Galaxy S21 5G Vs Galaxy Z Flip4

The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G, released in January 2021, is a traditional smartphone offering a premium experience. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4, launched in August 2022, introduces a unique foldable clamshell design. The primary distinction lies in their form factor, with the Z Flip4 prioritizing portability through its folding screen, while the S21 5G focuses on a conventional, robust build. Both devices operate on the Android platform, featuring Samsung's One UI for a consistent software experience.

The longevity of a smartphone is influenced by its physical resilience and software support. These two devices, released about a year and a half apart, offer different profiles in this regard.

• Release Timeline and Software Support: The Galaxy S21 5G, released in early 2021, shipped with Android 11 and received major OS updates up to Android 14. Its security updates concluded around January 2025. The Galaxy Z Flip4, launched in mid-2022 with Android 12L, is eligible for four major Android OS updates, extending its support up to Android 16 (One UI 8), with security updates promised until 2027. This means the Z Flip4 offers a longer period of software and security support.
• Physical Durability: The Galaxy S21 5G features a Gorilla Glass Victus front and a plastic back, encased in an aluminum frame, offering a solid and conventional build with IP68 water and dust resistance. The Galaxy Z Flip4, while also featuring an aluminum frame and IPX8 water resistance, incorporates a foldable display with ultra-thin glass, which some users report as being more susceptible to damage than traditional smartphone screens. The folding mechanism is rated to withstand up to 200,000 folds, equating to approximately five years of use.
• Repairability: The Galaxy Z Flip4 generally receives lower repairability scores due to its complex folding design, the use of adhesive for components, and the intricate process of replacing the foldable screen. While specific repairability scores for the S21 5G were not detailed, traditional slab phones typically offer a more straightforward repair process compared to foldable devices.

Both smartphones deliver capable performance for daily tasks, but they differ in their processing power and how they handle demanding applications.

• Processing Capabilities: The Galaxy S21 5G is powered by a processor that provides smooth performance for everyday use, app loading, and multitasking. The Galaxy Z Flip4 features a newer-generation processor, which offers enhanced speed and power efficiency, making it very responsive for general use and quick app launches.
• Multitasking and Demanding Apps: Both devices come with 8GB of RAM, allowing for efficient multitasking and handling of multiple applications simultaneously. For graphically intensive tasks or extended gaming sessions, the Z Flip4's newer processor provides a performance advantage, though some reports indicate it may experience performance throttling under sustained heavy loads.
• Battery Behavior: The Galaxy S21 5G is equipped with a 4000 mAh battery, designed to provide a full day of typical use. The Galaxy Z Flip4 has a 3700 mAh battery, which, combined with its more power-efficient processor, offers improved battery life compared to its predecessor, often lasting a full day for moderate users. However, heavy users may find themselves charging it daily.

The display is a key interaction point, and these two devices offer distinct visual experiences, primarily due to their form factors.

• Display Technology and Clarity: Both phones feature Dynamic AMOLED 2X display technology, known for deep blacks and vibrant colors. The Galaxy S21 5G has a 6.2-inch screen with a 2400 x 1080 pixel (FHD+) resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 421 PPI. The Galaxy Z Flip4's main foldable screen is larger at 6.7 inches, with a resolution of 2640 x 1080 pixels (FHD+), and a pixel density of approximately 426 PPI.
• Refresh Rate and Brightness: Both devices offer an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz, providing smooth scrolling and responsive interactions. The Z Flip4's main screen can dynamically adjust its refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz, contributing to power efficiency. The Galaxy Z Flip4 also boasts a peak brightness of 1200 nits, ensuring good visibility in various lighting conditions. The S21 5G also offers good outdoor visibility with a peak brightness of 1300 nits.
• Form Factor and Viewing Experience: The Galaxy S21 5G provides a traditional, flat screen experience. The Galaxy Z Flip4's main display folds in half, offering a compact form factor when closed. When unfolded, its 6.7-inch screen is taller and narrower than a conventional smartphone display, which can be beneficial for media consumption with similar aspect ratios or for split-screen multitasking. The Z Flip4 also includes a 1.9-inch Super AMOLED cover screen for quick notifications and controls when folded. A visible crease on the main foldable display is a characteristic of the Z Flip4.

Both smartphones offer capable camera systems, but they are designed with different priorities and features.

• Rear Camera Systems: The Galaxy S21 5G features a versatile triple-camera setup on the rear, including a 12 MP wide-angle lens with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 12 MP ultrawide lens, and a 64 MP telephoto lens capable of 3x hybrid optical zoom and up to 30x digital zoom. This configuration allows for a range of photographic options, including detailed zoomed-in shots. The Galaxy Z Flip4 has a dual-camera system on the rear, comprising a 12 MP wide-angle lens with OIS and a 12 MP ultrawide lens with a 123-degree field of view. It does not include a dedicated telephoto lens.
• Photography Performance: The S21 5G delivers excellent photo quality with good focus and subject tracking, and its Night Mode effectively captures images in low-light conditions. The Z Flip4 also produces good images in most lighting, with improved low-light performance compared to its predecessor, thanks to a larger sensor. Both tend to produce vibrant, sometimes saturated, colors.
• Video Recording and Selfies: The Galaxy S21 5G supports video recording up to 8K resolution. Its front-facing camera is a 10 MP sensor. The Galaxy Z Flip4 can record 4K video at 30 or 60 frames per second. It features a 10 MP selfie camera. A unique advantage of the Z Flip4 is the ability to use its higher-quality rear cameras for selfies, utilizing the cover screen as a viewfinder.
• Audio Experience: Both devices offer stereo speakers for media consumption. The S21 5G has a single down-firing speaker complemented by the earpiece.