Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Galaxy A21s

85 out of 100

49 out of 100

Here we compared two smartphones: the 6.1-inch Samsung Galaxy S23 (with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy) that was released on February 1, 2023, against the Samsung Galaxy A21s, which is powered by Exynos 850 and came out 33 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 S23

Waterproof body (IP68 classification)
6.9x better performance in AnTuTu Benchmark (1362K versus 197K)
The rear camera has a 3x optical zoom
Higher display refresh rate – 120 Hz
Delivers 144% higher peak brightness (1209 against 495 nits)
57% higher pixel density (425 vs 270 PPI)
Handles wireless charging up to 10W
Newer Bluetooth version (v5.3)
Optical image stabilization
Slow-motion recording at 960FPS
Ability to record video in 4K resolution
The phone is 2-years and 9-months newer
More energy-efficient CPU – Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy

Reasons to consider the Samsung Galaxy A21s

Comes with 1100 mAh larger battery capacity: 5000 vs 3900 mAh
Expandable storage via MicroSD card up to 512GB
Has a 0.4 inch larger screen size
Includes a 3.5 mm headphone audio jack port

Review

Evaluation of Samsung Galaxy S23 and Galaxy A21s crucial features

Display

Screen quality, color accuracy, brightness

Type	Dynamic AMOLED	PLS TFT
Size	6.1 inches	6.5 inches
Resolution	1080 x 2340 pixels	720 x 1600 pixels
Aspect ratio	19.5:9	20:9
PPI	425 ppi	270 ppi
Refresh rate	120 Hz	60 Hz
Adaptive refresh rate	Yes	No
Max rated brightness	800 nits	540 nits
Max rated brightness in HDR	1750 nits	-
HDR support	Yes, HDR10+	No
Screen protection	Gorilla Glass Victus 2	Tempered glass
Screen-to-body ratio	88.1%	82.8%
Display features	- DCI-P3 - Always-On Display	-

RGB color space	98.9%	88.4%
PWM	240 Hz	500 Hz
Response time	1 ms	30.4 ms
Contrast	∞ Infinity	1500:1

Height	146.3 mm (5.76 inches)	163.6 mm (6.44 inches)
Width	70.9 mm (2.79 inches)	75.3 mm (2.96 inches)
Thickness	7.6 mm (0.3 inches)	8.9 mm (0.35 inches)
Weight	168 g (5.93 oz)	192 g (6.77 oz)
Waterproof	IP68	No
Advanced cooling	Vapor chamber	-
Rear material	Glass	Plastic
Frame material	Metal	Plastic
Colors	White, Black, Gray, Green, Purple, Yellow	Black, Blue, Red
Fingerprint scanner	Yes, in-display	Yes, rear

Chipset	Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy	Samsung Exynos 850
Max clock	3360 MHz	2000 MHz
CPU cores	8 (1 + 2 + 2 + 3)	8 (8)
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	- 8 cores at 2 GHz: Cortex-A55
L3 cache	8 MB	-
Lithography process	4 nanometers	8 nanometers
Graphics	Adreno 740	Mali-G52 MP1
GPU shading units	2560	24
GPU clock	719 MHz	820 MHz
FLOPS	~3481.6 GFLOPS	~39.4 GFLOPS

CPU	366724	66646
GPU	551228	32355
Memory	192220	60940
UX	247673	36331
Total score	1362358	197221

Max surface temperature	34.3 °C	43.2 °C
Stability	60%	98%
Graphics test	72 FPS	2 FPS
Graphics score	12033	425

Web score	13647	4688
Video editing	7797	5134
Photo editing	34238	9205
Data manipulation	12529	3986
Writing score	19579	5248

RAM size	8 GB	3, 4 GB
Memory type	LPDDR5X	LPDDR4X
Memory clock	-	1866 MHz
Channels	4	2

Storage size	128, 256, 512 GB	32, 64 GB
Storage type	UFS 4.0	eMMC 5.1
Memory card	No	MicroSD
Memory card max size	-	Up to 512 GB

Operating system	Android 13	Android 10 (Can be upgraded to Android 12)
ROM	One UI 5.1	One UI 4.1
OS size	29.7 GB	12 GB

Capacity	3900 mAh	5000 mAh
Max charge power	25 W	15 W
Battery type	Li-Po	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Wireless charging	Yes (10 W)	No
Reverse charging	Yes, (wireless)	No
Fast charging	Yes (57% in 30 min)	Yes (50% in 60 min)
Full charging time	1:16 hr	2:10 hr

Battery life tests
Web browsing	12:15 hr	12:44 hr
Watching video	15:00 hr	14:21 hr
Gaming	05:56 hr	05:37 hr
Standby	111 hr	120 hr

Main camera
Matrix	50 megapixels	48 megapixels
Image resolution	8160 x 6120	8000 x 6000
Zoom	Optical, 3x	Digital
Flash	LED	LED
Stabilization	Optical	Digital
8K video recording	Up to 30FPS	No
4K video recording	Up to 60FPS	No
1080p video recording	Up to 60FPS	Up to 30FPS
Slow motion	960 FPS (1080p)	No
Angle of widest lens	120°	123°
Lenses	3 (50 MP + 10 MP + 12 MP)	4 (48 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP + 2 MP)
Wide (main) lens	- 50 MP - Aperture: f/1.8 - Focal length: 23 mm - Pixel size: 1 micron - Sensor: 1/1.57", Samsung S5KGN3 (ISOCELL Plus CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) - Optical stabilization	- 48 MP - Aperture: f/2.0 - Focal length: 26 mm - Pixel size: 0.8 micron - Sensor: 1/2.0" (CMOS) - Phase autofocus
Telephoto lens	- 10 MP - Aperture: f/2.4 - Focal length: 70 mm - Pixel size: 1 micron - Sensor: 1/3.94", Samsung S5K3K1 (Exmor-RS 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 IMX564 (Exmor-RS CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel)	- 8 MP - Aperture: f/2.2 - Pixel size: 1.12 micron - Sensor: 1/4.0" (CMOS)
Macro lens	-	- 2 MP - Aperture: f/2.4
Depth lens	-	- 2 MP - Aperture: f/2.4
Camera features	- Bokeh mode - Pro mode - RAW support	- Bokeh mode
Samples	Photo samples of Samsung Galaxy S23 from DxOMark	-

Selfie camera
Megapixels	12 megapixels	13 megapixels
Image resolution	4000 x 3000	4128 x 3096
Aperture	f/2.2	f/2.2
Focal length	26 mm	-
Pixel size	1.12 microns	1.12 microns
Sensor type	ISOCELL CMOS	CMOS
Sensor size	1/3.24"	1/3.1"
Video resolution	2160p (4K) at 60 FPS	1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS

Wi-Fi standard	Wi-Fi 6E (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	5.3	5
Bluetooth features	LE	PBAP/PAB, PAN, OPP, MAP, HSP, HID, HFP, DIP, AVRCP, A2DP
USB type	USB Type-C	USB Type-C
USB version	3.2	2
USB features	- Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG	- Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG
GPS	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo
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	No
Hybrid slot	No	No
LTE Cat *	20	13
5G support	Yes	No

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

Category	Flagship	Budget
Announced	February 2023	May 2020
Release date	February 2023	June 2020
SAR (head)	0.96 W/kg	0.23 W/kg
SAR (body)	1.3 W/kg	1.38 W/kg
Sensors	- Hall-effect sensor - Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint	- Hall-effect sensor - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint
Bundled charger	Not included	-

Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Galaxy A21s

Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Galaxy A21s

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