Apple iPhone 12 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
The Verdict
iPhone 12 delivers exceptional value with its capable A14 Bionic processor, stunning 60Hz OLED display, and reliable dual camera system at $799. Galaxy S21 Ultra commands a premium $1199 price for its larger 6.8-inch 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED screen, superior 108MP main sensor with periscope zoom, larger 5000mAh battery, and 12GB RAM. iPhone 12's Ceramic Shield offers better drop protection while S21 Ultra's camera versatility and refresh rate excel for content creators and gamers. Performance differs notably: A14 Bionic handles iOS smoothly with 4GB RAM, whereas Snapdragon 888 with 12GB excels at multitasking. Battery life favors S21 Ultra significantly due to capacity advantage. For budget-conscious buyers seeking reliable performance and longevity, iPhone 12 remains outstanding. S21 Ultra justifies premium pricing through camera prowess, display quality, and battery endurance. Choose iPhone 12 for value and ecosystem strength, S21 Ultra for camera features and display technology.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 12 if…
- →First iPhone with 5G connectivity
- →Ceramic Shield front cover is four times more drop-resistant
- →Flat-edge design is comfortable and stylish
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra if…
- →100x Space Zoom with 10x optical telephoto
- →108 MP main sensor with excellent detail
- →S Pen support (first S-series to do so)
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 12
Pros
- First iPhone with 5G connectivity
- Ceramic Shield front cover is four times more drop-resistant
- Flat-edge design is comfortable and stylish
- A14 Bionic delivers excellent performance and efficiency
- Dolby Vision HDR video recording is a first for any smartphone
Cons
- 60Hz display when competitors offered 90Hz or 120Hz
- Small 2815 mAh battery offers mediocre battery life
- 64 GB base storage is inadequate in 2020
- Lightning port instead of USB-C
- No telephoto lens — only dual camera
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Pros
- 100x Space Zoom with 10x optical telephoto
- 108 MP main sensor with excellent detail
- S Pen support (first S-series to do so)
- 1440p 120Hz LTPO adaptive display
- 5000 mAh battery with all-day endurance
Cons
- Heavy at 227 g
- Snapdragon 888 can overheat under load
- S Pen sold separately, no silo slot
- Slow 25W charging for the class
- No charger or earbuds in the box
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 11, One UI 3.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 164 g | 227 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 108 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 40 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Periscope | — | 10 MP, f/4.9, 10x optical zoom |
| Telephoto | — | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.8 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, LTPO |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 3200 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1500 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 660 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 |
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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