Galaxy S21 Vs Pixel 5 – You don’t have to be confuse any more on which one to buy
Introducing Samsung Galaxy S21 – Along with a sublime 120Hz AMOLED projector, cameras that take fantastic images in every lighting scenario, and global 5G connectivity, the Galaxy S21 provides Qualcomm’s new hardware. You can still find all the extras, but this year the phone is losing out on a microSD slot and there’s no adapter in the package.
Introducing Google Pixel 5 – When it comes to the camera, the Pixel 5 is unchallenged, with the phone providing truly excellent images. A 90Hz OLED screen, wireless and reverse wireless charging, and Sub-6 as well as mmWave 5G are also available as a feature-rich package. Despite its weakness compared to the Galaxy S21, you’re getting a great overall value.
Pros of Samsung Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S21 Vs Pixel 5
- Stunning 120Hz AMOLED display
- Snapdragon 888 with Sub-6/mmWave 5G
- Reliable cameras
- Three years of guaranteed updates
- 15W wireless charging and IP68
Pros of Google Pixel 5 | Galaxy S21 Vs Pixel 5
- Gorgeous 90Hz OLED panel
- Snapdragon 765G with Sub-6/mmWave 5G
- Incredible cameras with a wide-angle lens
- Three Android version updates
- 15W wireless charging and IP68
Cons of Samsung Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S21 Vs Pixel 5
- No microSD card slot
- No charger in the box
- Plastic back
Cons of Google Pixel 5 | Galaxy S21 Vs Pixel 5
- Not running Snapdragon 800 series
- Limited global availability
The Galaxy S21 packs incremental updates on the surface. The biggest change is that it’s driven by the new 5nm Snapdragon 888 platform from Qualcomm, unlocking a new performance level.
For the cameras, there’s also a fresh new design on the rear, but otherwise, you get a system that hasn’t changed too much from its predecessor.
As for the Pixel 5, to keep costs down, Google went with the mid-range Snapdragon 765G. That allowed Google to launch the phone for just $700 while making sure that all of the extras were not missing.
With the Pixel 5 undercutting its competitors and being one of the best Android phones available today, the plan was a good one.
In reality, with the Galaxy S21, Samsung took a leaf out of Google’s playbook. When viewed against last year’s Galaxy S20, the phone has a few downgrades. The S21 has a plastic back, and the screen resolution from QHD+ has been reduced to FHD+.
To further cut costs, Samsung also got rid of the charger and earbuds from the packaging of the Galaxy S21, but the end result is that the phone retails for $800, $200 less than its predecessor.
Thanks to the new camera housing on the rear, which is made of metal, the Galaxy S21 stands out a little more in terms of style. That said, the back panel itself is plastic and not glass, and even though it has the same 4,000mAh battery, the phone is still 19g heavier than the Pixel 5 somehow.
Galaxy S21 vs. Pixel 5 These are the full specs
| Category | Galaxy S21 | Pixel 5 |
| Operating system | Android 11 One UI 3.1 | Android 11 |
| Display | 6.2-inch 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2400×1080 (20:9) HDR10+ Gorilla Glass Victus | 6.0-inch 90Hz OLED 2340×1080 (19.5:9) HDR10+ Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 888 1 x 2.84GHz X1 3 x 2.42GHz A78 4 x 1.80GHz A55 Adreno 660 5nm | Snapdragon 765G 1 x 2.4GHz A76 1 x 2.2GHz A76 6 x 1.8GHz A55 Adreno 620 7nm |
| RAM | 8GB LPDDR5 | 8GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB UFS3.1 | 128GB |
| MicroSD slot | ❌ | ❌ |
| Rear camera 1 | 12MP f/1.8, OIS 8K at 30fps 4K at 60fps | 12.2MP, f/1.7 4K at 60fps |
| Rear camera 2 | 12MP, f/2.2 wide-angle | 16MP, f/2.2 107-degree wide-angle lens |
| Rear camera 3 | 64MP, f/3.0 telephoto, OIS 3x optical zoom | ❌ |
| Front camera | 10MP f/1.7 auto focus | 8MP, f/2.0 |
| Connectivity | 5G (Sub-6 and mmWave) Wi-Fi 6 MU-MIMO Bluetooth 5.0 LE, NFC, GPS | 5G (Sub-6 and mmWave) Wi-Fi ac Bluetooth 5.0 NFC, A-GPS |
| Audio | USB-C Stereo speakers | USB-C Stereo speakers |
| Battery | 4000mAh Non-removable | 4080mAh Non-removable |
| Charging | USB-C PD 3.0 Fast charge (25W) Wireless charging | 18W USB-C 3.1 15W wireless charging 5W reverse wireless charging |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Security | In-display fingerprint sensor | Rear fingerprint sensor |
| Dimensions | 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9mm 172g | 144.7 x 70.4 x 8mm 151g |
| Colors | Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink | Just Black, Sorta Sage |
Galaxy S21 Vs Pixel 5 | Which one to go with
So, if you’re looking for a flagship that’s around $800, the Galaxy S21 is a great option. Having said that, Pixel 5 is not far behind either. It’s much more affordable at $700 than the S21, and although the Snapdragon 765G does not match up to the Snapdragon 888, it is more than appropriate for most cases of day-to-day and gaming use.
A better camera is available for the Pixel 5, and the inclusion of a wide-angle lens on the back makes it a much more powerful shooter. I prefer apps from Google, and the Pixel 5 will receive quicker updates.
You get Sub-6 and mmWave 5G with the Pixel 5 as well, and the phone has IP68 resistance, 15W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging as well. The 90Hz OLED panel is just as colorful as what you get with Samsung.
So, you’re not really losing out on any features on the Pixel 5, and despite the fact that it runs a chipset that’s not as strong as the Galaxy S21, I’d go with Google’s 2020 flagship for my money.