Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus (SM-G955A) vs Samsung Galaxy A21s (SM-A217M/DS)
Side by side comparison between Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy A21s phones, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
6.2"
AMOLED
AMOLED
1440x2960
12.2
MP
MP
8mp
4GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
3500
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
6.5"
PLS
PLS
720x1600
48
MP
MP
13mp
4GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
5000
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better phone? Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus (SM-G955A)
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!
26 Advantages 
7 Advantages | 26 Common items in both devices |
| 4GB LPDDR4 / 4GB LPDDR4X |
| 64GB (51GB available) / 64GB (48GB available) |
| Until 1TB microSD, microSDXC / Until 512GB microSD, microSDXC |
| 60Hz |
| 16 million |
| LED flash |
| Only digital zoom |
| +19 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 S8 Plus (SM-G955A) | Galaxy A21s (SM-A217M/DS) | |
| Model | Galaxy S8 Plus (SM-G955A) | Galaxy A21s (SM-A217M/DS) |
| Other model names | AT&T Galaxy S8+ G955A (Snapdragon), Samsung Dream 2 | Galaxy A21s SM-A217M/Dual-Sim (64GB + 4GB RAM) |
| Country or region available |  USA |     (Latin America), Brazil, Chile, Colombia |
| Brand | Samsung | Samsung |
| Release date | 4/21/2017, Announced: 3/29/2017 | 6/2/2020, Announced: 5/15/2020 |
| Depth | 8.1 millimeters (0.32 inches) | 8.9 millimeters (0.35 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 73.4 x 160 millimeters (2.89 x 6.3 in) | 75.3 x 163.7 millimeters (2.96 x 6.44 in) |
| Weight | 173 grams (6.06 ounces) | 192 grams (6.72 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Aluminum frame, glass front/back | 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 S8 Plus (SM-G955A) | Galaxy A21s (SM-A217M/DS) | |
| Display type | Super AMOLED | TFT PLS |
| Screen size | 6.2" inches | 6.5" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~83.1% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~82.8% (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) | 531 PPI | 270 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Gorilla Glass 5 | Not supported |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Display features | HDR10 | Not supported |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| Galaxy S8 Plus (SM-G955A) | Galaxy A21s (SM-A217M/DS) | |
| System version | Android 7.0 Nougat | Android 10 |
| Firmware update | Android 9.0 Pie | Android 12 |
| User Interface | feature not registered | One UI 2.0 / 3.1 / 4.1 |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Galaxy S8 Plus (SM-G955A) | Galaxy A21s (SM-A217M/DS) | |
| Chipset | 64bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (MSM8998) (10nm) | 64bit: Samsung Exynos 850 (8nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core, 2 processors: 4x 2.35GHz Kryo 280 (Quad-core) 4x 1.9GHz Kryo 280 (Quad-core) | Octa-core, 1 processor: 8x 2GHz ARM Cortex-A55 (Octa-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | Qualcomm Adreno 540 (670-710MHz) | ARM Mali-G52 MP1 |
| Performance (benchmark) | feature not registered | AnTuTu: 124232 (v8) |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Galaxy S8 Plus (SM-G955A) | Galaxy A21s (SM-A217M/DS) | |
| RAM memory | 4GB LPDDR4 | 4GB LPDDR4X |
| Internal storage | 64GB (51GB available) UFS 2.0 | 64GB (48GB available) eMMC 5.1 |
| External storage | Until 1TB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) | Until 512GB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Galaxy S8 Plus (SM-G955A) | Galaxy A21s (SM-A217M/DS) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Dual-SIM Standby - Call active on one sim card (dedicated slot) |
| SIM card | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) | 2 slots (Dual-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 1024/150 Mbps | 300/150 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 | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | TD-SCDMA 1900/2000 UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 | UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | LTE Cat16 (1,2,3,4,5,7,8,12,18,19,20,28,29,30) TD-LTE (38,39,40,41) | LTE Cat7/13 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 66) TD-LTE (38, 40, 41) |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary data network | GPRS, EDGE, TD-SCDMA, UMTS, TD-HSDPA, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A |
| 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 Cat7/13 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 66) TD-LTE (38, 40, 41) |
| Secondary data network | Not supported | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A |
📷 Camera | ||
| Galaxy S8 Plus (SM-G955A) | Galaxy A21s (SM-A217M/DS) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | 12.2 megapixels | (quad camera) 48 megapixels 8MP ultrawide f/2.21/4"1.12µm123° 2MP macro f/2.4 2MP depth f/2.4 |
| Main camera resolution | 4032x3024 pixels | 8000x6000 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) 30 fps | Full HD (1920x1080) 30 fps |
| Flash | LED flash | LED flash |
| Focal aperture | f/1.7 (aperture) | f/2.0 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 26mm lens | 26mm lens |
| Sensor size | 1/2.55" inches | 1/2" inches |
| Pixel size | 1.4µm pixel | 0.8µm 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 | Only digital 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 S8 Plus (SM-G955A) | Galaxy A21s (SM-A217M/DS) | |
| 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/2.2 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 25mm lens | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | 1/3.6" inches | 1/3.1" inches |
| Pixel size | 1.22µm pixel | 1.12µm pixel |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| Galaxy S8 Plus (SM-G955A) | Galaxy A21s (SM-A217M/DS) | |
| Loudspeaker | Supported | Mono sound (not stereo) |
| 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, DivX, XviD | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, XviD, MKV |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| Galaxy S8 Plus (SM-G955A) | Galaxy A21s (SM-A217M/DS) | |
| 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 (reversible) | 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 | Supported | Not supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou |
| NFC | Supported | Not supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Galaxy S8 Plus (SM-G955A) | Galaxy A21s (SM-A217M/DS) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor ANT+ Barometer Compass Face unlock Fingerprint sensor (rear-mounted) Gyroscope Hall effect Heart rate Iris scanner Proximity sensor SpO2 | Accelerometer Compass Face unlock Fingerprint sensor (rear-mounted) Gyroscope Proximity sensor Virtual ambient light sensor |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| Galaxy S8 Plus (SM-G955A) | Galaxy A21s (SM-A217M/DS) | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 3500 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charger, watts | 15W (9V/1.67A) Wired fast charging Quick Charge 2 | 15W (9V/1.67A) Wired fast charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | Qi wireless charging (Qi/PMA) | Not supported |
| Talk time autonomy | 34 hours (1.4 days) | feature not registered |
| Standby | 343 hours (14.3 days) | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| Galaxy S8 Plus (SM-G955A) | Galaxy A21s (SM-A217M/DS) | |
| 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, Silver, Blue, Gold, Orchid Gray • Samsung DeX (desktop experience) • Curved edge screen • Corning Gorilla Glass 5 back panel • Samsung Gear VR compatible • Samsung Pay • 32bit/192kHz audio | • Colors: Black, White, Blue, Red |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Galaxy S8 Plus (SM-G955A) | Galaxy A21s (SM-A217M/DS) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | feature not registered | 0.54W/kg (head), 1.14W/kg (body) |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |