Vivo V23 5G vs Vivo V21
Here we compared two smartphones: the 6.44-inch Vivo V23 5G (with MediaTek Dimensity 920) that was released on January 5, 2022, against the Vivo V21, which is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 800U 5G and came out 8 months before. On this page, you will find tests, full specs, strengths, and weaknesses of each of the devices.
Key differences
Reasons to consider the Vivo V23 5G
- Newer Bluetooth version (v5.2)
- 18% better performance in AnTuTu Benchmark (511K versus 434K)
- Supports higher wattage charging (44W versus 33W)
- Faster storage type - UFS 3.1 versus UFS 2.2
- 35% faster in single-core GeekBench 6 test: 926 and 687 points
- The phone is 8-months newer
Reasons to consider the Vivo V21
- Optical image stabilization
- Expandable storage via MicroSD card up to 512GB
- Delivers 22% higher peak brightness (768 against 632 nits)
- More recent OS version: Android 13 versus 12
Review
Display
Screen quality, color accuracy, brightness
Camera
Photo and video recording quality
Performance
CPU and memory performance (apps, system)
Gaming
Capabilities for playing modern games
Battery
Battery life, charging type and speed
Connectivity
Networks, ports, data transmission
Value for money
Tests and specifications
Comparison table of technical specifications and testsDisplay
| Type | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Size | 6.44 inches | 6.44 inches |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels | 1080 x 2404 pixels |
| Aspect ratio | 20:9 | 20:9 |
| PPI | 409 ppi | 409 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 90 Hz | 90 Hz |
| Adaptive refresh rate | No | No |
| Max rated brightness | 430 nits | 500 nits |
| Max rated brightness in HDR | 630 nits | 800 nits |
| HDR support | Yes, HDR10+ | Yes, HDR10+ |
| Screen protection | Tempered glass | Tempered glass |
| Screen-to-body ratio | 88% | 84.8% |
| Display features |
- DCI-P3
- Always-On Display |
- Always-On Display |
| RGB color space | - | 97.8% |
| PWM | - | 367 Hz |
| Response time | - | 3.4 ms |
| Contrast | - | ∞ Infinity |
Peak brightness test (auto)
Design and build
| Height | 157.2 mm (6.19 inches) | 159.7 mm (6.29 inches) |
| Width | 72.4 mm (2.85 inches) | 73.9 mm (2.91 inches) |
| Thickness | 7.55 mm (0.3 inches) | 7.3 mm (0.29 inches) |
| Weight | 181 g (6.38 oz) | 176 g (6.21 oz) |
| Waterproof | No | No |
| Rear material | Glass | Glass |
| Frame material | Plastic | Plastic |
| Colors | Black, Gold | White, Blue |
| Fingerprint scanner | Yes, in-display | Yes, in-display |
Screen-to-body ratio
Performance
| Chipset | MediaTek Dimensity 920 | MediaTek Dimensity 800U 5G |
| Max clock | 2500 MHz | 2400 MHz |
| CPU cores | 8 (2 + 6) | 8 (2 + 6) |
| Architecture |
- 6 cores at 2 GHz: Cortex-A55
- 2 cores at 2.5 GHz: Cortex-A78 |
- 6 cores at 2 GHz: Cortex-A55
- 2 cores at 2.4 GHz: Cortex-A76 |
| L3 cache | 2 MB | - |
| Lithography process | 6 nanometers | 7 nanometers |
| Graphics | Mali-G68 MP4 | Mali-G57 MP3 |
| GPU shading units | - | 192 |
| GPU clock | 950 MHz | 850 MHz |
| FLOPS | ~684 GFLOPS | ~326.4 GFLOPS |
Benchmarks
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
AnTuTu Benchmark 10
| CPU | 156048 | 122447 |
| GPU | 121191 | 107456 |
| Memory | 104802 | 89125 |
| UX | 124213 | 113891 |
| Total score | 511059 | 434499 |
3DMark Wild Life Performance
| Max surface temperature | - | 37.9 °C |
| Stability | 99% | 99% |
| Graphics test | 13 FPS | 9 FPS |
| Graphics score | 2296 | 1611 |
PCMark 3.0
| Web score | 5166 | 4850 |
| Video editing | 6133 | 5713 |
| Photo editing | 15286 | 13006 |
| Data manipulation | 6598 | 6767 |
| Writing score | 10450 | 8116 |
Memory
| RAM size | 8, 12 GB | 8 GB |
| Memory type | LPDDR4X | LPDDR4X |
| Memory clock | 2133 MHz | 1866 MHz |
| Channels | 2 | 2 |
| Storage size | 128, 256 GB | 128, 256 GB |
| Storage type | UFS 3.1 | UFS 2.2 |
| Memory card | No | MicroSD |
| Memory card max size | - | Up to 512 GB |
Software
| Operating system | Android 12 | Android 11 (Can be upgraded to Android 13) |
| ROM | Funtouch 12 | Funtouch OS 11.1 |
Battery
| Capacity | 4200 mAh | 4000 mAh |
| Max charge power | 44 W | 33 W |
| Battery type | Li-Po | Li-Po |
| Replaceable | No | No |
| Wireless charging | No | No |
| Reverse charging | No | No |
| Fast charging | Yes (60% in 30 min) | Yes (63% in 30 min) |
| Full charging time | 1:03 hr | 1:05 hr |
| Web browsing | 12:14 hr | 11:49 hr |
| Watching video | 14:46 hr | 14:07 hr |
| Gaming | 05:53 hr | 06:10 hr |
| Standby | 92 hr | 112 hr |
General battery life
Camera
| Matrix | 64 megapixels | 64 megapixels |
| Image resolution | 9248 x 6936 | 9248 x 6920 |
| Zoom | Digital | Digital |
| Flash | Dual LED | LED |
| Stabilization | Digital | Optical |
| 8K video recording | No | No |
| 4K video recording | Up to 30FPS | Up to 30FPS |
| 1080p video recording | Up to 60FPS | Up to 60FPS |
| Slow motion | - | 120 FPS (720p) |
| Angle of widest lens | 120° | 120° |
| Lenses | 3 (64 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP) | 3 (64 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP) |
| Wide (main) lens |
- 64 MP
- Aperture: f/1.9 - Focal length: 26 mm - Phase autofocus |
- 64 MP
- Aperture: f/1.8 - Focal length: 26 mm - Pixel size: 0.7 micron - Sensor: 1/1.97", Samsung ISOCELL GW3 (ISOCELL Plus CMOS) - Phase autofocus - Optical stabilization |
| Ultra-wide lens |
- 8 MP
- Aperture: f/2.2 - Focal length: 16 mm - Pixel size: 1.12 micron - Sensor: 1/4.0", Sony IMX355 (Exmor-RS CMOS) |
- 8 MP
- Aperture: f/2.2 - Focal length: 16 mm - Pixel size: 1.12 micron - Sensor: 1/4.0" (CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) |
| Macro lens |
- 2 MP
- Aperture: f/2.4 |
- 2 MP
- Aperture: f/2.4 |
| Camera features |
- Bokeh mode
- Pro mode |
- Bokeh mode
- Pro mode |
| Samples | - | Photo samples of Vivo V21 from DxOMark |
| Megapixels | 50 megapixels | 44 megapixels |
| Image resolution | 8700 x 5800 | - |
| Aperture | f/2.0 | f/2.0 |
| Pixel size | - | 0.7 microns |
| Sensor type | CMOS | ISOCELL CMOS |
| Sensor size | - | 1/2.65" |
| Video resolution | 2160p (4K) at 30 FPS | 2160p (4K) at 30 FPS |
DxOMark camera tests
Photo quality
Video quality
Generic camera score
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) |
| Wi-Fi features |
- Dual Band
- Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display |
- Dual Band
- Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display |
| Bluetooth version | 5.2 | 5.1 |
| Bluetooth features | LE | LE, A2DP |
| USB type | USB Type-C | USB Type-C |
| USB version | 2 | 2 |
| USB features |
- Charging
- USB-Storage mode - OTG |
- Charging
- USB-Storage mode - OTG |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS, NAVIC | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo |
| NFC * | Depends on the region | Depends on the region |
| Infrared port | No | No |
| Number of SIM * | 2 | 2 |
| Type of SIM card | Nano | Nano |
| Multi SIM mode | Standby | Standby |
| eSIM support * | No | No |
| Hybrid slot | No | Yes |
| LTE Cat * | - | 18 |
| 5G support | Yes | No |
Sound
| Speakers | Mono | Mono |
| Headphone audio jack | No | No |
| FM radio | No | No |
| Dolby Atmos | - | No |
Speakers test
Max loudness
Other
| Category | Flagship | Mid-range |
| Announced | January 2022 | April 2021 |
| Release date | January 2022 | May 2021 |
| Sensors |
- Proximity sensor
- Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint |
- Proximity sensor
- Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint |
| Bundled charger | Yes, 44 W | - |
*
Disclaimer!
NFC, GSM network support, and some other specs can be different depending on the country.
Conclusion
If the performance, gaming, and design are more important to you, then choose the Vivo V23 5G . But if the software and sound are more of a priority – go for the Vivo V21 .