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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
117th
117th
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 X7 Ultra
157
8. Huawei P60 Pro
156
9. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
154
9. Apple iPhone 15 Pro
154
9. Google Pixel 9
154
12. Google Pixel 8 Pro
153
12. Oppo Find X6 Pro
153
14. Honor Magic5 Pro
152
15. Oppo Find X6
150
15. Vivo X100 Pro
150
17. Huawei Mate 50 Pro
149
17. Xiaomi 14 Ultra
149
19. Google Pixel 8
148
20. Apple iPhone 16
147
20. Google Pixel 7 Pro
147
20. Honor Magic4 Ultimate
147
23. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
146
23. Apple iPhone 14 Pro
146
23. Motorola Edge 50 Ultra
146
26. Apple iPhone 15 Plus
145
26. Apple iPhone 15
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. Google Pixel 7
140
34. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
140
34. Vivo X90 Pro+
140
34. Xiaomi 13 Ultra
140
38. Huawei Mate 40 Pro+
139
39. Xiaomi 14
138
40. Honor Magic V3
137
40. Honor 200 Pro
137
40. Vivo X80 Pro (Snapdragon)
137
43. Google Pixel 8a
136
43. Vivo X90 Pro
136
43. Xiaomi 13 Pro
136
43. Xiaomi 12S Ultra
136
47. Huawei Mate 40 Pro
135
47. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Snapdragon)
135
47. Vivo X80 Pro (MediaTek)
135
47. Xiaomi 14T Pro
135
51. Google Pixel 6 Pro
134
51. Vivo X70 Pro+
134
51. Xiaomi 14T
134
54. Apple iPhone 14 Plus
133
54. Apple iPhone 14
133
54. Google Pixel Fold
133
54. Google Pixel 7a
133
54. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6
133
54. Samsung Galaxy S24+ (Exynos)
133
54. Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
133
54. Samsung Galaxy S24 (Exynos)
133
54. Samsung Galaxy S23+
133
54. Samsung Galaxy S23
133
64. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6
132
65. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
131
65. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Exynos)
131
65. Xiaomi 13T Pro
131
68. Honor 200
130
68. Motorola Edge 40 Pro
130
68. Oppo Find X5 Pro
130
68. Xiaomi 13
130
72. Huawei P40 Pro
129
72. Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra
129
72. Xiaomi 12T Pro
129
72. Xiaomi 12 Pro
129
76. Oppo Find X3 Pro
128
76. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
128
78. Apple iPhone 12 Pro
127
78. Asus Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders
127
78. OnePlus 11
127
78. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5
127
78. Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
127
83. Google Pixel 6
126
83. Honor Magic4 Pro
126
83. Vivo X70 Pro (MediaTek)
126
83. Vivo X60 Pro+
126
87. Apple iPhone 13 mini
125
87. Apple iPhone 13
125
87. Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra
125
87. Samsung Galaxy S22+ (Exynos)
125
87. Vivo X50 Pro+
125
92. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4
124
92. Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro
124
94. Xiaomi 13T
123
95. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
122
95. Google Pixel 6a
122
95. Honor 90
122
95. OnePlus 10 Pro
122
95. OnePlus 9 Pro
122
100. Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus 5G
121
101. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
120
101. Samsung Galaxy S22 (Exynos)
120
101. Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G
120
104. Honor Magic Vs
119
104. Sony Xperia 5 IV
119
106. Sony Xperia 5 V
118
106. Sony Xperia 1 IV
118
108. Apple iPhone 12
117
108. Apple iPhone 12 mini
117
108. Honor Magic V2
117
108. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon)
117
108. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Snapdragon)
117
108. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Snapdragon)
117
114. Apple iPhone 11
116
114. Asus Zenfone 8
116
114. Vivo X60 Pro 5G (Snapdragon)
116
117. Honor 70
115
117. Motorola Edge 50 Neo
115
117. Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G (Snapdragon)
115
117. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Exynos)
115
117. Xiaomi 12T
115
122. Nothing Phone(1)
114
122. OnePlus Nord 2T 5G
114
122. Oppo Reno8 Pro 5G
114
122. Oppo Find X5
114
122. Oppo Find N2 Flip
114
127. Crosscall Stellar-X5
113
127. OnePlus 8 Pro
113
127. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G
113
127. Xiaomi 12
113
131. Oppo Reno8 5G
112
131. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
112
133. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
111
133. Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G (Exynos)
111
133. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Exynos)
111
136. Google Pixel 5
109
136. Xiaomi 12 Lite 5G
109
138. Asus ROG Phone 7
108
138. Fairphone 5
108
138. Samsung Galaxy A55 5G
108
138. Vivo X60 Pro 5G (Exynos)
108
138. Xiaomi 11T Pro
108
143. Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
107
144. Oppo Find X3 Neo
106
145. Sony Xperia 1 III
105
146. Samsung Galaxy A35 5G
104
147. Motorola Edge 40 Neo
103
148. Huawei P40
102
148. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G
102
150. Black Shark 5 Pro
101
150. Motorola Edge 30 Pro
101
152. Apple iPhone SE (2022)
100
152. Google Pixel 4a
100
154. ZTE Axon 30 Ultra
96
155. Oppo Find X5 Lite
95
156. Oppo Reno4 5G
94
157. Oppo A94 5G
93
157. Vivo X80 Lite 5G
93
159. Motorola Razr 50
92
159. Samsung Galaxy A72
92
159. Samsung Galaxy A34 5G
92
159. Samsung Galaxy A25 5G
92
163. Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 5G
91
164. Oppo Reno6 5G
89
165. Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
88
165. Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
88
167. Honor 200 Lite
86
168. Motorola Moto g85 5G
85
168. Motorola moto g54 5G
85
168. Samsung Galaxy A33 5G
85
168. Samsung Galaxy A16 LTE
85
172. Honor Magic6 Lite (5300 mAh)
84
172. OnePlus Nord CE 5G
84
174. Samsung Galaxy A15 5G
83
174. Vivo Y76 5G
83
176. Samsung Galaxy A15 LTE
81
177. Honor 90 Smart
79
177. Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
79
179. Sony Xperia 10 V
78
179. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G
78
181. TCL 40R 5G
76
182. Realme 9i 5G
75
182. Samsung Galaxy A16 5G
75
182. Xiaomi Redmi Note 13
75
185. Honor Magic5 Lite 5G
74
186. Honor 90 Lite
73
187. Samsung Galaxy A23 5G
70
188. Fairphone 4
69
188. Oppo A78 5G
69
188. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
69
191. Motorola moto g34 5G
67
191. Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
67
193. Motorola Moto G62 5G
66
194. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S 5G
65
195. Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G
64
196. Sony Xperia 10 IV
63
196. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12
63
196. Xiaomi Redmi 14C
63
196. Xiaomi Redmi 13C
63
196. Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G
63
201. Honor X7
61
201. Honor Magic4 Lite 5G
61
203. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11
60
203. Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G
60
205. Honor 70 Lite
58
206. Honor 200 Smart
55
207. Motorola Moto G23
54
208. Oppo A77 5G
53
209. Honor X8 5G
52
209. TCL 406
52
211. Xiaomi Redmi 10 2022
51
212. Crosscall Action-X5
50
213. Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
48
214. Crosscall Core-Z5
47
215. Oppo A57
46
215. Oppo A16s 5G
46
217. Samsung Galaxy A05s
45
217. Xiaomi Redmi A3
45
217. Xiaomi Redmi 12C
45
Position in Ultra-Premium Ranking
79th
79th
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 X7 Ultra
157
8. Huawei P60 Pro
156
9. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
154
9. Apple iPhone 15 Pro
154
11. Google Pixel 8 Pro
153
11. Oppo Find X6 Pro
153
13. Honor Magic5 Pro
152
14. Oppo Find X6
150
14. Vivo X100 Pro
150
16. Huawei Mate 50 Pro
149
16. Xiaomi 14 Ultra
149
18. Google Pixel 7 Pro
147
18. Honor Magic4 Ultimate
147
20. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
146
20. Apple iPhone 14 Pro
146
20. Motorola Edge 50 Ultra
146
23. Apple iPhone 15 Plus
145
24. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
144
25. Huawei P50 Pro
143
26. Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
141
26. Apple iPhone 13 Pro
141
26. Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
141
26. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
141
30. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
140
30. Vivo X90 Pro+
140
30. Xiaomi 13 Ultra
140
33. Huawei Mate 40 Pro+
139
34. Honor Magic V3
137
34. Vivo X80 Pro (Snapdragon)
137
36. Vivo X90 Pro
136
36. Xiaomi 13 Pro
136
36. Xiaomi 12S Ultra
136
39. Huawei Mate 40 Pro
135
39. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Snapdragon)
135
39. Vivo X80 Pro (MediaTek)
135
42. Google Pixel 6 Pro
134
42. Vivo X70 Pro+
134
44. Apple iPhone 14 Plus
133
44. Google Pixel Fold
133
44. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6
133
44. Samsung Galaxy S24+ (Exynos)
133
44. Samsung Galaxy S23+
133
49. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6
132
50. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
131
50. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Exynos)
131
52. Motorola Edge 40 Pro
130
52. Oppo Find X5 Pro
130
54. Huawei P40 Pro
129
54. Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra
129
54. Xiaomi 12 Pro
129
57. Oppo Find X3 Pro
128
57. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
128
59. Apple iPhone 12 Pro
127
59. Asus Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders
127
59. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5
127
62. Honor Magic4 Pro
126
62. Vivo X60 Pro+
126
64. Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra
125
64. Samsung Galaxy S22+ (Exynos)
125
64. Vivo X50 Pro+
125
67. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4
124
67. Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro
124
69. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
122
69. OnePlus 10 Pro
122
69. OnePlus 9 Pro
122
72. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
120
73. Honor Magic Vs
119
73. Sony Xperia 5 IV
119
75. Sony Xperia 5 V
118
75. Sony Xperia 1 IV
118
77. Honor Magic V2
117
77. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon)
117
79. Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G (Snapdragon)
115
79. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Exynos)
115
81. Oppo Find X5
114
81. Oppo Find N2 Flip
114
83. Crosscall Stellar-X5
113
83. OnePlus 8 Pro
113
85. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
112
86. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
111
86. Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G (Exynos)
111
88. Asus ROG Phone 7
108
89. Sony Xperia 1 III
105
90. 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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