Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Samsung Galaxy S4 Active (SGH-i537)
Side by side comparison between Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Samsung Galaxy S4 Active phones, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
6.2"
AMOLED
AMOLED
1080x2400
12.2
MP
MP
10mp
8GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
4000
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
5"
TFT
TFT
1080x1920
8
MP
MP
2.1mp
2GB
RAM
RAM
Quad-core
2600
mAh
mAh
(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!
35 Advantages 
5 Advantages | 21 Common items in both devices |
| 16 million |
| LED flash |
| PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras / Autofocus |
| Capacitive |
| Multitouch |
| Accelerometer |
| Ambient light sensor |
| +14 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 S21 | Galaxy S4 Active (SGH-i537) | |
| Change model | ||
| Model | Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S4 Active (SGH-i537) |
| Other model names | Galaxy S21 5G SM-G991B/DS | Galaxy S4 Active SGH-i537 (AT&T) |
| Country or region available |  (Global, International) |  USA |
| Brand | Samsung | Samsung |
| Release date | 1/29/2021, Announced: 1/14/2021 | 6/20/2013 |
| Depth | 7.9 millimeters (0.31 inches) | 9.1 millimeters (0.36 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 71.2 x 151.7 millimeters (2.8 x 5.97 in) | 71.3 x 139.7 millimeters (2.81 x 5.5 in) |
| Weight | 169 grams (5.92 ounces) | 153 grams (5.36 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Aluminum body, glass front, plastic back | Plastic body, glass front |
| Protection against water and others | IP68 certified: water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30min and dust-resistant | IP67 certified: dust proof and waterproof over 1 meter and 30min |
📲 Display | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S4 Active (SGH-i537) | |
| Display type | Dynamic AMOLED | TFT LCD |
| Screen size | 6.2" inches | 5" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~85.9% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~69.2% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1080x2400 pixels (20:9) | 1080x1920 pixels (16:9) |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 424 PPI | 441 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Gorilla Glass Victus | Gorilla Glass 2 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 60Hz |
| Display features | 1300nits[peak] HDR10+ Always-On Display | Not supported |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S4 Active (SGH-i537) | |
| System version | Android 11 | Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean |
| Firmware update | Android 15 | Android 5.0.1 Lollipop |
| User Interface | One UI 3.1 / 4.1 / 5.1 / 6.0 / 7.0 | TouchWiz UI |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S4 Active (SGH-i537) | |
| Chipset | 64bit: Samsung Exynos 2100 (5nm) | 32bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 (APQ8064AB) (28nm) |
| CPU | 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) | Quad-core, 1 processor: 4x 1.9GHz Krait 300 (Quad-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | ARM Mali-G78 MP14 (854MHz) | Qualcomm Adreno 320 (450MHz) |
| Performance (benchmark) | feature not registered | feature not registered |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S4 Active (SGH-i537) | |
| RAM memory | 8GB LPDDR5 | 2GB LPDDR3 |
| Internal storage | 128GB (104GB available) UFS 3.1 | 16GB (11.2GB available) eMMC 4.5 |
| External storage | Not supported | Until 64GB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S4 Active (SGH-i537) | |
| Dual-SIM | Dual-SIM Standby - Call active on one sim card | Not supported |
| SIM card | 2 slots (Dual-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) + e-SIM | 1 slot (Single-SIM) micro-SIM (3FF) |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 5000/1920 Mbps | 100/50 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 | CDMA 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO TD-SCDMA 1900/2000 UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 | UMTS 850/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | LTE Cat24 () TD-LTE () VoLTE | LTE Cat3 (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 17) |
| Primary 5G network | SA/NSA/Sub6 () | 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, SA/NSA, Sub6 | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE |
| Secondary 2G network | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | Not supported |
| Secondary 3G network | UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 | Not supported |
| Secondary 4G network | LTE Cat24 () TD-LTE () VoLTE | Not supported |
| Secondary data network | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A | Not supported |
📷 Camera | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S4 Active (SGH-i537) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | (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 | 8 megapixels |
| Main camera resolution | 4032x3024 pixels | 3264x2448 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/2.6 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 26mm (lens) | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | 1/1.76" inches | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | 1.8µm pixel | feature not registered |
| Autofocus | PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras | 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 only main camera |
| Camera extras | 4K@60fps 1080p@240fps 720p@960fps | feature not registered |
📸 Front camera | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S4 Active (SGH-i537) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | 10 megapixels | 2.1 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 3872x2592 pixels | 1920x1080 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) | Full HD (1920x1080) |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | f/2.2 (aperture) | f/2.4 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 26mm (lens) | 31mm (lens) |
| Sensor size | 1/3.24" inches | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | 1.22µm pixel | feature not registered |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S4 Active (SGH-i537) | |
| Loudspeaker | Stereo sound 32-bit/384kHz Dolby Atmos Tuned by AKG | Mono sound (not stereo) |
| Active noise cancellation | 2 microphones | 2 microphones or more |
| Radio | FM | Not supported |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, XviD, MKV | MP4, H.264, H.263, XviD, MKV |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S4 Active (SGH-i537) | |
| USB | USB 3.2 Type-C, USB OTG On-The-Go | MicroUSB 2.0, USB OTG On-The-Go |
| Audio output | Type-C reversible connector | 3.5mm jack |
| TV output | USB Type-C (reversible) | Micro-B USB MHL-2 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 + A2DP/LE | 4.0 + A2DP |
| 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 | Supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS |
| NFC | Supported | Supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S4 Active (SGH-i537) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Barometer Compass Face unlock 2D Fingerprint sensor (under display) Gesture Gyroscope Hall effect Proximity sensor | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Barometer Compass Gyroscope Proximity sensor |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S4 Active (SGH-i537) | |
| Battery type | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Removable) |
| Battery capacity | 4000 mAh | 2600 mAh |
| Charger, watts | 25W Wired fast charging USB Power Delivery 3.0 | 10W (5V/2A) Wired charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | 15W Qi wireless charging (Qi/PMA) 4.5W Reverse wireless charging | Not supported |
| Talk time autonomy | feature not registered | 17 hours |
| Standby | feature not registered | 312 hours (13 days) |
➕ Other features | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S4 Active (SGH-i537) | |
| Call control | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands |
| Messaging | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail | SMS (Swype), 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: Phantom Gray, White, Violet, Pink • Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard) • Samsung DeX | • Colors: Urban Grey, Dive Blue, Orange Flare • Dual Shot camera • LED notification • mDNIe • S-Voice • Group Play • Smart Stay eye tracking |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S4 Active (SGH-i537) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | feature not registered | 0.607W/kg (head), 1.219W/kg (body) |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | 0.456W/kg (head), 1.509W/kg (body) | 0.209W/kg (head), 0.277W/kg (body) |