Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy S21 5G vs. Apple iPhone 15 Plus
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 5G | Apple iPhone 15 Plus | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-01-29 | 2023-09-22 | iPhone 15 Plus is significantly newer, potentially benefiting from more modern software and hardware technologies. |
| Dimensions | 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm | 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm | iPhone 15 Plus is larger and wider, potentially less comfortable for one-handed use but offering a larger screen. Both have similar thickness. |
| Weight | 169g | 201g | S21 5G is significantly lighter, making it easier to hold for extended periods. iPhone 15 Plus is noticeably heavier. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.2" | 6.7" | iPhone 15 Plus has a larger screen, better for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 | 1290 x 2796 | iPhone 15 Plus offers a sharper, more detailed display due to higher resolution. |
| PPI | 421 | 460 | iPhone 15 Plus has slightly sharper images with a higher pixel density. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks; visual experience should be similar. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | S21 5G offers smoother animations and scrolling. iPhone 15 Plus is less fluid. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 2000 nits | iPhone 15 Plus is much brighter, significantly improving outdoor visibility in direct sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm) | iPhone 15 Plus has a significantly more powerful chip, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,100 | 1,470,000 | iPhone 15 Plus has nearly double the benchmark score, indicating a major performance advantage in all aspects. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Apple GPU (5-core) | Apple GPU in the iPhone 15 Plus will likely offer superior graphics performance for gaming and demanding applications. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4000 mAh | 4383 mAh | iPhone 15 Plus has a slightly larger battery, which may translate into slightly longer battery life under similar usage conditions. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 20W Fast Charging | S21 5G charges slightly faster with 25W, although the difference in real-world usage might be marginal. |
| Features | Reverse, Wireless, No Charger | MagSafe, Qi, Battery capacity rumored | S21 5G has reverse wireless charging and faster charging, but no charger in the box. iPhone 15 Plus has MagSafe and Qi, but battery capacity is rumored. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard | 12MP, f/1.8, 1/1.76", 1.8µm | 48MP, f/1.6, 1/1.5", 1.0µm | iPhone 15 Plus has a much higher resolution sensor, larger sensor and wider aperture for better detail and low-light performance. |
| Telephoto/Portrait | 64MP, f/2.0, 1/1.72", 0.8µm | None | S21 5G offers a dedicated telephoto lens for zoom capabilities. iPhone 15 Plus relies on digital zoom, which may result in lower-quality images at zoom. |
| Selfie | 10MP, f/2.2, 1/3.2", 1.22µm | 12MP, f/1.9, 1.12µm | iPhone 15 Plus has a higher resolution selfie camera with a wider aperture, likely capturing more detail and performing better in low light. |
| Wide Angle/Macro | 12.2MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55", 1.4µm | 12MP, f/2.4, pixel size unknown | S21 5G's wide-angle lens has a wider aperture. Missing the pixel size makes further analysis on the Apple phone's wide lens impossible. |
| Video | Up to 8K@24fps | Up to 4K@60fps | S21 5G can record in 8K for high-resolution video, while the iPhone 15 Plus is limited to 4K. Both include HDR and EIS. |
| DxOMark Mobile | 111 | 145 | iPhone 15 Plus has significantly higher photo and video capabilities according to DxOMark scores. |
| DxOMark Selfie | 132 | Not tested | S21 5G has a very high selfie score, while the iPhone 15 has not had a selfie camera score conducted at this time. |
| Camera Features | Triple camera | Dual camera | S21 5G has a dedicated telephoto lens. iPhone 15 Plus uses digital zoom. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (up to 15) | iOS 17 (up to 18) | Different OS experience: Android vs. iOS ecosystems. iPhone 15 Plus offers more recent OS and long term updates. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 | Both support fast Wi-Fi 6 standards. S21 5G has added features such as Wi-Fi direct & display. iPhone 15 Plus has Wi-Fi MIMO. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 LE | 5.3 LE | iPhone 15 Plus has newer Bluetooth version, likely with better connectivity and efficiency. S21 5G has a more comprehensive set of supported features/profiles. |
| GPS | Multiple GNSS | Multiple GNSS | S21 5G includes more GNSS systems for potentially better location accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual Nano SIM | Nano SIM + eSIM | iPhone 15 Plus offers flexibility with eSIM, while S21 5G provides simultaneous dual SIM use, if needed. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256 GB | 128/256/512 GB | iPhone 15 Plus offers higher storage option, while the base options are the same |
| RAM | 8 GB | 6 GB | S21 5G has more RAM for smoother multitasking and better gaming performance. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone offers expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos | 3 microphones | S21 5G has Dolby Atmos for enhanced audio, while iPhone 15 Plus has an additional microphone for improved noise cancellation. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Fingerprint sensor | Basic Security Features | S21 5G has a fingerprint sensor for convenient biometric security. iPhone 15 Plus has basic security features, but lack of info makes it difficult to draw conclusions |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Gorilla Glass Victus | Unknown | S21 5G offers a higher end screen protection, the Apple phone does not specify, making it difficult to draw conclusions |
| Sensors | Multiple | Multiple | S21 5G has a fingerprint sensor and more environmental sensors, such as Geomagnetic. Both have standard proximity and motion sensors. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G Advantages:
- Lighter and More Compact: Easier to handle and carry.
- 120Hz Refresh Rate: Smoother scrolling and animations for a more fluid user experience.
- Telephoto Camera: Dedicated telephoto lens for better zoom capabilities.
- 8K Video Recording: Offers higher resolution video recording for professional content creation.
- Reverse Wireless Charging: Can wirelessly charge other devices.
- Fingerprint Sensor: Convenient biometric security.
- More RAM: Provides enhanced multitasking.
- More GPS systems: Improved location accuracy.
- Wider Bluetooth profile support: Wide range of audio profiles and device connectivity.
- Dolby Atmos: Enhances audio experience.
Apple iPhone 15 Plus Advantages:
- Newer and More Powerful Chipset: Significantly faster performance for demanding tasks and games.
- Larger and Sharper Display: Better for media consumption and multitasking.
- Brighter Screen: Superior outdoor visibility.
- Higher Resolution Main Camera: Captures more detailed images.
- eSIM Support: Added flexibility with digital SIMs.
- Superior DxOMark Camera Scores: Both photo and video.
- Newer Bluetooth Version: Improved connectivity and efficiency.
- Improved front-facing camera: higher resolution with a wider aperture.
- Larger Storage Options: Up to 512GB for more files and apps.
- Improved Noise Cancellation: an additional microphone for improved noise reduction.
Trade-offs:
- Samsung: sacrifices some processing power and display brightness for a lighter and more compact design, a dedicated zoom lens and higher refresh rate, and a more traditional set of connectivity features.
- Apple: prioritizes performance and display quality over portability and includes a more limited set of connectivity features. Sacrifices a dedicated telephoto lens in favor of a better main camera.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G:
- Ideal User: Users who value a compact, lightweight phone with a smooth display and versatile camera system. Good for everyday tasks, social media, and photography.
- Use Cases:
- Content creators needing 8K video and a triple camera setup, but not relying on a heavy work flow on the phone.
- Users who prefer a smoother 120hz experience.
- Users who want a lightweight phone with the ability to reverse charge other devices.
- Gamers who value more ram and a high refresh rate.
Apple iPhone 15 Plus:
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize top-tier performance, a large vibrant screen, and excellent camera capabilities. Good for heavy multitasking, gaming, and professional photography/videography.
- Use Cases:
- Professional content creators seeking high image quality and processing power.
- Gamers needing the most powerful processing power.
- Users who want to enjoy multimedia on a large and crisp screen.
- Users who will benefit from the ease of use of the Apple ecosystem.
Price-to-Value: The iPhone 15 Plus is a premium device with a higher price tag, but a significantly higher performance and higher camera performance. The S21 5G is older and cheaper, but a solid choice if budget is an issue and user wants the high refresh rate display.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- What is more important: performance and camera quality, or portability and refresh rate? The iPhone 15 Plus excels in the former, while the Galaxy S21 is a better option for the latter.
- Do I prefer the Android or iOS operating system? Choosing an ecosystem is key, as switching ecosystems is complex and requires learning different ways of interacting with the phone.
- What is my budget? The iPhone 15 Plus is a premium device with a higher price, which should be a key factor.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Photography Enthusiast
- Recommendation: iPhone 15 Plus, for higher-resolution main camera and better overall image quality.
- Scenario 2: Performance-Focused Gamer
- Recommendation: iPhone 15 Plus, for faster performance and superior GPU.
- Scenario 3: Budget-Conscious User
- Recommendation: Samsung Galaxy S21 5G, providing good performance at a lower price.
- Scenario 4: Portability and Smoothness
- Recommendation: Samsung Galaxy S21 5G, for its lighter design and 120hz refresh rate.
My Choice
If I were to choose, I would select the Apple iPhone 15 Plus. While I appreciate the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G's lighter build and higher refresh rate, my primary needs center around performance and camera quality, and the iPhone 15 Plus is significantly better in both areas, and has an outstanding DxOMark score. Additionally, I prefer the iOS ecosystem, as the long term software support means I will get the most use out of this device, as the Apple phone will receive longer software updates, and have access to software not available in the android OS. The higher price tag is justified by the substantial improvements in processing power, display, and camera capabilities, along with newer connectivity features. While the Samsung's reverse charging and more comprehensive set of Bluetooth features are convenient, the advantages of the iPhone are more critical for my typical use cases.
