Apple iPhone 15 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 15 delivers exceptional value at $799, featuring the powerful A16 Bionic chip, vibrant 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display (2000 nits), and versatile dual camera system with 48MP main and 4K@60fps Dolby Vision recording. Its lightweight 171g design and 20W charging provide practical everyday benefits. Samsung's Galaxy S21 Ultra ($1199) commands premium pricing with a larger 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display (120Hz refresh), superior 108MP telephoto-rich quad camera setup enabling 10x optical zoom and 8K recording, and larger 5000mAh battery. However, the S21 Ultra weighs 227g, runs older Android 11 software, and lacks meaningful advantages justifying the $400 premium in 2024. iPhone 15's modern iOS 17, stronger performance per watt, and significantly better value proposition make it the smarter purchase for most users.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 15 if…
- →Dynamic Island brought to base model
- →48 MP main camera upgrade
- →Switched to USB-C port
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 15
Pros
- Dynamic Island brought to base model
- 48 MP main camera upgrade
- Switched to USB-C port
- Strong A16 Bionic performance
- Comfortable lightweight design
Cons
- Stuck at 60Hz refresh rate
- USB-C limited to USB 2.0 speeds
- No telephoto camera
- No always-on display
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 15 | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 17 | Android 11, One UI 3.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 171 g | 227 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm | 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 48 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 | 6 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3349 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 | 2556 x 1179 | 3200 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2000 | 1500 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core) | Adreno 660 |
| Chipset | Apple A16 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 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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