Motorola Moto Z3 Play (XT1929-1) vs Samsung Galaxy S21
Side by side comparison between Motorola Moto Z3 Play vs Samsung Galaxy S21 phones, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
6.01"
AMOLED
AMOLED
1080x2160
12
MP
MP
8mp
4GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
3000
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
6.2"
AMOLED
AMOLED
1080x2400
12.2
MP
MP
10mp
8GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
4000
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better phone? Samsung Galaxy S21
The phonemore's choice is much more technical than personal. Therefore, you shouldn't only consider this. Our goal is to help you, but what's important to us may not be important to you. You decide which one is the best! Comment!
5 Advantages 
26 Advantages | 25 Common items in both devices |
| Aluminum frame, glass front/back / Aluminum body, glass front, plastic back |
| Super AMOLED / Dynamic AMOLED |
| 16 million |
| PDAF: phase detection autofocus / PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras |
| HDR photo on both cameras / HDR photo/video on both cameras |
| Capacitive |
| Multitouch |
| +18 specs and more in the table below |
Check the comparison table below for more items that are not evaluated in comparison score above.
Highlight differences Clear highlight📱 Model features | ||
| Moto Z3 Play (XT1929-1) | Galaxy S21 | |
| Model | Moto Z3 Play (XT1929-1) | Galaxy S21 |
| Other model names | Lenovo Moto Z3 Play 32GB + 4GB RAM XT1929 Verizon wireless | Galaxy S21 5G SM-G991B/DS |
| Country or region available |  USA |  (Global, International) |
| Brand | Motorola | Samsung |
| Release date | 6/1/2018 | 1/29/2021, Announced: 1/14/2021 |
| Depth | 6.75 millimeters (0.27 inches) | 7.9 millimeters (0.31 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 76.5 x 156.5 millimeters (3.01 x 6.16 in) | 71.2 x 151.7 millimeters (2.8 x 5.97 in) |
| Weight | 156 grams (5.46 ounces) | 169 grams (5.92 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Aluminum frame, glass front/back | Aluminum body, glass front, plastic back |
| Protection against water and others | Water splash resistant (don't immerse) | IP68 certified: water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30min and dust-resistant |
📲 Display | ||
| Moto Z3 Play (XT1929-1) | Galaxy S21 | |
| Display type | Super AMOLED | Dynamic AMOLED |
| Screen size | 6.01" inches | 6.2" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~77.9% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~85.9% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1080x2160 pixels | 1080x2400 pixels (20:9) |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 402 PPI | 424 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Gorilla Glass 3 | Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Refresh rate | feature not registered | 120Hz |
| Display features | feature not registered | 1300nits[peak] HDR10+ Always-On Display |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| Moto Z3 Play (XT1929-1) | Galaxy S21 | |
| System version | Android 8.1 Oreo | Android 11 |
| Firmware update | Android 9.0 Pie | Android 15 |
| User Interface | feature not registered | One UI 3.1 / 4.1 / 5.1 / 6.0 / 7.0 |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Moto Z3 Play (XT1929-1) | Galaxy S21 | |
| Chipset | 64bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 SDM636 (14nm) | 64bit: Samsung Exynos 2100 (5nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core, 2 processors: 4x 1.8GHz Kryo 260 Gold (Quad-core) 4x 1.6GHz Kryo 260 Silver (Quad-core) | Octa-core, 3 processors: 1x 2.9GHz ARM Cortex-X1 (Single-core) 3x 2.8GHz ARM Cortex-A78 (Triple-core) 4x 2.2GHz ARM Cortex-A55 (Quad-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | Qualcomm Adreno 509 | ARM Mali-G78 MP14 (854MHz) |
| Performance (benchmark) | feature not registered | feature not registered |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Moto Z3 Play (XT1929-1) | Galaxy S21 | |
| RAM memory | 4GB LPDDR4X | 8GB LPDDR5 |
| Internal storage | 32GB (22GB available) | 128GB (104GB available) UFS 3.1 |
| External storage | Until 1TB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Moto Z3 Play (XT1929-1) | Galaxy S21 | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Dual-SIM Standby - Call active on one sim card |
| SIM card | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) | 2 slots (Dual-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) + e-SIM |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 600/150 Mbps | 5000/1920 Mbps |
| Network technology | 2G, 3G, 4G | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G |
| Frequency, bands | Expand band details Collapse details | |
| GSM MHz band | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 2G network | CDMA 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | CDMA 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO TD-SCDMA 1900/2000 UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | LTE Cat13 (Bands 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,13,20,28,66) | LTE Cat24 () TD-LTE () VoLTE |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | SA/NSA/Sub6 () |
| Primary data network | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE, LTE-A | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, TD-SCDMA, UMTS, TD-HSDPA, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A, SA/NSA, Sub6 |
| Secondary 2G network | Not supported | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Secondary 3G network | Not supported | UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 |
| Secondary 4G network | Not supported | LTE Cat24 () TD-LTE () VoLTE |
| Secondary data network | Not supported | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A |
📷 Camera | ||
| Moto Z3 Play (XT1929-1) | Galaxy S21 | |
| Back camera (main camera) | (dual camera) 12 megapixels 5MP depth | (triple camera) 12.2 megapixels 64MP telephoto f/2.029mm1/1.72"0.8µmPDAFOIS1.1x-optical-zoom3x-hybrid-zoom 12MP ultrawide f/2.213mm120°1/2.55"1.4µmSuper-Steady-video |
| Main camera resolution | 4000x3000 pixels | 4032x3024 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) 30 fps | 8K UHD (7680x4320) 24 fps |
| Flash | Dual-LED flash | LED flash |
| Focal aperture | f/1.7 (aperture) | f/1.8 (aperture) |
| Focal length | feature not registered | 26mm (lens) |
| Sensor size | 1/2.55" inches | 1/1.76" inches |
| Pixel size | 1.4µm pixel | 1.8µm pixel |
| Autofocus | PDAF: phase detection autofocus | PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras |
| Touch focus | Supported | Supported |
| Image stabilization | EIS: Digital stabilization | OIS: Optical stabilization |
| Zoom | Only digital zoom | Digital and optical zoom |
| Face/smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection |
| BSI sensor | Not supported | Supported |
| HDR | HDR photo on both cameras | HDR photo/video on both cameras |
| Camera extras | feature not registered | 4K@60fps 1080p@240fps 720p@960fps |
📸 Front camera | ||
| Moto Z3 Play (XT1929-1) | Galaxy S21 | |
| Front camera (secondary) | 8 megapixels | 10 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 3264x2448 pixels | 3872x2592 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | Full HD (1920x1080) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | f/2.0 (aperture) | f/2.2 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 24mm (lens) | 26mm (lens) |
| Sensor size | 1/4" inches | 1/3.24" inches |
| Pixel size | 1.12µm pixel | 1.22µm pixel |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| Moto Z3 Play (XT1929-1) | Galaxy S21 | |
| Loudspeaker | Supported | Stereo sound 32-bit/384kHz Dolby Atmos Tuned by AKG |
| Active noise cancellation | 2 microphones or more | 2 microphones |
| Radio | Not supported | FM |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263 | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, XviD, MKV |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| Moto Z3 Play (XT1929-1) | Galaxy S21 | |
| USB | USB 3.1 Type-C, USB OTG On-The-Go | USB 3.2 Type-C, USB OTG On-The-Go |
| Audio output | Type-C jack with 3.5mm jack adapter | Type-C reversible connector |
| TV output | Not supported | USB Type-C (reversible) |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 + A2DP/LE | 5.0 + A2DP/LE |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac [wifi5] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) + MIMO WiFi Direct, hotspot | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax [wifi6] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) + MIMO WiFi Direct, hotspot |
| DLNA | Not supported | Supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, BeiDou | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou |
| NFC | Supported | Supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Moto Z3 Play (XT1929-1) | Galaxy S21 | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Face unlock 2D Fingerprint sensor (side-mounted) Gyroscope Proximity sensor | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Barometer Compass Face unlock 2D Fingerprint sensor (under display) Gesture Gyroscope Hall effect Proximity sensor |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| Moto Z3 Play (XT1929-1) | Galaxy S21 | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 3000 mAh | 4000 mAh |
| Charger, watts | 15W Wired fast charging | 25W Wired fast charging USB Power Delivery 3.0 |
| Inductive / wireless charging | feature not registered | 15W Qi wireless charging (Qi/PMA) 4.5W Reverse wireless charging |
| Talk time autonomy | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Standby | feature not registered | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| Moto Z3 Play (XT1929-1) | Galaxy S21 | |
| Call control | Voice dialing, Voice recorder | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands |
| Messaging | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail |
| Hands-free calling | Supported | Supported |
| Video calling | Supported | Supported |
| Ringtones | Polyphonic and customized | Polyphonic and customized |
| Web browser | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 |
| Antenna | Internal antenna | Internal antenna |
| Qwerty physical keyboard | Not supported | Not supported |
| Miscellaneous | • Colors: Deep Indigo • USB OTG On-The-Go • Aluminum frame (6000 series) • 2.5D gorilla glass screen • Max vision 18:9 display • Fast battery charging 15W • Moto mods support | • Colors: Phantom Gray, White, Violet, Pink • Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard) • Samsung DeX |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Moto Z3 Play (XT1929-1) | Galaxy S21 | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | feature not registered | 0.456W/kg (head), 1.509W/kg (body) |