Apple iPhone 14 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S21
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 14 Plus offers a larger 6.7-inch display with excellent brightness at 1200 nits and premium A15 Bionic performance, though it's limited to 60Hz refresh rate. Samsung's Galaxy S21 counters with a sharper 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED display, superior zoom capabilities via its 64MP telephoto lens, and faster 25W charging. Camera quality favors Apple slightly for computational photography and video stability, while Samsung excels in versatility with telephoto reach. Battery capacity edges to Apple at 4325mAh versus 4000mAh. Samsung delivers better value at $799 with more modern software features and 8GB RAM standard, making it the practical choice for most users. Apple appeals to ecosystem loyalists willing to pay premium pricing for consistent performance and longevity.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 14 Plus if…
- →Largest iPhone screen at 6.7 inches at a lower price than Pro Max
- →Excellent all-day battery life thanks to large 4325 mAh battery
- →Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via satellite safety features
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 14 Plus
Pros
- Largest iPhone screen at 6.7 inches at a lower price than Pro Max
- Excellent all-day battery life thanks to large 4325 mAh battery
- Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via satellite safety features
- Photonic Engine improves low-light photography
- MagSafe ecosystem for accessories and wireless charging
Cons
- 60Hz display feels outdated compared to ProMotion models
- Lightning port instead of USB-C
- No telephoto camera — only dual lens system
- Notch instead of Dynamic Island
- 12 MP camera resolution unchanged from previous generations
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 14 Plus | Samsung Galaxy S21 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 16 | Android 11, One UI 3.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 203 g | 169 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | Aluminum frame, Glasstic back |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.80 mm | 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.5, sensor-shift OIS | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/1.9, autofocus | 10 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Cinematic mode, Action mode | 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 | 6 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4325 mAh | 4000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe, 7.5W Qi | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.2 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2778 x 1284 | 2400 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1300 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.23 GHz + 4x1.82 GHz) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-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 | 5.3 | 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.
Explore more in phones, see all Apple products or all Samsung products. View full details for the Apple iPhone 14 Plus or the Samsung Galaxy S21.