Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus (SM-G965W)
Side by side comparison between Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus phones, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
6.2"
AMOLED
AMOLED
1080x2400
12.2
MP
MP
10mp
8GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
4000
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
6.2"
AMOLED
AMOLED
1440x2960
12.2
MP
MP
8mp
6GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
3500
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better phone? Samsung Galaxy S21
The phonemore's choice is much more technical than personal. Therefore, you shouldn't only consider this. Our goal is to help you, but what's important to us may not be important to you. You decide which one is the best! Comment!
21 Advantages 
9 Advantages | 35 Common items in both devices |
| Aluminum body, glass front, plastic back / Aluminum frame, glass front/back |
| Dynamic AMOLED / Super AMOLED |
| 16 million |
| 6.2" |
| LED flash |
| Digital and optical zoom |
| PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras / PDAF on back camera and autofocus front camera |
| +28 specs and more in the table below |
Check the comparison table below for more items that are not evaluated in comparison score above.
Highlight differences Clear highlight📱 Model features | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S9 Plus (SM-G965W) | |
| Change model | ||
| Model | Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S9 Plus (SM-G965W) |
| Other model names | Galaxy S21 5G SM-G991B/DS | Bell/Rogers Galaxy S9+ G965W (Snapdragon) |
| Country or region available |  (Global, International) |  Canada |
| Brand | Samsung | Samsung |
| Release date | 1/29/2021, Announced: 1/14/2021 | 3/9/2018, Announced: 2/25/2018 |
| Depth | 7.9 millimeters (0.31 inches) | 8.5 millimeters (0.33 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 71.2 x 151.7 millimeters (2.8 x 5.97 in) | 73.8 x 158.1 millimeters (2.91 x 6.22 in) |
| Weight | 169 grams (5.92 ounces) | 189 grams (6.62 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Aluminum body, glass front, plastic back | Aluminum frame, glass front/back Back: Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Protection against water and others | IP68 certified: water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30min and dust-resistant | IP68 certified: water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30min and dust-resistant |
📲 Display | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S9 Plus (SM-G965W) | |
| Display type | Dynamic AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Screen size | 6.2" inches | 6.2" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~85.9% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~83.6% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1080x2400 pixels (20:9) | 1440x2960 pixels (18.5:9) |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 424 PPI | 531 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Gorilla Glass Victus | Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 60Hz |
| Display features | 1300nits[peak] HDR10+ Always-On Display | HDR10 Always-On Display |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S9 Plus (SM-G965W) | |
| System version | Android 11 | Android 8.0 Oreo |
| Firmware update | Android 14 | Android 10 |
| User Interface | One UI 3.1 / 4.1 / 5.1 / 6.0 | One UI 2.5 |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S9 Plus (SM-G965W) | |
| Chipset | 64bit: Samsung Exynos 2100 (5nm) | 64bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (SDM845) (10nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core, 3 processors: 1x 2.9GHz ARM Cortex-X1 (Single-core) 3x 2.8GHz ARM Cortex-A78 (Triple-core) 4x 2.2GHz ARM Cortex-A55 (Quad-core) | Octa-core, 2 processors: 4x 2.8GHz Kryo 385 Gold (Quad-core) 4x 1.7GHz Kryo 385 Silver (Quad-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | ARM Mali-G78 MP14 (854MHz) | Qualcomm Adreno 630 (710MHz) |
| Performance (benchmark) | feature not registered | AnTuTu: 265163 (v7), 344891 (v8) Geekbench: 8393 (4.2) |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S9 Plus (SM-G965W) | |
| RAM memory | 8GB LPDDR5 | 6GB LPDDR4X |
| Internal storage | 128GB (104GB available) UFS 3.1 | 64GB (51GB available) UFS 2.1 |
| External storage | Not supported | Until 1TB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S9 Plus (SM-G965W) | |
| Dual-SIM | Dual-SIM Standby - Call active on one sim card | Not supported |
| SIM card | 2 slots (Dual-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) + e-SIM | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 5000/1920 Mbps | 1200/150 Mbps |
| Network technology | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G | 2G, 3G, 4G |
| Frequency, bands | Expand band details Collapse details | |
| GSM MHz band | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 2G network | CDMA 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO TD-SCDMA 1900/2000 UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 | TD-SCDMA 1900/2000 UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | LTE Cat24 () TD-LTE () VoLTE | LTE Cat18 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 19, 20, 28, 29, 30) TD-LTE (38, 39, 40, 41) VoLTE |
| Primary 5G network | SA/NSA/Sub6 () | Not supported |
| Primary data network | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, TD-SCDMA, UMTS, TD-HSDPA, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A, SA/NSA, Sub6 | GPRS, EDGE, TD-SCDMA, UMTS, TD-HSDPA, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A |
| Secondary 2G network | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | Not supported |
| Secondary 3G network | UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 | Not supported |
| Secondary 4G network | LTE Cat24 () TD-LTE () VoLTE | Not supported |
| Secondary data network | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A | Not supported |
📷 Camera | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S9 Plus (SM-G965W) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | (triple camera) 12.2 megapixels 64MP telephoto f/2.029mm1/1.72"0.8µmPDAFOIS1.1x-optical-zoom3x-hybrid-zoom 12MP ultrawide f/2.213mm120°1/2.55"1.4µmSuper-Steady-video | (dual camera) 12.2 megapixels 12MP telephoto f/2.41/3.4"52mm1.0µmAFOIS2x-optical-zoom |
| Main camera resolution | 4032x3024 pixels | 4032x3024 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | 8K UHD (7680x4320) 24 fps | 4K UHD (3840x2160) 60 fps |
| Flash | LED flash | LED flash |
| Focal aperture | f/1.8 (aperture) | f/1.5 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 26mm (lens) | 26mm (lens) |
| Sensor size | 1/1.76" inches | 1/2.55" inches |
| Pixel size | 1.8µm pixel | 1.4µm pixel |
| Autofocus | PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras | PDAF on back camera and autofocus front camera |
| Touch focus | Supported | Supported |
| Image stabilization | OIS: Optical stabilization | OIS: Optical stabilization |
| Zoom | Digital and optical zoom | Digital and optical zoom |
| Face/smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection |
| BSI sensor | Supported | Supported |
| HDR | HDR photo/video on both cameras | HDR photo/video on both cameras |
| Camera extras | 4K@60fps 1080p@240fps 720p@960fps | 1080p@240fps 720p@960fps |
📸 Front camera | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S9 Plus (SM-G965W) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | 10 megapixels | 8 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 3872x2592 pixels | 3264x2448 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) | 2K UHD (2560x1440) |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | f/2.2 (aperture) | f/1.7 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 26mm (lens) | 25mm (lens) |
| Sensor size | 1/3.24" inches | 1/3.6" inches |
| Pixel size | 1.22µm pixel | 1.22µm pixel |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S9 Plus (SM-G965W) | |
| Loudspeaker | Stereo sound 32-bit/384kHz Dolby Atmos Tuned by AKG | Stereo sound 32-bit/384kHz Dolby Atmos Tuned by AKG |
| Active noise cancellation | 2 microphones | 2 microphones or more |
| Radio | FM | FM |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, XviD, MKV | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, DivX, XviD |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC | MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S9 Plus (SM-G965W) | |
| USB | USB 3.2 Type-C, USB OTG On-The-Go | USB 3.1 Type-C, USB OTG On-The-Go |
| Audio output | Type-C reversible connector | 3.5mm jack |
| TV output | USB Type-C (reversible) | USB Type-C (reversible) |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 + A2DP/LE | 5.0 + A2DP/LE |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax [wifi6] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) + MIMO WiFi Direct, hotspot | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac [wifi5] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) + MIMO WiFi Direct, hotspot |
| DLNA | Supported | Supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou |
| NFC | Supported | Supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S9 Plus (SM-G965W) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Barometer Compass Face unlock Fingerprint sensor (under display) Gesture Gyroscope Hall effect Proximity sensor | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor ANT+ Barometer Compass Face unlock Fingerprint sensor (rear-mounted) Gyroscope Hall effect Heart rate Iris scanner Proximity sensor SpO2 |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S9 Plus (SM-G965W) | |
| Battery type | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 4000 mAh | 3500 mAh |
| Charger, watts | 25W Wired fast charging USB Power Delivery 3.0 | 15W (9V/167A) Wired fast charging Quick Charge 2 |
| Inductive / wireless charging | 15W Qi wireless charging (Qi/PMA) 4.5W Reverse wireless charging | Qi wireless charging (Qi/PMA) |
| Talk time autonomy | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Standby | feature not registered | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S9 Plus (SM-G965W) | |
| Call control | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands |
| Messaging | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail |
| Hands-free calling | Supported | Supported |
| Video calling | Supported | Supported |
| Ringtones | Polyphonic and customized | Polyphonic and customized |
| Web browser | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 |
| Antenna | Internal antenna | Internal antenna |
| Qwerty physical keyboard | Not supported | Not supported |
| Miscellaneous | • Colors: Phantom Gray, White, Violet, Pink • Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard) • Samsung DeX | • Colors: Black, Silver, Blue, Gold, Orchid Gray • Samsung DeX • Samsung Gear VR • Samsung Pay |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S9 Plus (SM-G965W) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | feature not registered | 0.78W/kg (head), 1.04W/kg (body) |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | 0.456W/kg (head), 1.509W/kg (body) | feature not registered |