The Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus 5G and the Galaxy S21 Plus 5G are two of Samsung's flagship phones released about one year apart (March 2020 and January 2021 respectively). Let's see how these two phones compare and what Samsung did or did not upgrade.

Camera

Starting with the camera, both models offer a 3 lens rear camera system: a 12-megapixel main, 64MP telephoto and 12MP ultrawide. On paper, this system is exactly the same, but the improved software in the Galaxy S21 Plus fixes some of the issues that you'll find with the S20 Plus camera. Both smartphones take great photos, but the S21 Plus gets the edge because of the software tweaks.

Battery

You’ll also find a higher battery capacity on the Galaxy S21 Plus over the S20 Plus. The S21 Plus increases capacity by 7% at 4,800 mAh compared to the S20 Plus’ 4,500 mAh battery. This isn't a major upgrade, but considering that the S20 Plus already offered really strong all day battery life, you can depend on the S21 Plus to slightly outlast it on a single charge. Both models support fast charging.

Display

Both phones have about the same display size, with the Galaxy S21 Plus measuring slightly bigger at 6.8-inches compared to the 6.7-inch screen on the Galaxy S20 Plus. However, the S20 Plus boasts a better display resolution overall with 3200 x 1440 pixels compared to the S21 Plus 2400 x 1080 pixels. That's an increase of 525 pixels per inch giving the S20 Plus a noticeable sharper screen than the S21 Plus.

Storage Options

If you need a phone with bigger storage options, then the Samsung S20 Plus is actually the better choice than the more recent S21 Plus. The S20 Plus offers up to 512GB compared to just 256GB on the S21 Plus. The S20 Plus also has the advantage in RAM at 12GB compared to 8GB on the S21 Plus, making it the better option for multitasking and a smoother gaming experience.

Processor

You'll find an upgraded processor chip on the Galaxy S21 Plus with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, as opposed to the 865 found on the S20 Plus. Theoretically, this should make the Galaxy S21 Plus a more capable device, but because the S20 Plus has a bigger RAM size, both phones handle very similarly and you shouldn't have any trouble completing complex tasks on either.

Overall, you're likely going to get more value out of your money by going with the Galaxy S20 Plus as you'll find similar processing performance, a more impressive display, more storage options and only slightly less battery capacity. You'll also still have 5G network capabilities with both phones. However, if you need better camera features or feel that it's worth paying more for a slightly better battery, then the Galaxy S21 Plus is still a good choice.