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Written by Jesper

Compare the OnePlus 9 Pro to the Samsung Galaxy S21

During spring 2021, OnePlus launched the OnePlus 9 Pro. This smartphone is comparable to the Samsung S21 in terms of specifications, but what is the difference between these 2 high-end smartphones? The screen and the battery of the OnePlus 9 Pro are better, but the S21 is more compact and provides software support for longer. In this article, we'll look into the similarities and differences.

New: the Samsung Galaxy S24 series

Samsung has released the Samsung Galaxy S24 series. As a result, the Samsung Galaxy S21 isn't as readily available anymore. Aside from the Samsung S24, the S24 series also includes the Samsung S24 Plus and S24 Ultra. All devices have a powerful processor, so they can handle any task.

OnePlus 9 Pro

128GB storage capacity | 6.7-inch Quad HD screen | Android 11
€ 824,-
no longer available
  • You fully charge the battery within half an hour.
  • On the Quad HD screen, you can see all the details of your games, movies, and series.
  • You can capture razor-sharp photos and videos with the different cameras in this device.
  • The large 6.7-inch screen is difficult to control with one hand.
  • You can't expand the storage capacity with a memory card.

Samsung Galaxy S21

128GB storage capacity | 6.2-inch Full HD screen | Android 11
€ 561,-
no longer available
  • The 6.2-inch screen is easy to control with one hand and the device fits in every pocket.
  • You're ensured of security updates up until January 2025.
  • You can capture razor-sharp photos and videos with the different cameras in this device.
  • The screen is less sharp than of other high-end devices.
  • The 4000mAh doesn't last as long as the one of the OnePlus 9 Pro.

Comparison OnePlus 9 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S21

OnePlus 9 Pro Samsung Galaxy S21
Screen size 6.7 inches 6.2 inches
Screen quality Excellent Very good
Battery capacity 4500mAh 4000mAh
Charging time (wired) 30 minutes 70 minutes
Software support Up until 2024 Up until 2025
Camera quality Excellent Excellent
Speed class Excellent Excellent

Screen and size

Samsung S21 vs OnePlus 9 Pro size

OnePlus 9 Pro: large and sharp Quad HD screen

The OnePlus 9 Pro has a large 6.7-inch screen. This means you can view apps, movies, and games in large, but it's also difficult to control the device with one hand. It also means the smartphone doesn't fit into every pocket. On the razor-sharp Quad HD screen, you can see all the details of your favorite series and games. The screen refreshes 120 times per second. Thanks to this, animations look smooth. You'll especially notice this when you scroll through your timeline or when you place a 3D game.

OnePlus 9 Pro vs Samsung S21 screen

Samsung S21: compact, but less sharp

With a 6.2-inch screen, the Samsung Galaxy S21 is much more compact than the OnePlus 9 Pro. The S21 is one of the few high-end smartphones that's easy to control with one hand. The Full HD screen is less sharp than the screen of the OnePlus 9 Pro. You can watch movies and series in good quality, but you see less detail. This screen also refreshes 120 times per second. Thanks to the smooth animations, you can react quickly to actions in your favorite 3D game.

Battery and charging

Charging comparison OnePlus 9 Pro Samsung S21

OnePlus 9 Pro: 4500mAh, charge in half an hour

With the large 4500mAh battery of the OnePlus 9 Pro, you can last an entire day without charging in between with average use. Do you have a busy day and is your battery empty before the end of the day? No worries, charging is really fast. With the included 65W Warp Charge charger, you can fully charge the OnePlus 9 Pro within half an hour. Wireless is also faster than we're used to with most smartphones. With the OnePlus 50W wireless charger, it takes about an hour to fully charge.

Comparison OnePlus 9 Pro S21 battery

Samsung S21: 4000mAh, charge in one hour

The 4000mAh battery of the Samsung S21 is smaller. So it's always a guess if the smartphone will last all day with average use without charging in between. With the Samsung 25W fast charger, you can fully charge the S21 in little over an hour. Samsung doesn't include a charger, so you have to purchase it separately. You can charge the S21 wirelessly. In terms of charging speed, this device can't compete with the OnePlus 9 Pro. But wireless charging is relatively fast. You can fully charge the battery within one and a half hours.

Operating system

Updates OnePlus 9 Pro vs Samsung S21

OnePlus 9 Pro: clearly organized, updates up until 2024

Like almost every brand at the moment, OnePlus adds a personal touch to the Android 11 operating system. So, the OnePlus 9 Pro runs on OxygenOS. OnePlus didn't change much of the original Android 11. The home screen and menus look clearly organized thanks to this. You can remove the few pre-installed apps on the device yourself. This will provide more storage space for your own apps and files. OnePlus guarantees software updates up until Android 13 in 2023. You'll receive security updates up until March 2024.

Operating system Samsung S21 vs OnePlus 9 Pro

Samsung S21: eye-catching design, updates up until 2025

The S21 runs on Samsung OneUI. This version of Android 11 looks different than with many other brands. For example, the icons often have different colors and designs. On the S21, you can use your personal assistant Bixby. This allows you to control your smartphone with voice commands. For example, to call someone or to play music without using your hands. You can't remove the pre-installed apps. On the S21, you'll receive software updates up until at least Android 14 in 2024. In addition, you'll get security updates up until January 2025.

Camera

OnePlus 9 camera vs Samsung S21

OnePlus 9 Pro: sharp photos and videos with 4 cameras

On the back of the OnePlus 9 Pro, there's a 48-megapixel standard lens that allows you to take razor-sharp photos and 8K videos. With the 50-megapixel wide-angle lens, you can capture large buildings and wide landscapes entirely. The 8-megapixel telephoto lens zooms in up to 3 times without the photos becoming less sharp. Do you want to take natural black and white photos? Use the monochrome lens. For selfies, you can use the 16-megapixel camera on the front of the smartphone. Thanks to the electronic image stabilization, your selfies aren't blurry soon.

Comparison camera Samsung S21 or OnePlus 9

Samsung S21: 3 cameras, photos and videos just as sharp

The 12-megapixel standard lens of the Samsung S21 has less megapixels, but you don't notice this. You can take sharp photos and 8K videos with this camera as well. The device also has a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 64-megapixel telephoto lens that allows you to zoom up to 3 times without losing quality. This telephoto lens has a larger aperture opening than the one of the OnePlus 9 Pro. That's why in low light, you can see slightly more details with the telephoto lens of the Samsung. The same holds for the 10-megapixel selfie camera.

Speed and storage

OnePlus 9 processing power

OnePlus 9 Pro: suitable for the most demanding tasks

With the powerful Snapdragon 888 processor and 8GB RAM, the OnePlus 9 Pro is suitable for the most demanding tasks. So, demanding apps like Photoshop and 3D games aren't a problem for this smartphone. You can also quickly switch between different apps. The OnePlus 9 Pro is available with 128GB or 256GB storage capacity. Do you store a lot of movies, music, and apps on your smartphone? Choose 256GB, because you can't insert an external memory card.

Samsung S21 speed

Samsung S21: just as powerful

Samsung equipped the S21 with its own Samsung Exynos 2100 processor. So it's comparable to the processor of the OnePlus 9 Pro in terms of power. The 8GB RAM is the same. So you can also use the Samsung S21 for the most demanding apps and games. And this device also doesn't have the option to insert a memory card. Keep this in mind when you choose the 128GB version or 256GB version. The last option is the most suitable if you store a lot of photos, videos, and music.

Conclusion

The OnePlus 9 Pro and the Samsung S21 are comparable high-end smartphones. Especially in terms of speed and camera, they are very similar. The screen of the OnePlus 9 Pro is sharper, but the screen of the S21 is easier to control with one hand. The battery of the OnePlus lasts longer and charges twice as fast. But the S21 will receive software support for longer. So keep in mind what you value the most when you make a choice.

Jesper
Article by:
Jesper Smartphone Expert.
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