Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) vs Samsung Galaxy A21 (SM-A215W)
Side by side comparison between Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A21 phones, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
6.7"
AMOLED
AMOLED
1080x2400
12.2
MP
MP
10mp
8GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
4300
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
6.5"
PLS
PLS
720x1600
16
MP
MP
13mp
3GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
4000
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better phone? Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U)
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!
28 Advantages 
5 Advantages | 22 Common items in both devices |
| Plastic body, glass front |
| 60Hz |
| 16 million |
| LED flash |
| PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras / PDAF: phase detection autofocus |
| HDR photo/video on both cameras / HDR photo on both cameras |
| f/1.8 (aperture) |
| +15 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 | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215W) | |
| Model | Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215W) |
| Other model names | Galaxy Note20 SM-N981U (Snapdragon) - US Carriers | Galaxy A21 SM-A215WZKAXAC (Bell Mobility) |
| Country or region available |  USA |  Canada |
| Brand | Samsung | Samsung |
| Release date | 8/21/2020, Announced: 8/5/2020 | 6/26/2020 |
| Depth | 8.3 millimeters (0.33 inches) | 8.1 millimeters (0.32 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 75.2 x 161.6 millimeters (2.96 x 6.36 in) | 76.7 x 167.8 millimeters (3.02 x 6.61 in) |
| Weight | 194 grams (6.79 ounces) | 193 grams (6.76 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Plastic body, glass front | Plastic body, glass front |
| Protection against water and others | IP68 certified: water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30min and dust-resistant | Not supported |
📲 Display | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215W) | |
| Display type | Super AMOLED Plus | TFT PLS |
| Screen size | 6.7" inches | 6.5" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~89.2% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~79.3% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1080x2400 pixels (20:9) | 720x1600 pixels (20:9) |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points | Capacitive Multitouch |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 393 PPI | 270 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Gorilla Glass 5 | Not supported |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Display features | HDR10+ Always-On Display | Not supported |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215W) | |
| System version | Android 10 | Android 10 |
| Firmware update | Android 13 | feature not registered |
| User Interface | One UI 2.5 / 3.1 / 4.1 / 5.0 | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215W) | |
| Chipset | 64bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (SM8250-AB) (7nm) | 64bit: MediaTek Helio P35 (MT6765) (12nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core, 3 processors: 1x 3.09GHz Kryo 585 (Single-core) 3x 2.42GHz Kryo 585 (Triple-core) 4x 1.8GHz Kryo 585 (Quad-core) | Octa-core, 2 processors: 4x 2.3GHz ARM Cortex-A53 (Quad-core) 4x 1.8GHz ARM Cortex-A53 (Quad-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | Qualcomm Adreno 650 (250-646MHz) | PowerVR GE8320 MP2 (680MHz) |
| Performance (benchmark) | feature not registered | feature not registered |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215W) | |
| RAM memory | 8GB LPDDR5 | 3GB LPDDR3 |
| Internal storage | 128GB (103GB available) UFS 3.0 | 32GB (20GB available) eMMC 5.1 |
| External storage | Not supported | Until 512GB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215W) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Not supported |
| SIM card | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 5000/1024 Mbps | 150/50 Mbps |
| Network technology | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G | 2G, 3G, 4G |
| 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 | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 | UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | LTE Cat20 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 66, 71) TD-LTE (38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48) VoLTE | LTE Cat4 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 20, 66, 71) TD-LTE (38, 40, 41) VoLTE |
| Primary 5G network | SA/NSA/Sub6 (2, 5, 41, 66, 71) mmWave (260, 261) | Not supported |
| Primary data network | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A, SA/NSA, Sub6 | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE |
| Secondary 2G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 3G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 4G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary data network | Not supported | Not supported |
📷 Camera | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215W) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | (triple camera) 12.2 megapixels 64MP telephoto f/2.027mm1/1.72"0.8µmPDAFOIS3x-hybrid-zoom 12MP ultrawide f/2.2120°13mm1/2.55"1.4µm | (quad camera) 16 megapixels 8MP ultrawide f/2.21/4.0"1.12µm 2MP macro f/2.4 2MP depth f/2.4 |
| Main camera resolution | 4032x3024 pixels | 4608x3456 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | 8K UHD (7680x4320) 24 fps | Full HD (1920x1080) 30 fps |
| Flash | LED flash | LED flash |
| Focal aperture | f/1.8 (aperture) | f/1.8 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 26mm lens | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | 1/1.76" inches | 1/3.06" inches |
| Pixel size | 1.8µm pixel | 1µm pixel |
| Autofocus | PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras | PDAF: phase detection autofocus |
| Touch focus | Supported | Supported |
| Image stabilization | OIS: Optical stabilization | EIS: Digital stabilization |
| Zoom | Digital and optical zoom | Only digital zoom |
| Face/smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection |
| BSI sensor | Supported | Not supported |
| HDR | HDR photo/video on both cameras | HDR photo on both cameras |
| Camera extras | 4K@60fps 1080p@240fps 720p@960fps | feature not registered |
📸 Front camera | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215W) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | 10 megapixels | 13 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 3872x2592 pixels | 4128x3096 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) | Full HD (1920x1080) |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | f/2.2 (aperture) | f/2.0 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 26mm lens | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | 1/3.2" inches | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | 1.22µm pixel | 1.12µm pixel |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215W) | |
| Loudspeaker | Stereo sound 32-bit/384kHz Dolby Atmos Tuned by AKG | Supported |
| Active noise cancellation | 2 microphones or more | 2 microphones or more |
| Radio | FM | FM |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, XviD, MKV | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, XviD, MKV |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215W) | |
| USB | USB 3.2 Type-C, USB OTG On-The-Go | USB 2.0 Type-C reversible connector |
| Audio output | Type-C reversible connector | 3.5mm jack |
| TV output | USB Type-C (reversible) | Not supported |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 + A2DP/LE | 5.0 + A2DP/LE |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax [wifi6] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) + MIMO WiFi Direct, hotspot | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac [wifi5] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) + MIMO WiFi Direct, hotspot |
| DLNA | Supported | Not supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS |
| NFC | Supported | Supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215W) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor ANT+ Barometer Compass Face unlock Fingerprint sensor (under display) Gyroscope Hall effect Proximity sensor | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Face unlock Fingerprint sensor (rear-mounted) Gyroscope Proximity sensor |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215W) | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 4300 mAh | 4000 mAh |
| Charger, watts | 25W Wired fast charging USB Power Delivery 3.0 | 15W Wired fast charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | 15W Qi wireless charging (Qi/PMA) 4.5W Reverse wireless charging | Not supported |
| Talk time autonomy | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Standby | feature not registered | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215W) | |
| Call control | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands | 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: Mystic Gray, Mystic Green, Mystic Bronze, Mystic Red, Mystic Blue • Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor • Bixby • Samsung Wireless DeX • Samsung Pay (MST, NFC) • Stylus pen (Bluetooth integration) | • Colors: Black • One UI 2.0 |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Galaxy Note 20 5G (SM-N981U) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215W) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | 0.78W/kg (head), 0.92W/kg (body) | 0.6W/kg (head), 1.27W/kg (body) |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |