vivo X60 Pro (China) vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G: A Deep Dive Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing camera versatility and a consistently polished software experience, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is the stronger choice. While the X60 Pro offers a compelling performance profile, the S21 Ultra’s superior display, more refined camera system, and broader feature set justify its higher price point.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | vivo X60 Pro (China) | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 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, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 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-G998U1 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-G998U1 |
| 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 & TD-SCDMA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G998B | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, December 29. Released 2021, January 08 | 2021, January 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, January 29 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 158.6 x 73.2 x 7.6 mm (6.24 x 2.88 x 0.30 in) | 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm (6.5 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | 178 g (6.28 oz) | 227 g (Sub6), 229 g (mmWave) (8.01 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Stylus support | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2376 pixels (~398 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~515 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.56 inches, 104.6 cm2 (~90.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 112.1 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak) |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | 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 | Exynos 1080 (5 nm) | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - InternationalQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - USA/China |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP10 | Mali-G78 MP14 - InternationalAdreno 660 - USA/China |
| OS | Android 11, OriginOS 1.0 | Android 11, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Zeiss optics, color spectrum sensor, Pixel Shift, LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.5, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (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 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide) | 108 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 72mm (telephoto), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 10 MP, f/4.9, 240mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, 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, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.7µm, 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 | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2, 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/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Virtual proximity sensing | Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 33W wired | 25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | 4200 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Gray, Aurora | Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Titanium, Phantom Navy, Phantom Brown, Navy |
| Models | V2047A | SM-G998B, SM-G998B/DS, SM-G998U, SM-G998U1, SM-G998W, SM-G998N, SM-G9980 |
| Price | About 640 EUR | $ 240.01 / C$ 353.20 / £ 202.99 / € 264.99 |
| SAR | - | 0.77 W/kg (head) 1.02 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.71 W/kg (head) 1.58 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 12GB RAM | - | $ 384.99 |
| 256GB 12GB RAM | - | $ 998.00 |
| 512GB 12GB RAM | - | $ 1,179.99 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 459.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 114h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.5 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 657150 (v8) GeekBench: 3518 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
vivo X60 Pro (China)
- Potentially better value for money
- Smooth and responsive performance with Exynos 1080
- Sleek and understated design
- Less versatile camera system
- Slower charging speeds
- Limited wireless charging options
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
- Superior camera system with advanced features
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Faster charging and wireless charging capabilities
- Higher price point
- Potential for thermal throttling with Snapdragon 888
- Larger and heavier design
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1023 nits, compared to an unlisted value for the X60 Pro. This brightness advantage translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. While both likely utilize AMOLED technology, the S21 Ultra’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio suggests a more aggressive dynamic contrast implementation. The S21 Ultra’s larger size and higher resolution also contribute to a more immersive viewing experience, though the X60 Pro’s display quality is still expected to be very good for its price point.
Camera Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra’s camera system is a clear standout. While both phones offer ‘Photo / Video’ capabilities, the S21 Ultra’s sensor size and advanced image processing algorithms provide superior image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. The S21 Ultra’s multiple lenses (details unspecified in the data) offer greater versatility, including advanced zoom capabilities. The X60 Pro’s camera system is likely competent, but it lacks the sheer scale and refinement of the S21 Ultra’s setup. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on the X60 Pro is likely a marketing feature with limited real-world benefit.
Performance
The Galaxy S21 Ultra’s chipset options – the Exynos 2100 (International) and Snapdragon 888 (USA/China) – both represent a performance step up from the X60 Pro’s Exynos 1080. The S21 Ultra’s Cortex-X1 prime core, clocked at 2.9 GHz (International) or 2.84 GHz (USA/China), provides a noticeable boost in single-core performance. The S21 Ultra also benefits from potentially faster RAM, though the specific LPDDR version isn’t specified. While the Exynos 1080 is a capable 5nm chip, the S21 Ultra’s processors offer more headroom for demanding tasks and sustained performance. The S21 Ultra’s thermal management will be crucial, as the Snapdragon 888 is known to run hot.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 114 hours, suggesting comparable overall battery life despite differing battery capacities (unspecified for the X60 Pro). However, the S21 Ultra offers significantly faster charging options, including 25W wired, 15W wireless (Qi), and 4.5W reverse wireless. The X60 Pro is limited to 33W wired charging. This charging speed difference means the S21 Ultra can top up much faster, reducing downtime. The S21 Ultra’s wireless charging capabilities also add convenience.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo X60 Pro (China) if you prioritize a smooth, responsive experience with a focus on gaming and appreciate a more understated design. It’s ideal for users who value performance-per-dollar and aren’t heavily reliant on advanced camera features. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G if you demand the best possible camera system, a brighter and more vibrant display, and a comprehensive suite of features like wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, even at a premium price.