ZTE Voyage 20 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G: A Detailed Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G, while a generation older, remains a compelling option thanks to price drops and a refined user experience. The ZTE Voyage 20 Pro enters the arena as a more recent contender, aiming to disrupt with a focus on fast charging and a modern chipset at a potentially lower price point. This comparison dissects the core differences to help you decide which phone best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a vibrant display, established brand reliability, and a more polished software experience, the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G remains the better choice. However, the ZTE Voyage 20 Pro’s 66W charging and newer Mediatek Dimensity 720 chipset offer compelling value for those prioritizing speed and affordability.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE Voyage 20 Pro Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 39, 40, 411, 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-G996U1
5G bands1, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-G996U1
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G996B
Launch
Announced2021, November 252021, January 14
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, December 04Available. Released 2021, January 29
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic back, plastic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.9 x 76.2 x 8.3 mm (6.45 x 3.00 x 0.33 in)161.5 x 75.6 x 7.8 mm (6.36 x 2.98 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight190 g (6.70 oz)200 g (Sub6), 202 g (mmWave) (7.05 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 107.8 cm2 (~88.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 90HzDynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 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
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 720 (7 nm)Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - InternationalQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - USA/China
GPUMali-G57 MC3Mali-G78 MP14 - InternationalAdreno 660 - USA/China
OSAndroid 11, MyOS 11Android 11, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad64 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)-
Single16 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
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30ps8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoFM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent)
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (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) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging66W wired, 50% in 15 min25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 5100 mAhLi-Ion 4800 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, AuroraPhantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink, Phantom Gold, Phantom Red
Models9040NSM-G996B, SM-G996B/DS, SM-G996U, SM-G996U1, SM-G996W, SM-G996N, SM-G9960
PriceAbout 310 EUR$ 162.99 / £ 185.00 / € 199.00
SAR-0.65 W/kg (head)     0.95 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.54 W/kg (head)     1.33 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 114h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.8 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 622276 (v8) GeekBench: 3476 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE Voyage 20 Pro

  • 66W Fast Charging: Significantly reduces charging time.
  • Modern Chipset: Mediatek Dimensity 720 offers good performance for the price.
  • Potentially Lower Price: Offers a compelling value proposition.

  • Less Established Brand: May have limited software support.
  • Display Specs Unknown: Likely inferior to the S21+’s display.

Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G

  • Superior Display: 883 nits brightness and high contrast ratio.
  • Powerful Processor: Exynos 2100 or Snapdragon 888 offer flagship performance.
  • Established Brand: Samsung provides reliable software updates and support.

  • Slower Charging: 25W wired charging is significantly slower than the Voyage 20 Pro.
  • Higher Price: Generally more expensive than the ZTE Voyage 20 Pro.

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G boasts a superior display experience with a measured peak brightness of 883 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Voyage 20 Pro’s display specs are not provided, it’s unlikely to match the S21+'s brightness. The S21+'s 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a high-quality AMOLED panel, offering deep blacks and vibrant colors. The S21+’s display is likely to benefit users who consume a lot of media outdoors or require accurate color reproduction for professional tasks.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but the S21+ likely holds an edge due to Samsung’s established camera processing algorithms and potentially larger sensor sizes (specs not provided for the Voyage 20 Pro). While both phones likely feature multiple lenses, the S21+’s image stabilization (OIS) and overall image quality are expected to be superior. The Voyage 20 Pro’s camera system is likely geared towards providing acceptable results in good lighting conditions, but will likely fall short of the S21+'s low-light performance and dynamic range. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on either device is largely a marketing gimmick and offers minimal practical benefit.

Performance

The Galaxy S21+ 5G, depending on the region, utilizes either the Exynos 2100 (5nm) or the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) – both significantly more powerful than the ZTE Voyage 20 Pro’s Mediatek Dimensity 720 (7nm). The S21+'s Cortex-X1 prime core, clocked at up to 2.9 GHz, provides a substantial performance advantage in demanding tasks. The 5nm process node used in the S21+'s chipsets also translates to better power efficiency and thermal management, reducing throttling during prolonged gaming sessions. The Voyage 20 Pro’s Dimensity 720 is adequate for everyday tasks, but will struggle with graphically intensive games at higher settings. Users prioritizing gaming or demanding applications will find the S21+ a far more capable device.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G achieves an endurance rating of 114 hours, indicating solid battery life. However, the ZTE Voyage 20 Pro’s 66W wired charging is a game-changer, capable of charging 50% of the battery in just 15 minutes. While the S21+ offers 25W wired, 15W wireless, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, the Voyage 20 Pro’s significantly faster wired charging offsets any potential battery capacity differences (specs not provided for the Voyage 20 Pro). Users who frequently find themselves needing to quickly top up their battery will greatly benefit from the Voyage 20 Pro’s charging speed.

Buying Guide

Buy the ZTE Voyage 20 Pro if you need exceptionally fast charging and are comfortable with a less-established brand. Its 66W charging capability significantly reduces downtime. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G if you prefer a brighter, more color-accurate display, a more refined camera experience, and the peace of mind that comes with Samsung’s software support and brand reputation.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 2100 chip in the Galaxy S21+ 5G suffer from overheating issues?
Early reports indicated some thermal throttling with the Exynos 2100, particularly during sustained heavy loads. However, Samsung addressed many of these concerns with software updates. The 5nm process node and improved thermal management design generally prevent significant overheating in typical usage scenarios.
❓ Is the 66W charging on the ZTE Voyage 20 Pro compatible with Power Delivery (PD) chargers?
While the ZTE Voyage 20 Pro supports 66W charging, it's crucial to use a charger specifically designed for its charging protocol to achieve maximum speed. Standard PD chargers may not deliver the full 66W, resulting in slower charging times. Check the included charger specifications or ZTE’s documentation for compatibility details.
❓ How does the Mediatek Dimensity 720 perform in demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
The Dimensity 720 can run PUBG Mobile, but you'll likely need to lower the graphics settings to achieve a smooth frame rate. It's not designed for consistently running games at the highest settings, and may experience some frame drops during intense action sequences. The Galaxy S21+ with its Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100 will provide a significantly better gaming experience.
❓ What kind of software support can I expect from ZTE for the Voyage 20 Pro?
ZTE’s software support track record is less extensive than Samsung’s. While the Voyage 20 Pro will likely receive some software updates, the frequency and duration of support may be shorter compared to the Galaxy S21+ 5G, which is guaranteed several years of security patches and OS upgrades.