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
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
93
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra
Best: Huawei Pura 70 Ultra (130)
108
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra
Best: Huawei Pura 70 Ultra (128)
89
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra
Best: Huawei Pura 70 Ultra (125)
85
Apple iPhone 15 Pro
Best: Apple iPhone 15 Pro (124)
87
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra
Best: Huawei Pura 70 Ultra (117)
66
Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G
Best: Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G (82)
70
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra
Best: Huawei Pura 70 Ultra (85)
60
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Best: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max (91)
89
Xiaomi 14 Ultra
Best: Xiaomi 14 Ultra (120)
95
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra
Best: Huawei Pura 70 Ultra (122)
82
Apple iPhone 15 Pro
Best: Apple iPhone 15 Pro (116)
94
Honor Magic6 Pro
Best: Honor Magic6 Pro (119)
83
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra
Best: Huawei Pura 70 Ultra (120)
89
Oppo Find X6 Pro
Best: Oppo Find X6 Pro (118)
83
Oppo Find X7 Ultra
Best: Oppo Find X7 Ultra (119)
80
Xiaomi 12S Ultra
Best: Xiaomi 12S Ultra (86)
107
Apple iPhone 15 Pro
Best: Apple iPhone 15 Pro (118)
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
![](https://cdn.dxomark.com/wp-content/themes/flatsome-child/assets/img/product-page/rank.svg)
104
th
6. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
154
16. Honor Magic4 Ultimate
147
18. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
146
22. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
144
24. Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
141
27. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
140
33. Vivo X80 Pro (Snapdragon)
137
39. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Snapdragon)
135
39. Vivo X80 Pro (MediaTek)
135
44. Samsung Galaxy S24+ (Exynos)
133
44. Samsung Galaxy S24 (Exynos)
133
52. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
131
52. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Exynos)
131
63. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
128
65. Asus Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders
127
65. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5
127
65. Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
127
70. Vivo X70 Pro (MediaTek)
126
74. Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra
125
74. Samsung Galaxy S22+ (Exynos)
125
79. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4
124
82. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
122
87. Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus 5G
121
88. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
120
88. Samsung Galaxy S22 (Exynos)
120
88. Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G
120
95. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon)
117
95. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Snapdragon)
117
95. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Snapdragon)
117
101. Vivo X60 Pro 5G (Snapdragon)
116
104. Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G (Snapdragon)
115
104. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Exynos)
115
113. Crosscall Stellar-X5
113
113. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G
113
117. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
112
119. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
111
119. Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G (Exynos)
111
119. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Exynos)
111
124. Samsung Galaxy A55 5G
108
124. Vivo X60 Pro 5G (Exynos)
108
129. Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
107
132. Samsung Galaxy A35 5G
104
133. Motorola Edge 40 Neo
103
134. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G
102
136. Motorola Edge 30 Pro
101
138. Apple iPhone SE (2022)
100
145. Samsung Galaxy A34 5G
92
145. Samsung Galaxy A25 5G
92
148. Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 5G
91
150. Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
88
150. Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
88
153. Motorola moto g54 5G
85
153. Samsung Galaxy A33 5G
85
155. Honor Magic6 Lite (5300 mAh)
84
157. Samsung Galaxy A15 5G
83
159. Samsung Galaxy A15 LTE
81
160. Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
79
162. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G
78
165. Xiaomi Redmi Note 13
75
167. Honor Magic5 Lite 5G
74
169. Samsung Galaxy A23 5G
70
170. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
69
173. Motorola moto g34 5G
67
173. Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
67
175. Motorola Moto G62 5G
66
176. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S 5G
65
178. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12
63
182. Honor Magic4 Lite 5G
61
184. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11
60
191. Xiaomi Redmi 10 2022
51
193. Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
48
Position in Ultra-Premium Ranking
![](https://cdn.dxomark.com/wp-content/themes/flatsome-child/assets/img/product-page/rank.svg)
71
st
6. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
154
15. Honor Magic4 Ultimate
147
17. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
146
20. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
144
22. Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
141
25. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
140
29. Vivo X80 Pro (Snapdragon)
137
33. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Snapdragon)
135
33. Vivo X80 Pro (MediaTek)
135
38. Samsung Galaxy S24+ (Exynos)
133
42. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
131
42. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Exynos)
131
49. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
128
51. Asus Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders
127
51. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5
127
56. Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra
125
56. Samsung Galaxy S22+ (Exynos)
125
59. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4
124
61. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
122
64. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
120
69. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon)
117
71. Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G (Snapdragon)
115
71. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Exynos)
115
77. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
112
78. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
111
78. Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G (Exynos)
111
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
DXOMARK encourages its readers to share comments on the articles. To read or post comments, Disqus cookies are required. Change your Cookies Preferences and read more about our Comment Policy.