Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G vs. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-01-29 | 2022-09-16 | The iPhone 14 Pro Max is significantly newer, potentially offering better long-term software support and more up-to-date features. |
| Dimensions | 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm | 160.7 x 77.6 x 7.9 mm | The S21 Ultra is taller and thicker, while the iPhone is wider. The S21 Ultra has a larger overall volume and is slightly less comfortable in hand. |
| Weight | 227g | 240g | The S21 Ultra is lighter, making it slightly more comfortable for extended use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.8" | 6.7" | Negligible difference in size, both offer large screen experience for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 1440x3200 | 1290x2796 | The S21 Ultra has a sharper display due to higher resolution, which means clearer text and images. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 515 | 460 | The S21 Ultra offers a noticeably sharper display; text and images will appear more crisp. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Both use high-quality display tech, offering excellent colors and deep blacks. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations, making the user experience fluid. |
| Brightness | 1500 nits | 2000 nits | The iPhone 14 Pro Max has significantly better visibility under bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm) | The A16 Bionic is significantly more powerful, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better performance in demanding games and apps. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,000 | 1,465,559 | The iPhone 14 Pro Max offers substantially better performance, with nearly double the benchmark score. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Apple GPU (5-core) | The Apple GPU generally outperforms the Mali GPU, especially in graphically intensive tasks. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4323mAh | The S21 Ultra has a larger battery and will likely last longer on a single charge. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 20W Fast Charging | The S21 Ultra charges slightly faster. |
| Features | Reverse charging, 15W Wireless, 9W Reverse Wireless, No charger in-box | 15W MagSafe, 7.5W Qi, No official mAh value | The S21 Ultra offers more versatile wireless charging, while the iPhone has MagSafe. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 108MP f/1.8, 1/1.33", 0.80µm | 48MP f/1.78, 1/1.3", 1.22µm | S21 Ultra has higher resolution but the iPhone has larger pixels for better low-light performance. |
| Telephoto + Portrait | 10.8MP f/2.4, 1/2.65", 1.22µm | Not Available | S21 Ultra offers a dedicated telephoto + portrait lens, offering more versatility in zoom and portrait shots. |
| Selfie Camera | 44MP f/2.2, 1/2.65", 0.70µm | 12MP f/1.9, Sony IMX714 | S21 Ultra has higher resolution but the iPhone has a wider aperture for better low-light selfies. |
| Telephoto Lens | 10.8MP f/4.9, 1/2.65", 1.22µm | 12MP f/2.8, Sony IMX713, 1.00µm | The iPhone has slightly better telephoto specs for zoom quality. |
| Wide Angle Lens | Not Available | 12MP f/2.2 | The iPhone 14 Pro Max has a wide-angle lens for greater versatility. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | 12.2MP f/2.2, 1/2.55", 1.40µm | Not Available | The S21 Ultra has a wide-angle lens with macro capabilities for detailed close-up shots. |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps | 4K@60fps | The S21 Ultra supports 8K recording, offering a higher resolution video option |
| DXOMark (Mobile) | 115 (Photo: 121, Video: 100) | 146 (Photo: 143, Video: 149) | The iPhone 14 Pro Max has significantly superior camera performance based on DXOMark scores. |
| DXOMark (Selfie) | 135 (Photo: 133, Video: 140) | 145 (Photo: 139, Video: 154) | The iPhone 14 Pro Max has superior selfie camera performance based on DXOMark scores |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 15) | iOS 16 (upgradable to 18) | iOS generally provides better optimized performance and faster software updates compared to Android |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6, Dual-band, Hotspot, Direct, Display, MIMO | Wi-Fi 6, Dual-band, Hotspot, MIMO | Both have similar Wi-Fi. S21 Ultra has Wi-Fi Direct and Display capabilities. |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 LE, A2DP, AVRCP, DIP, HFP, HID, HSP, MAP, PAN, OPP, PBAP/PAB, ANT+, APT-x, SBC | 5.3 LE, A2DP, LE, AAC | The iPhone has a newer Bluetooth version; S21 Ultra has more codecs and profiles. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), Galileo (E1+E5a) | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5) | The iPhone has more GPS options for better location accuracy; both offer dual-band GPS. |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano SIM) | Dual SIM (Nano SIM + eSIM) | The iPhone offers eSIM for added flexibility, while both offer dual SIM functionality. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 128/256/512 GB | 128/256/512/1024 GB | The iPhone offers a 1TB storage option for users with extensive storage needs. |
| RAM | 12/16 GB | 6 GB | The S21 Ultra offers significantly more RAM for multitasking and intensive applications. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports external storage expansion. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Noise Cancellation, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS / DTS X, Noise Cancellation, Stereo Speakers | Both have high-quality audio; iPhone has enhanced audio features; S21 Ultra has Hi-Res audio. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Fingerprint Sensor | Basic security features | The S21 Ultra has a fingerprint sensor which offers an easy way to unlock the device |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Unknown | The S21 Ultra has better screen protection |
| Sensors | |||
| Features | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Barometer | Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Barometer | S21 Ultra has additional sensors for biometric security, compass; also, additional sensors for advanced features and gaming. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G Advantages:
- Sharper Display: Higher resolution and PPI for crisper images and text.
- Larger Battery: Likely provides better battery life for all-day use.
- More RAM: Up to 16GB for smoother multitasking and handling demanding apps.
- Versatile Camera System: Features a wider variety of cameras including telephoto + portrait and wide angle + macro lens.
- 8K Video Recording: Capable of capturing higher-resolution video content.
- Reverse Wireless Charging: Ability to wirelessly charge other devices
- Fingerprint Sensor: Easy and reliable biometric security for unlocking.
- Better Screen Protection: Superior screen protection with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max Advantages:
- Superior Performance: Much faster chipset for smoother operation and better gaming performance.
- Brighter Display: Significantly better visibility in bright outdoor conditions.
- Superior Camera Quality: Better image quality and video recording based on DXOMark scores.
- Newer Software: Longer software update support and access to the latest iOS features.
- eSIM Support: Provides greater flexibility in carrier options.
- Better Audio: Enhanced audio experience with more advanced features like Dolby Digital Plus, DTS / DTS X.
- 1TB Storage Option: Offers more storage for users with very large media libraries.
Trade-offs:
- S21 Ultra: Offers a more versatile camera system and sharper display, but lacks the raw processing power and overall camera quality of the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
- iPhone 14 Pro Max: Has significantly better performance and display brightness but may not last as long on a single charge. Also has a limited camera system in comparison.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Ideal Users for Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G:
- Media Enthusiasts: Users who want a crisp, high-resolution display for watching videos and browsing.
- Power Users on a Budget: Those who need strong multitasking capabilities at a better value than the iPhone.
- Photography Versatility: Users who want a versatile camera system with multiple lenses.
Battery Life Focus: Users who prioritize a larger battery for all-day usage.
Specific Use Cases:
- Watching movies and shows on a sharp, detailed screen.
- Editing photos and videos with multiple apps open.
- Taking diverse photos with different lenses.
- Long workdays without the need to constantly recharge.
Ideal Users for Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max:
- Performance Seekers: Users who prioritize speed and responsiveness in apps and games.
- Outdoor Users: Those who need a bright display that is visible in direct sunlight.
- Camera Quality Focused: Users who value high-quality photos and videos with excellent low-light performance.
- iOS Ecosystem Users: Those who are already invested in the Apple ecosystem and prefer iOS.
Content Creators: Users who need the best video performance.
Specific Use Cases:
- Playing graphics-intensive mobile games.
- Taking high-quality photos and videos in various lighting conditions.
- Using the phone heavily for outdoor navigation and communication.
- Seamless integration with other Apple devices.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Performance vs Battery: Do you prioritize raw speed and responsiveness, or is all-day battery life more crucial?
- Camera Needs: Do you need a versatile camera system with various lenses, or is top-tier image and video quality more important?
- Ecosystem Preference: Are you already locked into Android or iOS, or are you open to switching platforms?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Heavy Gamer / Performance Enthusiast Choose the iPhone 14 Pro Max for its superior processing power and graphics capabilities.
- Scenario 2: Media Consumption Focused / Power User on a Budget Choose the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G for its sharper display, larger battery, and more RAM at a better price point.
- Scenario 3: Outdoor Use: Choose the iPhone 14 Pro Max for its brighter display that is visible in direct sunlight.
- Scenario 4: Versatile Photography Enthusiast: Choose the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G for its multiple lenses and versatile zoom capabilities, if that is a higher priority than the superior camera image quality.
- Scenario 5: Content Creator Choose the iPhone 14 Pro Max for its superior video performance.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max. While the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G has a sharper display and larger battery, the significantly better performance, superior camera quality, brighter display, and newer software on the iPhone 14 Pro Max are more important to me personally. As someone who values a fast and reliable device, along with excellent image quality, the iPhone aligns better with my priorities despite its slightly smaller battery capacity.
