Apple iPhone 11 vs Samsung Galaxy S21
The Verdict
Samsung Galaxy S21 delivers superior hardware across nearly every dimension compared to iPhone 11. Its 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED display (1300 nits) vastly outshines the iPhone's 60Hz LCD panel, while the Snapdragon 888 processor and 8GB RAM provide noticeably snappier performance than the A13 Bionic with 4GB. Camera capabilities favor Samsung significantly,the S21 includes a 3x telephoto lens, 8K video recording, and higher MP sensors, whereas iPhone 11 relies on just dual cameras. Battery advantage goes to Galaxy S21 (4000mAh vs 3110mAh) with faster 25W charging and double the wireless charging speed. iPhone 11 edges out only on software longevity expectations and ecosystem consistency. At $100 more, Galaxy S21 justifies its premium with 5G connectivity, superior display technology, and more versatile camera system. Best choice for performance enthusiasts and multimedia users.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 11 if…
- →Excellent value with A13 Bionic chip
- →Night mode on main camera
- →Dual camera system with ultrawide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 if…
- →$200 price cut from S20 launched at $799
- →Lightweight and compact at 169 g
- →120Hz AMOLED with adaptive refresh
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 11
Pros
- Excellent value with A13 Bionic chip
- Night mode on main camera
- Dual camera system with ultrawide
- Great battery life for the price
- Wide range of color options
Cons
- LCD display instead of OLED
- 720p-class resolution on 6.1-inch screen
- No telephoto camera
- 5W charger in the box (no fast charger)
- No 5G connectivity
Samsung Galaxy S21
Pros
- $200 price cut from S20 launched at $799
- Lightweight and compact at 169 g
- 120Hz AMOLED with adaptive refresh
- Snapdragon 888 performance
- Eye-catching Contour Cut camera design
Cons
- Plastic (Glasstic) back panel
- FHD+ only, no QHD option
- No microSD card slot
- Slow 25W charging
- No charger included in the box
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 11 | Samsung Galaxy S21 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 13 | Android 11, One UI 3.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 194 g | 169 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, glass back | Aluminum frame, Glasstic back |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm | 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 10 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | — | 64 MP, f/2.0, 3x hybrid zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3110 mAh | 4000 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired (adapter sold separately) | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.2 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LCD | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 1792 x 828 | 2400 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 625 | 1300 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.65 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 660 |
| Chipset | Apple A13 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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