Nothing Phone (2a) Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S21
25.3Performance34.4
47.5Display49.1
58.6Camera40.8
54Battery36.9
65.3Features78.7
7 spec wins — Nothing Phone (2a) Plus8 spec wins — Samsung Galaxy S21
InnoReviews verdict
Nothing Phone (2a) Plus wins this phone face-off, 46.2 to 43.6, pulling ahead mainly in camera (+18) and battery (+17). 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 Nothing Phone (2a) Plus
- Stronger camera score: 59 vs 41
- Stronger battery score: 54 vs 37
- 400% higher Front camera: 50 MP vs 10 MP
- 317% higher Main camera: 50 MP vs 12 MP
- 317% higher ultra-wide: 50 MP vs 12 MP
- Lower launch price: $399 vs $799
Reasons to pick the Samsung Galaxy S21
- Stronger performance score: 34 vs 25
- Stronger features score: 79 vs 65
- 36% higher Geekbench 6 (multi): 3,550 vs 2,614
- 33% higher OS update pledge: 4 years vs 3 years
- 25% higher Geekbench 6 (single): 1,430 vs 1,147
Display
| Spec | Nothing Phone (2a) Plus | Samsung Galaxy S21 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.7 ″+8% | 6.2 ″ |
| Panel type | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1084x2412 | 2400x1080 |
| Pixel density | 395 ppi | 421 ppi+7% |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 1,300 nits | 1,300 nits |
Performance
| Spec | Nothing Phone (2a) Plus | Samsung Galaxy S21 |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro | Samsung Exynos 2100 |
| AnTuTu | — | 746,547Bottom 18% |
| AnTuTu 11 (CPU) | — | 252,025Bottom 14% |
| AnTuTu 11 (GPU) | — | 127,819Bottom 35% |
| AnTuTu 11 (Memory) | — | 144,909Bottom 16% |
| AnTuTu 11 (UX) | — | 221,794Bottom 18% |
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 1,147Bottom 44% | 1,430+25%Top 46% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 2,614Bottom 27% | 3,550+36%Bottom 50% |
| RAM (max) | 12 GB+50% | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 256GB | 128GB / 256GB |
| Storage type | — | UFS 3.1 |
Camera
| Spec | Nothing Phone (2a) Plus | Samsung Galaxy S21 |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 50 MP+317% | 12 MP |
| Main aperture | f/1.88 | f/1.8 |
| Ultra-wide | 50 MP+317% | 12 MP |
| Telephoto | — | 64 MP |
| Max video | 4K@30fps | 8K@24fps |
| Front camera | 50 MP+400% | 10 MP |
| OIS | Yes | Yes |
Battery
| Spec | Nothing Phone (2a) Plus | Samsung Galaxy S21 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5,000 mAh+25% | 4,000 mAh |
| Wired charging | 50 W+100% | 25 W |
| Wireless charging | 0 W | 15 W |
Design
| Spec | Nothing Phone (2a) Plus | Samsung Galaxy S21 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 190 g | 171 g+10% |
| Thickness | 8.5 mm | 7.9 mm+7% |
| IP rating | IP54 | IP68 |
| Frame material | Plastic | Aluminum |
Connectivity
| Spec | Nothing Phone (2a) Plus | Samsung Galaxy S21 |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 3.2 |
| eSIM | No | Yes |
Software
| Spec | Nothing Phone (2a) Plus | Samsung Galaxy S21 |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | Android 14 (Nothing OS 2.6) | Android 11 (One UI 3.1) |
| OS update pledge | 3 years | 4 years+33% |
Audio
| Spec | Nothing Phone (2a) Plus | Samsung Galaxy S21 |
|---|---|---|
| Stereo speakers | Yes | Yes |
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
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