The Xiaomi Redmi 9 (India) and Samsung Galaxy A21s represent two popular choices in the ultra-budget smartphone segment. Both aim to deliver essential smartphone functionality at a low price point, but they take different approaches to achieving this. This comparison dives deep into their specifications to determine which device offers the best value for your money.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A21s emerges as the slightly better choice. Its Exynos 850 chipset, built on an 8nm process, provides a noticeable performance advantage over the Redmi 9’s Helio G35, and the 15W charging is a welcome improvement, despite identical endurance ratings.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, August 27. Released 2020, August 31 | 2020, May 15. Released 2020, June 02 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164.9 x 77.1 x 9 mm (6.49 x 3.04 x 0.35 in) | 163.7 x 75.3 x 8.9 mm (6.44 x 2.96 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 194 g (6.84 oz) | 192 g (6.77 oz) |
| | Water-repellent coating | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.53 inches, 102.9 cm2 (~81.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~82.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 400 nits (typ) | PLS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765G Helio G35 (12 nm) | Exynos 850 (8 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Mali-G52 |
| OS | Android 10, MIUI 12 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 2GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 4/6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.12µm | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@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 | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio, RDS, recording |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Sky Blue, Sporty Orange | Black, White, Blue, Red |
| Models | M2004C3MI | SM-A217F, SM-A217F/DS, SM-A217F/DSN, SM-A217M, SM-A217M/DS, SM-A217N |
| Price | About 110 EUR | About 220 EUR |
| SAR | 0.51 W/kg (head) 0.83 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | - | 0.42 W/kg (head) 1.54 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 119h |
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1287:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-30.0 LUFS (Average) |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 107157 (v8)
GeekBench: 1100 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 11fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Redmi 9 (India)
- Potentially lower price point
- Simple and straightforward user experience
- Decent battery endurance
- Less powerful processor
- Slower charging speed
- Likely inferior display quality
Samsung Galaxy A21s
- More powerful and efficient Exynos 850 chipset
- Faster 15W charging
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Generally higher price
- Samsung’s One UI can be resource intensive
- Similar battery endurance to Redmi 9
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A21s boasts a measured peak brightness of 490 nits and a 1287:1 contrast ratio, suggesting a more vibrant and visible display, especially outdoors. While the Redmi 9’s display specifications aren’t provided, Xiaomi typically uses IPS LCDs in this price range, which likely won’t match the Samsung’s contrast or brightness. The identical nominal contrast ratio suggests similar panel characteristics beyond peak brightness.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are lacking. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, given Samsung’s image processing expertise, the A21s is likely to produce more refined images, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on both devices is largely a marketing feature, offering limited practical benefit due to the small sensor size and low resolution.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Samsung Galaxy A21s utilizes the Exynos 850, fabricated on an 8nm process, offering improved power efficiency and performance compared to the Redmi 9’s MediaTek Helio G35 (12nm). The Exynos 850’s octa-core configuration of Cortex-A55 cores, while clocked at 2.0 GHz, benefits from the more efficient architecture, potentially delivering smoother performance in everyday tasks and gaming. The Redmi 9’s Cortex-A53 cores, split between 2.3 GHz and 1.8 GHz, are older and less efficient. This translates to a likely advantage for the A21s in sustained workloads.
Battery Life
Both the Redmi 9 and Galaxy A21s achieve an endurance rating of 119 hours, indicating similar overall battery life. However, the Galaxy A21s supports 15W wired charging, while the Redmi 9 is limited to 10W. This means the A21s will recharge significantly faster, reducing downtime and offering a more convenient user experience. The identical endurance rating suggests that despite the faster charging, the A21s doesn't consume significantly more power.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi 9 (India) if you prioritize a lower initial cost and are primarily focused on basic tasks like calling, texting, and light social media use. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A21s if you value smoother multitasking, slightly better gaming performance, and faster charging, even if it means spending a bit more upfront.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 850 in the Galaxy A21s tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 850, built on an 8nm process, is generally efficient and shouldn't exhibit significant overheating during typical gaming. While it's not a flagship gaming chip, it's capable of handling moderate gaming loads without substantial throttling, offering a more consistent experience than the Redmi 9's Helio G35.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone worth using for detailed close-up shots?
The 2MP macro cameras on both the Redmi 9 and Galaxy A21s are largely marketing features. The small sensor size and low resolution result in images lacking detail and sharpness. They are best avoided in favor of the main camera, even for close-up shots.
❓ Can the Samsung Galaxy A21s reliably run PUBG Mobile at 60fps?
The Galaxy A21s can likely run PUBG Mobile, but achieving a consistent 60fps experience will depend on the graphics settings. Lowering the settings to balanced or low is recommended for smoother gameplay. The Exynos 850 provides a performance edge over the Helio G35, making 60fps more attainable, but it's not guaranteed on maximum settings.
❓ How long does it realistically take to fully charge the Redmi 9 with its 10W charger?
With a 10W charger, the Redmi 9 will likely take around 3-4 hours to fully charge from 0% to 100%. This is significantly slower than the Galaxy A21s' 15W charging, which can reduce charging time by at least an hour.
