Samsung Galaxy S21 5G vs Sony Xperia 1 VIII
Compare Samsung Galaxy S21 5G vs Sony Xperia 1 VIII side by side: Exynos 2100 / Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2, 12MP vs 50MP…
Samsung
Galaxy S21 5G
$799
3categories won
Sony
Xperia 1 VIII
$1,449
11categories won
5 categories tied · 19 scored in total · add a third phone
Which one wins?
Sony Xperia 1 VIII takes the overall win
The Sony Xperia 1 VIII proves superior overall against the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G, outperforming on gaming and photography. In camera testing, the Xperia 1 VIII leads with superior optics, while battery endurance leans towards the Xperia 1 VIII. Choose the Xperia 1 VIII if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the Galaxy S21 5G if its lower retail price better fit your budget.
Xperia 1 VIII takes battery honors offering 5,500 mAh alongside 45W charging.
Xperia 1 VIII provides greater sustained gaming output with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 and 16GB RAM.
Xperia 1 VIII takes photography with 50MP optics and 7.1x optical telephoto capabilities.
Galaxy S21 5G provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $799 vs $1449.
Category verdicts are computed algorithmically from verified technical specifications and hardware benchmarks. Rows where neither figure is objectively better — screen size preference, operating system choice, aesthetic build materials — are displayed for direct reference without scoring bias.
Galaxy S21 5G vs Xperia 1 VIII: specifications compared
Display
| Specification | Galaxy S21 5G | Xperia 1 VIII |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.2" | 6.5" |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400Winner | 1080 x 2340 |
| Pixel density | 424 ppi | — |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 1300 nits | 2800 nitsWinner |
Performance
| Specification | Galaxy S21 5G | Xperia 1 VIII |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 / Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 |
| Process node | 5 nm | 3 nmWinner |
| AnTuTu score | 820,000 | — |
| Geekbench multi | 3720 | — |
| Maximum RAM | 8 GB | 16 GBWinner |
| Maximum storage | 128GB | 512GBWinner |
Camera
| Specification | Galaxy S21 5G | Xperia 1 VIII |
|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | 12 MP | 50 MPWinner |
| Rear cameras | 3 | 3 |
| Optical zoom | 3x | 7.1xWinner |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 48 MPWinner |
| Selfie camera | 10 MP | 24 MPWinner |
| Max video | 8K at 24fps / 4K at 60fps | — |
Battery and charging
| Specification | Galaxy S21 5G | Xperia 1 VIII |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4,000 mAh | 5,500 mAhWinner |
| Wired charging | 25 W | 45 WWinner |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 20 WWinner |
Design
| Specification | Galaxy S21 5G | Xperia 1 VIII |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 169 gWinner | 192 g |
| Thickness | 7.9 mm | 8.2 mm |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Build | Aluminum frame, glastic back, Gorilla Glass Victus front | — |
Software and support
| Specification | Galaxy S21 5G | Xperia 1 VIII |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Android 11 | Android 16 |
| OS updates | 4 years | 4 years |
| Security updates | 5 years | 5 years |
Connectivity and value
| Specification | Galaxy S21 5G | Xperia 1 VIII |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Storage expansion | None | None |
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| Launch price | $799Winner | $1,449 |
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G
Highlighting Samsung's two-tone Contour-Cut camera housing and iconic Phantom Violet finish, the Galaxy S21 delivers 8K video capture, flat 120Hz AMOLED smoothness, and a featherlight 169g frame.
- Display
- 6.2"
- Chipset
- Exynos 2100 / Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
- Main camera
- 12MP
- Battery
- 4,000mAh
Sony Xperia 1 VIII
The Xperia 1 VIII builds on Sony cinematic heritage with continuous physical optical zoom from 85mm to 170mm, 4K LTPO OLED panel with Bravia AI remastering, and zero AI overprocessing.
- Display
- 6.5"
- Chipset
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2
- Main camera
- 50MP
- Battery
- 5,500mAh