ASUS Zenfone 9 vs Samsung Galaxy S21
45.8Performance34.4
49.3Display49.1
42.6Camera40.8
39.8Battery36.9
60Features78.7
10 spec wins — ASUS Zenfone 95 spec wins — Samsung Galaxy S21
InnoReviews verdict
ASUS Zenfone 9 wins this phone face-off, 46.1 to 43.6, pulling ahead mainly in performance (+11) and battery (+3). Samsung Galaxy S21 still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the ASUS Zenfone 9
- Stronger performance score: 46 vs 34
- 317% higher Main camera: 50 MP vs 12 MP
- 74% higher AnTuTu 10: 1,300,000 vs 746,547
- 30% higher Geekbench 6 (multi): 4,600 vs 3,550
- 26% higher Geekbench 6 (single): 1,800 vs 1,430
- Lower launch price: $699 vs $799
Reasons to pick the Samsung Galaxy S21
- Stronger features score: 79 vs 60
- 100% higher OS update pledge: 4 years vs 2 years
- 18% higher Peak brightness: 1,300 nits vs 1,100 nits
- 13% lower thickness: 7.9 mm vs 9.1 mm
- Has eSIM — the other doesn't
Display
| Spec | ASUS Zenfone 9 | Samsung Galaxy S21 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 5.9 ″ | 6.2 ″+5% |
| Panel type | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2400x1080 | 2400x1080 |
| Pixel density | 445 ppi+6% | 421 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 1,100 nits | 1,300 nits+18% |
| AnTuTu 10 (CPU) | — | 252,025Top 94% |
| AnTuTu 10 (GPU) | — | 127,819Top 79% |
| AnTuTu 10 (Memory) | — | 144,909Top 91% |
| AnTuTu 10 (UX) | — | 221,794Top 88% |
Performance
| Spec | ASUS Zenfone 9 | Samsung Galaxy S21 |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 | Samsung Exynos 2100 |
| AnTuTu 10 | 1,300,000+74%Top 31% | 746,547Top 66% |
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 1,800+26%Top 40% | 1,430Top 52% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 4,600+30%Top 40% | 3,550Top 56% |
| RAM (max) | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128GB / 256GB | 128GB / 256GB |
| Storage type | UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 |
Camera
| Spec | ASUS Zenfone 9 | Samsung Galaxy S21 |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 50 MP+317% | 12 MP |
| Main aperture | f/1.9 | f/1.8 |
| Ultra-wide | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Telephoto | — | 64 MP |
| Max video | 8K@24fps | 8K@24fps |
| Front camera | 12 MP+20% | 10 MP |
| OIS | Yes | Yes |
Battery
| Spec | ASUS Zenfone 9 | Samsung Galaxy S21 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4,300 mAh+8% | 4,000 mAh |
| Wired charging | 30 W+20% | 25 W |
| Wireless charging | — | 15 W |
Design
| Spec | ASUS Zenfone 9 | Samsung Galaxy S21 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 169 g+1% | 171 g |
| Thickness | 9.1 mm | 7.9 mm+13% |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame material | Aluminum | Aluminum |
Connectivity
| Spec | ASUS Zenfone 9 | Samsung Galaxy S21 |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.0 |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 3.2 |
| eSIM | No | Yes |
Software
| Spec | ASUS Zenfone 9 | Samsung Galaxy S21 |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | Android 12 (ZenUI) | Android 11 (One UI 3.1) |
| OS update pledge | 2 years | 4 years+100% |
Audio
| Spec | ASUS Zenfone 9 | Samsung Galaxy S21 |
|---|---|---|
| Stereo speakers | Yes | Yes |
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |