Google Pixel 6a vs Samsung Galaxy S21

62 out 100

VS

65 out 100

Compared 2 smartphones : Google Pixel 6a Manufactured in June, 2022, with display 6.1 with chipsetGoogle Tensor, vs Samsung Galaxy S21, Manufactured in February, 2021with chipsetSamsung Exynos 2100. Below are specs, tests, pros and cons for each device

Key Differences

Device key advantages

Reasons to choose Google Pixel 6a

Higher pixel density: 429ppi
Higher battery capacity: 4410mAh vs 4000mAh
Newer Bluetooth version: 5.2 vs 5

Reasons to choose Samsung Galaxy S21

Larger display: 6.2in
Higher refresh rate: 120Hz
Lighter design: 169g vs 178g
Supports newer USB: 3.2 vs 3.1
Supports Dolby Atmos

Versions

Available versions and configurations

Memory Options

6/128 GB

- 8/128 GB
- 8/256 GB

Review

Key Specs Google Pixel 6a and Samsung Galaxy S21

Display

Color accuracy, sharpness & brightness

Google Pixel 6a

64

Samsung Galaxy S21

75

Camera

Main & front camera tests

Google Pixel 6a

68

Samsung Galaxy S21

75

Performance

App & system performance

Google Pixel 6a

52

Samsung Galaxy S21

53

Games

3D gaming performance

Google Pixel 6a

46

Samsung Galaxy S21

44

Battery

Battery life, charging speed & type

Google Pixel 6a

64

Samsung Galaxy S21

56

Connectivity

Connectivity features

Google Pixel 6a

78

Samsung Galaxy S21

86

NanoReview Score

Overall score by NanoReview

Google Pixel 6a

62

Samsung Galaxy S21

65

Adjust each parameter’s importance to find the best match for you.

Customize your score

Function

Importance (Weight)

Display:

Camera:

Performance:

Gaming:

Battery:

Connectivity:

Higher weight means greater impact on NanoReview score.

Display

Display quality comparison

Type	OLED	Dynamic AMOLED
Size	6.1 in	6.2 in
Resolution	1080x2400 pixels	1080x2400 pixels
Aspect ratio	20:9	20:9
Pixel density	429 ppi	421 ppi
Refresh rate	60 Hz	120 Hz
Adaptive refresh rate	No	Yes (48-120 Hz)
Max brightness	500 nits	800 nits
HDR support	Yes HDR10+	Yes HDR10+
Screen-to-body ratio	82.2 %	85.9 %
Features	- DCI-P3 - Always-On Display	- DCI-P3 - Always-On Display

Peak brightness (auto)

Google Pixel 6a

869 nits

Samsung Galaxy S21

854 nits

sRGB gamut	96.9 %	99.5 %
PWM (Flicker)	240 Hz	240 Hz
Response time	3 ms	5 ms
Contrast	∞ Infinite	∞ Infinite

Sources: NotebookCheck [Google Pixel 6a], [Samsung Galaxy S21]

Design & Build

Design and ergonomics comparison

Height	152.2 mm (5.99 in)	151.7 mm (5.97 in)
Width	71.8 mm (2.83 in)	71.2 mm (2.8 in)
Thickness	8.9 mm (0.35 in)	7.9 mm (0.31 in)
Weight	178 g (6.28 oz)	169 g (5.96 oz)
Water resistance	IP67	IP68
Back panel	Plastic	Plastic
Frame	Metal	Metal
Colors	- White - Black - Green	- White - Gray - Pink - Purple
Fingerprint sensor	Yes In-Display	Yes In-Display

Screen-to-body ratio

Google Pixel 6a

82.2 %

Samsung Galaxy S21

85.9 %

Performance

Testing Google Pixel 6a and Samsung Galaxy S21 In benchmarks

Chipset	Google Tensor	Samsung Exynos 2100
Max Frequency	2800 MHz	2900 MHz
CPU Cores	8 (2 + 2 + 4)	8 (1 + 3 + 4)
Architecture	- 4/1.8 (Cortex A55) - 2/2.25 (Cortex A76) - 2/2.8 (Cortex-X1)	- 4/2.2 (Cortex-A55) - 3/2.81 (Cortex-A78) - 1/2.91 (Cortex-X1)
Process	Samsung	Samsung
Transistor Size	5 nm	5 nm
Neural Processor	Tensor Processing Unit	Yes
Graphics	Mali-G78 MP20	Mali-G78 MP14
GPU Cores	1280	896
GPU Frequency	848 MHz	854 MHz
FLOPS	2170.9 GFLOPS	1530.4 GFLOPS

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)

Google Pixel 6a

1448

Samsung Galaxy S21

1331

Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)

Google Pixel 6a

3412

Samsung Galaxy S21

3593

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)	1448	1331
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)	3412	3593

Sources: Geekbench v6 [Google Pixel 6a]

AnTuTu 10

Google Pixel 6a

909498

Samsung Galaxy S21

903780

CPU	250722	253391
GPU	324786	281676
Memory	143829	158352
UX	190161	210361
NanoReview Score	909498	903780

3DMark Wild Life

Google Pixel 6a

6194

Samsung Galaxy S21

5715

Max Surface Temp.	41.4 °C	38.9 °C
Stability	56 %	66 %
Graphics Test	37 fps	34 fps
Graphics Score	6194	5715

Sources: 3DMark [Google Pixel 6a], [Samsung Galaxy S21]

PCMark 3.0

Google Pixel 6a

9940

Samsung Galaxy S21

13123

Writing score	15353	16101
Web score	6280	11909
Video editing	5843	7097
Data manipulation	9519	10153
NanoReview Score	9940	13123

Memory

RAM Size	6 GB	8 GB
Memory Type	LPDDR5	LPDDR5
Memory Frequency	3200 MHz	2750 MHz
Channels	4	2

Storage Capacity	128 GB	- 128 GB - 256 GB
Storage Type	UFS 3.1	UFS 3.1
Memory Card	No	No

Software

OS	Android 12 (Upgradeable to Android 15)	Android 11 (Upgradeable to Android 14)
OS Size	14.3 GB	28.1 GB
UI Skin	Stock Android	One UI 6.0

Battery

Volume	4410 mAh	4000 mAh
Max Charging Power	18 W	25 W
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-ion
Removable	No	No
Wireless Charging	No	Yes (15 W)
Reverse Charging	No	Yes (Wireless)
Fast Charging	Yes (42% in 30 min)	Yes (55% in 50 min)
Full Charge Time	1:51 h	1:35 h

Battery Life

Google Pixel 6a

20:44

Samsung Galaxy S21

17:54

Web Browsing	08:25 h	06:01 h
Video Playback	14:20 h	11:06 h
Games	05:34 h	04:21 h
Standby Mode	89 h	95 h

Main camera

Matrix	122 MP	12 MP
Photo resolution	4032x3024 pixels	4000x3000 pixels
Zoom	Digital	Optical, 1.1x
Flash	Dual LED	Dual LED
Stabilization	Optical	Optical
8K Recording	No	Up to 24FPS
4K Recording	Yes (Up to 60 fps)	Yes (Up to 60 fps)
1080p Recording	Yes (Up to 60 fps)	Yes (Up to 60 fps)
Slow Motion	240 fps (1080p)	960 fps (720p)
Wide-angle lens	114 °	120 °
Lenses count	Standard: 12.2 MP Ultra-wide: 12 MP	Standard: 12 MP Telephoto: 64 MP Ultra-wide: 12 MP
Features	- Bokeh effect - Pro mode - RAW support	- Bokeh effect - Pro mode - RAW support

Matrix	122 MP	12 MP
Aperture	f/1.7	f/1.8
Focal length	27 mm	26 mm
Sensor	Sony IMX363	Sony IMX555
Sensor size	1/2.55	1/1.76
Pixel size	1.4 μm	1.8 μm
Autofocus	Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel)	Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel)
Stabilization	Optical	Optical

Matrix	n/a	64 MP
Aperture	n/a	f/2.0
Focal length	n/a	28 mm
Sensor	n/a	Samsung Bright S5KGW2
Sensor size	n/a	1/1.72
Pixel size	n/a	0.8 μm
Stabilization	n/a	Optical

Matrix	12 MP	12 MP
Aperture	f/2.2	f/2.2
Focal length	17 mm	13 mm
Sensor	Sony IMX386	Sony IMX563
Sensor size	1/2.9	1/2.55
Pixel size	1.12 μm	1.4 μm
Stabilization	Digital	Digital

Photo quality

Google Pixel 6a

133

Samsung Galaxy S21

129

Video quality

Google Pixel 6a

126

Samsung Galaxy S21

137

Overall camera score

Google Pixel 6a

122

Samsung Galaxy S21

133

Bokeh	65	70
Preview	67	72
Zoom	74	126

Sources: DxOMark [Google Pixel 6a], [Samsung Galaxy S21]

Front camera

Matrix	8 MP	10 MP
Photo resolution	3840x2160 pixels	3872x2592 pixels
Aperture	f/2.0	f/2.2
Focal length	24 mm	26 mm
Sensor	Sony IMX355	Sony IMX374
Sensor size	1/2.8	1/3.24
Pixel size	1.12 μm	1.22 μm
Autofocus	No	Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel)
Stabilization	Digital	Digital
Video resolution	1080p (Full HD) at 30 fps	2160p (4K) at 60 fps
TOF 3D sensor	No	No

Connectivity

Wi-Fi version	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
Wi-Fi features	- Dual Band - Wi-Fi MiMO - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display	- Dual Band - Wi-Fi MiMO - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display
Bluetooth version	5.2	5
Bluetooth features	LE, A2DP	LE, A2DP
USB type	USB Type-C	USB Type-C
USB version	3.1	3.2
USB features	- Charging - USB Storage Mode - OTG	- Charging - USB Storage Mode - USB-Host mode - OTG
GPS	- GPS - GLONASS - Beidou - Galileo - QZSS	- GPS - GLONASS - Beidou - Galileo
NFC*	Yes	Yes
Infrared Port	No	No

SIM Count*	1	2
SIM Type	Nano	Nano
SIM Mode	n/a	Dual SIM Standby
eSIM Support *	Yes	Yes
Hybrid Slot	No	No
2G Bands	GSM/EDGE Quad-band (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)	GSM 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
3G Bands	UMTS/HSPA+/HSDPA 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 19	WCDMA Band 1, 2, 4, 5, 8
LTE Bands*	LTE (B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B13/B14/B17/B18/B19/B20/B25/B26/B28/B29/B30/B38/B39/B40/B41/B42/B48/B66/B71)	LTE (B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B13/B17/B18/B19/B20/B25/B26/B28/B32/B38/B39/B40/B41/B66)
LTE category	20	24
5G Support	Yes	Yes

Sound

Speakers	Stereo	Stereo
3.5 mm Jack	No	No
FM Radio	No	No
Dolby Atmos	No	Yes

Max Volume

Google Pixel 6a

87.4 dB

Samsung Galaxy S21

87 dB

Other

Class	Mid-range	Flagship
Announced	May, 2022 yr	January, 2021 yr
Release Date	June, 2022 yr	February, 2021 yr
Launch Price ($)	449	800
Sensors	- Barometer - Proximity Sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient Light Sensor - Compass - Fingerprint sensor	- Hall Sensor - Barometer - Proximity Sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient Light Sensor - Compass - Fingerprint sensor
Charger Included	No	n/a

Results

No clear favorite identified yet; updates may follow as new data arrives.

Survey

Which smartphone would you pick?

Google Pixel 6a

0 (0%)

Samsung Galaxy S21

0 (0%)

Total Votes: 0

Google Pixel 6a vs Samsung Galaxy S21

Key Differences

Versions

Review

Tests & specs

Display

Design & Build

Performance

Memory

Software

Battery

Main camera

Front camera

Connectivity

Sound

Other

Results

Survey

User comments