Samsung galaxy s21 plus vs iphone 13 pro

NetworkTechnology GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (Dual SIM model only) GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM)   CDMA 800 / 1900 & TD-SCDMA CDMA 800 / 1900 3G bands HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100   CDMA2000 1xEV-DO CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 4G bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - SM-G998U1 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2643, A2644, A2645   1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - SM-G998B 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2484, A2641 5G bands 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-G998U1 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2643, A2644   1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G998B 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - A2484   1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2641 Speed HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL) HSPA, LTE-A, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps

Main CameraModules 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 12 MP, f/1.5, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.9µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS
12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), PDAF, 1/3.5", OIS, 3x optical zoom
12 MP, f/1.8, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.5", PDAF
TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth) Features LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) Video 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, Cinematic mode (1080p@30fps), stereo sound rec.

Samsung galaxy s21 plus vs iphone 13 pro

Robert Triggs / Android Authority

Apple launched its 2021 flagships in September, comprising four smartphones once again. Ranging from the Mini to the Pro Max, the iPhone 13 series appears to be an iterative update.

Samsung Galaxy S21 vs iPhone 13


Design and features

Samsung galaxy s21 plus vs iphone 13 pro

Luke Pollack / Android Authority

The iPhone 13 and Galaxy S21 series are as feature-packed as ever. The Galaxy S21 Ultra and iPhone 13 Pro Max take the crown as the phones to beat. However, the rest of the handsets in the two lineups are impressive as well.

The iPhone 13 series remains largely unchanged on the surface, apart from a smaller notch. All four keep the same display sizes and overall footprint, and the better cameras are reserved for the Pro models. This time around, the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max get another leg up with 120Hz displays that will provide a smoother experience than the 60Hz panels found on the iPhone 13 and 13 Mini.

Related: The best Samsung Galaxy S21 cases you can buy

It was a pretty significant design overhaul in the case of the Galaxy S21, though. Samsung replaced the unsightly camera bump from the Galaxy S20 with a “contour cut” camera bump that integrates directly into the metal frame. The Galaxy S21 range features 120Hz display refresh rates as well. However, Samsung dropped the resolution of the standard Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus to Full HD+ while keeping the S21 Ultra at QHD+.

Samsung galaxy s21 plus vs iphone 13 pro

David Imel / Android Authority

As far as specs go, you’ll get flagship performance no matter which phone you pick. The latest Apple chip, the A15 Bionic, could very well be the fastest smartphone processor around and beats the Snapdragon 888-toting Galaxy S21 in performance benchmarks. All seven phones can comfortably handle anything you throw at them.

You'll get flagship performance no matter which phone you pick.

The biggest selling point of Apple and Samsung flagships is usually the camera. These phones are consistently part of the best phone camera roundups year after year, and 2021 is no different.

Samsung galaxy s21 plus vs iphone 13 pro

Robert Triggs / Android Authority

You’ll get multiple camera lenses with every phone. The iPhone 13 series retains a lot of camera features from the last generation. The dual cameras of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini are entirely unchanged. There’s only an aesthetic difference this time around, with the cameras placed diagonally.

See also: The best camera phones you can get

As before, the Pro editions add a telephoto lens to the mix. While the specs sheet stays the same in the case of the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max, the ultra-wide camera has been upgraded from an ƒ/2.4 aperture to ƒ/1.8, which should make it perform better in low light. There are also new features on the software side. A new Cinematic Mode brings bokeh to video, and you’ll now get Night Mode on all the lenses, not just the main one.

Samsung galaxy s21 plus vs iphone 13 pro

Robert Triggs / Android Authority

The Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus also have 12MP wide-angle and ultra-wide sensors, along with a 64MP telephoto shooter. However, if you want even more cameras, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is the phone to get. It comes with a 108MP wide-angle, two 12MP telephoto units, and a 12MP ultra-wide shooter.

We know that these are among the best camera phones you can get. Of course, the more expensive options like the Galaxy S21 Ultra, the iPhone 13 Pro, and Pro Max are the best of the lot. While the smaller models don’t have as many cameras, they are still extremely capable shooters that won’t fail to impress.

Read more: Camera shootout — iPhone 13 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs Pixel 6 Pro


Price

Samsung galaxy s21 plus vs iphone 13 pro

David Imel / Android Authority

  • Galaxy S21: $799 / €849 / £769
  • S21 Plus: $999 / €1,049 / £949
  • S21 Ultra: $1,199 / €1,249 / £1,149

  • iPhone 13 Mini: $699 / €799 / £679
  • iPhone 13: $799 / €899 / £779
  • iPhone 13 Pro: $999 / €1,149 / £949
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max: $1,099 / €1,249 / £1,049

Apple didn’t change the starting prices of the iPhone 13 series. However, it’s worth noting that it dropped the 64GB option in favor of 128GB. So every base-level iPhone 13 comes with double the storage compared to the previous generation. You can also bump the storage up to 1TB with the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max.

With the Galaxy S21, Samsung took a huge step back from the exorbitant pricing of the Galaxy S20 series. Each phone starts at $200 lower than the previous generation and is more in line with competing devices like the iPhone 13.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra is more expensive than the iPhone 13 Pro Max.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra, at $1,199, is a little more expensive than the iPhone 13 Pro Max. You get a different camera setup, a higher display resolution, and S Pen support to make that difference more palatable.

The identically-priced iPhone 13 Pro and Galaxy S21 Plus are about as even as it gets. The regular iPhone 13 and Galaxy S21 are also priced the same. However, an argument could be made for the more premium build quality of the former, giving it a leg up over the “glasstic” Samsung phone. On the flip side, the Galaxy S21 comes with a higher display refresh rate, which is something you’ll only get with the Pro iPhones.

There’s no Samsung equivalent for the iPhone 13 Mini. If you want a small phone, the Mini is the best option around, and it helps that it’s the cheapest of the lot.

Specs

iPhone 13 MiniiPhone 13

Display

iPhone 13 Mini

5.4-inch Super Retina XDR OLED
2,340 x 1,080 resolution
HDR, True Tone
Wide color (P3)
2,000,000:1 contrast ratio
800 nits max brightness (typical); 1,200 nits max brightness (HDR)
Ceramic Shield front

iPhone 13

6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED
2,532 x 1,170 resolution
HDR, True Tone
Wide color (P3)
2,000,000:1 contrast ratio
800 nits max brightness (typical); 1,200 nits max brightness (HDR)
Ceramic Shield front

Processor

iPhone 13 Mini

Apple A15 Bionic

iPhone 13

Apple A15 Bionic

Storage

iPhone 13 Mini

128 / 256 / 512GB

iPhone 13

128 / 256 / 512GB

Battery

iPhone 13 Mini

Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W
Up to 50% charge in around 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher (sold separately)

MagSafe:
Wireless charging up to 15W
Magnet array
Alignment magnet
Accessory Identification NFC
Magnetometer

iPhone 13

Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W
Up to 50% charge in around 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher (sold separately)

MagSafe:
Wireless charging up to 15W
Magnet array
Alignment magnet
Accessory Identification NFC
Magnetometer

Cameras

iPhone 13 Mini

Rear:
-Wide-angle 12MP, ƒ/1.6, OIS, 7-element lens
-Ultra-wide 12MP, ƒ/2.4, 120° field of view, 5-element lens, lens correction

2x optical zoom out, digital zoom up to 5x, Night Mode, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 3

Video:
HDR video with Dolby Vision up to 30fps
4K video at 24fps, 30fps, or 60fps
1080p HD video at 30fps or 60fps
720p HD video at 30fps
OIS for video (Wide)
2x optical zoom out, digital zoom up to 3x

Front:
-TrueDepth 12MP, ƒ/2.2

Night Mode, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 3

iPhone 13

Rear:
-Wide-angle 12MP, ƒ/1.6, OIS, 7-element lens
-Ultra-wide 12MP, ƒ/2.4, 120° field of view, 5-element lens, lens correction

2x optical zoom out, digital zoom up to 5x, Night Mode, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 3

Video:
HDR video with Dolby Vision up to 30fps
4K video at 24fps, 30fps, or 60fps
1080p HD video at 30fps or 60fps
720p HD video at 30fps
OIS for video (Wide)
2x optical zoom out, digital zoom up to 3x

Front:
-TrueDepth 12MP, ƒ/2.2

Night Mode, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 3

Connectivity

iPhone 13 Mini

5G (sub‑6GHz and mmWave)
Gigabit LTE with 4x4 MIMO and LAA
Wi‑Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO
Bluetooth 5
Ultra Wideband chip for spatial awareness
NFC
Express Cards with power reserve
GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou
Digital compass
Wi‑Fi
Cellular
iBeacon microlocation

iPhone 13

5G (sub‑6GHz and mmWave)
Gigabit LTE with 4x4 MIMO and LAA
Wi‑Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO
Bluetooth 5
Ultra Wideband chip for spatial awareness
NFC
Express Cards with power reserve
GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou
Digital compass
Wi‑Fi
Cellular
iBeacon microlocation

Sensors

iPhone 13 Mini

Face ID
Barometer
Three‑axis gyro
Accelerometer
Proximity sensor
Ambient light sensor

iPhone 13

Face ID
Barometer
Three‑axis gyro
Accelerometer
Proximity sensor
Ambient light sensor

Software

iPhone 13 Mini

iOS 15

iPhone 13

iOS 15

Durability

iPhone 13 Mini

IP68

iPhone 13

IP68

Dimensions and weight

iPhone 13 Mini

131.5 x 64.2 x 7.65mm
141g

iPhone 13

146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65mm
174g

Colors

iPhone 13 Mini

Pink, Blue, Midnight, Starlight, and Product Red

iPhone 13

Pink, Blue, Midnight, Starlight, and Product Red

In the box

iPhone 13 Mini

iPhone
USB‑C to Lightning cable
Documentation

iPhone 13

iPhone
USB‑C to Lightning cable
Documentation

iPhone 13 ProiPhone 13 Pro Max

Display

iPhone 13 Pro

6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED
2,532 x 1,170 resolution
ProMotion 120Hz
HDR, True Tone
Wide color (P3)
2,000,000:1 contrast ratio
1,000 nits max brightness (typical); 1200 nits max brightness (HDR)
Ceramic Shield front

iPhone 13 Pro Max

6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED
2,778 x 1,284 resolution
ProMotion 120Hz
HDR, True Tone
Wide color (P3)
2,000,000:1 contrast ratio
1,000 nits max brightness (typical); 1200 nits max brightness (HDR)
Ceramic Shield front

Processor

iPhone 13 Pro

Apple A15 Bionic

iPhone 13 Pro Max

Apple A15 Bionic

Storage

iPhone 13 Pro

128 / 256 / 512GB and 1TB

iPhone 13 Pro Max

128 / 256 / 512GB and 1TB

Battery

iPhone 13 Pro

Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W
Up to 50% charge in around 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher (sold separately)

MagSafe:
Wireless charging up to 15W
Magnet array
Alignment magnet
Accessory Identification NFC
Magnetometer

iPhone 13 Pro Max

Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W
Up to 50% charge in around 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher (sold separately)

MagSafe:
Wireless charging up to 15W
Magnet array
Alignment magnet
Accessory Identification NFC
Magnetometer

Cameras

iPhone 13 Pro

Rear:
-Wide-angle 12MP, ƒ/1.5, dual OIS, 7-element lens, 100% Focus Pixels, Night Mode
-Ultra-wide 12MP, ƒ/1.8, 120° field of view, 5-element lens, lens correction, Night Mode
-Telephoto 12MP, ƒ/2.8, dual OIS, 6-element lens

3x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out, 6x optical zoom range, digital zoom up to 15x, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 3, Apple ProRAW

Video:
HDR video with Dolby Vision up to 60fps
4K video at 24fps, 30fps, or 60fps
1080p HD video at 30fps or 60fps
720p HD video at 30fps
OIS for video (Wide)
3x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; 6x optical zoom range, digital zoom up to 9x

Front:
-TrueDepth 12MP, ƒ/2.2

Night Mode, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 3

iPhone 13 Pro Max

Rear:
-Wide-angle 12MP, ƒ/1.5, dual OIS, 7-element lens, 100% Focus Pixels, Night Mode
-Ultra-wide 12MP, ƒ/1.8, 120° field of view, 5-element lens, lens correction, Night Mode
-Telephoto 12MP, ƒ/2.8, dual OIS, 6-element lens

3x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out, 6x optical zoom range, digital zoom up to 15x, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 3, Apple ProRAW

Video:
HDR video with Dolby Vision up to 60fps
4K video at 24fps, 30fps, or 60fps
1080p HD video at 30fps or 60fps
720p HD video at 30fps
OIS for video (Wide)
3x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; 6x optical zoom range, digital zoom up to 9x

Front:
-TrueDepth 12MP, ƒ/2.2

Night Mode, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 3

Connectivity

iPhone 13 Pro

5G (sub‑6GHz and mmWave)
Gigabit LTE with 4x4 MIMO and LAA
Wi‑Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO
Bluetooth 5
Ultra Wideband chip for spatial awareness
NFC
Express Cards with power reserve
GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou
Digital compass
Wi‑Fi
Cellular
iBeacon microlocation

iPhone 13 Pro Max

5G (sub‑6GHz and mmWave)
Gigabit LTE with 4x4 MIMO and LAA
Wi‑Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO
Bluetooth 5
Ultra Wideband chip for spatial awareness
NFC
Express Cards with power reserve
GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou
Digital compass
Wi‑Fi
Cellular
iBeacon microlocation

Sensors

iPhone 13 Pro

Face ID
LiDAR Scanner
Barometer
Three‑axis gyro
Accelerometer
Proximity sensor
Ambient light sensor

iPhone 13 Pro Max

Face ID
LiDAR Scanner
Barometer
Three‑axis gyro
Accelerometer
Proximity sensor
Ambient light sensor

Software

iPhone 13 Pro

iOS 15

iPhone 13 Pro Max

iOS 15

Durability

iPhone 13 Pro

IP68

iPhone 13 Pro Max

IP68

Dimensions and weight

iPhone 13 Pro

146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65mm
204g

iPhone 13 Pro Max

160.8 x 78.1 x 7.65mm
240g

Colors

iPhone 13 Pro

Graphite, Gold, Silver, and Sierra Blue

iPhone 13 Pro Max

Graphite, Gold, Silver, and Sierra Blue

In the box

iPhone 13 Pro

iPhone
USB‑C to Lightning cable
Documentation

iPhone 13 Pro Max

iPhone
USB‑C to Lightning cable
Documentation

Samsung Galaxy S21Samsung Galaxy S21 PlusSamsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Display

Samsung Galaxy S21

6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED
Flat FHD+
2,400 x 1,080 at 421ppi
Adaptive 120Hz refresh rate
HDR10+ certified

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus

6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED
Flat FHD+
2,400 x 1,080 at 394ppi
Adaptive 120Hz refresh rate
HDR10+ certified

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED
Curved WQHD+
3,200 x 1,440 at 515ppi
Adaptive 120Hz refresh rate
HDR10+ certified

Processor

Samsung Galaxy S21

Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 or Samsung Exynos 2100

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus

Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 or Samsung Exynos 2100

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 or Samsung Exynos 2100

RAM

Samsung Galaxy S21

8GB

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus

8GB

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

12 or 16GB

Storage

Samsung Galaxy S21

128 or 256GB

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus

128 or 256GB

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

128, 256, or 512GB

MicroSD

Samsung Galaxy S21

No

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus

No

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

No

Battery

Samsung Galaxy S21

4,000mAh
Fast wired and wireless charging
Reverse wireless charging

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus

4,800mAh
Fast wired and wireless charging
Reverse wireless charging

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

5,000mAh
Fast wired and wireless charging
Reverse wireless charging

Cameras

Samsung Galaxy S21

Rear:
- Wide-angle: 12MP, ƒ/1.8, 1.8µm with OIS and dual-pixel AF
- Telephoto: 64MP, ƒ/2.0, 0.8µm with OIS and phase-detection AF
- Ultra-wide: 12MP, ƒ/2.2, 1.4µm with 120-degree FoV

3x hybrid optical/digital zoom
30x "Space Zoom"

Front:
- 10MP, ƒ/2.2, 1.22µm, with dual-pixel AF

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus

Rear:
- Wide-angle: 12MP, ƒ/1.8, 1.8µm with OIS and dual-pixel AF
- Telephoto: 64MP, ƒ/2.0, 0.8µm with OIS and phase-detection AF
- Ultra-wide: 12MP, ƒ/2.2, 1.4µm with 120-degree FoV

3x hybrid optical/digital zoom
30x "Space Zoom"

Front:
- 10MP, ƒ/2.2, 1.22µm, with dual-pixel AF

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Rear:
- Wide-angle: 108MP, ƒ/1.8, 0.8µm with OIS and phase-detection AF
- Telephoto: 10MP, ƒ/2.4, 1.22µm with OIS, dual-pixel AF, and 3x optical zoom
- Telephoto: 10MP, ƒ/4.9, 1.22µm with OIS, dual-pixel AF, and 10x optical zoom
- Ultra-wide: 12MP, ƒ/2.2, 1.4µm with dual-pixel AF and a 120-degree FoV
- Laser AF sensor

10x optical zoom
100x "Space Zoom"

Front:
- 40MP, ƒ/2.2, 0.7µm, with phase-detection AF

Connectivity

Samsung Galaxy S21

4G LTE support
5G (sub-6GHz, SA and NSA, mmWave)
Wi-Fi 6E support
Bluetooth 5.0

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus

4G LTE support
5G (sub-6GHz, SA and NSA, mmWave)
Wi-Fi 6E support
Bluetooth 5.0

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

4G LTE support
5G (sub-6GHz, SA and NSA, mmWave)
Wi-Fi 6E support
Bluetooth 5.2

S Pen support

Samsung Galaxy S21

No

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus

No

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Yes

Operating System

Samsung Galaxy S21

One UI 3.1
Android 11

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus

One UI 3.1
Android 11

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

One UI 3.1
Android 11

Water resistance

Samsung Galaxy S21

IP68

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus

IP68

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

IP68

Security

Samsung Galaxy S21

Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, face unlock

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus

Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, face unlock

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, face unlock

Color

Samsung Galaxy S21

128GB in Phantom Violet, Phantom Gray, Phantom Pink, and Phantom White

256GB only in Phantom Gray

Future colors: Phantom Gold and Phantom Red

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus

128GB in Phantom Violet, Phantom Silver, and Phantom Black

256GB only in Phantom Black

Future colors: Phantom Gold and Phantom Red

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

128 GB in Phantom Silver and Phantom Black

256 and 512GB in Phantom Black

Future colors: Phantom Titanium, Phantom Navy, and Phantom Brown

Dimensions and weight

Samsung Galaxy S21

71.2 x 151.7 x 7.9mm
171g

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus

75.6 x 161.5 x 7.8mm
202g

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

75.6 x 165.1 x 8.9mm
229g

Samsung Galaxy S21 vs iPhone 13: Which should you buy?

Samsung galaxy s21 plus vs iphone 13 pro

Robert Triggs / Android Authority

It’s usually easy to declare a winner when we compare phones, at least in a few categories, but it’s never simple when it comes to Apple vs Samsung. As always, it essentially boils down to which ecosystem you are already invested in. You’ll get excellent performance with all seven phones, and the cameras are fantastic as well.

Read also: How to switch from iPhone to Android

The feature set is ultimately quite similar, even if the wrapping is entirely different. Neither side does anything that would convince someone to jump across the fence. The Galaxy S21 Ultra’s S Pen support is unique in this lineup. However, an iPhone user who wasn’t swayed by the Galaxy Note won’t find that a compelling reason this time either.

Samsung galaxy s21 plus vs iphone 13 pro

Robert Triggs / Android Authority

For the undecided, it depends on what you’re looking for. The Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus feature larger screens than their iPhone 13 series counterparts. The S21 has a better camera setup on paper and a higher display refresh rate than the standard iPhone 13, but the latter has a more premium build. For the best flagships out there, it’s neck and neck between the S21 Ultra and the iPhone 13 Pro Max.

It’s also worth mentioning that Pro versions of the iPhones come with as much as 1TB of storage, while the S21 Ultra tops out at 512GB. The iPhones also feature Apple’s Face ID technology, which some prefer over the in-display fingerprint scanners found on the S21 devices. But on the other hand, you get slightly faster wired charging with Samsung’s flagships (25W vs 20W) and an arguably nicer design thanks to a smaller display cutout, among other things.

If you're looking for a compact phone, the iPhone 13 Mini is right up your alley.

The phone that makes an excellent case for itself, though, is the iPhone 13 Mini. If you’re looking for a small phone, its closest competition in the size category is 2020’s Pixel 4a or the Asus Zenfone 8.

Both Android and iOS are fully mature platforms at this point, and Samsung’s 2021 flagships are among the best around. If you are considering a switch, these are two series to jump between. Or you might want to consider Samsung’s latest, the Galaxy S22 series.


That’s it for our Samsung Galaxy S21 vs iPhone 13 comparison! Which one are you considering?

iPhone 13 vs Samsung Galaxy S21: Which one are you considering?

1063 votes

Is Samsung S21+ better than the iPhone 13 Pro Max?

S21 Ultra has the zoom advantage, but the iPhone steps up what the main camera can do. The iPhone 13 Pro Max might be a big upgrade when it comes to battery capacity and other features, but it cannot quite match the camera versatility of the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Is Samsung S21 better than iPhone 13?

The Galaxy S21 offers a much nicer screen and fancier specs, while the iPhone has better performance and a more reliable camera system.

Is iPhone 13 Pro better than Samsung?

The iPhone 13 Pro beats the Galaxy S22 Plus in the performance, video performance, and battery departments. However, the Galaxy S22 Plus has a bigger, better display and faster charging speed. The camera performance and software are a close call.

Is Samsung S22 better or iPhone 13?

Where the iPhone 13 beats the S22, however, is its higher screen resolution - 2532 by 1170 pixels, as opposed to 2340 by 1080 on the S22. In addition, the iPhone 13 has higher pixels-per-inch (457 PPI) against the Galaxy S22 (422 PPI), which might make the former's screen appear a tiny bit sharper.