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
Apple iPhone 15 Pro
Best: Apple iPhone 15 Pro (123)
108
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Best: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (125)
89
Huawei Mate 60 Pro+
Best: Huawei Mate 60 Pro+ (123)
85
Apple iPhone 15 Pro
Best: Apple iPhone 15 Pro (124)
87
Honor Magic5 Pro
Best: Honor Magic5 Pro (116)
66
Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G
Best: Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G (82)
70
Honor Magic6 Pro
Best: Honor Magic6 Pro (85)
60
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Best: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max (91)
89
Oppo Find X7 Ultra
Best: Oppo Find X7 Ultra (118)
95
Honor Magic6 Pro
Best: Honor Magic6 Pro (121)
82
Apple iPhone 15 Pro
Best: Apple iPhone 15 Pro (116)
94
Honor Magic6 Pro
Best: Honor Magic6 Pro (119)
83
Huawei Mate 60 Pro+
Best: Huawei Mate 60 Pro+ (119)
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
96
th
5. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
154
14. Honor Magic4 Ultimate
147
16. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
146
20. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
144
22. Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
141
25. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (Snapdragon)
140
31. Vivo X80 Pro (Snapdragon)
137
35. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Snapdragon)
135
35. Vivo X80 Pro (MediaTek)
135
40. Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus (Snapdragon)
133
40. Samsung Galaxy S23 (Snapdragon)
133
46. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
131
46. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Exynos)
131
56. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
128
58. Asus Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders
127
58. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5
127
58. Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
127
63. Vivo X70 Pro (MediaTek)
126
67. Samsung Galaxy S22+ (Exynos)
125
71. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4
124
74. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
122
79. Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus 5G
121
80. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
120
80. Samsung Galaxy S22 (Exynos)
120
80. Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G
120
87. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon)
117
87. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Snapdragon)
117
87. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Snapdragon)
117
93. Vivo X60 Pro 5G (Snapdragon)
116
96. Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G (Snapdragon)
115
96. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Exynos)
115
105. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G
113
108. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
112
110. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
111
110. Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G (Exynos)
111
110. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Exynos)
111
115. Samsung Galaxy A55 5G
108
115. Vivo X60 Pro 5G (Exynos)
108
120. Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
107
123. Samsung Galaxy A35 5G
104
124. Motorola Edge 40 Neo
103
125. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G
102
127. Motorola Edge 30 Pro
101
129. Apple iPhone SE (2022)
100
136. Samsung Galaxy A34 5G
92
136. Samsung Galaxy A25 5G
92
139. Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 5G
91
141. Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
88
141. Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
88
143. Samsung Galaxy A33 5G
85
145. Samsung Galaxy A15 5G
83
147. Samsung Galaxy A15 LTE
81
148. Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
79
149. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G
78
152. Xiaomi Redmi Note 13
75
154. Honor Magic5 Lite 5G
74
156. Honor Magic6 Lite (5300 mAh)
70
156. Samsung Galaxy A23 5G
70
158. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
69
161. Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
67
162. Motorola Moto G62 5G
66
163. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S 5G
65
165. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12
63
169. Honor Magic4 Lite 5G
61
171. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11
60
177. Xiaomi Redmi 10 2022
51
179. Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
48
Position in Ultra-Premium Ranking
67
th
5. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
154
13. Honor Magic4 Ultimate
147
15. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
146
18. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
144
20. Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
141
23. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (Snapdragon)
140
27. Vivo X80 Pro (Snapdragon)
137
31. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Snapdragon)
135
31. Vivo X80 Pro (MediaTek)
135
36. Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus (Snapdragon)
133
39. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
131
39. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Exynos)
131
46. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
128
48. Asus Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders
127
48. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5
127
53. Samsung Galaxy S22+ (Exynos)
125
55. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4
124
57. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
122
60. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
120
65. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon)
117
67. Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G (Snapdragon)
115
67. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Exynos)
115
72. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
112
73. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
111
73. 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
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