If you have been looking at the prospect of purchasing a Samsung A21 but have yet to do so, you might want to hold off and consider what Samsung has to offer in the A21s. Samsung Galaxy A21s is a minor upgrade, to be sure, but it just might be what you are looking for. Come along with me as I walk you through this Samsung Galaxy A21 vs Samsung Galaxy A21s comparison.
It is difficult to talk about the Samsung A21 and A21s without mentioning the Galaxy A20, the Samsung cell phone that started it all. Samsung Mobile was taking a lot of heat from its Chinese competitors and designed the new Galaxy A-series to take up the challenge. They would be feature-packed and more pocket-friendly than previous Samsung phones had been. And so the Galaxy A20 was born.
It became an instant hit and has sold well. Samsung capitalized on that and announced the Samsung A20s, a more enhanced version. And now, the successors to those two pioneers are here – Samsung A21 and Galaxy A21s. They are both improvements and bring fresh blood to the game.
On their own, they are valid Samsung A20/A20s alternatives. What are the differences between the Galaxy A21s and A21 cell phones? If you are in the market for one, this comparison between the Samsung A21 and Samsung A21s should help you make up you make an informed choice.
Our faithful comparison table is our first stop to see how these two devices compare.
Table of Contents
Samsung Galaxy A21 vs Samsung Galaxy A21s Comparison Table
Here is a quick comparison table to help you see how the Samsung Galaxy a21 vs a21s smartphones stand side by side.
| Samsung Galaxy A21 | Samsung Galaxy A21s |
| 6.5 inches, 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio IPS LCD | 6.5 inches, 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio PLS TFT display |
| Android 10 + One UI 2.0 | Android 10 + One UI 2.0 |
| Octa-core MediaTek Helio P35 2.3 GHz | Octa-core EXYNOS 850, 2.0 GHz |
| 13 MP selfie camera | 13 MP selfie camera |
| 16 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP rear quad camera with LED flash | 48 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP rear quad camera with LED flash |
| 32 GB internal storage + dedicated microSD slot, | 32 GB / 64 GB internal storage + dedicated microSD slot |
| 3 GB RAM | 3 GB / 4 GB / 6 GB RAM |
| 4000 mAh battery + 15W fast charging | 5000 mAh battery + 15W fast charging |
| $231 | $233 (3/32 GB) |
Samsung Galaxy A21 vs Samsung Galaxy A21s: The Similarities
Samsung A21 and Samsung Galaxy A21s are very identical in size, with just minor differences in dimensions, so you might not be able to tell them apart without a close-up side-by-side line-up. Both smartphones are very similar in terms of design, and that is understandable. After all, what separates one from the other is an “s”.
For starters, they have exactly the same screen size – 6.5 inches. The selfie cameras and fingerprint scanners are the same, the latter are located at the back of each phone.
What else do they have in common? They both have a punch hole display of the same resolution – 720 x 1600 pixels. The A21 has one memory variant with 3 GB RAM and 32 GB storage, while the A21s has three different memory variants. The base variant of the A21s shares the same 3 GB + 32 GB specs as the A21. Both phones run Android 10. As far as expandable memory capability is concerned, both phones have a dedicated microSD card slot.
Samsung A21 and A21s are pretty much identical twins. But even identical twins have tiny, noticeable differences. So, let’s have a look at where these two siblings differ.
Samsung Galaxy A21 vs Samsung Galaxy A21s: The differences
While the two phones have the same size of display, there is a minor difference in the display technology. The A21 has an IPS LCD, while the A21s has a PFT LCD. That difference is not noticeable in most use cases, so you can ignore it.
If you look at the back side of both phones though, there is a marked difference: both the Samsung A21 and A21s have quad cameras, they are specified differently and the camera modules look different. The A21’s main camera lens is 16 megapixels, while the A21s is a 48 megapixel lens. The rest of the lenses are the same.
This Samsung Galaxy A21 vs Samsung Galaxy A21s comparison will be incomplete without a look at the batteries of these two cell phones. The A21 has a 4000 mAh battery, but the A21s beats it with a more massive 5000mAh battery. Both phones are equipped with 15W fast charging for quicker battery top-ups.
On the inside, the Galaxy A21s has a more capable, more powerful processor and so delivers better performance compared to its older sibling.
Lastly, as already mentioned, while the A21 has only one variant (3 GB + 32 GB), the Samsung A21s has that same combination, and adds 4 GB + 64 GB and 6 GB + 64 GB variants, so you have more options and better performance to pick.
Samsung Galaxy A21 vs Samsung Galaxy A21s: Conclusions
Samsung A21s has a more capable rear camera, has a beefier battery, and has a more capable chipset.
The A21s also offers you more memory options – 3 in all. These are 3/32 GB, 4/64 GB, and 6/64 GB. Of course, that higher variants cost more.
The prices of the A21 and the base model of the A21s are pretty much at par. We wouldn’t consider a difference of $2 or $3 a real difference. Where you will have to deal with serious price differences is if you want one of the other two variants of the A21s. At the end of the day, your decision will depend on your purchasing power. But costs aside, which of these two budget Samsung phones will you opt for?
Related Content
You may also be interested in having a look at other content related to the Samsung A21 and A21s.