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Samsung’s Galaxy S21+ 5G is the middle seat of the company’s current high-end S21 series, squeezed between the slightly smaller S21 5G and the top-of-the-line S21 Ultra 5G. It sports a 120 Hz, 6.7-inch AMOLED screen, slightly larger than its sibling S21, but with the same resolution (2400 x 1080), and has a centered hole punch for the selfie camera. Here we are testing the US and China version, powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 chipset, as opposed to the Exynos version available in the rest of the world. Both have 8 GB memory with either 128 GB or 256 GB storage.
There are three cameras on the back, with specs that exactly mirror the smaller S21. The primary camera has a 12 MP coupled with a 26 mm-equivalent optically stabilized lens. The ultra-wide offers 12 MP and has a 13 mm-equivalent lens. The tele camera used a wide-angle lens (29 mm-equivalent) but uses a 64 MP sensor, which gets binned down to 12 MP output.
The Galaxy S21+ 5G shoots video at up to 8K resolution at 24 fps; however, just like on the S21 Ultra and the standard S21 we used 4K and 60 fps for testing. Lower resolutions and higher frame rates are also available for recording in slow motion.
Key camera specifications:
- Primary: 12 MP 1/1.76-inch sensor with 1.8 μm pixels, 26 mm-equivalent f/1.8 lens, dual-pixel PDAF, OIS
- Ultra-wide: 12 MP sensor with 1.4μm pixels, 13 mm-equivalent f/2.2 lens
- Tele: 64 MP 1/1.72-inch sensor with 0.8μm pixels, 29 mm-equivalent f/2.0 lens
- LED flash
- 8K at 24 fps, 4K at 60 fps (tested), HDR10+
Achieving an overall score of 119, the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G (Snapdragon) captures almost identical image quality to the more diminutive S21 5G (Snapdragon); no surprise as the two models share the same camera hardware. We couldn’t get a cigarette paper between them in our analysis, so if you want to save a few bucks and can live with a smaller screen and lower capacity battery, the standard S21 5G (Snapdragon) is just as good for photography.
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G (Snapdragon), neutral white balance and pleasant color rendering
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Snapdragon), neutral white balance and pleasant color rendering
Given the almost identical results, we are posting only this short article for the Galaxy S21+ 5G (Snapdragon). For a full set of sample images and measurements as well as a complete analysis, please click on the link below and read the full review of the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Snapdragon).
Go to the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Snapdragon) Camera review
Scoring
Sub-scores and attributes included in the calculations of the global score.
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G (Snapdragon)
115
camera
Use cases & Conditions
Use case scores indicate the product performance in specific situations. They are not included in the overall score calculations.
Outdoor
Photos & videos shot in bright light conditions (≥1000 lux)
Indoor
Photos & videos shot in good lighting conditions (≥100lux)
Lowlight
Photos & videos shot in low lighting conditions (<100 lux)
Friends & Family
Portrait and group photo & videos
Please be aware that beyond this point, we have not modified the initial test results. While data and products remain fully comparable, you might encounter mentions and references to the previous scores.
Position in Global Ranking
123rd
123rd
1. Huawei Pura 70 Ultra
163
2. Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
158
2. Honor Magic6 Pro
158
4. Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
157
4. Apple iPhone 16 Pro
157
4. Huawei Mate 60 Pro+
157
4. Oppo Find X8 Pro
157
4. Oppo Find X7 Ultra
157
9. Huawei P60 Pro
156
10. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
154
10. Apple iPhone 15 Pro
154
10. Google Pixel 9
154
13. Google Pixel 8 Pro
153
13. Oppo Find X6 Pro
153
13. Xiaomi 15 Ultra
153
16. Honor Magic5 Pro
152
17. Oppo Find X6
150
17. Vivo X100 Pro
150
19. Huawei Mate 50 Pro
149
19. Xiaomi 14 Ultra
149
21. Google Pixel 8
148
22. Apple iPhone 16
147
22. Google Pixel 7 Pro
147
22. Honor Magic4 Ultimate
147
22. Xiaomi 15
147
26. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
146
26. Apple iPhone 14 Pro
146
26. Motorola Edge 50 Ultra
146
26. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
146
30. Apple iPhone 15 Plus
145
30. Apple iPhone 15
145
32. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
144
33. Huawei P50 Pro
143
34. Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
141
34. Apple iPhone 13 Pro
141
34. Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
141
34. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
141
38. Google Pixel 7
140
38. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
140
38. Vivo X90 Pro+
140
38. Xiaomi 13 Ultra
140
42. Huawei Mate 40 Pro+
139
43. Tecno Camon 40 Pro 5G
138
43. Xiaomi 14
138
45. Honor Magic V3
137
45. Honor 200 Pro
137
45. Vivo X80 Pro (Snapdragon)
137
48. Google Pixel 8a
136
48. Vivo X90 Pro
136
48. Xiaomi 13 Pro
136
48. Xiaomi 12S Ultra
136
52. Huawei Mate 40 Pro
135
52. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Snapdragon)
135
52. Vivo X80 Pro (MediaTek)
135
52. Xiaomi 14T Pro
135
56. Google Pixel 6 Pro
134
56. Vivo X70 Pro+
134
56. Xiaomi 14T
134
59. Apple iPhone 14 Plus
133
59. Apple iPhone 14
133
59. Google Pixel Fold
133
59. Google Pixel 7a
133
59. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6
133
59. Samsung Galaxy S24+ (Exynos)
133
59. Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
133
59. Samsung Galaxy S24 (Exynos)
133
59. Samsung Galaxy S23+
133
59. Samsung Galaxy S23
133
69. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6
132
70. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
131
70. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Exynos)
131
70. Xiaomi 13T Pro
131
73. Honor 200
130
73. Motorola Edge 40 Pro
130
73. Oppo Find X5 Pro
130
73. Xiaomi 13
130
77. Huawei P40 Pro
129
77. Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra
129
77. Xiaomi 12T Pro
129
77. Xiaomi 12 Pro
129
81. Oppo Find X3 Pro
128
81. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
128
83. Apple iPhone 12 Pro
127
83. Asus Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders
127
83. OnePlus 11
127
83. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5
127
83. Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
127
88. Google Pixel 6
126
88. Honor Magic4 Pro
126
88. Vivo X70 Pro (MediaTek)
126
88. Vivo X60 Pro+
126
92. Apple iPhone 13 mini
125
92. Apple iPhone 13
125
92. Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra
125
92. Samsung Galaxy S22+ (Exynos)
125
92. Vivo X50 Pro+
125
97. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4
124
97. Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro
124
99. Xiaomi 13T
123
100. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
122
100. Google Pixel 6a
122
100. Honor 90
122
100. OnePlus 10 Pro
122
100. OnePlus 9 Pro
122
105. Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus 5G
121
106. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
120
106. Samsung Galaxy S22 (Exynos)
120
106. Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G
120
109. Honor Magic Vs
119
109. Sony Xperia 5 IV
119
111. Sony Xperia 5 V
118
111. Sony Xperia 1 IV
118
111. Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G
118
114. Apple iPhone 12
117
114. Apple iPhone 12 mini
117
114. Honor Magic V2
117
114. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon)
117
114. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Snapdragon)
117
114. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Snapdragon)
117
120. Apple iPhone 11
116
120. Asus Zenfone 8
116
120. Vivo X60 Pro 5G (Snapdragon)
116
123. Honor 70
115
123. Motorola Edge 50 Neo
115
123. Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G (Snapdragon)
115
123. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Exynos)
115
123. Xiaomi 12T
115
128. Nothing Phone(1)
114
128. OnePlus Nord 2T 5G
114
128. Oppo Reno8 Pro 5G
114
128. Oppo Find X5
114
128. Oppo Find N2 Flip
114
133. Crosscall Stellar-X5
113
133. OnePlus 8 Pro
113
133. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G
113
133. Xiaomi 12
113
137. Oppo Reno8 5G
112
137. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
112
139. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
111
139. Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G (Exynos)
111
139. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Exynos)
111
142. Google Pixel 5
109
142. Xiaomi 12 Lite 5G
109
144. Asus ROG Phone 7
108
144. Fairphone 5
108
144. Samsung Galaxy A55 5G
108
144. Vivo X60 Pro 5G (Exynos)
108
144. Xiaomi 11T Pro
108
149. Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
107
150. Oppo Find X3 Neo
106
150. Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G
106
152. Sony Xperia 1 III
105
153. Samsung Galaxy A35 5G
104
154. Motorola Edge 40 Neo
103
154. Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 5G
103
156. Huawei P40
102
156. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G
102
158. Black Shark 5 Pro
101
158. Motorola Edge 30 Pro
101
160. Apple iPhone SE (2022)
100
160. Google Pixel 4a
100
162. Motorola Moto g75 5G
96
162. ZTE Axon 30 Ultra
96
164. Oppo Find X5 Lite
95
165. Oppo Reno4 5G
94
166. Oppo A94 5G
93
166. Vivo X80 Lite 5G
93
168. Motorola Razr 50
92
168. Samsung Galaxy A72
92
168. Samsung Galaxy A34 5G
92
168. Samsung Galaxy A25 5G
92
172. Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 5G
91
173. Oppo Reno6 5G
89
174. Motorola Moto g85 5G
88
174. Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
88
174. Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
88
177. Honor 200 Lite
86
178. Motorola moto g54 5G
85
178. Samsung Galaxy A33 5G
85
178. Samsung Galaxy A16 LTE
85
181. Honor Magic6 Lite (5300 mAh)
84
181. OnePlus Nord CE 5G
84
181. Xiaomi Redmi Note 14
84
184. Samsung Galaxy A15 5G
83
184. Vivo Y76 5G
83
186. Samsung Galaxy A15 LTE
81
187. Honor 90 Smart
79
187. Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
79
189. Sony Xperia 10 V
78
189. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G
78
191. Samsung Galaxy A16 5G
77
192. TCL 40R 5G
76
193. Motorola Moto G35 5G
75
193. Realme 9i 5G
75
193. Xiaomi Redmi Note 13
75
196. Honor Magic5 Lite 5G
74
197. Honor 90 Lite
73
198. Samsung Galaxy A23 5G
70
199. Fairphone 4
69
199. Oppo A78 5G
69
199. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
69
202. Motorola moto g34 5G
67
202. Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
67
204. Motorola Moto G62 5G
66
205. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S 5G
65
206. Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G
64
207. Sony Xperia 10 IV
63
207. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12
63
207. Xiaomi Redmi 14C
63
207. Xiaomi Redmi 13C
63
207. Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G
63
212. Honor X7
61
212. Honor Magic4 Lite 5G
61
214. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11
60
214. Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G
60
216. Crosscall Stellar-M6
59
217. Honor 70 Lite
58
218. Honor 200 Smart
55
219. Motorola Moto G23
54
220. Oppo A77 5G
53
221. Honor X8 5G
52
221. TCL 406
52
223. Xiaomi Redmi 10 2022
51
224. Crosscall Action-X5
50
225. Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
48
226. Crosscall Core-Z5
47
227. Oppo A57
46
227. Oppo A16s 5G
46
229. Samsung Galaxy A05s
45
229. Xiaomi Redmi A3
45
229. Xiaomi Redmi 12C
45
Position in Ultra-Premium Ranking
83rd
83rd
1. Huawei Pura 70 Ultra
163
2. Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
158
2. Honor Magic6 Pro
158
4. Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
157
4. Apple iPhone 16 Pro
157
4. Huawei Mate 60 Pro+
157
4. Oppo Find X8 Pro
157
4. Oppo Find X7 Ultra
157
9. Huawei P60 Pro
156
10. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
154
10. Apple iPhone 15 Pro
154
12. Google Pixel 8 Pro
153
12. Oppo Find X6 Pro
153
12. Xiaomi 15 Ultra
153
15. Honor Magic5 Pro
152
16. Oppo Find X6
150
16. Vivo X100 Pro
150
18. Huawei Mate 50 Pro
149
18. Xiaomi 14 Ultra
149
20. Google Pixel 7 Pro
147
20. Honor Magic4 Ultimate
147
20. Xiaomi 15
147
23. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
146
23. Apple iPhone 14 Pro
146
23. Motorola Edge 50 Ultra
146
23. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
146
27. Apple iPhone 15 Plus
145
28. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
144
29. Huawei P50 Pro
143
30. Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
141
30. Apple iPhone 13 Pro
141
30. Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
141
30. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
141
34. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
140
34. Vivo X90 Pro+
140
34. Xiaomi 13 Ultra
140
37. Huawei Mate 40 Pro+
139
38. Honor Magic V3
137
38. Vivo X80 Pro (Snapdragon)
137
40. Vivo X90 Pro
136
40. Xiaomi 13 Pro
136
40. Xiaomi 12S Ultra
136
43. Huawei Mate 40 Pro
135
43. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Snapdragon)
135
43. Vivo X80 Pro (MediaTek)
135
46. Google Pixel 6 Pro
134
46. Vivo X70 Pro+
134
48. Apple iPhone 14 Plus
133
48. Google Pixel Fold
133
48. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6
133
48. Samsung Galaxy S24+ (Exynos)
133
48. Samsung Galaxy S23+
133
53. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6
132
54. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
131
54. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Exynos)
131
56. Motorola Edge 40 Pro
130
56. Oppo Find X5 Pro
130
58. Huawei P40 Pro
129
58. Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra
129
58. Xiaomi 12 Pro
129
61. Oppo Find X3 Pro
128
61. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
128
63. Apple iPhone 12 Pro
127
63. Asus Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders
127
63. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5
127
66. Honor Magic4 Pro
126
66. Vivo X60 Pro+
126
68. Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra
125
68. Samsung Galaxy S22+ (Exynos)
125
68. Vivo X50 Pro+
125
71. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4
124
71. Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro
124
73. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
122
73. OnePlus 10 Pro
122
73. OnePlus 9 Pro
122
76. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
120
77. Honor Magic Vs
119
77. Sony Xperia 5 IV
119
79. Sony Xperia 5 V
118
79. Sony Xperia 1 IV
118
81. Honor Magic V2
117
81. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon)
117
83. Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G (Snapdragon)
115
83. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Exynos)
115
85. Oppo Find X5
114
85. Oppo Find N2 Flip
114
87. Crosscall Stellar-X5
113
87. OnePlus 8 Pro
113
89. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
112
90. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
111
90. Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G (Exynos)
111
92. Asus ROG Phone 7
108
93. Sony Xperia 1 III
105
94. Motorola Razr 50
92
Pros
- Neutral white balance and pleasant color rendering in most photos and videos
- Accurate target exposure in most photos
- High detail in outdoor and indoor photos and videos
- Pleasant bokeh photos with mainly accurate depth estimation
- Very wide field of view on ultra-wide shots
- Effective stabilization on walking videos
- Good white balance and color rendering on indoor and outdoor videos
- Accurate autofocus on most videos
Cons
- Autofocus instabilities with photos
- Visible noise in most photos and indoor and low light videos
- Limited dynamic range in backlit photos
- Hue shift, color fringing, ringing and aliasing artifacts often visible in photos
- Low detail and visible noise in medium- and long-range zoom photos
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