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What we think
The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The iPhone 13 offers slightly better battery life and higher overall camera quality, with especially high marks in still photo quality. However, the Galaxy S21 FE has a larger screen, higher refresh rate for smoother scrolling, and additional RAM which can be beneficial for multitasking. The Galaxy S21 FE also has features like a microSD card slot for storage expansion, and reverse wireless charging which the iPhone 13 lacks. The iPhone is running iOS whereas the Galaxy is on Android, which could influence your choice based on the ecosystem you prefer. Choose the iPhone 13 if camera and battery life are your top priorities, and the Galaxy S21 FE if screen size, refresh rate, and extra features are more important to you. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple iPhone 13
- Good for taking photos
- Very good for recording videos
- Very good display quality
- Very good performance
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
- The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has no clear advantages over the Apple iPhone 13.
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
7.7
7.0
The Apple iPhone 13 and Samsung Galaxy S21 FE both have good overall camera quality, though the Apple iPhone 13 has somewhat better overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 13 boasts very good selfie capabilities and overall excellent photo and video features, including strong low light performance and photo software experience, which contribute to a superior camera system. In comparison, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE also provides a good camera experience with decent dynamic range and camera versatility, its selfie quality and certain aspects such as photos software experience don't quite match the higher standards set by the iPhone 13.
Photo Quality
7.5
6.9
The Apple iPhone 13 takes good photos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE takes only fair photos.
The iPhone 13 is praised for having superior camera software and better handling of dynamic range, which contribute to its overall very good selfie performance. In comparison, the Galaxy S21 FE, while taking good photos, has less sophisticated photo software and selfie quality, making its photos less impressive, especially in varying lighting conditions and for self-portraits.
Video Quality
8.0
5.9
The Apple iPhone 13 takes very good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE takes poor videos.
The Apple iPhone 13 takes very good videos, as it provides the best video stabilization and dynamic range, along with excellent low light performance and mic quality, which are important for clear and stable footage in various conditions. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, while offering good video stabilization and dynamic range, does not match the iPhone in low light performance or mic quality, making it less favorable for high-quality video recording in challenging environments.
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Key similarities
Battery
7.1 Hours
6.7 Hours
The Apple iPhone 13 has 7.1 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has 6.7 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 13 has a screen size of 6.1 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is 6.4 inches.
Cost
$630
$600
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
$1,000
The Apple iPhone 13 has a price of $630 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE costs $600.
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How the Apple iPhone 13 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 13 | Samsung Galaxy S21 FE |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$630 | $600 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 24, 2021 | January 29, 2022 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.1" | 6.4" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 2400 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 460 | 401 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A15 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 6 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 7.7/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.5/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 8.1/10 | 5.9/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 12 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7.1 Hours | 6.7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 3240 mAh | 4500 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 15 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | Yes (4.5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 5.78" x 2.81" | 6.13" x 2.93" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.14 oz | 6.24 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Plastic | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.0 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 6 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)41, 66, 71, 260, 261 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Blue, Pink, Midnight, Starlight, Green, Red | Graphite, Lavender, Olive, White, Navy Blue | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 13
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
James Peckham | September 2022
"The iPhone 13 isn’t a game changer for Apple’s series of smartphones, but it’s an important iteration that offers better battery life, a better processor and an upgraded camera setup than iPhones that have gone before it. If you’re looking for a fast and capable smartphone, and don’t need the extra features of the pricier Pro model, this is a top choice."
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Guide
Philip Michaels | March 2022
"The Galaxy S21 FE is a fine addition to Samsung's S21 lineup, retaining the very best features of those flagship phones for a more modest price. This is a solid phone, matching the performance of the top Android flagships from a year ago and delivering photos that hold their own against some of the best camera phones we've tested."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 13 or the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
About Apple
The tech giant called Apple is synonymous with the most popular smartphone in the world: the iPhone. Known for their build quality and aesthetics, as well as for their excellent integration between hardware and software, iPhones have defined the smartphone industry ever since their conception and they continue to do so by setting new industry standards. Apple's own operating system, called iOS, is known for its simplicity and ease of use, and the company tends to complement it well by creating devices with some of the most powerful processing hardware available in the mobile world. The iPhone is also known for its robust ecosystem of accessories, as it facilitates a very seamless experience when interacting with other Apple products, more so than most of its competitors.
About Samsung
Samsung is one of the most recognizable names in the smartphone industry, standing as the undisputed best-selling brand of Android smartphones in the United States for many years now. Samsung is known for offering a variety of smartphones in all available price points, as well as for implementing cutting-edge technology and innovative features in their flagship devices, ones that often shape the market going forward. The company offers its own unique spin on Android, called One UI, which focuses on offering a multitude of features and is heavily customizable, according to user preference.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
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About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.
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Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.
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