Vivo V21 5G was launched in India last week. While it is a garden variety 5G smartphone, it comes with a few interesting specifications, such as a selfie camera with OIS (optical image stabilisation). It is, however, priced on the higher end of the spectrum, despite competing against the likes of the Realme X7 that was launched in February. In fact, the Vivo V21 5G costs significantly more than Realme’s offering. Is it worth dropping the extra money for the Vivo V21 5G when the Realme X7 5G gets the job done for a lot less? Let’s find out.
Vivo V21 5G vs Realme X7 price in India
| Model | Variant | Price |
| Vivo V21 5G | 8GB + 128GB | Rs 29,990 |
| 8GB + 256GB | Rs 32,990 | |
| Realme X7 | 6GB + 128GB | Rs 19,999 |
| 8GB + 128GB | Rs 21,999 |
The base Vivo V21 5G variant with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage costs an eye-watering Rs 29,990. The 8GB + 256GB configuration is even costlier at Rs 32,990. On the flip side, the Realme X7 retails at Rs 19,999 for 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, while the 8GB + 128GB option costs Rs 21,999. So the question here is, just what does the Vivo V21 5G offers that warrants such an increase in price? Time to check out the hardware.
Vivo V21 5G vs Realme X7 specifications
Processor, RAM, and storage
Under the hood, both the Vivo V21 5G and Realme X7 pack a MediaTek Dimensity 800U chipset. Real-world performance should, for the most part, remain identical across the board. While the former gets 8GB RAM as standard but with 128GB and 256GB storage options, the latter the storage to 128GB storage. Buyers have to choose between 6GB and 8GB RAM options for the Realme X7.
One would expect the Vivo V21 5G to offer some decent battery hardware, considering its casing price. That doesn’t seem to be the case, as the smartphone ships with a party 4,000mAh battery that supports fast charging at 33W. On the other hand, the Realme X7 comes with a slightly larger 4,300mAh cell that can be charged at 50W. At the very least, the Vivo V21 5G offers you UFS 2.2 storage, which is marginally faster than the UFS 2.1 used in the Realme X7. Furthermore, the Realme X7 ships with Android 10-based Realme UI out of the box, whereas the Vivo V21 5G upgrades that to Android 11-based FunTouch OS.
Display
Both the Vivo V21 5G and Realme X7 pack a 6.4-inch AMOLED screen. However, the Vivo V21 5G’s panel offers a few extra features, such as a 90Hz refresh rate, 500 nits peak brightness, and HDR10+ certification. Both smartphones offer an under-display fingerprint sensor under the screen. Based on the spec sheet alone, it is quite clear that the Vivo V21 5G has a better display overall.
Camera
Here’s where the Vivo V21’s outrageously high price somewhat begins to make sense. It offers three rear camera modules, a 64MP lens with OIS, 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2MP macro lens. There’s a 44MP selfie camera with OIS thrown in the mix too. While the Realme X7 offers four camera sensors at the back, the main 64MP lens lacks OIS. It is assisted by the same 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens and 2MP macro lens, coupled with a 2MP depth sensor. A 32MP module handles selfies and video calls. It is quite clear that the Vivo V21 5G has the better camera setup here.
Vivo V21 5G vs Realme X7 verdict
It is quite clear that Vivo has opted to put all of its eggs in the display and camera basket with the Vivo V21 5G. While its display and cameras certainly outclass the Realme X7, its battery capacity leaves a lot to be desired, especially for a 5G smartphone. The Realme X7 may compromise on some aspects, but it comes at an affordable price tag. Rs 10,000 is a significant amount, especially when buying a smartphone in the mid-range segment. There is no ‘wrong’ choice here, per se. If you’re looking for a smartphone with an excellent display and camera setup, the Vivo V21 5G is ideal for you. If you want to save a few bucks, the Realme X7 is a better candidate.
