iPhone 13 vs Samsung Galaxy S21: A Closer Look At 2021’s Best Phones

Apple’s flagship smartphone took some important strides with the iPhone 13 family.

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Now that the iPhone 13 has arrived, it’s safe to say that Apple’s biggest competition (at least for now) comes in the form of the Galaxy S21 lineup. Despite being released at the beginning of 2021, the Galaxy S21 arguably remains the best Android phone of the year.

But with so many choices, which do you choose? Samsung has three different devices filling out its flagship lineup, while there are four different iPhone 13 models to consider. There’s a lot to dissect there, so if you’re in the market for a new phone, we’ll break down which of these is the best for you.

iPhone 13 vs Samsung Galaxy S21

Kicking things off, let’s take a look at how the two entry-level models stack up against each other with the iPhone 13 vs Galaxy S21.

iPhone 13 vs Samsung Galaxy S21: Displays

Samsung continues to make some of the best smartphone displays on the market.

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iPhone 13: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 2532 x 1170, 86% screen-to-body ratio, 800 nits (normal), 1200 nits (peak), 60Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, HDR10
Galaxy S21: 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2400 x 1080, 87.2% screen-to-body ratio, 1300 nits (peak), 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+

When comparing the iPhone 13’s display to its predecessor, there’s practically no difference save for increased brightness in normal usage. The iPhone 13 doesn’t gain any of the awesome ProMotion functionality, as that has been reserved for the 13 Pro and Pro Max models. Instead, we get the same 6.1-inch display that we have become accustomed to over the past few years.

Move over to the Galaxy S21, and it’s another story. The 6.2-inch AMOLED display may not be as impressive as the Galaxy S21 Ultra, but it still offers a crisp and crystal clear experience. The Galaxy S21 also has the added benefit of a 120Hz refresh rate, something that is not available on Apple’s entry-level iPhone. Samsung also offers an arguably sleeker design overall, as there’s no notch to speak of; instead, you’ll find a hole-punch cutout at the top of the screen.

iPhone 13 vs Samsung Galaxy S21: Cameras

The Galaxy S21 has a more versatile camera system overall, but both are tops in their class.

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iPhone 13: 12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS / 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide)
Galaxy S21: 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76″, 1.8µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS / 64 MP, f/2.0, 29mm (telephoto), 1/1.72″, 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 1.1x optical zoom, 3x hybrid zoom / 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55″ 1.4µm, Super Steady video

Samsung and Apple continue to go head-to-head in the camera department, and that includes both companies’ base models. The iPhone 13 is equipped with a dual 12MP setup comprised of both a wide-angle lens with sensor-shift optical image stabilization (OIS), and a 13mm ultrawide camera with a 120-degree field of view.

The Galaxy S21 also makes use of a 12MP wide and 12MP ultrawide angle camera sensor, but it also has the added benefit of sporting a 64MP telephoto lens. This allows you to get up to 29mm away from a subject, along with OIS and up to 3x with hybrid zoom.

iPhone 13 vs Samsung Galaxy S21: Battery Life

iPhone battery life remains king, but you’ll get more flexible charging options out of the Galaxy … [+] S21.

iPhone 13: 3095mAh, 23W Fast Charging (50% in 30 min), MagSafe 15W wireless charging, 7.5W Qi wireless charging
Galaxy S21: 4800mAh, 25W Fast Charging, 15W Qi/PMA wireless charging, 4.5W reverse wireless charging

If it weren’t for Apple’s magic with software optimization, battery life wouldn’t even offer much of a conversation. However, thanks to Apple’s introduction of MagSafe charging, along with 23W fast charging, the iPhone 13 can last easily throughout the day. And you likely won’t find yourself reaching for a charger until the end of the day.

As for the Galaxy S21, we expected battery life to just blow away the iPhone 13, but that’s not the case. Because of the higher refresh rate and Samsung’s continued troubles with optimizing the processor and software, the results are pretty much the same. The Galaxy S21 does get a slight edge, as it has more to handle while providing similar results.

iPhone 13 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S21+

You might be wondering why we aren’t comparing the Galaxy S21+ to the iPhone 13 Pro Max. The reasoning is simple, as we’re providing the comparisons based more on price point, and not just screen size.

iPhone 13 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S21+: Displays

The iPhone 13’s color-accurate AMOLED display finally has 120Hz variable refresh rate, known as … [+] ProMotion.

iPhone 13 Pro: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 2532 x 1170, 86% screen-to-body ratio, 1000 nits (normal), 1200 nits (peak), 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, HDR10
Galaxy S21+: 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2400 x 1080, 88.3% screen-to-body ratio, 1300 nits (peak), 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+

Taking screen size out of the equation, the Galaxy S21+ gets a leg up on the iPhone 13 Pro with its HDR10+ support along with higher 1300 nits of peak brightness. But the iPhone 13 Pro battles back with Dolby Vision support, while offering a higher “normal” brightness, coming in at 1000 nits.

Both devices offer faster 120Hz refresh rates, with Apple joining the fray thanks to the implementation of ProMotion in the 13 Pro and Pro Max. But the 13 Pro gets another tip of the cap, as ProMotion offers a variable refresh rate, whereas the Galaxy S21+ uses either 60Hz or 120Hz, with no middle ground.

iPhone 13 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S21+: Cameras

With the iPhone 13 Pro lineup, Apple’s camera systems now rival DSLRs better than any other … [+] smartphone.

iPhone 13 Pro: 12 MP, f/1.5, 26mm (wide), 1.9µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS / 12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom / 12 MP, f/1.8, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), PDAF
Galaxy S21+: 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76″, 1.8µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS / 64 MP, f/2.0, 29mm (telephoto), 1/1.72″, 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 1.1x optical zoom, 3x hybrid zoom / 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55″ 1.4µm, Super Steady video

This is where the iPhone 13 Pro starts to pull away for good when compared to the Galaxy S21+. Both devices offer triple camera setups, complete with 12MP wide and ultrawide sensors. And both devices include telephoto lenses, but it’s in the finer details where Apple pulls away. With the ability to record in the new cinematic mode, along with awesome Macro Mode, Apple’s shown that you can do some pretty great things without chasing megapixels.

The Galaxy S21+ is no slouch though, as the 64MP telephoto lens works to provide a 3x hybrid zoom, along with a 30x digital zoom. This blows out the 10x digital zoom offered by the iPhone 13 Pro, even if Samsung has a tendency of over-saturating its images. The S21+ can also record 8K footage, however, you might run into over-heating issues if you try to record for more than a minute or two.

iPhone 13 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S21+: Battery Life

Both the iPhone 13 Pro and Galaxy S21+ will last you all day.

iPhone 13 Pro: 3095mAh, 23W Fast Charging (50% in 30 min), MagSafe 15W wireless charging, 7.5W Qi wireless charging
Galaxy S21+: 4800mAh, 25W Fast Charging, 15W Qi/PMA wireless charging, 4.5W reverse wireless charging

This part of the comparison isn’t really a fair fight, even with both devices offering a 120Hz refresh rate. The Galaxy S21+ may fall short, but it’s also half-an-inch larger in terms of the display. So while the iPhone 13 Pro may provide better battery life, this isn’t an oranges-to-oranges comparison.

iPhone 13 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Apple’s best vs Samsung’s best. This is the battle that everyone wants to know about, and if you’re interested in any “pro” devices, it’s the 13 Pro Max vs Galaxy S21 Ultra.

iPhone 13 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra: Displays

The iPhone 13 Pro Max has all the same display advantages, just in a bigger package.

iPhone 13 Pro Max: 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 2532 x 1170, 87.4% screen-to-body ratio, 1000 nits (normal), 1200 nits (peak), 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, HDR10
Galaxy S21 Ultra: 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 3200 x 1440, 89.8% screen-to-body ratio, 1300 nits (peak), 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+

Both of these displays are massive, with just a 0.1-inch difference between the two. Samsung’s S21 Ultra offers a higher resolution, along with screen-to-body ratio of almost 90%. The display also reaches a peak brightness of 1300 nits, and was the first Samsung to boast a variable refresh rate, maxing out at 120Hz.

Apple may be late to the refresh rate game, but it’s for good reason, as ProMotion also provides a variable refresh rate, going from 10Hz to 120Hz. Peak brightness falls a bit short (by 100 nits), but the “normal” brightness is higher at 1000 nits. And even with the lower-resolution display compared to the S21 Ultra, you really won’t be able to tell the difference unless you look at the screen with a microscope.

iPhone 13 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra: Cameras

If you do a lot of 4K video, go with iPhone 13 Pro. If photos are your thing, the Galaxy S21+ may be … [+] better.

Getty Images for Samsung

iPhone 13 Pro Max: 12 MP, f/1.5, 26mm (wide), 1.9µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS / 12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom / 12 MP, f/1.8, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), PDAF
Galaxy S21 Ultra: 108 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.33″, 0.8µm, PDAF, Laser AF, OIS / 10 MP, f/4.9, 240mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.24″, 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom / 10 MP, f/2.4, 72mm (telephoto), 1/3.24″, 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom / 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55″, 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video

It’s so difficult to sit here and say that one of these cameras is better than the other. We know it’s a “cop out” answer, but these are both incredible camera systems. It’s the equivalent of having to choose between Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5; both are just fantastic. Apple’s trio of 12MP sensors may seem outdated on paper, but the truth is that this really is the best camera system we have ever seen on an iPhone. Between Cinematic Mode, ProRAW, ProRes, and all of the extra features packed into the camera, the 13 Pro Max has taken massive strides to replacing your trusty DSLR.

The same sentiment rings true for the Galaxy S21 Ultra, with its 108MP primary camera and 10MP periscope telephoto lens. But then, we also have another 10MP telephoto camera, along with a 12MP ultra-wide. The biggest advantage to opting for the Galaxy S21 Ultra comes in the ability to record 8K video at 24fps, but just like the Galaxy S21+, you’ll have to be careful not to run into over-heating the device.

iPhone 13 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra: Battery Life

OMOTESANDO, TOKYO, JAPAN – 2021/09/27: iPhone 13 Pro Max smartphones seen displayed inside an Apple … [+] Store in Omotesando, Tokyo. (Photo by Stanislav Kogiku/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

iPhone 13 Pro Max: 4352mAh, 27W Fast Charging (50% in 30 min), MagSafe 15W wireless charging, 7.5W Qi wireless charging
Galaxy S21 Ultra: 5000mAh, 25W Fast Charging, 15W Qi/PMA wireless charging, 4.5W reverse wireless charging

On paper, it would look as though the Galaxy S21 Ultra is the clear-cut winner when it comes to battery life. But after seeing what kind of battery champ the iPhone 12 Pro Max was, paired with the fact that Apple included a larger battery in the 13 Pro Max, it’s almost a no-contest. Charging speeds are practically the same across the board, but Apple’s MagSafe is arguably a better wireless charging method comparatively.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra sports a 5,000mAh cell, along with 25W wired charging and 15W Qi charging. But you have to make sure you find the *right* Qi charger to take full advantage. Plus, the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s processor and display draw quite a bit more power compared to the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Software and hardware optimization strikes again.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-personal-shopper/2021/11/04/iphone-13-vs-samsung-galaxy-s21/