Samsung Galaxy A21s vs Galaxy A03s
49
out of 100
VS
50
out of 100
Here we compared two budget smartphones: the 6.5-inch Samsung Galaxy A21s (with Exynos 850) that was released on May 15, 2020, against the Samsung Galaxy A03s, which is powered by MediaTek Helio P35 and came out 16 months after. On this page, you will find tests, full specs, strengths, and weaknesses of each of the devices.
Key differences
Reasons to consider the Samsung Galaxy A21s
- 36% better performance in AnTuTu Benchmark (197K versus 144K)
- Delivers 39% higher peak brightness (495 against 356 nits)
- Compatible with Wi-Fi 5 wireless networks
- More energy-efficient CPU – Exynos 850
- Has an ultra-wide angle camera lens
Reasons to consider the Samsung Galaxy A03s
- Shows 11% longer battery life (39:16 vs 35:20 hours)
- More recent OS version: Android 13 versus 12
- The phone is 1-year and 4-months newer
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 | PLS TFT | PLS TFT |
| Size | 6.5 inches | 6.5 inches |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels | 720 x 1600 pixels |
| Aspect ratio | 20:9 | 20:9 |
| PPI | 270 ppi | 270 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Adaptive refresh rate | No | No |
| Max rated brightness | 540 nits | 400 nits |
| HDR support | No | No |
| Screen protection | Tempered glass | Tempered glass |
| Screen-to-body ratio | 82.8% | 81.8% |
| RGB color space | 88.4% | 93.9% |
| PWM | 500 Hz | 806 Hz |
| Response time | 30.4 ms | 43 ms |
| Contrast | 1500:1 | 1126:1 |
Peak brightness test (auto)
Design and build
| Height | 163.6 mm (6.44 inches) | 164.2 mm (6.46 inches) |
| Width | 75.3 mm (2.96 inches) | 75.9 mm (2.99 inches) |
| Thickness | 8.9 mm (0.35 inches) | 9.1 mm (0.36 inches) |
| Weight | 192 g (6.77 oz) | 196 g (6.91 oz) |
| Waterproof | No | No |
| Rear material | Plastic | Plastic |
| Frame material | Plastic | Plastic |
| Colors | Black, Blue, Red | White, Black, Blue |
| Fingerprint scanner | Yes, rear | Yes, in-button |
Screen-to-body ratio
Performance
| Chipset | Samsung Exynos 850 | MediaTek Helio P35 |
| Max clock | 2000 MHz | 2350 MHz |
| CPU cores | 8 (8) | 8 (4 + 4) |
| Architecture | - 8 cores at 2 GHz: Cortex-A55 |
- 4 cores at 1.8 GHz: Cortex-A53
- 4 cores at 2.3 GHz: Cortex-A53 |
| Lithography process | 8 nanometers | 12 nanometers |
| Graphics | Mali-G52 MP1 | PowerVR GE8320 |
| GPU shading units | 24 | 32 |
| GPU clock | 820 MHz | 680 MHz |
| FLOPS | ~39.4 GFLOPS | ~43.5 GFLOPS |
Benchmarks
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
AnTuTu Benchmark 10
| CPU | 66646 | 51263 |
| GPU | 32355 | 20113 |
| Memory | 60940 | 35388 |
| UX | 36331 | 36853 |
| Total score | 197221 | 144853 |
3DMark Wild Life Performance
| Max surface temperature | 43.2 °C | 41.7 °C |
| Stability | 98% | - |
| Graphics test | 2 FPS | - |
| Graphics score | 425 | - |
PCMark 3.0
| Web score | 4688 | - |
| Video editing | 5134 | - |
| Photo editing | 9205 | - |
| Data manipulation | 3986 | - |
| Writing score | 5248 | - |
Memory
| RAM size | 3, 4 GB | 3, 4 GB |
| Memory type | LPDDR4X | - |
| Memory clock | 1866 MHz | - |
| Channels | 2 | 2 |
| Storage size | 32, 64 GB | 32, 64 GB |
| Storage type | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Memory card | MicroSD | MicroSD |
| Memory card max size | Up to 512 GB | Up to 1024 GB |
Software
| Operating system | Android 10 (Can be upgraded to Android 12) | Android 11 (Can be upgraded to Android 13) |
| ROM | One UI 4.1 | One UI Core 5.0 |
| OS size | 12 GB | 13.2 GB |
Battery
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Max charge power | 15 W | 15 W |
| Battery type | Li-Po | Li-Ion |
| Replaceable | No | No |
| Wireless charging | No | No |
| Reverse charging | No | No |
| Fast charging | Yes (50% in 60 min) | Yes (15% in 30 min) |
| Full charging time | 2:10 hr | 3:38 hr |
| Web browsing | 12:44 hr | 15:57 hr |
| Watching video | 14:21 hr | 14:23 hr |
| Gaming | 05:37 hr | 06:16 hr |
| Standby | 120 hr | 124 hr |
General battery life
Camera
| Matrix | 48 megapixels | 13 megapixels |
| Image resolution | 8000 x 6000 | 4128 x 3096 |
| Zoom | Digital | Digital |
| Flash | LED | LED |
| Stabilization | Digital | Digital |
| 8K video recording | No | No |
| 4K video recording | No | No |
| 1080p video recording | Up to 30FPS | Up to 30FPS |
| Slow motion | No | No |
| Angle of widest lens | 123° | - |
| Lenses | 4 (48 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP + 2 MP) | 3 (13 MP + 2 MP + 2 MP) |
| Wide (main) lens |
- 48 MP
- Aperture: f/2.0 - Focal length: 26 mm - Pixel size: 0.8 micron - Sensor: 1/2.0" (CMOS) - Phase autofocus |
- 13 MP
- Aperture: f/1.8 - Phase autofocus |
| Ultra-wide lens |
- 8 MP
- Aperture: f/2.2 - Pixel size: 1.12 micron - Sensor: 1/4.0" (CMOS) |
- |
| Macro lens |
- 2 MP
- Aperture: f/2.4 |
- 2 MP
- Aperture: f/2.4 |
| Depth lens |
- 2 MP
- Aperture: f/2.4 |
- 2 MP
- Aperture: f/2.4 |
| Camera features | - Bokeh mode | - Bokeh mode |
| Megapixels | 13 megapixels | 5 megapixels |
| Image resolution | 4128 x 3096 | 2560 x 1960 |
| Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.2 |
| Pixel size | 1.12 microns | - |
| Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor size | 1/3.1" | - |
| Video resolution | 1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS | 1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) | Wi-Fi 4 (802.11 b/g/n) |
| Wi-Fi features |
- Dual Band
- Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display |
- Wi-Fi Direct
- Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display |
| Bluetooth version | 5 | 5 |
| Bluetooth features | PBAP/PAB, PAN, OPP, MAP, HSP, HID, HFP, DIP, AVRCP, A2DP | 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 | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo |
| NFC * | Yes | 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 | No |
| LTE Cat * | 13 | 4 |
| 5G support | No | No |
Sound
| Speakers | Mono | Mono |
| Headphone audio jack | Yes | Yes |
| FM radio | Yes | No |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
Speakers test
Max loudness
Other
| Category | Budget | Budget |
| Announced | May 2020 | August 2021 |
| Release date | June 2020 | August 2021 |
| SAR (head) | 0.23 W/kg | 0.36 W/kg |
| SAR (body) | 1.38 W/kg | 1.09 W/kg |
| Sensors |
- Hall-effect sensor
- Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint |
- Proximity sensor
- Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Fingerprint |
| Bundled charger | - | Yes, 15 W |
*
Disclaimer!
NFC, GSM network support, and some other specs can be different depending on the country.
Conclusion
If the display, battery life, software, design, and sound are more important to you, then choose the Samsung Galaxy A03s . But if the camera, performance, gaming, and connectivity are more of a priority – go for the Samsung Galaxy A21s .
