Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer
Side by side comparison between Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 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
6.39"
AMOLED
AMOLED
1080x2340
48
MP
MP
20mp
12GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
3300
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!
21 Advantages 
8 Advantages | 28 Common items in both devices |
| Aluminum body, glass front, plastic back / Aluminum frame, glass front/back |
| Dynamic AMOLED / Super AMOLED |
| 16 million |
| Digital and optical zoom |
| PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras / LDAF/PDAF: laser/phase detection autofocus |
| HDR photo/video on both cameras / HDR photo on both cameras |
| Capacitive |
| +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 S21 | Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer | |
| Change model | ||
| Model | Galaxy S21 | Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer |
| Other model names | Galaxy S21 5G SM-G991B/DS | Xiaomi Mi 9 Transparent edition 12GB RAM M1902F1A, 小米9 透明尊享版 |
| Country or region available |  (Global, International) |  China, (Global, International) |
| Brand | Samsung | Xiaomi |
| Release date | 1/29/2021, Announced: 1/14/2021 | 3/1/2019 |
| Depth | 7.9 millimeters (0.31 inches) | 7.61 millimeters (0.3 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 71.2 x 151.7 millimeters (2.8 x 5.97 in) | 74.67 x 157.5 millimeters (2.94 x 6.2 in) |
| Weight | 169 grams (5.92 ounces) | 173 grams (6.06 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Aluminum body, glass front, plastic back | Aluminum frame, glass front/back |
| Protection against water and others | IP68 certified: water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30min and dust-resistant | Not supported |
📲 Display | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer | |
| Display type | Dynamic AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Screen size | 6.2" inches | 6.39" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~85.9% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~85.2% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1080x2400 pixels (20:9) | 1080x2340 pixels |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points | Capacitive Multitouch |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 424 PPI | 403 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Gorilla Glass Victus | Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | feature not registered |
| Display features | 1300nits[peak] HDR10+ Always-On Display | feature not registered |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer | |
| System version | Android 11 | Android 9.0 Pie |
| Firmware update | Android 14 | feature not registered |
| User Interface | One UI 3.1 / 4.1 / 5.1 / 6.0 | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer | |
| Chipset | 64bit: Samsung Exynos 2100 (5nm) | 64bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (SM8150) (7nm) |
| 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) | Octa-core, 3 processors: 1x 2.84GHz Kryo 485 (Single-core) 3x 2.42GHz Kryo 485 (Triple-core) 4x 1.78GHz Kryo 485 (Quad-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | ARM Mali-G78 MP14 (854MHz) | Qualcomm Adreno 640 (585MHz) |
| Performance (benchmark) | feature not registered | feature not registered |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer | |
| RAM memory | 8GB LPDDR5 | 12GB LPDDR4X |
| Internal storage | 128GB (104GB available) UFS 3.1 | 256GB (237GB available) UFS 2.1 |
| External storage | Not supported | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer | |
| Dual-SIM | Dual-SIM Standby - Call active on one sim card | Dual-SIM Standby - Call active on one sim card |
| SIM card | 2 slots (Dual-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) + e-SIM | 2 slots (Dual-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 5000/1920 Mbps | 1024/150 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 | CDMA 800, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO TD-SCDMA 1900/2000 UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO TD-SCDMA 1900/2000 UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | LTE Cat24 () TD-LTE () VoLTE | LTE Cat16/13 VoLTE Global version: LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28) TD-LTE (Bands 38, 39, 40) China version: LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17) TD-LTE (Bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41) |
| 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, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, TD-SCDMA, UMTS, TD-HSDPA, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A |
| Secondary 2G network | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| 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 | GPRS, EDGE |
📷 Camera | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer | |
| 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 | (triple camera) 48 megapixels 16MP ultrawide f/2.213mm1/3.0"1.0µmPDAF 12MP telephoto f/2.254mm1/3.6"1.0µmPDAF2x-optical-zoom |
| Main camera resolution | 4032x3024 pixels | 8000x6000 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | 8K UHD (7680x4320) 24 fps | 4K UHD (3840x2160) 60 fps |
| Flash | LED flash | Dual-LED flash |
| Focal aperture | f/1.8 (aperture) | f/1.5 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 26mm (lens) | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | 1/1.76" inches | 1/2" inches |
| Pixel size | 1.8µm pixel | 0.8µm pixel |
| Autofocus | PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras | LDAF/PDAF: laser/phase detection autofocus |
| Touch focus | Supported | Supported |
| Image stabilization | OIS: Optical stabilization | EIS: Digital stabilization |
| Zoom | Digital and optical zoom | Digital and optical 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 S21 | Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer | |
| Front camera (secondary) | 10 megapixels | 20 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 3872x2592 pixels | 5184x3840 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 | 1/3.24" inches | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | 1.22µm pixel | 0.9µm pixel |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer | |
| Loudspeaker | Stereo sound 32-bit/384kHz Dolby Atmos Tuned by AKG | Supported |
| 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.265, H.264, H.263, XviD, MKV |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer | |
| USB | USB 3.2 Type-C, USB OTG On-The-Go | USB 2.0 Type-C, USB OTG On-The-Go |
| Audio output | Type-C reversible connector | Type-C jack with 3.5mm jack adapter |
| 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 | Supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou, QZSS |
| NFC | Supported | Supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Barometer Compass Face unlock Fingerprint sensor (under display) Gesture Gyroscope Hall effect Proximity sensor | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Face unlock Fingerprint sensor (under display) Gyroscope Proximity sensor |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer | |
| Battery type | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 4000 mAh | 3300 mAh |
| Charger, watts | 25W Wired fast charging USB Power Delivery 3.0 | 27W Wired fast charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | 15W Qi wireless charging (Qi/PMA) 4.5W Reverse wireless charging | Qi wireless charging |
| Talk time autonomy | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Standby | feature not registered | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer | |
| 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: Phantom Gray, White, Violet, Pink • Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard) • Samsung DeX | • Colors: Piano Black, Lavender Violet, Ocean Blue • MIUI 10 • HDR10/DCI-P3 display • Sapphire glass camera cover • Quick Charge 4+ • Fast wireless charging 20W |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Galaxy S21 | Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | 0.456W/kg (head), 1.509W/kg (body) | feature not registered |