Galaxy S21 5G vs Galaxy Z Fold6

The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G, released in January 2021, is a traditional smartphone that offers a premium experience in a compact form factor. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6, launched in July 2024, represents a significant evolution in mobile technology with its innovative foldable design. These devices cater to different user preferences, with the S21 5G focusing on a conventional, streamlined smartphone experience and the Z Fold6 providing an expansive, tablet-like display for enhanced productivity and media consumption.

The expected practical lifespan of a smartphone is influenced by its physical durability and the duration of software support it receives.

• Release Timeline: The Galaxy S21 5G was released in early 2021, while the Galaxy Z Fold6 launched in mid-2024. This three-and-a-half-year difference means the Z Fold6 benefits from a significantly longer period of ongoing software and security updates.
• Software Longevity: The Galaxy S21 5G received approximately three major Android operating system updates and four years of security updates. The Galaxy Z Fold6, being a more recent flagship, is promised seven years of software and security updates, extending its usable life well into the future.
• Physical Resilience: The Galaxy S21 5G features Gorilla Glass Victus protection on its display and an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. The Galaxy Z Fold6 incorporates an enhanced Armor Aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on its cover screen, offering robust protection. However, its foldable inner screen, made of Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) and plastic, is more susceptible to scratches than a traditional glass display. The Z Fold6 has an IPX8 water resistance rating, meaning it can withstand submersion but lacks official dust resistance, a common characteristic of foldable devices.

Both devices are equipped with powerful processors designed to handle demanding applications, though their capabilities reflect their respective release eras.

• Processing Power: The Galaxy S21 5G is powered by a high-performance processor from its generation, enabling smooth operation for everyday tasks, multitasking, and mobile gaming. The Galaxy Z Fold6 features a current-generation processor optimized for Galaxy devices, delivering significantly faster CPU, GPU, and NPU performance compared to its predecessors. This results in exceptionally fluid performance for intensive applications, advanced multitasking, and integrated artificial intelligence features.
• Multitasking and Storage: The Galaxy S21 5G typically comes with 8GB of RAM and storage options up to 256GB, sufficient for most users. The Galaxy Z Fold6 is equipped with 12GB of RAM and offers storage configurations up to 1TB, providing ample capacity for extensive multitasking and storing large files and applications.
• Battery Behavior: The Galaxy S21 5G houses a 4000 mAh battery, generally providing a full day of moderate use. The Galaxy Z Fold6 has a 4400 mAh battery, which, despite powering two displays, is designed to last a full day for most users, with performance similar to its immediate predecessor.

The display experience on these two devices differs significantly due to their fundamental design philosophies.

• Display Technology and Size: The Galaxy S21 5G features a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X flat display, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Galaxy Z Fold6, on the other hand, boasts two Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X displays: a 6.3-inch cover screen and a large 7.6-inch foldable inner screen. The wider aspect ratio of the Z Fold6's cover screen makes it more usable for daily tasks when folded, while the expansive inner screen provides a tablet-like viewing area.
• Resolution and Brightness: The S21 5G's display has a Full HD+ resolution (2400 x 1080 pixels) and a peak brightness of 1300 nits, ensuring clear visuals and good outdoor visibility. The Z Fold6's displays offer higher resolutions (2376 x 968 for the cover, 2160 x 1856 for the main) and a significantly brighter peak of 2600 nits, enhancing visibility even in direct sunlight.
• Refresh Rate: Both devices feature an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, providing smooth scrolling and responsive interactions.

Both smartphones offer versatile camera systems, though the Z Fold6 benefits from more recent advancements in image processing and sensor technology.

• Rear Camera Systems: The Galaxy S21 5G includes a triple camera setup with a 12MP main, 12MP ultrawide, and 64MP telephoto lens, capable of 3x hybrid optical zoom and 8K video recording. The Galaxy Z Fold6 also features a triple rear camera system, comprising a 50MP main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 12MP ultrawide, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and OIS.
• Photography Performance: The S21 5G delivers strong performance for everyday photography and video, with features like Director's View and Pro Video mode. The Z Fold6's camera system is competent, capturing good detail and vibrant colors in most situations, with an improved ultrawide camera for better low-light performance. However, some users note that while capable, the Z Fold6's cameras may not match the absolute best in terms of zoom or low-light performance when compared to dedicated slab-style flagship phones.
• Front-Facing Cameras: The S21 5G has a 10MP front camera. The Z Fold6 features a 10MP cover camera and a 4MP under-display camera on the main screen, offering flexibility for selfies and video calls.