Apple iPhone 14 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S21+
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 14 Plus delivers a larger 6.7-inch display with excellent brightness at 1200 nits and the efficient A15 Bionic chip, though it's limited to 60Hz refresh. Samsung's Galaxy S21+ counters with a 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED display, larger 4800 mAh battery, faster 25W charging, and a telephoto lens absent on the iPhone. Camera performance favors Apple's computational photography and sensor-shift OIS, while Samsung offers 8K video recording and 3x hybrid zoom. Performance remains competitive between both processors. Samsung edges ahead with hardware specifications and display smoothness, but iPhone 14 Plus excels in software optimization and overall user experience consistency. At $100 less, the iPhone represents better value for iOS users seeking a large premium phone, while the Galaxy S21+ appeals to Android enthusiasts wanting superior display tech and zoom capabilities.
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…
- →Large 4800 mAh battery with great endurance
- →120Hz AMOLED display
- →Gorilla Glass Victus durability
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- 60Hz display feels outdated compared to ProMotion models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
- Large 4800 mAh battery with great endurance
- 120Hz AMOLED display
- Gorilla Glass Victus durability
- Good triple camera system
- Flat display is easier to use with screen protectors
Cons
- FHD+ only, no QHD option
- Plastic back on some regions (Glasstic)
- Slow 25W charging
- No microSD card slot (removed in S21 series)
- No charger 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 | 200 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.80 mm | 161.5 x 75.6 x 7.8 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 | 4800 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe, 7.5W Qi | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.7 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.
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