The new Samsung Galaxy S21 range finally landed at Samsung Unpacked 2021, and if you’re in the market for a new phone, there’s no time like the present. The S21’s appeal is obvious, with its 6.2-inch display with 120Hz refresh rate, powerful processor, and triple camera offerings. But what if the sleek edge-to-edge display and amazing camera of the Google Pixel 5 are calling you?
If you can’t decide between a Google Pixel 5 and the Galaxy S21, we’ve got your back. We’ll help you decide which phone is worth your hard-earned cash, by comparing them across six core categories, from design to performance and battery life. To find out which one you should buy, keep reading.
Specs
Samsung Galaxy S21
Google Pixel 5
Size
151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9mm (6 x 2.8 x 0.31 inches)
144.7 x 70.4 x 8mm (5.70 x 2.77 x 0.31 inches)
Weight
171 grams (6.03 ounces)
151 grams (5.33 ounces)
Screen size
6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED
6.0-inch OLED capacitive touchscreen
Screen resolution
2400 x 1080 pixels (421 pixels per inch)
Adaptive 48-120Hz refresh rate
2340 x 1080 pixels (432 pixels per inch)
90Hz refresh rate
Operating system
Android 11 with One UI 3.1
Android 11
Storage
128GB, 256GB
128GB
MicroSD card slot
No
No
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
RAM
8GB
8GB
Camera
Triple lens 12-megapixel wide, 12MP ultrawide, and 64MP telephoto rear
10MP front
Dual-lens 12MP wide, 16MP ultrawide rear
8MP front
Video
8K at up to 30 fps, 4K at up to 60 fps, 1080p at 240 fps
4K at 60 frames per second, 1080p at 30 fps
Bluetooth version
Bluetooth 5.1
Bluetooth 5.0
Ports
USB-C
USB-C, 3.1
Fingerprint sensor
Yes (in-display ultrasonic)
Yes, rear-mounted
Water resistance
IP68
IP68
Battery
4,000mAh
25W wired charging (No charger included in the box)
15W wireless charging
Reverse wireless charging
4,080mAh
Fast charging (18W)
Wireless charging
Reverse wireless charging
App marketplace
Google Play Store
Google Play Store
Network support
All major carriers
Verizon, Google Fi
Colors
Phantom Grey, Phantom White, Phantom Pink, Phantom Violet
Just Black, Sorta Sage
Price
$800
$699
Buy from
Samsung
Google, Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart
Review score
First impression
4 out of 5 stars
Design, display, and durability
Andrew Martonik/Digital Trends
The Galaxy S21 is a good-looking device, with a near bezel-less front and punch-hole selfie camera, and the rear camera pod almost totally integrated into the frame. This is especially gorgeous on the Phantom Violet models, with its differently colored camera module. Unlike the other phones in the range, the S21 has a plastic back — “glasstic” as Samsung calls it — which might be hard to deal with for some, given you’re shelling out $800. In comparison, the Pixel 5’s design feels understated and, dare we say, even a little dated. Although the textured aluminum chassis feels good in your hand, there’s no premium feel here, though the Sorta Sage color injects character into what’s an otherwise unremarkable design.
The Pixel 5 wins bonus points for its weight too — at just 151 grams compared to the S21’s 171 grams, it’s compact and lightweight. For those who find newer phones too big, it may prove the better option of the two.
Speaking of displays, both are impressive indeed with the S21 boasting a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with 2400 x 1080 pixels and an adaptive 48Hz to 120Hz refresh rate. This adjusts automatically depending on what tasks you’re doing — faster if you’re scrolling the web or gaming, slower while looking at still photos — conserving battery life. With 1,200 nits of brightness and more saturation than the Pixel 5, everything looks great on the S21, from the latest games to your family photo albums.
In contrast, the Pixel 5’s 6-inch OLED display has a slightly higher resolution at 2340 x 1080 pixels, with a 90Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support. Scrolling is beautifully smooth, but those who spend most of their time gaming on their phone may want to opt for the 120Hz refresh rate of the S21.
Both phones are IP68 rated, so both are safe for a dunk in up to 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes.
The S21 just takes the prize here thanks to its larger screen, 120Hz refresh rate, and sophisticated Phantom Violet color. However, those who prefer a more compact, lightweight option and are feeling the old-school vibe may still want to opt for the Google Pixel 5.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S21
Performance, battery life, and charging
Andrew Martonik/Digital Trends
The Galaxy S21 is powered by the Snapdragon 888 processor, which is the top-of-the-range Android processor available in the U.S. right now. Multi-tasking is a breeze and the latest apps are no issue either thanks to 8GB of RAM. Compare that with the Pixel 5’s Snapdragon 765G processor and 8GB of RAM and it’s clear the Pixel isn’t going to win when it comes to raw power. Though the Snapdragon 765 still provides excellent performance when multitasking or gaming, you may notice a difference when playing the latest games.
The S21 comes with 128GB or 256GB of storage and the SD slot has gone the way of the headphone jack, so the storage you buy is all you’ll ever have. If you’re the kind of person who regularly deletes photos and apps, then the 128GB onboard the Pixel 5 should suit you just fine — but again, there’s no SD card slot, and there’s no 256GB model on offer here either.
Battery life is comparable across both phones, with the S21’s 4,000mAh battery seeing you easily through a full day of moderate to heavy use and the slightly larger 4,080mAh battery on the Pixel 5 also providing decent battery life. When it comes to juicing up your phone though, the S21 supports 25W wired charging and 15W wireless charging, plus reverse wireless charging for accessories — though it doesn’t come bundled with a charger, just a cable. In contrast, the Pixel 5 supports 18W wired charging and comes with a charger in the box. It supports wireless and reverse wireless charging too — so you can pop your Pixel Buds 2 on the back of the phone to juice them up.
It’s worth noting here that there have of the Pixel 5 dropping Wi-Fi signal, as well as mention of fewer bars when it comes to cellular reception. This is definitely worth considering if you live in an area with poor reception, and could be due to the phone’s metal body.
The S21 takes top place this round. While the Pixel 5’s battery is slightly bigger, the S21’s more powerful processor, storage options, and 25W charging pip the Pixel to the post.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S21
Cameras
Andrew Martonik/Digital Trends
The Pixel 5 boasts a dual-lens rear camera setup, with a 12.2-megapixel wide lens and a 16MP ultrawide lens. By contrast, the Galaxy S21’s triple-lens setup comprises of a 12MP ultrawide sensor, a 12MP wide main lens, and a 64MP telephoto shooter. The Galaxy S21 features more cameras but also offers newer hardware compared to the older sensor of the Pixel 5, which was first seen on the Pixel 2 in 2017.
It’s worth noting however that what the Pixel 5 lacks in hardware, it more than makes up for in software, with Google Pixel cameras rated amongst the best. You’ll struggle to take bad photos with the Pixel 5, and features like Super Res Zoom — which uses A.I. to enhance photos that use digital zoom — and the ability to switch light sources in Portrait Mode only improves things further.
With the S21 you get A.I. enhanced portrait mode, Zoom Lock stability with A.I. to keep your subject centered even when zoomed, Space Zoom, and Night Mode with enhanced noise reduction for low-light shooting.
Despite the extra rear lens on the S21, these two phones are neck and neck when it comes to camera performance and results — so we’re calling this round a tie, for now, until we’ve had more time with the S21.
Winner: Tie
Software and updates
Andrew Martonik/Digital Trends
Both phones ship with Android 11. The S21 runs Samsung’s One UI 3.1, which feels fairly intuitive, especially if you’re already a Samsung user. Samsung generally promises three generations of OS updates, making the S21 a future-proof option. The Pixel 5 runs stock Android and has two years of Android updates guaranteed, so it’s a great long-term purchase.
However, in terms of updates, the Pixel is going to get updates a lot faster than the Galaxy S21. Samsung tends to lag behind the average in update speed, while the Pixel gets the latest update days after it releases. The Pixel takes this.
Winner: Google Pixel 5
Special features
Andrew Martonik/Digital Trends
Both phones boast 5G — the S21 supports every band you could want or need as well as the new Wi-Fi 6E standard, while the Pixel 5 supports mmWave and sub-6GHz bands, for the fastest possible speeds (if you’re already in an area where fast 5G connectivity is available, that is).
Samsung is bundling its new SmartTag Bluetooth trackers with Galaxy S21 pre-orders — great news if you’re always losing your keys or wallet — and you can use the SmartThings Find app on your new phone to quickly track down your missing belongings.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S21
Price and availability
The Google Pixel 5 is available directly from Google, Amazon, Best Buy, or Walmart in one version with 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. It comes in Just Black or Sorta Sage from $650.
You can pre-order the Galaxy S21 from Samsung right now and get $100 free Samsung Credit, a free Samsung SmartTag Bluetooth tracker, so you’ll never lose your keys or wallet again, and four months of YouTube Premium included. Pick up the 128GB model in Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Pink, or Phantom Violet from $775 or the 256GB model from $825. The S21 will be available from other retailers like Amazon from January 29.
Overall winner: Samsung Galaxy S21
The Samsung Galaxy S21 is the better of the two phones, although it’s close. While the Google Pixel 5 is half the price of the S21, the latter’s more powerful processor, bigger screen, 120Hz refresh rate, and sleeker, more modern design pip the Pixel to the prize. Ultimately though, it really depends on your preferences — both phones have 5G connectivity, excellent camera offerings, and impressive battery life — and you might find you prefer the smaller, lighter footprint of the Pixel 5.
Of course, we haven’t spent much time with the Samsung Galaxy S21 yet, so our verdict could change once we’ve taken a better look. But for now, we’d choose it over the Pixel 5.