Side-by-side technical data
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus
Comparison between Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G, Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus: camera, battery, fast charging, display, performance and colors, side by side. More phones from Samsung.
NeoTeo's verdict
Which of the two is the better buy
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus is the choice for maximum performance and connectivity, while the S24 Plus keeps an equally compelling display. The S21+ 5G makes sense only if it costs less.
The S26 Plus pulls ahead with an AnTuTu score of 3,142,032, versus 1,935,000 for the S24 Plus and 749,100 for the S21+ 5G. It also brings Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0; the S24 Plus reaches Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, while the S21+ 5G has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0. The S26 Plus is also the lightest at 190 g, compared with 197 g and 200 g.
The S24 Plus and S26 Plus share a 1,440 × 3,120 px display, 2,600 nits and 512 GB; the S21+ 5G has 1,080 × 2,400 px, 1,300 nits and 256 GB. The newer models offer 50 MP cameras and 3x optical zoom, versus 12 MP and 1.1x on the S21+ 5G. All three reach 55 h per cycle, but the S24 Plus and S26 Plus charge at 45 W instead of 25 W; the S26 Plus adds 20 W wireless charging.
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G
The Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G is the better buy only if it costs less; its 749,100 AnTuTu points trail substantially.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus is the better buy for performance and connectivity, with 3,142,032 AnTuTu points and Wi-Fi 7.
The verdict
Your pick: Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus, ahead on Performance & hardware and Connectivity.
| Category | Galaxy S21+ 5G | Galaxy S24 Plus | Galaxy S26 Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design & display | 8.1 | 8.8 | 8.6 |
| Performance & hardware | 6.5 | 8.5 | 9.2 |
| Camera | 6.7 | 7.8 | 7.8 |
| Connectivity | 7.5 | 9.0 | 9.5 |
| Battery & charging | 7.0 | 8.2 | 8.3 |
Which one is for you?
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus, if you care about…
- Microphone Count
- 3
- against 2 · 2
Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus, if you care about…
- AnTuTu Score
- 3,142,032
- against 749,100 · 1,935,000
- Wi-Fi Standards
- Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g
- against Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) · Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6E
- Bluetooth Version
- Bluetooth 6.0
- against Bluetooth 5.0 · Bluetooth 5.3
- Weight
- 190 g
- against 200 g · 197 g
Specification comparison
Performance
| Specification | Galaxy S21+ 5G | Galaxy S24 Plus | Galaxy S26 Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor Model | Samsung Exynos 2100 | Samsung Exynos 2400 | Samsung Exynos 2600 |
| Processor Process Size | 5 nm | 4 nm | 2 nm Best value |
| Graphics GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Xclipse 940 | Xclipse 550 |
| Storage Type | UFS 3.1 | UFS 4.0 Best value | UFS 4.1 Best value |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 2.91 GHz | 3.39 GHz | 3.8 GHz Best value |
| Maximum Storage Capacity | 256 GB | 512 GB Best value | 512 GB Best value |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,100 | 1,935,000 | 3,142,032 Best value |
| Geekbench 6 Single-Core | 1,334 | 2,192 | 3,445 Best value |
| Geekbench 6 Multi-Core | 3,339 | 7,003 | 11,611 Best value |
| CPU Description | Octa-core processor with Cortex-X1, Cortex-A78 and Cortex-A55 cores. | Octa-core or deca-core CPU configurations are listed depending on region. | 2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M |
| Processor Type | Octa-Core | Deca-Core | Octa-Core |
| 64-Bit Processor | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 12 GB Best value | 12 GB Best value |
| RAM Type | LPDDR5 | LPDDR5X Best value | LPDDR5X Best value |
| AnTuTu version | v10 | v11 | v11 |
| 3DMark Wild Life Extreme | — | 4,365 | 7,138 Best value |
Design
| Specification | Galaxy S21+ 5G | Galaxy S24 Plus | Galaxy S26 Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body Colors | Black, Gold, Silver, Red, Purple, Pink | Black, Grey, Purple, Yellow, Green, Orange, Cyan, Blue | Black, Blue, White, Silver, Gold, Purple, Cyan |
| Body Thickness | 7.8 mm | 7.7 mm | 7.3 mm Best value |
| Body Width | 75.6 mm | 75.9 mm | 75.8 mm |
| Body Height | 161.5 mm | 158.5 mm | 158.4 mm |
| Weight | 200 g | 197 g | 190 g Best value |
| Usable Surface | 88.3 % | 91.6 % Best value | 90.7 % |
| Body Materials | Glass, Aluminium Alloy, Plastic | Glass, Aluminium Alloy | Glass, Aluminium Alloy |
| Resistance Features | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 |
| Waterproof Depth | 1.5 m | 1.5 m | 1.5 m |
| Drop Resistance Class | — | — | A |
| Repairability Class | — | — | C |
| Drop Test Count | — | — | 270 |
Battery
| Specification | Galaxy S21+ 5G | Galaxy S24 Plus | Galaxy S26 Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Efficiency Rating | — | — | A |
| Battery Capacity | 4,800 mAh | 4,900 mAh Best value | 4,900 mAh Best value |
| Battery Type | Li-Polymer | Li-Ion | Li-Ion |
| Fast Charge Power | 25 W | 45 W Best value | 45 W Best value |
| Battery Features | Non-Removable, Rechargeable, Fast Charging, Wireless Charging, Reverse Wireless Charging, Battery Level Indicator | Non-Removable, Fast Charging, Wireless Charging, Reverse Wireless Charging, Reverse Charging, Bypass Charging, Rechargeable, Battery Level Indicator | Fast Charging, Wireless Charging, Reverse Wireless Charging, Reverse Charging, Bypass Charging, Rechargeable, Battery Level Indicator, Non-Removable |
| Battery Endurance | — | — | 55 h |
| Wireless charging power | 15 W | 15 W | 20 W Best value |
| Charge cycles | — | — | 1,200 |
| Reverse wireless charging power | 4.5 W | 4.5 W | 4.5 W |
Display
| Specification | Galaxy S21+ 5G | Galaxy S24 Plus | Galaxy S26 Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display Aspect Ratio | 20:9 | 19.5:9 | 19.5:9 |
| Display Technology | Dynamic AMOLED 2X | Dynamic AMOLED 2X | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Peak Display Brightness | 1,300 nits | 2,600 nits Best value | 2,600 nits Best value |
| Display Diagonal | 6.7″ | 6.7″ | 6.7″ |
| Display Horizontal Resolution | 1,080 px | 1,440 px Best value | 1,440 px Best value |
| Display Vertical Resolution | 2,400 px | 3,120 px Best value | 3,120 px Best value |
| Display Pixel Density | 394 ppi | 513 ppi | 516 ppi Best value |
| Display Refresh Rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Touch Sampling Rate | — | 240 Hz | 240 Hz |
| Display Contrast Ratio | 3,000,000 :1 | — | — |
| Display Features | Gorilla Glass Victus, HDR10+, HDR10, Always-On Display, Hole-Punch Notch, Capacitive Touch, Multi-Touch, Scratch Resistant, Frameless | Hole-Punch Notch, Gorilla Glass Victus 2, HDR10, HDR10+, Always-On Display, Variable Refresh Rate, LTPO, DC Dimming, DCI-P3, Capacitive Touch, Multi-Touch, Scratch Resistant, Frameless | Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Mohs Level 5, HDR10+, Always-On Display, Capacitive Touch, Multi-Touch, Hole-Punch Notch, Variable Refresh Rate, LTPO, DC Dimming, One Billion Colors, Scratch Resistant, Frameless |
Sensors
| Specification | Galaxy S21+ 5G | Galaxy S24 Plus | Galaxy S26 Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fingerprint Sensor Placement | Under Display | Under Display | Under Display |
Sensor
| Specification | Galaxy S21+ 5G | Galaxy S24 Plus | Galaxy S26 Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor Features | Fingerprint Sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity Sensor, Compass, Barometer, Hall Sensor, Light Sensor | Fingerprint Sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Hall Sensor, Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor | Fingerprint Sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity Sensor, Compass, Barometer, Hall Sensor, Light Sensor, Cooling System, Ultrasonic Proximity Sensor |
Software
| Specification | Galaxy S21+ 5G | Galaxy S24 Plus | Galaxy S26 Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 15 | Android 14 | Android 16 |
| OS Family | Android | Android | Android |
| OS Version | 15 | 14 | 16 Best value |
| OS Update Support | 2 years | 4 years | 7 years Best value |
| Google Services | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Widevine L1 | Yes | Yes | — |
Connectivity
| Specification | Galaxy S21+ 5G | Galaxy S24 Plus | Galaxy S26 Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIM Configurations | Nano-SIM + eSIM, Dual Nano-SIM + eSIM, Dual SIM Dual Standby Best value | Dual Nano-SIM, Nano-SIM + eSIM, Dual Nano-SIM + eSIM, Dual SIM Dual Standby, Dual SIM, eSIM Best value | Dual Nano-SIM, Nano-SIM + eSIM, Dual eSIM, Dual SIM Dual Standby, Dual SIM |
| Cellular Bands | 2G GSM 850, 2G GSM 900, 2G GSM 1800, 2G GSM 1900, 3G UMTS B850, 3G UMTS B900, 3G UMTS 1700 AWS, 3G UMTS 1900, 3G UMTS 2100, 4G LTE B1, 4G LTE B2, 4G LTE B3, 4G LTE B4, 4G LTE B5, 4G LTE B7, 4G LTE B8, 4G LTE B12, 4G LTE B13, 4G LTE B14, 4G LTE B18, 4G LTE B19, 4G LTE B20, 4G LTE B25, 4G LTE B26, LTE B28, 4G LTE B30, 4G LTE B38, 4G LTE B39, 4G LTE B40, 4G LTE B41, 4G LTE B46, 4G LTE B48, 4G LTE B66, 4G LTE B71, 5G NR n2, 5G NR n5, 5G NR n25, 5G NR n41, 5G NR n66, 5G NR n71, 5G NR n260, 5G NR n261 | 2G GSM 850, 2G GSM 900, 2G GSM 1800, 2G GSM 1900, 3G UMTS B1, 3G UMTS B2, 3G UMTS B3, 3G UMTS B4, 3G UMTS B5, 3G UMTS B8, 4G LTE B1, 4G LTE B2, 4G LTE B3, 4G LTE B4, 4G LTE B5, 4G LTE B7, 4G LTE B8, 4G LTE B12, 4G LTE B13, 4G LTE B17, 4G LTE B18, 4G LTE B19, 4G LTE B20, 4G LTE B25, 4G LTE B26, 4G LTE B28A, 4G LTE B28B, 4G LTE B32, 4G LTE B38, 4G LTE B39, 4G LTE B40, 4G LTE B41, 4G LTE B66, 5G NR n1, 5G NR n2, 5G NR n3, 5G NR n5, 5G NR n7, 5G NR n8, 5G NR n12, 5G NR n20, 5G NR n25, 5G NR n26, 5G NR n28a, 5G NR n28b, 5G NR n38, 5G NR n40, 5G NR n41, 5G NR n66, 5G NR n75, 5G NR n77, 5G NR n78 | 2G GSM 850, 2G GSM 900, 2G GSM 1800, 2G GSM 1900, 3G UMTS B850, 3G UMTS B900, 3G UMTS 1700 AWS, 3G UMTS 1900, 3G UMTS 2100, 4G LTE B1, 4G LTE B2, 4G LTE B3, 4G LTE B4, 4G LTE B5, 4G LTE B7, 4G LTE B8, 4G LTE B12, 4G LTE B13, 4G LTE B17, 4G LTE B18, 4G LTE B19, 4G LTE B20, 4G LTE B25, 4G LTE B26, LTE B28, 4G LTE B32, 4G LTE B38, 4G LTE B39, 4G LTE B40, 4G LTE B41, 4G LTE B66, 5G NR n1, 5G NR n2, 5G NR n3, 5G NR n5, 5G NR n7, 5G NR n8, 5G NR n12, 5G NR n20, 5G NR n25, 5G NR n26, 5G NR n28, 5G NR n38, 5G NR n40, 5G NR n41, 5G NR n66, 5G NR n75, 5G NR n77, 5G NR n78 |
| Cellular Technologies | GSM, CDMA, HSPA, EVDO, LTE, 5G | GSM, CDMA, HSPA, EVDO, LTE, 5G | GSM, CDMA, HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Wi-Fi Standards | Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g Best value |
| Wi-Fi Features | Dual Band, Wi-Fi Hotspot, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display | Tri-Band, Dual Band, Wi-Fi Hotspot, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display, MIMO Best value | Tri-Band, Dual Band, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Hotspot, Wi-Fi Display, MIMO Best value |
| Bluetooth Version | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 6.0 Best value |
| Bluetooth Profiles | A2DP, LE | A2DP, LE, EDR, HID | A2DP, LE |
| Navigation Systems | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS, NavIC Best value |
| Connectivity Features | Samsung DeX, UWB, NFC, FM Radio, USB Charging, USB Mass Storage, USB OTG, USB Type-C, USB Host 3.1, Computer Sync, OTA Sync, Tethering, eSIM, ANT+ | Samsung DeX, UWB, NFC, USB Type-C, DisplayPort output, USB OTG, eSIM, VoLTE, VoWiFi, Tethering, OTA Sync, USB Charging, USB Mass Storage, Computer Sync, Satellite Connectivity | USB Charging, USB Mass Storage, USB Type-C, USB OTG, USB Host 3.2, NFC, eSIM, Computer Sync, OTA Sync, Tethering, VoLTE, UWB, Satellite Connectivity, Samsung DeX, DisplayPort output, ANT+ |
| USB Version | USB 3.2 | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | USB 3.2 |
| SAR American Head | 0.65 W/kg Best value | 1.16 W/kg | 1.15 W/kg |
| SAR American Body | 0.95 W/kg | 0.84 W/kg Best value | 1.17 W/kg |
| SAR (EU) head | 0.54 W/kg Best value | 0.74 W/kg | 0.78 W/kg |
| SAR (EU) body | 1.33 W/kg | 1.25 W/kg | 1.22 W/kg Best value |
| Max. download speed | 3,000 Mbps | 9,640 Mbps | 14,790 Mbps Best value |
| Max. upload speed | 422 Mbps | 2,550 Mbps | 4,900 Mbps Best value |
Audio
| Specification | Galaxy S21+ 5G | Galaxy S24 Plus | Galaxy S26 Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microphone Count | 2 | 3 Best value | 2 |
| Audio Features | Stereo Speakers, Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Noise-Cancellation Microphone, A2DP, LE, AVRCP, DIP, HFP, HID, HSP, MAP, PAN, OPP, PBAP/PAB, ANT+ | Stereo Speakers, Noise-Cancellation Microphone, A2DP, LE, HID, EDR | Stereo Speakers, Hi-Res Audio, Noise-Cancellation Microphone, A2DP, LE |
Technical
| Specification | Galaxy S21+ 5G | Galaxy S24 Plus | Galaxy S26 Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch price | — | 1,159 € | — |
| Model numbers | SM-G996B, SM-G996B/DS, SM-G996U, SM-G996U1, SM-G996W, SM-G996N, SM-G9960 | SM-S926B, SM-S926B/DS, SM-S926U, SM-S926U1, SM-S926W, SM-S926N, SM-S9260, SM-S926E, SM-S926E/DS | SM-S947B, SM-S947B/DS, SM-S947U, SM-S947U1, SM-S947W, SM-S947N, SM-S9470, SM-S947E, SM-S947E/DS |
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