vivo Y21s vs Samsung Galaxy A04s: The Ultimate Budget Showdown

Looking for a reliable smartphone without breaking the bank? The vivo Y21s and Samsung Galaxy A04s are both contenders in the budget phone arena. But which one offers the best value for your money? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A04s edges out the vivo Y21s thanks to its slightly more powerful chipset, better display brightness, and impressive battery life. While the Y21s offers reverse charging, the A04s provides a more well-rounded experience for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	vivo Y21s	Samsung Galaxy A04s

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 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	1, 3, 5, 8, 40	-

Launch
Announced	2021, September 21	2022, August 31
Status	Available. Released 2021, September 21	Available. Released 2022, September 22

Body
Build	-	Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions	164.3 x 76.1 x 8 mm (6.47 x 3.00 x 0.31 in)	164.7 x 76.7 x 9.1 mm (6.48 x 3.02 x 0.36 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	182 g (6.42 oz)	195 g (6.88 oz)

Display
Resolution	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density)	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density)
Size	6.51 inches, 102.3 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio)	6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~80.7% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	PLS LCD, 90Hz, 400 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Mediatek MT6769V/CU Helio G80 (12 nm)	Exynos 850 (8 nm)
GPU	Mali-G52 MC2	Mali-G52
OS	Android 11, Funtouch 11.1	Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM	32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM
	-	eMMC 5.1

Main Camera
Features	LED flash	LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, (wide)	-
Triple	50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens	50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	-
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, (wide)	5 MP, f/2.2, (wide)
Video	1080p@30fps	720p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes (market/region dependent)	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
Radio	FM radio	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer
	-	Virtual Proximity Sensing

Battery
Charging	18W wired 2.5W reverse wired	15W wired
Type	5000 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Midnight Blue, Pearl White	Black, Green, White, Copper
Models	V2110	SM-A047F, SM-A047F/DS, SM-A047F/DSN, SM-A047M
Price	-	€ 133.89
SAR	0.83 W/kg (head) 1.09 W/kg (body)	-
SAR EU	-	0.52 W/kg (head) 1.23 W/kg (body)

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 114h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 1614:1
Loudspeaker	-	-30.3 LUFS (Below average)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 145123(v9) GeekBench: 1100 (v5.1) GFXBench: 11fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo Y21s

Reverse wired charging (2.5W)
Slightly more modern chipset (Helio G80)
Potentially better gaming performance

Lower display brightness (assumed)
Unspecified battery life
Less established brand reputation

Samsung Galaxy A04s

Excellent battery life (114h endurance rating)
Brighter display (389 nits)
Reliable Samsung brand
More power efficient chipset (8nm)

Slightly less powerful chipset for gaming
15W charging (slower than Y21s's 18W)

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A04s boasts a measured peak brightness of 389 nits, offering better visibility in sunlight compared to the Y21s (brightness data unavailable, assumed lower). Both phones share a high 1614:1 contrast ratio, promising deep blacks and vibrant colors. The A04s's slightly brighter screen gives it a noticeable advantage.

Camera Comparison

Camera quality is subjective and depends on individual preferences. Both phones offer decent camera capabilities for their price range. The A04s likely has a slight edge in image processing due to Samsung's software optimization. Specific camera specs (megapixels, aperture) are needed for a more precise comparison.

Performance

The vivo Y21s's Helio G80 chipset generally provides slightly better gaming performance than the Exynos 850 in the A04s. However, the Exynos 850's 8nm process offers improved power efficiency. Day-to-day tasks are handled smoothly on both devices.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy A04s shines in this category with an impressive endurance rating of 114 hours. The vivo Y21s's battery capacity is likely lower, and its endurance rating is unavailable. The A04s's superior battery life is a significant advantage.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the vivo Y21s? Users prioritizing reverse charging and a slightly more modern chipset (Helio G80) might lean towards the Y21s. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A04s? Those seeking longer battery life, a brighter display, and the reliability of the Samsung brand will find the A04s a compelling choice.