Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Google Pixel 5

70 out of 100

61 out of 100

Here we compared two flagship smartphones: the 6.2-inch Samsung Galaxy S21 (with Exynos 2100) that was released on January 14, 2021, against the Google Pixel 5, which is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G and came out 3 months before. On this page, you will find tests, full specs, strengths, and weaknesses of each of the devices.

Differences
Review
Specs
Benchmarks
Battery life
Camera
Comments

Key differences

An overview of the main advantages of each smartphone

Reasons to consider the Samsung Galaxy S21

92% better performance in AnTuTu Benchmark (806K versus 420K)
Higher display refresh rate – 120 Hz
The rear camera has a 1.1x optical zoom
Slow-motion recording at 960FPS
Uses a faster type of memory: LPDDR5 2750 MHz
Compatible with Wi-Fi 6 wireless networks
Delivers 23% higher peak brightness (864 against 702 nits)
Has 2 SIM card slots
The front-facing camera can record video at 4K

Reasons to consider the Google Pixel 5

Shows 23% longer battery life (31:36 vs 25:44 hours)
Better camera quality (According to DxOMark rating)
Weighs 18 grams less

Review

Evaluation of Samsung Galaxy S21 and Google Pixel 5 crucial features

Display

Screen quality, color accuracy, brightness

Type	Dynamic AMOLED	OLED
Size	6.2 inches	6 inches
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels	1080 x 2340 pixels
Aspect ratio	20:9	19.5:9
PPI	421 ppi	432 ppi
Refresh rate	120 Hz	90 Hz
Adaptive refresh rate	No	No
Max rated brightness	800 nits	700 nits
HDR support	Yes, HDR10+	Yes, HDR10+
Screen protection	Gorilla Glass Victus	Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Screen-to-body ratio	87.2%	85.9%
Display features	- DCI-P3 - Always-On Display	- Always-On Display

RGB color space	99.5%	97.4%
PWM	240 Hz	367 Hz
Response time	5 ms	5 ms
Contrast	∞ Infinity	∞ Infinity

Height	151.7 mm (5.97 inches)	144.7 mm (5.7 inches)
Width	71.2 mm (2.8 inches)	70.4 mm (2.77 inches)
Thickness	7.9 mm (0.31 inches)	8 mm (0.31 inches)
Weight	169 g (5.96 oz)	151 g (5.33 oz)
Waterproof	IP68	IP68
Rear material	Plastic	Metal
Frame material	Metal	Metal
Colors	White, Gray, Pink, Purple	Black, Green
Fingerprint scanner	Yes, in-display	Yes, rear

Chipset	Samsung Exynos 2100	Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
Max clock	2900 MHz	2400 MHz
CPU cores	8 (1 + 3 + 4)	8 (1 + 1 + 6)
Architecture	- 4 cores at 2.2 GHz: Cortex-A55 - 3 cores at 2.81 GHz: Cortex-A78 - 1 core at 2.91 GHz: Cortex-X1	- 6 cores at 1.8 GHz: Kryo 475 Silver (Cortex-A55) - 1 core at 2.2 GHz: Kryo 475 Gold (Cortex-A76) - 1 core at 2.4 GHz: Kryo 475 Prime (Cortex-A76)
Lithography process	5 nanometers	7 nanometers
Graphics	Mali-G78 MP14	Adreno 620
GPU shading units	896	384
GPU clock	854 MHz	750 MHz
FLOPS	~1530.4 GFLOPS	~576 GFLOPS

CPU	150223	132677
GPU	340353	89779
Memory	151885	90554
UX	158712	106168
Total score	806977	420377

Max surface temperature	38.9 °C	38.6 °C
Stability	66%	89%
Graphics test	34 FPS	6 FPS
Graphics score	5714	1084

Web score	12591	-
Video editing	7113	-
Photo editing	29385	-
Data manipulation	10438	-
Writing score	16561	-

RAM size	8 GB	8 GB
Memory type	LPDDR5	LPDDR4X
Memory clock	2750 MHz	2133 MHz
Channels	2	2

Storage size	128, 256 GB	128 GB
Storage type	UFS 3.1	UFS 2.1
Memory card	No	No

Operating system	Android 11 (Can be upgraded to Android 13)	Android 11 (Can be upgraded to Android 13)
ROM	One UI 5.1	Stock Android
OS size	28.1 GB	16.6 GB

Capacity	4000 mAh	4080 mAh
Max charge power	25 W	18 W
Battery type	Li-Ion	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Wireless charging	Yes (15 W)	Yes (12 W)
Reverse charging	Yes, (wireless)	Yes
Fast charging	Yes (55% in 50 min)	Yes (30% in 30 min)
Full charging time	1:35 hr	1:45 hr

Battery life tests
Web browsing	07:27 hr	10:13 hr
Watching video	12:26 hr	15:02 hr
Gaming	04:31 hr	05:39 hr
Standby	92 hr	104 hr

Main camera
Matrix	12 megapixels	12.2 megapixels
Image resolution	4000 x 3000	4290 x 2800
Zoom	Optical, 1.1x	Digital
Flash	Dual LED	LED
Stabilization	Optical	Optical
8K video recording	Up to 24FPS	No
4K video recording	Up to 60FPS	Up to 60FPS
1080p video recording	Up to 60FPS	Up to 60FPS
Slow motion	960 FPS (720p)	240 FPS (1080p)
Angle of widest lens	120°	107°
Lenses	3 (12 MP + 64 MP + 12 MP)	2 (12.2 MP + 16 MP)
Wide (main) lens	- 12 MP - Aperture: f/1.8 - Focal length: 26 mm - Pixel size: 1.8 micron - Sensor: 1/1.76", Sony IMX555 (Exmor-RS CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) - Optical stabilization	- 12.2 MP - Aperture: f/1.7 - Focal length: 27 mm - Sensor: 1/2.55", Sony IMX363 (CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) - Optical stabilization
Telephoto lens	- 64 MP - Aperture: f/2.0 - Focal length: 28 mm - Pixel size: 0.8 micron - Sensor: 1/1.72", Samsung Bright S5KGW2 (ISOCELL Plus CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) - Optical stabilization	-
Ultra-wide lens	- 12 MP - Aperture: f/2.2 - Focal length: 13 mm - Pixel size: 1.4 micron - Sensor: 1/2.55", Sony IMX563 (Exmor-RS CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel)	- 16 MP - Aperture: f/2.2 - Focal length: 24 mm - Pixel size: 1 micron
Camera features	- Bokeh mode - Pro mode - RAW support	- Bokeh mode - Pro mode - RAW support
Samples	Photo samples of Samsung Galaxy S21 from DxOMark	Photo samples of Google Pixel 5 from DxOMark

Selfie camera
Megapixels	10 megapixels	8 megapixels
Image resolution	3872 x 2592	3264 x 2448
Aperture	f/2.2	f/2.0
Focal length	26 mm	24 mm
Pixel size	1.22 microns	1.12 microns
Sensor type	CMOS	CMOS
Sensor size	1/3.24"	1/4.0"
Video resolution	2160p (4K) at 60 FPS	1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS

Wi-Fi standard	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac)
Wi-Fi features	- Dual Band - Wi-Fi MiMO - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display	- Dual Band - Wi-Fi MiMO - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display
Bluetooth version	5	5
Bluetooth features	LE, A2DP	LE, A2DP
USB type	USB Type-C	USB Type-C
USB version	3.2	3.1
USB features	- Charging - USB-Storage mode - USB-Host mode - OTG	- Charging - USB-Storage mode
GPS	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS
NFC *	Yes	Yes
Infrared port	No	No

Number of SIM *	2	1
Type of SIM card	Nano	Nano
Multi SIM mode	Standby	Standby
eSIM support *	Yes	Yes
Hybrid slot	No	No
LTE Cat *	24	15
5G support	Yes	Yes

Speakers	Stereo	Stereo
Headphone audio jack	No	No
FM radio	No	No
Dolby Atmos	Yes	No

Category	Flagship	Flagship
Announced	January 2021	September 2020
Release date	February 2021	October 2020
SAR (head)	0.46 W/kg	0.96 W/kg
SAR (body)	1.51 W/kg	1.39 W/kg
Sensors	- Hall-effect sensor - Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint	- Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint

Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Google Pixel 5

Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Google Pixel 5

Key differences

Review

Value for money

Tests and specifications

Display

Design and build

Performance

Benchmarks

Memory

Software

Battery

Camera

DxOMark camera tests

Connectivity

Sound

Other

Conclusion