Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus vs Google Pixel 4a

73 out of 100

54 out of 100

Here we compared two smartphones: the 6.7-inch Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus (with Exynos 2100) that was released on January 14, 2021, against the Google Pixel 4a, which is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G and came out 5 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 Plus

Waterproof body (IP68 classification)
2.3x better performance in AnTuTu Benchmark (839K versus 359K)
Higher display refresh rate – 120 Hz
Has a 0.89 inch larger screen size
Comes with 1660 mAh larger battery capacity: 4800 vs 3140 mAh
Shows 13% longer battery life (30:26 vs 26:51 hours)
Handles wireless charging up to 15W
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 10% higher peak brightness (888 against 805 nits)
Has an ultra-wide angle camera lens

Reasons to consider the Google Pixel 4a

Newer Bluetooth version (v5.1)
12% higher pixel density (443 vs 394 PPI)
Weighs 57 grams less
Better grip in hands – the body is 6.2 mm narrower
Includes a 3.5 mm headphone audio jack port

Review

Evaluation of Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus and Google Pixel 4a crucial features

Display

Screen quality, color accuracy, brightness

Type	Dynamic AMOLED	OLED
Size	6.7 inches	5.81 inches
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels	1080 x 2340 pixels
Aspect ratio	20:9	19.5:9
PPI	394 ppi	443 ppi
Refresh rate	120 Hz	60 Hz
Adaptive refresh rate	No	No
Max rated brightness	1300 nits	700 nits
HDR support	Yes, HDR10+	Yes, HDR10
Screen protection	Gorilla Glass Victus	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Screen-to-body ratio	88.3%	83.3%
Display features	- DCI-P3 - Always-On Display	- Always-On Display

RGB color space	98.9%	95.3%
PWM	240 Hz	255 Hz
Response time	6.2 ms	6.2 ms
Contrast	∞ Infinity	∞ Infinity

Height	161.5 mm (6.36 inches)	144 mm (5.67 inches)
Width	75.6 mm (2.98 inches)	69.4 mm (2.73 inches)
Thickness	7.8 mm (0.31 inches)	8.2 mm (0.32 inches)
Weight	200 g (7.05 oz)	143 g (5.04 oz)
Waterproof	IP68	No
Rear material	Glass	Plastic
Frame material	Metal	Plastic
Colors	Black, Silver, Gold, Red, Purple	Black
Fingerprint scanner	Yes, in-display	Yes, rear

Chipset	Samsung Exynos 2100	Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G
Max clock	2840 MHz	2200 MHz
CPU cores	8 (1 + 3 + 4)	8 (2 + 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 470 Silver (Cortex-A55) - 2 cores at 2.2 GHz: Kryo 470 Gold (Cortex-A76)
Lithography process	5 nanometers	8 nanometers
Graphics	Mali-G78 MP14	Adreno 618
GPU shading units	896	256
GPU clock	854 MHz	825 MHz
FLOPS	~1530.4 GFLOPS	~422.4 GFLOPS

CPU	244088	115287
GPU	269299	70626
Memory	159004	78602
UX	164833	92505
Total score	839148	359268

Max surface temperature	41.5 °C	41.4 °C
Stability	67%	99%
Graphics test	33 FPS	6 FPS
Graphics score	5538	1003

RAM size	8 GB	6 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 10 (Can be upgraded to Android 13)
ROM	One UI 5.1	Stock Android
OS size	27.2 GB	15 GB

Capacity	4800 mAh	3140 mAh
Max charge power	25 W	18 W
Battery type	Li-Ion	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Wireless charging	Yes (15 W)	No
Reverse charging	Yes, (wireless)	No
Fast charging	Yes (54% in 30 min)	Yes (50% in 25 min)
Full charging time	1:12 hr	1:27 hr

Battery life tests
Web browsing	09:17 hr	08:45 hr
Watching video	15:27 hr	11:16 hr
Gaming	05:07 hr	04:05 hr
Standby	101 hr	99 hr

Main camera
Matrix	12 megapixels	12.2 megapixels
Image resolution	4000 x 3000	4000 x 3000
Zoom	Optical, 1.1x	Digital
Flash	Dual LED	Dual LED
Stabilization	Optical	Optical
8K video recording	Up to 24FPS	No
4K video recording	Up to 60FPS	Up to 30FPS
1080p video recording	Up to 60FPS	Up to 60FPS
Slow motion	960 FPS (720p)	120 FPS (1080p)
Angle of widest lens	120°	-
Lenses	3 (12 MP + 64 MP + 12 MP)	1 (12.2 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 - Pixel size: 1.4 micron - Sensor: 1/2.55", Sony IMX363 (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 - 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 - RAW support	- Bokeh mode - Pro mode - RAW support
Samples	Photo samples of Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus from DxOMark	Photo samples of Google Pixel 4a 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	Exmor-RS CMOS	CMOS
Sensor size	1/3.24"	1/2.8"
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 Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display
Bluetooth version	5	5.1
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 - OTG
GPS	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS
NFC *	Yes	Yes
Infrared port	No	No

Number of SIM *	2	2
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	No

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

Category	Flagship	Mid-range
Announced	January 2021	August 2020
Release date	February 2021	October 2020
SAR (head)	0.54 W/kg	1.37 W/kg
SAR (body)	1.33 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 Plus vs Google Pixel 4a

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus vs Google Pixel 4a

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