Samsung S20 vs. S21: Differences Between Two Flagship Phones

Axel Nash

Written By Axel Nash |

It's no longer surprising to see many comparisons when Samsung releases a new generation of the Galaxy S series. This time, the clash is between Samsung Galaxy S20 and S21, but what's fascinating is that many folks seem to criticize the S21 as being more of a downgrade than an upgrade.

So, is it worth upgrading to the S21, or should you stick to the S20? This Samsung S20 vs. S21 article will help you make the best decision. So, keep reading.

s20 vs s21

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Part 1: Samsung S20 vs. S21 Overview

Before we dive in thoroughly to compare the Samsung S20 and S21, let's have a look at both devices' main specs.

Specs Samsung Galaxy S20 Samsung Galaxy S21
Chipset Exynos 990 (7 nm+) - International Models
Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) - USA Models
Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - International Models
Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - USA/China Models
RAM 8GB RAM & 12GB RAM 8GB RAM
Display Size 6.2 inches, 93.8 cm2 6.2 inches, 94.1 cm2
Display Resolution 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio
Colors ●Cosmic Gray
●Cosmic Pink
●Cosmic Blue
●Phantom White.
●Phantom Violet.
●Phantom Pink.
●Phantom Gray.
Rear Camera 12 Megapixel (wide)
64 Megapixel (telephoto)
12 Megapixel (ultrawide)
12 Megapixel (wide)
64 Megapixel (telephoto)
12 Megapixel (ultrawide)
Front Camera 10 Megapixel (wide) 10 Megapixel (wide)
Battery Li-Ion 4000 mAh, non-removable Li-Ion 4000 mAh, non-removable
Storage 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
Price at Launch £799 - 4G Model
$999 - 5G Model
$799 - 128GB
$849.99 - 256GB
Price Now $549.00 $552.62 (Amazon)

Part 2: Galaxy S21 vs. S20: Display

display

Surprisingly, the Samsung S21 and S20 are very similar in terms of their display. Both devices possess identical designs, a 6.2In AMOLED screen, an in-screen unlock fingerprint sensor and a 120Hz refresh rate. The only notable difference is their camera, weight, and pixel density.

The S21 feels heavier than the S20 and has a lesser pixel density of 421ppi than the S20's 563ppi. Overall, nothing fascinating about the S21 display makes it stand out next to the S20.

Display Samsung Galaxy S20 Samsung Galaxy S21
Display type Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak) Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)
Size 6.2 inches, 93.8 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio) 6.2 inches, 94.1 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~563 PPI density) 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~421 PPI density)
Protection Corning Gorilla Glass 6 Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Refresh rate 120Hz@FHD/60Hz@QHD refresh rate 120Hz@FHD/60Hz@QHD refresh rate

Winner: Nothing is new in terms of display. So, it's a tie.

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Part 3: Samsung Galaxy S20 vs. S21: Processor

processor

The processor used in both Samsung S20 and S21 varies based on the model. While their global model possesses an Exynos chip, the USA and China model uses a Snapdragon chip, which is more capable.

However, in terms of the best, the Samsung S21 processor beats the S20's as its global model possesses an Exynos 2100 chip while the USA/China model uses a Snapdragon 888 chip which is faster than the S20's Exynos 990 chip and Snapdragon 865 chip respectively.

Specs Samsung Galaxy S20 Samsung Galaxy S21
Chipset Exynos 990 (7 nm+) - Global
Qualcomm SM8250
Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) - USA
Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - International
Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - USA/China
CPU Octa-core (2x2.73 GHz Mongoose M5 & 2x2.50 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) - Global
Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) - USA
Octa-core (1x2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A55) - International
Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) - USA/China
GPU Mali-G77 MP11 - Global
Adreno 650 - USA
Mali-G78 MP14 - International
Adreno 660 - USA/China
OS Android 10, upgradable to
Android 11, One UI 3.0
Android 11, One UI 3.1

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S21 Wins

Part 4: Samsung S20 vs. S21: Camera

camera

When Samsung releases a new Galaxy S brother, everyone expects an enhanced camera, but sadly, that's not the case for the S21. Instead, the phone has the same camera setup as its predecessor.

They both have a triple primary camera with a 12MP wide-angle camera, a 64MP telephoto camera, and a 12MP ultra-wide camera, allowing users to take amazing shots. Their front camera is also no different - they rock a 10MP camera for selfies.

Ultimately, if you're looking to choose between S20 and S21 based on their cameras, you might want to look for something more like the S21 Ultra, as both devices' photo quality is good but not great.

Camera Specs Samsung Galaxy S20 Samsung Galaxy S21
Primary Camera Setup Triple Triple
Features Auto-HDR, Panorama Auto-HDR, Panorama
Sensor 12 MP f/1.8 (Wide Angle)
64 MP f/2 (Telephoto)
12 MP f/2.2 (Ultra Wide) with autofocus
12 MP f/1.8 (Wide Angle)
64 MP f/2 (Telephoto)
12 MP f/2.2 (Ultra Wide)
Front Camera Setup Single Single
Features Dual video call, Auto-HDR Dual video call, Auto-HDR
Sensor 10 MP f/2.2 (Wide Angle) Punch Hole 10 MP f/2.2 (Wide Angle)

Winner: It's a Tie (This excludes the S21 Ultra camera, which wins over other S20 models)

Part 5: Samsung S20 vs. S21: Software and S Pen

software and s pen

The Samsung Galaxy S21 runs Android 11 software which is obviously better than the Android 10 in the S20. This makes the S21 perform more significant tasks more smoothly. However, none of them supports an S Pen, except the Samsung S21 Ultra model, which includes support for the S Pen Stylus.

Winner: Samsung S21 in terms of software, as neither S21 nor S20, supports S Pen (Except the S21 Ultra model)

Part 6: S21 vs. S20: Battery Life and Charging

battery life and charging<

Sadly, Samsung still did not turn up with a bigger battery. Instead, they used the same 4000mAh battery for S20 in the S21, and in terms of charging speed, there's no difference between both phones.

Battery Samsung Galaxy S20 Samsung Galaxy S21
Battery Capacity 4000mAh 4000mAh
Removable NO NO
Charging Speed 25W (Fast Charging)
15W (Wireless Charging)
Reverse Charging
25W (Fast Charging)
15W (Wireless Charging)
4.5W (Reverse Charging)

Winner: Tie

Part 7: Transfer data to Samsung Easily

From all that's discussed above, it's obvious both Samsung Galaxy S20 and S21 are great phones. It all depends on choosing the one you think suits your needs.

However, after acquiring the new phone, you'd love to transfer data from your old phone to the new Samsung phone. If you lack the knowledge to go about the process, don't worry. We've discussed the various methods that can come in handy in such a situation. Just keep reading.

Method 1: Using Smart Switch

The official way to transfer data to Samsung devices is by using Smart Switch. Smart Switch is an app that allows users to transfer data, including photos, videos, messages, files, and lots more, from any phone to a Samsung phone quickly and easily for free, either via USB cable or wirelessly.

Pros

  • It's 100% free and safe to use.
  • You don't need a PC.
  • Supports data transfer with or without a USB cable.
  • It's compatible with advanced Samsung devices.

Cons

  • Slow data transfer speed.
  • It usually glitches during the data transfer process.
  • You can't use it to transfer data after setup.

Method 2: Using MobileTrans

Another way you can transfer data from your old phone to Samsung is by using MobileTrans.

MobileTrans is an efficient data transfer software with many impressive features that facilitates fast data transfer in more than 6000 mobile devices. Yes, it can transfer over eighteen types of phone data, including WhatsApp data, photos, videos, chats., SMS, and lots more within just one click.

Besides, MobileTrans is not limited to just transferring data between phones but also from phone to computer and vice versa. All it takes is only a few clicks.

MobileTrans

  • • Transfer data between 6000 phones, including the latest Androids and iPhones.
  • • Transfer 18+ types of data fast and smoothly.
  • • Supports phone-to-phone, phone-to-computer, and computer-to-phone data transfer.
  • • Besides data transfer, MobileTrans also supports data backup and restoration.
4,085,556 people have downloaded it
logo trustpilot 5 stars 4.5/5 Excellent

Pros

  • It supports a wide range of devices.
  • It can transfer data to Samsung after setup.
  • It performs data transfer very fast, no matter the data size.
  • It's easy to operate and does not lag.

Cons

  • You need a PC to work with the tool.
  • You must install a third-party app.

Final Thoughts

Both Samsung S20 and S21 are devices that you can never regret buying. Although you might find choosing between both devices quite tricky, the Samsung S20 vs. S21 article above should help you narrow your choice without stress.

Also, if you need to transfer data to your new Samsung device, the data transfer methods discussed can come in handy to help you operate smoothly. But we highly recommend MobileTrans for faster data transfer.

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Axel Nash

Axel Nash

staff Editor