It’s that time of year again, when Apple and Samsung go head to head. With the release of the iPhone 13, many people will be debating whether they should buy one of Apple’s current flagships or one of Samsung’s Galaxy S21 devices.
We’ll have complete reviews of Apple’s latest flagship smart phones later this month, but in the meanwhile, here’s a quick recap of where things stand in terms of specs.,
Design and Durability
The iPhone 13 is nearly identical to its predecessor, with the exception of a revamped camera module, a smaller top notch, and some new color options. It’s a five-color glossy glass sandwich with an aluminum chassis: black, blue, pink, white, and red.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max has a more refined aesthetic thanks to stainless steel rails and a frosted glass back. Blue, gold, gray, and white are the four more modest hues available.
While the entire Samsung S21 portfolio has been updated, the entry-level model has been given a unique facelift. It has a gray, pink, purple, and white matte plastic back. The camera module is built into the aluminum frame as well.
Both the iPhone 13 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 series have an IP68 rating, meaning they can resist a half-hour submersion in 4.9 feet of water. Aside from that, there are a few important differences in terms of durability.
The S21 has a plastic body and a Gorilla Glass display, whilst the 21 Ultra has a Gorilla Glass backplate. The displays and rear panels of the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro Max are made of Apple’s proprietary Ceramic Shield glass. Apple claims it’s more scratch-resistant than other reinforced glass displays, and we’d agree, but it’s a lot more prone to scratches. Hairline scratches on iPhone 12 models that employ the same glass have been reported on Apple’s forums.
Hardware
When it comes to processing power, iPhones have had the upper hand for years, and it doesn’t appear that this trend is about to change.
Apple’s A15 Bionic chipset is used in both the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro Max, however the Pro models feature more powerful GPUs. 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage capacities are available on the iPhone 13 and 13 mini. If that isn’t enough, the Pro models come with 1TB of storage.
The S21 and S21 Ultra run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 mobile platform. The S21 features storage options of 128GB and 256GB, with a 512GB option available on the S21 Ultra.
Because Apple’s OS is more efficient than Android and requires fewer resources, it does not list the RAM in its devices. The Ultra model in the S21 series has 12GB of RAM, which is likely overkill for 99 percent of users. The Apple and Samsung flagships both have plenty of processing power to handle any work.
Display
This is when things start to get interesting. The iPhone 13 has a 6.1-inch OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate and a brilliant display. The iPhone 13 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch OLED display with a dynamic refresh rate of 10Hz to 120Hz, which is significantly brighter.
Samsung, on the other hand, has a long history of producing stunning AMOLED displays, and the S21 series is no exception. The Galaxy S21 has a 6.2-inch display with a variable refresh rate that ranges from 48 to 120 frames per second.
With a 6.8-inch display, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra offers the largest screen of the three. The S21, like the iPhone 13 Pro Max, can go as low as 10Hz when reading and then leap back up to 120Hz when gaming.
While Samsung has a little advantage in terms of display resolution, the differences are minor. The displays are all so clear that the greater pixel density would be impossible to detect with the naked eye. Apple’s panels, on the other hand, are far brighter than Samsung’s Galaxy S21 series, making them better for HDR video and use in bright light.
Cameras
Both Samsung and Apple have the greatest camera sensors in the US, but the two firms take distinct approaches to image. Here’s a breakdown of what’s going on.
Two new 12MP sensors are included in the iPhone 13. The primary lens sports an f/1.6 aperture and sensor-shift optical image stabilization, as well as 100 percent focus pixels. With an f/2.4 aperture and 2x optical zoom out, the ultrawide lens boasts a 120-degree field of view. The phone’s front camera is a 12MP TrueDepth sensor with an f/2.2 aperture.
The camera module on the iPhone 12 Pro Max is slightly different, with three sensors. For greater low-light performance, both the 12MP primary and ultrawide lenses have slightly wider apertures than the iPhone 13. The primary lens has an aperture of f/1.5, while the ultrawide lens has an aperture of f/1.8. A 12MP telephoto lens with an f/2.8 aperture is also included. The stack includes a LiDAR scanner for night mode portraiture, faster autofocus in low light, and AR applications, as well as a 6x optical zoom range, sensor-shift stabilization on all three lenses, and sensor-shift stabilization on all three lenses.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 has a triple rear camera stack. The main telephoto lens contains a 64MP sensor and an f/1.8 aperture, as well as dual phase detection autofocus (AF), 3X hybrid optic zoom, and optical image stabilization (OIS). A 12MP wide-angle lens with an f/1.8 aperture, dual pixel AF, and OIS is also included. The trio is completed with a 12MP ultra-wide lens with an f/2.2 aperture. The front-facing camera has a resolution of 10 megapixels, an aperture of f/2.2, and dual pixel autofocus.
The quad camera setup of the Galaxy S21 Ultra is completely different. To begin, there’s a 108MP sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, phase detection AF, and optical image stabilization. For super-sharp 12MP photographs, it enables “nona-binning.” Samsung’s 100X Space Zoom function is enabled via a pair of 10MP telephoto lenses with f/2.4 and f/4.9 apertures that work in tandem with the laser AF sensor. Both telephoto lenses offer dual pixel autofocus and optical image stabilization. The picture is completed by a 12MP ultra-wide lens with an f/2.2 aperture and dual pixel AF fills. A 40MP front-facing selfie camera with an f/2.2 aperture and phase detection autofocus peeks out of the phone’s hole punch.
Special Features
Special features, like as the LiDAR scanner on the iPhone Pros or the S Pen on the Galaxy S21 Ultra, are usually reserved for the most costly versions from Apple and Samsung.
Samsung’s stylus may appear to be a niche feature to the uninformed, but once you try it, you’ll be hooked. On the S21 Ultra, the S Pen makes it simple to take handwritten notes, edit images, and draw fun animations.
Finally, there’s MagSafe. It’s a wonderful addition that gives 15W maximum wireless charging to all iPhone 13 models, but it’s essentially simply leveling the playing field with Samsung’s 15W wireless charging via the universal Qi standard. In sum, we’re not convinced it’s a better option than normal wireless charging on Android.
