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

13 min readSep 21, 2021

Apple

Table of contents

01Features02Price03Specs04Verdict

Apple just took the wraps off its 2021 flagships, comprising of four smartphones once again. Ranging from the Mini to the Pro Max, the iPhone 13 series appears to be an iterative update.

But how does it stack up against Samsung’s Galaxy S21 lineup? Let’s find out in this Samsung Galaxy S21 vs iPhone 13 series comparison, in which we take a closer look at everything from specs and features to pricing and design. Let’s dive in!

Samsung Galaxy S21 vs iPhone 13 Design and features

Apple

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 compared to 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+.

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, so it will likely beat the Snapdragon 888-toting Galaxy S21 in performance benchmarks — although we haven’t tested this out yet. However, you won’t see a noticeable difference in real-world usage. 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.

Apple

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. The cameras were excellent performers, so you can expect the same once again.

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.

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 the Galaxy S21 series cameras are excellent, and we can expect the same from the iPhone 13 range. It’ll be exciting to see how the phones, the S21 Ultra and iPhone 13 Pro Max in particular, will fare against each other in our camera shootout that’s coming soon.

Price

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 Mini iPhone 13 Display

iPhone 13 Mini:

5.4-inch Super Retina XDR OLED2,340 x 1,080 resolutionHDR, True ToneWide color (P3)2,000,000:1 contrast ratio800 nits max brightness (typical); 1200 nits max brightness (HDR)Ceramic Shield front

iPhone 13:

6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED2,532 x 1,170 resolutionHDR, True ToneWide color (P3)2,000,000:1 contrast ratio800 nits max brightness (typical); 1200 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 7.5WUp to 50% charge in around 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher (sold separately)

MagSafe:Wireless charging up to 15WMagnet arrayAlignment magnetAccessory Identification NFCMagnetometer

iPhone 13:

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

MagSafe:Wireless charging up to 15WMagnet arrayAlignment magnetAccessory Identification NFCMagnetometer

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 30fps4K video at 24fps, 30fps, or 60fps1080p HD video at 30fps or 60fps720p HD video at 30fpsOIS 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 30fps4K video at 24fps, 30fps, or 60fps1080p HD video at 30fps or 60fps720p HD video at 30fpsOIS 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 LAAWi‑Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMOBluetooth 5Ultra Wideband chip for spatial awarenessNFCExpress Cards with power reserveGPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDouDigital compassWi‑FiCellulariBeacon microlocation

iPhone 13:

iPhone 13 Mini:

Face IDBarometerThree‑axis gyroAccelerometerProximity sensorAmbient light sensor

iPhone 13:

Face IDBarometerThree‑axis gyroAccelerometerProximity sensorAmbient 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 7.65mm141g

iPhone 13:

146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65mm174g 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:

iPhoneUSB‑C to Lightning cableDocumentation

iPhone 13:

iPhoneUSB‑C to Lightning cableDocumentation iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max Display

iPhone 13 Pro:

6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED2,532 x 1,170 resolutionProMotion 120HzHDR, True ToneWide color (P3)2,000,000:1 contrast ratio1,000 nits max brightness (typical); 1200 nits max brightness (HDR)Ceramic Shield front

iPhone 13 Pro Max:

6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED2,778 x 1,284 resolutionProMotion 120HzHDR, True ToneWide color (P3)2,000,000:1 contrast ratio1,000 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 7.5WUp to 50% charge in around 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher (sold separately)

MagSafe:Wireless charging up to 15WMagnet arrayAlignment magnetAccessory Identification NFCMagnetometer

iPhone 13 Pro Max:

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

MagSafe:Wireless charging up to 15WMagnet arrayAlignment magnetAccessory Identification NFCMagnetometer

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 60fps4K video at 24fps, 30fps, or 60fps1080p HD video at 30fps or 60fps720p HD video at 30fpsOIS 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:

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

Front:-TrueDepth 12MP, ƒ/2.2

Night Mode, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 3

Connectivity

iPhone 13 Pro:

iPhone 13 Pro Max:

iPhone 13 Pro:

Face IDLiDAR ScannerBarometerThree‑axis gyroAccelerometerProximity sensorAmbient light sensor

iPhone 13 Pro Max:

Face IDLiDAR ScannerBarometerThree‑axis gyroAccelerometerProximity sensorAmbient 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 7.65mm204g

iPhone 13 Pro Max:

160.8 x 78.1 x 7.65mm240g 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:

iPhoneUSB‑C to Lightning cableDocumentation

iPhone 13 Pro Max:

iPhoneUSB‑C to Lightning cableDocumentation Samsung Galaxy S21 Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Display

Samsung Galaxy S21:

6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLEDFlat FHD+2,400 x 1,080 at 421ppiAdaptive 120Hz refresh rateHDR10+ certified

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus:

6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLEDFlat FHD+2,400 x 1,080 at 394ppiAdaptive 120Hz refresh rateHDR10+ certified

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra:

6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLEDCurved WQHD+3,200 x 1,440 at 515ppiAdaptive 120Hz refresh rateHDR10+ 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:

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus:

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra:

No Battery

Samsung Galaxy S21:

4,000mAhFast wired and wireless chargingReverse wireless charging

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus:

4,800mAhFast wired and wireless chargingReverse wireless charging

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra:

5,000mAhFast wired and wireless chargingReverse 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 zoom30x “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 zoom30x “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 zoom100x “Space Zoom”

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

Connectivity

Samsung Galaxy S21:

4G LTE support5G (sub-6GHz, SA and NSA, mmWave)Wi-Fi 6E supportBluetooth 5.0

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus:

4G LTE support5G (sub-6GHz, SA and NSA, mmWave)Wi-Fi 6E supportBluetooth 5.0

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra:

4G LTE support5G (sub-6GHz, SA and NSA, mmWave)Wi-Fi 6E supportBluetooth 5.2 S Pen support

Samsung Galaxy S21:

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus:

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra:

Yes Operating System

Samsung Galaxy S21:

One UI 3.1Android 11

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus:

One UI 3.1Android 11

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra:

One UI 3.1Android 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 7.9mm171g

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus:

75.6 x 161.5 x 7.8mm202g

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra:

75.6 x 165.1 x 8.9mm229g

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

Apple

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.

David Imel / 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 flagships are among the best around. If you are considering a switch, these are two series to jump between.

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

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

Written by Electronic Da