A brand new iPhone is a lovely factor, and this 12 months it’s laborious to get extra stunning than the lately launched iPhone 13 Pro. The top-tier iPhone of 2021 features a comparable design to the iPhone 12 Pro, however with a barely thinner notch. Inside although, there have been extra important adjustments. There’s a bigger battery, newly upgraded specs, and a few closely tweaked cameras. Really, when it comes all the way down to the iPhone 13 Pro vs. iPhone 12 Pro, the newer gadget appears to have it sewn up.
But we’re not right here to check outdated with new — we’re right here to check two up to date rivals. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus is the midsized choice in Samsung’s 2021 lineup. With flagship specs, a state-of-the-art digital camera suite, and a gorgeously trendy design, Samsung’s Plus-sized smartphone is a worthy competitor for Apple’s newest. But which one of many two is the higher smartphone? We put them head-to-head to seek out out.
Specs
iPhone 13 Pro
Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus
Size
146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7mm (5.78 x 2.81 x 0.30 inches)
75.6 x 161.5 x 7.8mm (3 x 6.4 x 0.31 inches)
Weight
204 grams (7.2 ounces)
202 grams (7.2 ounces)
Screen dimension
6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED
6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED
Screen decision
2532 x 1170 pixels (460 ppi)
2400 x 1080 pixels (394 ppi)
Operating system
iOS 15
Android 11 with One UI 3.1
Storage
128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
128GB, 256GB
MicroSD card slot
No
No
Processor
Apple A15 Bionic
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (Exynos 2100 exterior the U.S.)
RAM
6GB
8GB
Camera
Triple lens 12-megapixel vast, 12MP ultrawide, and 12MP telephoto rear, 12MP entrance
Triple lens 64MP vast, 12MP ultrawide, and 12MP telephoto rear, 10MP entrance
Video
4K at as much as 60 fps, 1080p at 120 fps
8K at as much as 30 fps, 4K at as much as 60 fps, 1080p at 240 fps
Bluetooth model
Bluetooth 5.1
Bluetooth 5.1
Ports
Lightning
USB-C
Fingerprint sensor
No, FaceID as a substitute
Yes (in-display ultrasonic)
Water resistance
IP68
IP68
Battery
3,125mAh
20W wired charging (no charger included within the field)
15W MagSafe charging
7.5W wi-fi charging
4,800mAh
25W wired charging (no charger included within the field)
15W wi-fi charging
App market
Apple App Store
Google Play Store
Network help
All main carriers
All main carriers
Colors
Graphite, Gold, Silver, Sierra Blue
Phantom Silver, Phantom Black, Phantom Violet (Phantom Gold and Phantom Red made-to-order)
Price
Starting at $999
Starting at $1,000
Buy from
Apple
Samsung
Review rating
4.5 out of 5 stars
3.5 out of 5 stars
Design, show, and sturdiness
1.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro
2.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus
It’s getting more durable and more durable to resolve between telephones primarily based on their seems as a result of, actually, so many telephones simply look nice nowadays. This is unquestionably the case the place these two telephones are involved, however they do look very totally different. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus is easy and modern, with a near-borderless bezel across the massive show, damaged solely by a single punch-hole for the selfie digital camera. The iPhone 13 Pro may be very totally different wanting. It has steep sides, harking back to the iPhone 5S, and the show is damaged on the prime by a notch housing the selfie digital camera and forward-facing sensors. This notch is narrower than earlier iPhone generations, however it’s barely deeper and doesn’t actually add a lot further display in consequence.
Both of those telephones have gorgeous OLED shows too, so that you’ll get deep colours and inky blacks both manner. The iPhone’s display is sharper, due to the smaller show dimension, however the distinction isn’t large until you’re proper up towards each.
There’s a bigger gulf in sturdiness although. While we suggest you purchase a case for each the S21 Plus and the iPhone 13 Pro, the iPhone is a good quantity stronger than the Samsung telephone. It’s produced from chrome steel, reasonably than aluminum, and the strengthened Ceramic Shield know-how within the glass truly does make a distinction within the iPhone’s sturdiness.
It’s a tricky class to name. We suppose the Samsung is barely higher wanting by way of design, however the iPhone wins factors for its sturdiness. This is a tie.
Winner: Tie
Performance, battery life, and charging
Dan Baker/Digital Trends
It ought to come as no shock that these telephones have the newest and biggest technological developments. The Galaxy S21 Plus has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, which is greater than highly effective sufficient to maintain your flagship telephone churning by the highest 3D video games and swapping between apps for the subsequent few years at the least. The iPhone’s A15 Bionic processor is at the same degree of energy, and might be barely extra highly effective, however the distinction is unlikely to be observed in something however benchmarking software program.
Well then, what concerning the battery life? A protracted-lasting smartphone is preferable to at least one that runs out in the midst of the day, and the iPhone 13 Pro has confirmed to have a powerful battery, with a single cost having the ability to go for 2 days at a stretch. The S21 Plus’s battery lasts over a day, however it’s not fairly as spectacular because the iPhone 13 Pro’s. Still, each are long-lasting, so that you shouldn’t have any worries with battery nervousness.
The iPhone 13 Pro is technically the stronger of the 2, however the distinction is slight sufficient that we are able to’t put this as something however a draw.
Winner: Tie
Cameras
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
The Galaxy S21 Plus has a fundamental 64-megapixel digital camera, a 12MP ultrawide digital camera, a 12MP telephoto with a 3x optical zoom, and a 10MP selfie lens across the entrance. It’s an impressive-looking setup on paper, and it takes good photos throughout the board — however the competitors is mostly taking glorious pictures, and if you add consistency issues between the totally different lenses, it leaves the S21 Plus in an ungainly spot.
The iPhone 13 Pro has a triple-lens setup, with a 12MP fundamental wide-angle lens, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 12MP telephoto lens. It tends to go with out saying that the newest iPhone’s digital camera goes to be the one to beat, and that’s the case right here. It produced glorious pictures all through our overview interval. One Samsung flagship is sweet sufficient to face up towards Apple’s newest, however it’s the S21 Ultra, which has a a lot stronger digital camera suite than the S21 Plus.
While the S21 Plus’ digital camera is certainly not disappointing, it’s not adequate to face up towards the iPhone 13 Pro’s glorious cameras.
Winner: Apple iPhone 13 Pro
(*13*) and updates
Dan Baker/Digital Trends
Comparing iOS and Android is slightly like evaluating apples and oranges — there are positively similarities, however finally, they’re two very various things. That’s even the case when you think about Samsung makes use of its personal Android pores and skin, OneUI. With that mentioned, the previous few years have seen the 2 working programs coming nearer than they ever have earlier than, and leaping between the 2 is now not the quantum leap it as soon as was. But it’s nonetheless an enormous private selection, and there’s little we are able to do to definitively state as soon as and for all which is healthier.
But that’s not true once we take a detailed take a look at updates. Since Apple is the only real arbiter of iOS, it could possibly roll updates out on the day of launch and ensure it hits the gadgets it desires to. Not so with Android. After Google pushes out an replace, it goes to chip producers, then telephone producers. That course of provides a major delay onto updates, and whereas the state of affairs has gotten quite a bit higher, Apple positively nonetheless has a giant edge right here.
Winner: Apple iPhone 13 Pro
Special options
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
We’ll begin with the large one: Both telephones have 5G, which is a reduction, given how shortly the subsequent technology of cell community is spreading. Otherwise, each even have their respective digital assistants — although the Google Assistant on Android is arguably extra helpful and expert than iOS’s Siri. The iPhone additionally has entry to AR-powered Animoji and Memoji, one thing that Samsung does battle to match with its much less spectacular AR emoji.
But the S21 Plus is unquestionably the stronger right here. Samsung is nothing if not experimental, and the S-series has been rammed stuffed with options through the years. While Gear VR has been consigned to the dustbin of historical past, there’s nonetheless quite a bit to supply right here. You’ve bought the extra assist of the Bixby digital assistant (which might straight alter settings in your Samsung telephone), the DeX desktop mode, and a cool under-display fingerprint scanner. It’s a fairly clear win for the Samsung telephone.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus
Price and availability
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro is at the moment accessible from Apple, and costs begin from $999. It’ll be accessible from just about anyplace you should buy smartphones, and it’ll work with any of the most important carriers as properly.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus can also be accessible, and costs begin from $1,000. Like the iPhone, it’s accessible just about anyplace and on each service as well.
Overall winner: Apple iPhone 13 Pro
Dan Baker/Digital Trends
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro is the victor right here, and deservedly so. It’s stunning, highly effective, and able to the whole lot you need your smartphone to do in 2021. The digital camera is a triumph, the two-day battery life exceeds expectations, and the 120Hz show means utilizing the iPhone is a pleasure in itself. By no means is this can be a jab towards the Galaxy S21 Plus although — Samsung’s midsized flagship telephone continues to be an amazing telephone, with quite a bit to suggest it. It’s simply, on today, the iPhone 13 Pro is the stronger of the 2.
So, on to suggestions. Using the Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus and questioning whether or not to improve to the iPhone 13 Pro? We’d say to carry off for now. The iPhone 13 Pro could technically be superior, however is it price going by the rigamarole of upgrading and establishing a brand new telephone simply to get a barely higher digital camera and battery? We wouldn’t say so, so until you’re dying to be again on iOS, don’t trouble upgrading from the S21 Plus.
But selecting between these two telephones? Then your selection ought to at all times (until you’re a large Android fan) be the iPhone 13 Pro.
Editors’ Recommendations
