Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 vs S21 Plus

80 out of 100

73 out of 100

Here we compared two flagship smartphones: the 6.7-inch Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 (with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2) that was released on July 26, 2023, against the Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus, which is powered by Exynos 2100 and came out 31 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 Z Flip 5

Better camera quality (According to DxOMark rating)
Newer Bluetooth version (v5.3)
The phone is 2-years and 7-months newer
34% better performance in AnTuTu Benchmark (1125K versus 839K)
Delivers 24% higher peak brightness (1102 against 888 nits)
Faster storage type - UFS 4.0 versus UFS 3.1
47% faster in single-core GeekBench 6 test: 2105 and 1429 points

Reasons to consider the Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus

Waterproof body (IP68 classification)
Comes with 1100 mAh larger battery capacity: 4800 vs 3700 mAh
Shows 12% longer battery life (30:26 vs 27:13 hours)
The rear camera has a 1.1x optical zoom
Has 2 SIM card slots

Review

Evaluation of Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and S21 Plus crucial features

Display

Screen quality, color accuracy, brightness

Type	Dynamic AMOLED	Dynamic AMOLED
Size	6.7 inches	6.7 inches
Resolution	1080 x 2640 pixels	1080 x 2400 pixels
Aspect ratio	21.9:9	20:9
PPI	425 ppi	394 ppi
Refresh rate	120 Hz	120 Hz
Adaptive refresh rate	Yes	No
Max rated brightness	500 nits	1300 nits
Max rated brightness in HDR	1200 nits	-
HDR support	Yes, HDR10+	Yes, HDR10+
Screen protection	Gorilla Glass Victus 2	Gorilla Glass Victus
Screen-to-body ratio	85.5%	88.3%
Display features	- DCI-P3 - Always-On Display	- DCI-P3 - Always-On Display

RGB color space	97.3%	98.9%
PWM	120 Hz	240 Hz
Response time	1 ms	6.2 ms
Contrast	∞ Infinity	∞ Infinity

Height	165.1 mm (6.5 inches)	161.5 mm (6.36 inches)
Width	71.9 mm (2.83 inches)	75.6 mm (2.98 inches)
Thickness	6.9 mm (0.27 inches)	7.8 mm (0.31 inches)
Weight	187 g (6.6 oz)	200 g (7.05 oz)
Waterproof	IPX8	IP68
Advanced cooling	Vapor chamber	-
Rear material	Glass	Glass
Frame material	Metal	Metal
Colors	White, Black, Gray, Green, Purple, Yellow	Black, Silver, Gold, Red, Purple
Fingerprint scanner	Yes, in-button	Yes, in-display

Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2	Samsung Exynos 2100
Max clock	3200 MHz	2840 MHz
CPU cores	8 (1 + 2 + 2 + 3)	8 (1 + 3 + 4)
Architecture	- 3 cores at 2 GHz: Cortex-A510 - 2 cores at 2.8 GHz: Cortex-A710 - 2 cores at 2.8 GHz: Cortex-A715 - 1 core at 3.2 GHz: Cortex-X3	- 4 cores at 2.2 GHz: Cortex-A55 - 3 cores at 2.81 GHz: Cortex-A78 - 1 core at 2.91 GHz: Cortex-X1
L3 cache	8 MB	-
Lithography process	4 nanometers	5 nanometers
Graphics	Adreno 740	Mali-G78 MP14
GPU shading units	2560	896
GPU clock	680 MHz	854 MHz
FLOPS	~3481.6 GFLOPS	~1530.4 GFLOPS

CPU	388586	244088
GPU	222126	269299
Memory	241250	159004
UX	269260	164833
Total score	1125759	839148

Max surface temperature	55.8 °C	41.5 °C
Stability	-	67%
Graphics test	57 FPS	33 FPS
Graphics score	9567	5538

RAM size	8, 12 GB	8 GB
Memory type	LPDDR5	LPDDR5
Memory clock	3200 MHz	2750 MHz
Channels	4	2

Storage size	256, 512 GB	128, 256 GB
Storage type	UFS 4.0	UFS 3.1
Memory card	No	No

Operating system	Android 13	Android 11 (Can be upgraded to Android 13)
ROM	One UI 5.1.1	One UI 5.1
OS size	40 GB	27.2 GB

Capacity	3700 mAh	4800 mAh
Max charge power	25 W	25 W
Battery type	Li-Po	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Wireless charging	Yes (15 W)	Yes (15 W)
Reverse charging	Yes, (wireless)	Yes, (wireless)
Fast charging	Yes (55% in 30 min)	Yes (54% in 30 min)
Full charging time	1:19 hr	1:12 hr

Battery life tests
Web browsing	08:59 hr	09:17 hr
Watching video	12:19 hr	15:27 hr
Gaming	03:56 hr	05:07 hr
Standby	94 hr	101 hr

Main camera
Matrix	12 megapixels	12 megapixels
Image resolution	4000 x 3000	4000 x 3000
Zoom	Digital	Optical, 1.1x
Flash	LED	Dual LED
Stabilization	Optical	Optical
8K video recording	No	Up to 24FPS
4K video recording	Up to 60FPS	Up to 60FPS
1080p video recording	Up to 60FPS	Up to 60FPS
Slow motion	960 FPS (720p)	960 FPS (720p)
Angle of widest lens	123°	120°
Lenses	2 (12 MP + 12 MP)	3 (12 MP + 64 MP + 12 MP)
Wide (main) lens	- 12 MP - Aperture: f/1.8 - Focal length: 24 mm - Pixel size: 1.8 micron - Sensor: 1/1.76", Samsung S5K2LD (ISOCELL CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) - Optical stabilization	- 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
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 - Pixel size: 1.12 micron - Sensor: 1/3.06", Sony IMX258 (Exmor-RS CMOS)	- 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)
Camera features	- Bokeh mode - Pro mode	- Bokeh mode - Pro mode - RAW support
Samples	Photo samples of Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 from DxOMark	Photo samples of Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus from DxOMark

Selfie camera
Megapixels	10 megapixels	10 megapixels
Image resolution	3648 x 2736	3872 x 2592
Aperture	f/2.2	f/2.2
Focal length	26 mm	26 mm
Pixel size	1.22 microns	1.22 microns
Sensor type	ISOCELL CMOS	Exmor-RS CMOS
Sensor size	1/3"	1/3.24"
Video resolution	2160p (4K) at 60 FPS	2160p (4K) at 60 FPS

Wi-Fi standard	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
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	5.3	5
Bluetooth features	LE	LE, A2DP
USB type	USB Type-C	USB Type-C
USB version	3.2	3.2
USB features	- Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG	- Charging - USB-Storage mode - USB-Host mode - OTG
GPS	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo
NFC *	Yes	Yes
Infrared port	No	No

Number of SIM *	1	2
Type of SIM card	Nano	Nano
Multi SIM mode	-	Standby
eSIM support *	Yes	Yes
Hybrid slot	No	No
LTE Cat *	20	24
5G support	Yes	Yes

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

Category	Flagship	Flagship
Announced	July 2023	January 2021
Release date	August 2023	February 2021
SAR (head)	0.6 W/kg	0.54 W/kg
SAR (body)	1.45 W/kg	1.33 W/kg
Sensors	- Hall-effect sensor - Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint	- Hall-effect sensor - Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint
Bundled charger	Not included	-

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 vs S21 Plus

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 vs S21 Plus

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