In depth comparison and review of Samsung Galaxy S9 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 S9 | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
|---|
| Product Type | Smartphone | Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer Model Number | SM-G960W | SM-G991U1 | |
| Form Factor | Touch | Touch | |
| Height | 147.7 mm | 151.7 mm | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has greater height than Samsung Galaxy S9. |
| Width | 68.7 mm | 71.2 mm | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has greater width than Samsung Galaxy S9. |
| Depth | 8.5 mm | 7.9 mm | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is narrower than Samsung Galaxy S9. |
| Weight | 163 g | 171 g | Samsung Galaxy S9 is lighter than Samsung Galaxy S9. |
| Body Colour | Titanium grey | Lilac purple | Midnight black | Coral blue | Phantom grey | Phantom white | |
| Body Material | Metal frame | - | |
| Protection | Dustproof, splashproof, waterproof | Dustproof, splashproof, water-resistant | |
| Waterproof (Water-resistant) | Yes | Yes | Both phones are waterproof. |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 | |
| SAR Value | 1.08 W/kg (body), 0.63 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 S9 | 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) | 5.8" | 6.2" | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has larger screen size than Samsung Galaxy S9. |
| Screen Resolution (Display Resolution) | 2960 x 1440 pixels | 2400 x 1080 pixels | Samsung Galaxy S9 has better screen resolution than Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. |
| Display Format | QHD+ | Full HD+ | |
| Pixel Density | 570 ppi | 421 ppi | Samsung Galaxy S9 has better pixel density than Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. |
| Aspect Ratio | 18.5:9 | - | |
| Colour Depth | 16.7 million colours | 16.7 million colours | Both phones have the same color depth. |
| HDR | Yes | Yes | Both phones have HDR. |
| HDR Technology | - | HDR10+ | |
| Display Enhancement Technology | - | Eye Comfort Shield | |
| Display Refresh Rate | - | 120 Hz | |
| Display Features | Always-on display, Edge Screen, Infinity Display | AOD(Always On Display), Video Wallpaper | |
| Display Protection (Screen Protector) | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 (scratch resistant glass) | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus (scratch resistant glass) |
| PROCESSOR | Samsung Galaxy S9 | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
|---|
| Processor Type (CPU) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor Number | MSM8998 | - | |
| Clock Speed | 2.8 GHz | 2.84 GHz | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has higher clock speed than Samsung Galaxy S9. |
| Processor Core Qty | 8-core | 8-core | Both phones have the same number of phone cores. |
| 64-bit Architecture | Yes | - | Samsung Galaxy S9 has 64-bit architecture. |
| Graphics System (GPU) | Qualcomm ADRENO 630 | - |
| MEMORY | Samsung Galaxy S9 | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
|---|
| RAM | LPDDR4 SDRAM - 4 GB | LPDDR5 SDRAM - 8 GB | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has more RAM than Samsung Galaxy S9. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal Memory Size (Storage Capacity) | 64 GB | 128 GB | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has more internal memory than Samsung Galaxy S9. |
| User Memory | 48.8 GB | 101.2 GB | |
| Supported Flash Memory Cards (Expandable Memory) | microSDHC, microSDXC - up to 400 GB | - |
| CAMERA | Samsung Galaxy S9 | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
|---|
| MAIN CAMERA |
|---|
| Number of Main Cameras | 1 | 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor Resolution | 12 Megapixel | 12 Megapixel | Both phones have the same camera resolution. |
| Sensor Size | 1/2.55" | 1/1.76" | Samsung Galaxy S9 has better camera sensor size than Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. |
| Lens Type | - | Wide-angle lens | |
| Lens Aperture | F/1.5 & f/2.4 | F/1.8 | Samsung Galaxy S9 has better lens aperture than Samsung Galaxy S9. |
| Field of View (FoV) | - | 79 degree(s) | |
| Pixel Size | - | 1.8 μm | |
| Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) | Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) | Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) | Both phones have optical image stabilization. |
| Focus Adjustment | Automatic, manual | Automatic | |
| Laser Auto Focus | - | Yes | |
| Optical Zoom | - | 3x | |
| Digital Zoom | 8x | 30x | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has better digital zoom than Samsung Galaxy S9. |
| Self-Timer Delay | Yes | Yes | |
| Special Effects | Motion effect, HDR, Stamp, Bokeh effect, Grid Line, Stickers | Face retouch, Grid Line | |
| HDR Mode | - | Auto HDR mode | |
| Camera Modes | Panorama, Pro mode, Timer mode, HYPERLAPSE, Auto mode, low-light shots, Food mode, Super Slow-mo, 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 S9 has face detection. |
| White Balance | Custom, automatic | - | |
| 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) | Selective Focus, Quick Launch, Playback zoom, Tracking Focus, Motion photo, Exposure, Shutter speed, geotagging, Continuous Auto Focus (CAF), RAW image capture, VDIS (Video Digital Image Stabilisation), High CRI LED flash, Tracking AF, Stamps, location tags, Hyperlapse video support 1080p, Live focus with bokeh filters, Super Speed Dual Pixel | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lens Type (2nd Camera) | - | Ultra wide-angle lens | |
| Lens Aperture (2nd Camera) | - | F/2.2 | |
| 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 S9. |
| Sensor Size (Front) | 1/3.6" | - | |
| Sensor Type (Front) | CMOS | - | |
| Lens Aperture (Front) | F/1.7 | F/2.2 | Samsung Galaxy S9 has better front lens aperture than Samsung Galaxy S9. |
| 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) | Dual Pixel AF |
| BATTERY AND CHARGING | Samsung Galaxy S9 | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
|---|
| Battery Capacity (Battery Size) | 3000 mAh | 4000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has larger battery capacity than Samsung Galaxy S9. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Standby Time | 326 hours | - | |
| Talk Time | 1860 minutes | 1800 minutes | Samsung Galaxy S9 has longer battery life when making calls than Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. |
| Run Time Details | Talk (3G): up to 1860 min Active online usage (Wi-Fi): up to 14 hrs Active online usage (3G): up to 12 hrs Active online usage (LTE): up to 14 hrs Playback (audio (Always On Display Off)): up to 90 hrs Playback (audio (Always On Display On)): up to 51 hrs Playback (video): up to 17 hrs Standby (AOD off): up to 326 hrs Standby (AOD on): up to 82 hrs |
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 S9 | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
|---|
| Technology | TD-SCDMA / WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM | CDMA2000 1X / GSM / WCDMA (UMTS) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Broadband Generation | 4G | 5G | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has more advanced generation mobile network. |
| Operating System | Android 8.0 Oreo | Android 11 | |
| Intelligent Assistant | Bixby | Bixby | |
| Payment Technology | Samsung Pay | Samsung Pay | |
| Navigation | GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo |
| COMMUNICATIONS | Samsung Galaxy S9 | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
|---|
| Data Transmission | GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, VoLTE, FDD-LTE, TDD-LTE, VoWiFi | FDD-LTE, TDD-LTE, 5G NR FR1, 5G NR FR2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2G Band | 850 GSM, 900 GSM, 1800 GSM, 1900 GSM | 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 17, Band 18, Band 19, Band 20, Band 25, Band 29, Band 30, Band 38, Band 39, Band 40, Band 41, Band 46, Band 66 | 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 700b, FDD 800 lower, FDD 800 upper, FDD 800 DD, FDD 1900+, FDD 700d, FDD 2300 WCS, TDD 2600, TDD 1900, TDD 2300, TDD 2500, TDD 5150, FDD 1700 - 2110 AWS-3 | 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 | |
| Bluetooth Profiles | HFP, HSP, OPP, PAN, A2DP, AVRCP, HID, SAP, PBAP, MAP, HOGP | - | |
| NFC | Yes | Yes | Both phones have an NFC reader for mobile payments. |
| Messaging Services | SMS, MMS | - |
| MEDIA | Samsung Galaxy S9 | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
|---|
| Supported Digital Audio Standards | WAV, WMA, AAC, PCM, AMR, MP3, FLAC, AAC-LC, XMF, AAC +, OGG, eAAC+, MIDI, APE (Monkey's Audio), M4A, apt-X, DSF, DSD, MXMF, OGA, 3GA, AWB, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA, OPUS, DFF, MID, AMR-WB, AMR-NB, Vorbis, 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, VC-1, FLV, AVC, AVI, MPEG-4, WMV, ASF, 3GP, H.264, H.263, M4V, WebM, HEVC, MP43, 3G2, WMV8, VP8, VP9, H.265, WMV7 | MKV, FLV, AVI, 3GP, M4V, WebM, 3G2, MP4 | |
| Sound Enhancements | Dolby Digital Plus sound, Dolby Atmos sound technology, Surround sound, 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 S9 | 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, heart rate, 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 | Multitasking, Face Unlock, Wi-Fi Miracast, Multi Window, MU-MIMO technology, Fast Charging, Samsung KNOX, High AOP Mic, Samsung DeX support, Bixby Vision, Intelligent Scan | 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 S9 | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G |
|---|
| Included Accessories | Power adapter, SIM card removal tool, USB Connector (USB-C), micro-USB connector, USB-C cable, 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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