In depth comparison and review of Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked and Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. Compare sizes, cameras, batteries, memory, and other important specifications and features to easily choose the right phone for you. Our goal is to help you uncover differences between the products and find the phone that will best fit your needs.
| DESIGN AND DIMENSIONS | Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
|---|
| Product Type | Smartphone | Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer Model Number | SM-N960U1 | SM-G991U1 | |
| Form Factor | Touch | Touch | |
| Height | 161.9 mm | 151.7 mm | Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked has greater height than Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. |
| Width | 76.4 mm | 71.2 mm | Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked has greater width than Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. |
| Depth | 8.8 mm | 7.9 mm | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is narrower than Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked. |
| Weight | 201 g | 171 g | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is lighter than Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked. |
| Body Colour | Ocean blue | Phantom grey | Phantom white | |
| Protection | Dustproof, splashproof, waterproof | Dustproof, splashproof, water-resistant | |
| Waterproof (Water-resistant) | Yes | Yes | Both phones are waterproof. |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 | |
| SAR Value | 1.59 W/kg (simultaneous), 1.39 W/kg (wireless router), 1.03 W/kg (body), 1.29 W/kg (head) | 1.58 W/kg (simultaneous), 1.11 W/kg (wireless router), 1.08 W/kg (body), 0.74 W/kg (head) | |
| Integrated Components | Heart rate sensor | - | |
| Connector Type | USB Type-C - 24 pin USB-C Headset jack - mini-phone 3.5mm |
USB Type-C - 24 pin USB-C | |
| SIM Card Type (Size) | Nano SIM | Nano SIM, Electronic SIM card (e-SIM) | |
| SIM Card Qty | Single-SIM | Dual-SIM |
| DISPLAY | Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
|---|
| Display Type | OLED display | OLED display | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display Technology | Quad HD+ Super AMOLED | Infinity-O Dynamic AMOLED 2X | |
| Screen Size (Display Size) | 6.4" | 6.2" | Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked has larger screen size than Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. |
| Screen Resolution (Display Resolution) | 2960 x 1440 pixels | 2400 x 1080 pixels | Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked has better screen resolution than Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. |
| Display Format | QHD+ | Full HD+ | |
| Pixel Density | 516 ppi | 421 ppi | Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked has better pixel density than Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. |
| Colour Depth | 16.7 million colours | 16.7 million colours | Both phones have the same color depth. |
| HDR | - | Yes | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has HDR. |
| HDR Technology | - | HDR10+ | |
| Display Enhancement Technology | - | Eye Comfort Shield | |
| Display Refresh Rate | - | 120 Hz | |
| Display Features | Always-on display, Edge Screen, Infinity Display, Edge-to-Edge screen | AOD(Always On Display), Video Wallpaper | |
| Display Protection (Screen Protector) | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus (scratch resistant glass) |
| PROCESSOR | Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
|---|
| Processor Type (CPU) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clock Speed | 2.8 GHz | 2.84 GHz | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has higher clock speed than Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked. |
| Processor Core Qty | 8-core | 8-core | Both phones have the same number of phone cores. |
| 64-bit Architecture | Yes | - | Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked has 64-bit architecture. |
| Graphics System (GPU) | Qualcomm ADRENO 630 | - |
| MEMORY | Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
|---|
| RAM | LPDDR4 SDRAM - 8 GB | LPDDR5 SDRAM - 8 GB | Both phones have the same RAM size. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal Memory Size (Storage Capacity) | 512 GB | 128 GB | Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked has more internal memory than Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. |
| User Memory | 463.4 GB | 101.2 GB | |
| Supported Flash Memory Cards (Expandable Memory) | microSDHC, microSDXC - up to 512 GB | - |
| CAMERA | Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
|---|
| MAIN CAMERA |
|---|
| Number of Main Cameras | 2 | 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor Resolution | 12 Megapixel | 12 Megapixel | Both phones have the same camera resolution. |
| Sensor Size | 1/2.55" | 1/1.76" | Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked has better camera sensor size than Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. |
| Lens Type | Wide-angle lens | Wide-angle lens | |
| Lens Aperture | F/1.5 & f/2.4 | F/1.8 | Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked has better lens aperture than Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked. |
| Field of View (FoV) | - | 79 degree(s) | |
| Pixel Size | - | 1.8 μm | |
| Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) | Dual OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) | Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) | Both phones have optical image stabilization. |
| Focus Adjustment | Automatic | Automatic | |
| Laser Auto Focus | - | Yes | |
| Optical Zoom | 2x | 3x | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has better optical zoom than Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked. |
| Digital Zoom | 10x | 30x | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has better digital zoom than Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked. |
| Self-Timer Delay | - | Yes | |
| Special Effects | HDR, Bokeh effect, Grid Line | Face retouch, Grid Line | |
| HDR Mode | - | Auto HDR mode | |
| Camera Modes | Panorama, Pro mode, Timer mode, HYPERLAPSE, Auto mode, Food mode, Super Slow-mo, AR Emoji, Portraits, Flowers, Indoor scenes, Animals, Landscapes, Greenery, Trees, Sky, Mountains, Beaches, Sunrises and sunsets, Watersides, Street scenes, Night scenes, Waterfalls, Snow, Birds, Backlit, Text, Disney AR Emoji | Panorama, Slow motion mode, Pro mode, HYPERLAPSE, Super Slow-mo, Flowers, Greenery, Trees, Sky, Beaches, Watersides, Snow, Backlit, Text, Food, Face, Baby, Person, Dog, Cat, People, Sunset, Sunrise, City, Waterfall, Scenery, Stage, Vehicles, Drinks, Animal, Shoes, Indoor, Clothes, Night view, Portrait, Night, Motion Photo, Mountain, Single Take, Pro Video, Portrait video, Director's View | |
| Face Recognition (Face ID) | Face detection | - | Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked has face detection. |
| Light Source | LED flash | High CRI LED flash | |
| Video Resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 30 fps, 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 60 fps, 1280 x 720 (720p) at 30 fps, 3840 x 2160 (4K) at 30 fps, 3840 x 2160 (4K) at 60 fps, Super slow motion video 1280 x 720 (720p) at 960 fps, Slo-mo video 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 240 fps, 2560 x 1440 (QHD) at 30 fps | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 60 fps, 1280 x 720 (720p) at 30 fps, 3840 x 2160 (4K) at 60 fps, Super slow motion video 1280 x 720 (720p) at 960 fps, Slo-mo video 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 240 fps, 7680 x 4320 (8K) at 24 fps, Hyperlapse 4K video support at 30 fps, Super Steady 1080p video support at 60 fps | |
| Camera Features (Functions) | Quick Launch, Playback zoom, Motion photo, VDIS (Video Digital Image Stabilisation), Live Focus, Dual Capture, High CRI LED flash, Tracking AF, Video location tags, Stamps, location tags, Continuous autofocus video, Hyperlapse video support 1080p, Live focus with bokeh filters, Super Speed Dual Pixel, background blur, Scene Optimiser, Eye blink, Motion blur, Lens smudge, Backlit, Full view, Flaw detection, 9.1MP still photos recording 4K video | Playback zoom, Motion photo, blink detection, QR-code scanner, VDIS (Video Digital Image Stabilisation), Tracking AF, Video location tags, Scene Optimiser, Lens smudge, Flaw detection, Shot suggestions, blur detection, HDR10+ recording, Super steady, Super Speed Dual Pixel AF, Quick Measure, Zoom-In Mic, HEIF image capture, Space Zoom, Take 33MP still photos while playing 8K video, Hybrid Optic Zoom 3x, Super Resolution Zoom up to 30x, Digital zoom up to 12x for video, AR Doodle, HEVC (High Efficiency Video coding) support, Microphone Control (Pro Video only) |
| SECOND CAMERA |
|---|
| Sensor Resolution (2nd Camera) | 12 Megapixel | 12 Megapixel | Both phones have the same second camera resolution. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor Size (2nd Camera) | 1/3.4" | - | |
| Lens Type (2nd Camera) | Telephoto lens | Ultra wide-angle lens | |
| Lens Aperture (2nd Camera) | F/2.4 | F/2.2 | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has better second camera lens aperture than Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked. |
| Field of View (2nd Camera) | - | 120 degree(s) | |
| Pixel Size (2nd Camera) | - | 1.4 μm |
| THIRD CAMERA |
|---|
| Sensor Resolution (3rd Camera) | - | 64 Megapixel | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor Size (3rd Camera) | - | 1/1.72" | |
| Lens Type (3rd Camera) | - | Telephoto lens | |
| Lens Aperture (3rd Camera) | - | F/2.0 | |
| Field of View (3rd Camera) | - | 76 degree(s) | |
| Pixel Size (3rd Camera) | - | 0.8 μm | |
| Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) | - | Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has optical stabilisation of the third camera. |
| FRONT CAMERA |
|---|
| Number of Front Cameras | 1 | 1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor Resolution (Front) | 8 Megapixel | 10 Megapixel | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has better front camera resolution than Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked. |
| Sensor Size (Front) | 1/3.6" | - | |
| Lens Type (Front) | Wide-angle lens | - | |
| Lens Aperture (Front) | F/1.7 | F/2.2 | Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked has better front lens aperture than Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked. |
| Field of View (Front) | - | 80 degree(s) | |
| Pixel Size (Front) | - | 1.22 μm | |
| Focus Adjustment | Automatic | Automatic | |
| Special Effects (Front) | HDR, Grid Line | - | |
| Camera Modes (Front) | Timer mode, wide selfie mode, selfie mode, AR Emoji, selfie focus | - | |
| Camera Features (Front) | Quick launch, Motion photo, Stamps, location tags, VDIS (Video Digital Image Stabilization), Full view, Flaw detection | Dual Pixel AF |
| BATTERY AND CHARGING | Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
|---|
| Battery Capacity (Battery Size) | 4000 mAh | 4000 mAh | Both phones have the same battery capacity. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Charging Technology | - | Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0, Adaptive Fast Charging, Power Delivery 3.0 | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has fast charging technology. |
| Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | Both phones can be charged wirelessly. |
| Wireless Charging Standards | WPC, PMA | WPC, Qi, Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, Wireless PowerShare | |
| Talk Time | 2280 minutes | 1800 minutes | Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked has longer battery life when making calls than Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. |
| Run Time Details | Talk (CDMA): up to 2280 min Active online usage (3G): up to 15 hrs Active online usage (LTE): up to 16 hrs Active online usage (Wi-Fi): up to 16 hrs Playback (audio): up to 60 hrs Playback (audio (Always On Display Off)): up to 95 hrs Playback (video): up to 21 hrs Talk (WCDMA): up to 2280 min |
Talk (LTE): up to 1800 min Active online usage (LTE): up to 14 hrs Active online usage (Wi-Fi): up to 15 hrs Playback (wireless video): up to 19 hrs Playback (wireless audio): up to 72 hrs |
| CELLULAR | Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
|---|
| Technology | CDMA2000 1X / GSM / WCDMA (UMTS) / TD-SCDMA | CDMA2000 1X / GSM / WCDMA (UMTS) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Broadband Generation | 4G | 5G | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has more advanced generation mobile network. |
| Operating System | Android 8.1 Oreo | Android 11 | |
| Intelligent Assistant | Bixby | Bixby | |
| Payment Technology | Samsung Pay | Samsung Pay | |
| Navigation | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo |
| COMMUNICATIONS | Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
|---|
| Data Transmission | GPRS, EDGE, EV-DO, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, FDD-LTE, TDD-LTE | FDD-LTE, TDD-LTE, 5G NR FR1, 5G NR FR2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2G Band | 850 GSM, 900 GSM, 1800 GSM, 1900 GSM, 800 CDMA2000 1X, 1900 CDMA2000 1X | 850 GSM, 900 GSM, 1800 GSM, 1900 GSM, 800 CDMA2000 1X, 1900 CDMA2000 1X | |
| 3G UMTS Band | Band 1, Band 2, Band 4, Band 5, Band 8 | Band 1, Band 2, Band 4, Band 5, Band 8 | |
| 3G UMTS Frequency | 2100, 1900, 1700, 850, 900 | 2100, 1900, 1700, 850, 900 | |
| 4G LTE Band | Band 1, Band 2, Band 3, Band 4, Band 5, Band 7, Band 8, Band 12, Band 13, Band 14, Band 17, Band 18, Band 19, Band 20, Band 25, Band 26, Band 28, Band 29, Band 30, Band 38, Band 39, Band 40, Band 41, Band 46, Band 66, Band 71 | Band 1, Band 2, Band 3, Band 4, Band 5, Band 7, Band 8, Band 12, Band 13, Band 14, Band 18, Band 19, Band 20, Band 25, Band 26, Band 28, Band 30, Band 38, Band 39, Band 40, Band 41, Band 46, Band 48, Band 66, Band 71 | |
| 4G LTE Frequency | FDD 2100, FDD 1900 PCS, FDD 1800+, FDD 1700 - 2110 AWS, FDD 850, FDD 2600, FDD 900, FDD 700a, FDD 700c, FDD 700 PS, FDD 700b, FDD 800 lower, FDD 800 upper, FDD 800 DD, FDD 1900+, FDD 850+, FDD 700 APT, FDD 700d, FDD 2300 WCS, TDD 2600, TDD 1900, TDD 2300, TDD 2500, TDD 5150, FDD 1700 - 2110 AWS-3, FDD 600 | FDD 2100, FDD 1900 PCS, FDD 1800+, FDD 1700 - 2110 AWS, FDD 850, FDD 2600, FDD 900, FDD 700a, FDD 700c, FDD 700 PS, FDD 800 lower, FDD 800 upper, FDD 800 DD, FDD 1900+, FDD 850+, FDD 700 APT, FDD 2300 WCS, TDD 2600, TDD 1900, TDD 2300, TDD 2500, TDD 5150, TDD 3600, FDD 1700 - 2110 AWS-3, FDD 600 | |
| 5G NR Band | - | N41, n71, n260, n261 | |
| 5G NR Frequency | - | TDD TD 2500, FDD 600, TDD 39GHz, TDD 28GHz | |
| Wireless Interface | IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, ANT+/ANT | IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax | |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 LE | Bluetooth 5.0 | |
| NFC | Yes | Yes | Both phones have an NFC reader for mobile payments. |
| Messaging Services | SMS, MMS | - |
| MEDIA | Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
|---|
| Supported Digital Audio Standards | WAV, WMA, AAC, PCM, AMR, MP3, FLAC, XMF, OGG, MIDI, APE (Monkey's Audio), M4A, apt-X, DSF, DSD, MXMF, OGA, 3GA, AWB, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA, DFF, MID, DSD64, DSD128 | WAV, AAC, PCM, AMR, MP3, FLAC, XMF, OGG, MIDI, APE (Monkey's Audio), M4A, DSF, MXMF, OGA, 3GA, AWB, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA, DFF, MID, DSD64, DSD128 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supported Digital Video Standards | MKV, FLV, AVI, MPEG-4, WMV, ASF, 3GP, M4V, WebM, 3G2 | MKV, FLV, AVI, 3GP, M4V, WebM, 3G2, MP4 | |
| Sound Enhancements | Dolby Digital Plus sound, Dolby Atmos sound technology, Acoustic Overload Point, stereo speakers tuned by AKG, Dolby Digital sound | Dolby Digital Plus sound, Dolby Atmos sound technology, Surround sound, stereo speakers tuned by AKG, Dolby Digital sound |
| FEATURES | Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
|---|
| Phone Functions | Speakerphone, voice control, call timer, conference call, flight mode, voice dialing, vibrating alert | Speakerphone, voice control, call timer, conference call, flight mode, voice dialing, vibrating alert | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity sensor, barometer, gyro sensor, hall sensor, RGB sensor, pressure sensor, geomagnetic sensor | Accelerometer, ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, barometer, gyro sensor, hall sensor, geomagnetic sensor | |
| Security Devices | Face recognition, fingerprint reader, eye scan | Fingerprint reader (under display), face recognition | |
| Additional Phone Features | S Pen multi-input, Face Unlock, Wi-Fi Miracast, Screen Write, Smart Select, MU-MIMO technology, Fast Charging, Samsung KNOX, Face recognition, High AOP Mic, Smart View, Live message, Screen off memo, Samsung DeX support, Bixby Vision, Smart Performance Adjuster, Dual Audio, water-carbon cooling system, S Pen remote function | MIMO technology, Screen Write, notification flashlight, Smart Select, Fast Charging, Samsung KNOX, Smart View, Live message, Screen off memo, Samsung DeX support, Bixby Vision, TalkBack, Dual Audio, Bixby Routines, Intelligent Performance Enhancer, Bixby key, Bluetooth Scalable Codec, Samsung Knox Vault, Private Share function, Enhanced Game Booster, Air Command |
| OTHERS | Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
|---|
| Included Accessories | Power adapter, tweezer, SIM card removal tool, USB connector, USB-C cable, S Pen, Pen nibs, headset (tuned by AKG) | SIM card removal tool, USB-C to USB-C cable | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compliant Standards | IP68 | VDE, IP68, HAC (Hearing Aid Compatible), SGS Eye Care Display Certification | |
| Max Depth of Water Resistance | 1.5 m | 1.5 m |
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