Apple iPhone 8 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
The Verdict
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra decisively outperforms Apple iPhone 8 Plus across nearly every dimension. Display quality favors the S21 Ultra with its 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen offering 120Hz refresh rate and 1500 nits brightness versus the iPhone 8 Plus's 5.5-inch IPS LCD at 60Hz and 625 nits. Camera capabilities show substantial generational gap: S21 Ultra features 108MP main sensor with 10x optical zoom and 8K video versus iPhone 8 Plus's 12MP telephoto setup limited to 4K@60fps. Performance-wise, Snapdragon 888 with 12GB RAM dominates the A11 Bionic's 3GB configuration. Battery capacity (5000mAh vs 2691mAh) and charging speeds (25W vs 18W) clearly favor Samsung. Connectivity includes 5G, Wi-Fi 6, and USB-C on the S21 Ultra. However, iPhone 8 Plus offers exceptional value at $799 for those prioritizing budget and iOS ecosystem familiarity. For users wanting flagship features and modern technology, Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the clear choice despite its premium $1199 price point.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 8 Plus if…
- →Wireless charging added to iPhone for the first time
- →Portrait Lighting effects for depth photography
- →Powerful A11 Bionic chipset
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 8 Plus
Pros
- Wireless charging added to iPhone for the first time
- Portrait Lighting effects for depth photography
- Powerful A11 Bionic chipset
- True Tone display technology
- Touch ID still preferred by many users
Cons
- Dated thick-bezel home button design
- Large bezels waste screen real estate
- Glass back cracks easily
- No headphone jack
- Overshadowed by iPhone X launch
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 8 Plus | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 11 | Android 11, One UI 3.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 202 g | 227 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, glass back | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 158.4 x 78.1 x 7.5 mm | 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 108 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 7 MP, f/2.2 | 40 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.8, 2x optical zoom | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom |
| Periscope | — | 10 MP, f/4.9, 10x optical zoom |
| Ultrawide | — | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 3 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2691 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired (adapter sold separately) | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 5.5 inches | 6.8 inches |
| Type | Retina IPS LCD | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, LTPO |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 3200 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 625 | 1500 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.39 GHz + 4x1.7 GHz) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (3-core) | Adreno 660 |
| Chipset | Apple A11 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | 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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