Samsung Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) vs Samsung Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U)
Side by side comparison between Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs Samsung Galaxy A21 phones, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
6.4"
AMOLED
AMOLED
1440x2960
12.2
MP
MP
8mp
6GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
4000
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 9 (SM-N960U 128GB)
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 
6 Advantages | 28 Common items in both devices |
| Until 1TB microSD, microSDXC / Until 512GB microSD, microSDXC |
| 60Hz |
| 16 million |
| PDAF on back camera and autofocus front camera / PDAF: phase detection autofocus |
| HDR photo/video on both cameras / HDR photo on both cameras |
| Android 10 |
| 4G LTE-A / 4G LTE |
| +21 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 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| Model | Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) |
| Other model names | Galaxy Note9 (Qualcomm) 6GB RAM, Samsung Crown | Galaxy A21 SM-A215U (Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Verizon) |
| Country or region available |  USA | USA |
| Brand | Samsung | Samsung |
| Release date | 8/24/2018, Announced: 8/9/2018 | 6/26/2020 |
| Depth | 8.8 millimeters (0.35 inches) | 8.1 millimeters (0.32 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 76.4 x 161.9 millimeters (3.01 x 6.37 in) | 76.7 x 167.8 millimeters (3.02 x 6.61 in) |
| Weight | 201 grams (7.04 ounces) | 193 grams (6.76 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Aluminum frame, glass front/back Back: Gorilla Glass 5 | 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 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| Display type | Super AMOLED | TFT PLS |
| Screen size | 6.4" inches | 6.5" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~84% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~79.3% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1440x2960 pixels (18.5:9) | 720x1600 pixels (20:9) |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points | Capacitive Multitouch |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 514 PPI | 270 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Gorilla Glass 5 | Not supported |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Display features | HDR10 2.5D glass Always-On Display | Not supported |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| System version | Android 8.1 Oreo | Android 10 |
| Firmware update | Android 10 | feature not registered |
| User Interface | One UI 2.0 / 2.5 | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| Chipset | 64bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (SDM845) (10nm) | 64bit: MediaTek Helio P35 (MT6765) (12nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core, 2 processors: 4x 2.8GHz Kryo 385 Gold (Quad-core) 4x 1.7GHz Kryo 385 Silver (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 630 (710MHz) | PowerVR GE8320 MP2 (680MHz) |
| Performance (benchmark) | AnTuTu: 249124 (v7), 316449 (v8) Geekbench: 9026 (v4.4), 2092 (v5.1) GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | feature not registered |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| RAM memory | 6GB LPDDR4X | 3GB LPDDR3 |
| Internal storage | 128GB (111GB available) UFS 2.1 | 32GB (20GB available) eMMC 5.1 |
| External storage | Until 1TB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) | Until 512GB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| 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 | 1200/150 Mbps | 150/50 Mbps |
| Network technology | 2G, 3G, 4G | 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 | CDMA 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | CDMA 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO TD-SCDMA 1900/2000 UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | LTE Cat18 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 19, 20, 28, 29, 30) TD-LTE (38, 39, 40, 41) | LTE Cat4 (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28) TD-LTE (38, 40, 41) VoLTE |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary data network | 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 | 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 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | (dual camera) 12.2 megapixels 12MP telephoto f/2.41/3.4"52mm1.0µmAFOIS2x-optical-zoom | (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) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) 60 fps | Full HD (1920x1080) 30 fps |
| Flash | Dual-LED flash | LED flash |
| Focal aperture | f/1.5 (aperture) | f/1.8 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 26mm (lens) | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | 1/2.55" inches | 1/3.06" inches |
| Pixel size | 1.4µm pixel | 1µm pixel |
| Autofocus | PDAF on back camera and autofocus front camera | 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 | feature not registered | feature not registered |
📸 Front camera | ||
| Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | 8 megapixels | 13 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 3264x2448 pixels | 4128x3096 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | 2K UHD (2560x1440) | Full HD (1920x1080) |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | f/1.7 (aperture) | f/2.0 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 25mm (lens) | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | 1/3.6" inches | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | 1.22µm pixel | 1.12µm pixel |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| Loudspeaker | Stereo sound 32-bit/384kHz | Supported |
| Active noise cancellation | 2 microphones or more | 2 microphones or more |
| Radio | Not supported | FM |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, DivX, XviD | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, XviD, MKV |
| Audio formats | MP3, OGG, eAAC+, FLAC | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| USB | USB 3.1 Type-C, USB OTG On-The-Go | USB 2.0 Type-C reversible connector |
| Audio output | 3.5mm jack | 3.5mm jack |
| TV output | USB Type-C SlimPort® | Not supported |
| 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 [wifi5] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) + MIMO WiFi Direct, hotspot |
| DLNA | Not supported | Not supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS |
| NFC | Supported | Not supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor ANT+ Barometer Compass Face unlock 2D Fingerprint sensor (rear-mounted) Gyroscope Hall effect Heart rate Iris scanner Proximity sensor SpO2 | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Face unlock 2D Fingerprint sensor (rear-mounted) Gyroscope Proximity sensor |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 4000 mAh | 4000 mAh |
| Charger, watts | 15W Wired fast charging | 15W Wired fast charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | Qi wireless charging (Qi/PMA) | Not supported |
| Talk time autonomy | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Standby | feature not registered | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| 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: Black, Copper, Purple, Blue • S Pen Stylus (Bluetooth) • Samsung Pay • Samsung DeX | • Colors: Black • One UI 2.0 |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | feature not registered | 0.6W/kg (head), 1.27W/kg (body) |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |