Apple iPhone 13 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 13 delivers a refined, efficient experience with its A15 Bionic chip and excellent 60Hz OLED display at $799, making it compelling for iOS enthusiasts seeking solid performance and camera quality. Samsung's Galaxy S21 Ultra commands a $400 premium, offsetting that with a superior 6.8-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen, 108MP main camera with 10x optical zoom, larger 5000mAh battery, and 12GB RAM. Snapdragon 888 performance edges ahead of A15, though both handle demanding tasks flawlessly. S21 Ultra excels in display smoothness, zoom photography, and raw specifications, while iPhone 13 matches in overall camera quality despite lower megapixels, boots faster, and costs significantly less. For budget-conscious buyers seeking flagship iOS, the iPhone 13 remains exceptional value. However, photography enthusiasts and Android users wanting cutting-edge specs and display technology should invest in the Galaxy S21 Ultra.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 13 if…
- →Significantly improved battery life over iPhone 12
- →Cinematic mode for video storytelling
- →Strong A15 Bionic chip handles anything
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 13
Pros
- Significantly improved battery life over iPhone 12
- Cinematic mode for video storytelling
- Strong A15 Bionic chip handles anything
- Bright and vibrant OLED panel
- Solid value compared to Pro tier
Cons
- Only 60Hz display while Android rivals offered 120Hz
- Lightning connector showing its age
- Notch remains largely unchanged
- No telephoto camera
- USB 2.0 transfer speeds over Lightning
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 13 | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 15 | Android 11, One UI 3.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 174 g | 227 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65 mm | 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP | 108 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 40 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 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 | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3227 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) | 800 | 1500 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 660 |
| Chipset | Apple A15 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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