentially better low-light performance. The absence of sensor size information makes a direct comparison difficult, but the S21’s flagship status suggests a more sophisticated camera system overall.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Galaxy S21, depending on region, features either the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5nm) or the Exynos 2100 (5nm), both built on a more advanced 5nm process compared to the vivo X51 5G’s 7nm Snapdragon 765G. The S21’s CPU configuration – Cortex-X1, Cortex-A78, and Cortex-A55 cores – offers a substantial performance uplift over the Kryo 475 cores in the X51. This is particularly noticeable in demanding applications and multitasking. While the 765G is capable, the 888/2100 provides headroom for future software updates and sustained performance under load.
Battery Life
The Galaxy S21 5G achieves an impressive Endurance rating of 93 hours, indicating excellent battery life. While the vivo X51 5G’s battery capacity isn’t specified, the S21’s 25W wired charging (with PD3.0) and 15W wireless charging offer more versatile charging options than the X51’s 33W wired charging. The S21 also includes 4.5W reverse wireless charging, a feature absent on the X51. The S21’s efficiency, combined with its larger battery (likely around 4000mAh), contributes to its superior endurance.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo X51 5G if you need a reliable 5G phone with a good camera and are on a strict budget, prioritizing affordability over raw power. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G if you prefer a smoother, faster experience for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing, and value a brighter, more vibrant display, even if it means spending more.