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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're willing to pay more, the Asus Zenfone 10 offers a higher refresh rate and a slightly longer battery life, both of which can enhance your overall experience, especially if you value smooth visuals and extended use without charging. However, the Samsung Galaxy S21, while being more affordable, still provides a robust camera system and excellent video quality. Both phones have OLED screens and similar resolutions, so if display quality is a priority but you're looking to save some money, the Galaxy S21 might suffice. Both phones run on Android, but the Galaxy S21 is an older model, which might be worth considering when thinking about future software updates and support. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Asus Zenfone 10
- Very good battery life
- Excellent performance
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S21
- Good for taking photos
- Fair for recording videos
- Very good display quality
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
6.5
7.2
The Samsung Galaxy S21 has good overall camera quality, while the Asus Zenfone 10 has only fair overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 overtakes the Asus Zenfone 10 in camera performance largely due to its superior dynamic range, low light performance, and overall versatility, which contribute to better photo quality. Furthermore, the Galaxy S21's selfie camera is rated higher, making it a better choice for customers who prioritize front-camera photography.
Photo Quality
6.1
7.0
The Samsung Galaxy S21 takes good photos, while the Asus Zenfone 10 takes only fair photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 takes good photos due to its higher camera versatility and better software experience, as well as a higher selfie quality rating, which are vital for capturing detailed and dynamic images. In contrast, the Asus Zenfone 10, despite a good overall photos software experience, has a lower selfie quality rating, indicating that selfies taken with this phone may not be as clear or well-balanced as those taken with the Galaxy S21.
Battery
8.7 Hours
6.7 Hours
The Asus Zenfone 10 has 8.7 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S21 has 6.7 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Asus Zenfone 10 has a screen size of 5.92 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S21 is 6.2 inches.
Cost
$700
$145
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Asus Zenfone 10 has a price of $700 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 costs $145.
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Key similarities
Video Quality
6.7
6.6
The Asus Zenfone 10 and Samsung Galaxy S21 both have only fair videos.
The Asus Zenfone 10 takes fair videos because its video capabilities are generally good across the board, with no specific aspect rated as excellent; however, the Samsung Galaxy S21 takes good videos as it has a good balance in key areas such as video stabilization, dynamic range, and low light performance, and it also offers HDR10+ support, which enhances video quality.
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How the Asus Zenfone 10 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Asus Zenfone 10 | Samsung Galaxy S21 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$700 | $145 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Asus | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 22, 2023 | January 29, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 5.92" | 6.2" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 2400 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 445 | 421 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | SD8G2 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 6.6/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 6.2/10 | 7/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 6.8/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 50 megapixels + OIS | 12 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8.7 Hours | 6.7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4300 mAh | 4000 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 7.5 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | Yes (4.5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 5.77" x 2.68" | 5.97" x 2.8" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.07 oz | 5.96 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Plastic | Plastic | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 7 | 6 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 88 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Fingerprint sensor: Side | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Midnight Black, Starry Blue, Aurora Green, Comet White, Eclipse Red | Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | Yes | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
Asus Zenfone 10
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Tom's Guide
Richard Priday | August 2023
"It's the best small phone for fans of compact handsets, but the Asus Zenfone 10 could pull users away from Samsung and Google flagships with top-quality performance and battery life. If you can forgive its more limited photography options and the shorter-than-average software support window, the Zenfone 10 is a top choice."
Samsung Galaxy S21
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Dig into reviews and images
Android Central
Huseman Joe | February 2022
"The Galaxy S21 delivers the flagship Samsung experience in a phone that's much more pocketable (and affordable) than the top-end S21 Ultra.The triple-camera system is incredibly capable, Samsung's One UI 3.1 software is chock-full of features and settings to mess with, and I've not once missed having expandable storage."
Get a great deal on the Asus Zenfone 10 or the Samsung Galaxy S21
About ASUS
Asus is a well-known player in the mobile world, and in the past few years it has been known for covering specific niches in the smartphone market. Their Zenfone line of devices appeal to small phone enthusiasts, by providing very well-rounded and capable phones at a package that is not too large to operate with one hand – something hard to find in modern Android smartphones. Conversely, their ROG line of devices cater to mobile gamers, by providing a slew of hardware and software features, specifically tailored to enhance the mobile gaming experience. Additionally, Asus is one of the only manufacturers left that continues to include headphone jacks in their lineup of phones, a feature that has become exceedingly rare in today's market.
About Samsung
Samsung is one of the most recognizable names in the smartphone industry, standing as the undisputed best-selling brand of Android smartphones in the United States for many years now. Samsung is known for offering a variety of smartphones in all available price points, as well as for implementing cutting-edge technology and innovative features in their flagship devices, ones that often shape the market going forward. The company offers its own unique spin on Android, called One UI, which focuses on offering a multitude of features and is heavily customizable, according to user preference.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
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