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The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option with a slightly larger screen and faster refresh rate for smoother visuals, the Samsung Galaxy S21 is a good choice. However, if you're willing to pay more for a newer phone with better photo and overall camera quality, and longer battery life, then the Google Pixel 7a might be the better option for you. Both phones run on Android, offer high-quality OLED displays, and have similar storage capacity, but the Pixel 7a has a newer processor which could provide better performance. Keep in mind the Pixel 7a also includes a headphone jack, which the S21 lacks. 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 Google Pixel 7a
- Very good for taking photos
- Good for recording videos
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S21
- Very good display quality
- Good performance
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
8.0
7.2
The Google Pixel 7a has very good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 has good overall camera quality.
The Google Pixel 7a boasts a superior selfie camera and photos software experience alongside features like Magic Eraser, which enhances its camera versatility. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S21, while still having a good camera system, does not match the Pixel's selfie quality or software capabilities, making the Pixel 7a the better choice for selfie enthusiasts and those who value advanced photo software features.
Photo Quality
8.0
7.0
The Google Pixel 7a takes very good photos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 takes good photos.
The Google Pixel 7a outshines the Samsung Galaxy S21 in self-portraits due to a higher selfie quality score and benefits from a more user-friendly photo software experience, leading to enhanced overall photo quality. However, despite the Galaxy S21 being older, it also captures good quality photos but with slightly less camera versatility and therefore may not perform as well in varying photographic conditions.
Video Quality
7.3
6.6
The Google Pixel 7a takes good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 takes only fair videos.
The Google Pixel 7a is commended for its video recording capabilities, offering excellent video stabilization, dynamic range, and low-light performance, along with very good microphone quality. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S21 also delivers a strong video recording experience but with slightly lower stabilization and dynamic range performance, although it has comparable microphone quality and low-light capabilities.
Cost
$499
$145
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
The Google Pixel 7a has a price of $499 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 costs $145.
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Key similarities
Battery
6.9 Hours
6.7 Hours
The Google Pixel 7a has 6.9 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S21 has 6.7 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Google Pixel 7a has a screen size of 6.1 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S21 is 6.2 inches.
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How the Google Pixel 7a and the Samsung Galaxy S21 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Google Pixel 7a | Samsung Galaxy S21 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$499 | $145 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Samsung | ||
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 10, 2023 | January 29, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.1" | 6.2" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 2400 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 429 | 421 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | TensorG2 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 8.1/10 | 7/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 7.3/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 64 megapixels + OIS | 12 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.9 Hours | 6.7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4385 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 | 5.98" x 2.87" | 5.97" x 2.8" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.84 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 | 6e | 6 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 | (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 | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | Yes (Except Verizon Models) | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Sea, Snow, Coral, Charcoal | Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | Yes | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
Google Pixel 7a
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Dig into reviews and images
The Verge
Allison Johnson | May 2023
"The Pixel 7a is the best midrange Android phone — period. The camera doesn’t always nail it, but it’s impressively capable for this class. And even though it’s pricier than last year’s model, it comes with some serious upgrades not often seen in this class, like wireless charging."
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 Google Pixel 7a or the Samsung Galaxy S21
About Google
Google can be considered a relatively new player in the smartphone industry, joining as late as 2016 with their phone, the Google Pixel. Since then, the Pixel lineup has undergone many changes, but it has always been characterized by a focus on photography and clean software, by providing a pure Android experience. By virtue of Google being the creator of the Android operating system, Pixels are known for receiving timely software updates and for being supported with updates for a long time. Additionally, over the past few generations of devices, Google started designing their own processors. This allowed for the implementation of unique software features that are not present in any other phone, such as automatic call screening and unique voice transcribing capabilities.
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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Why trust us
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.
By the numbers
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Phones evaluated
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Recommendations made
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About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Seth Peoples
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Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.
Efthimis Kotanidis
Phones Expert
Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.
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