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The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize a higher quality camera system, the iPhone 13 mini is the better option, but if you're looking for a larger screen and longer battery life, the Samsung Galaxy S21 could be suitable for you. The iPhone 13 mini has better still photo quality and video recording capabilities, while the Galaxy S21 has a higher refresh rate screen which might make for smoother scrolling and gaming. Also, the Galaxy S21 has plastic back which might be less premium than the glass back of the iPhone 13 mini. Keep in mind the operating system difference, as the iPhone runs iOS and the Galaxy S21 runs Android, which can greatly affect your user experience based on your ecosystem preference. 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 mini
- Very good performance
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S21
- The Samsung Galaxy S21 has no clear advantages over the Apple iPhone 13 mini.
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
7.7
7.2
The Apple iPhone 13 mini and Samsung Galaxy S21 both have good overall camera quality, though the Apple iPhone 13 mini has somewhat better overall camera quality.
The iPhone 13 mini has superior selfie capabilities along with a solid range of photo experiences such as dynamic range, low light performance, and software experience, which contributes to its "very good" camera ranking. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S21 offers a "good" camera performance that is commendable, especially considering its versatility and video capabilities, but it doesn't reach the higher bar set by the iPhone's selfie quality.
Photo Quality
7.5
7.0
The Apple iPhone 13 mini and Samsung Galaxy S21 both have good photos, though the Apple iPhone 13 mini takes somewhat better photos.
The Apple iPhone 13 mini is renowned for its superior selfie camera quality, offering a very good user experience, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 trails slightly behind, providing good selfie quality; despite both having excellent software that enhances photo-taking capabilities, the iPhone 13 mini's software experience is rated best, contributing to its edge in photo quality. Additionally, the iPhone 13 mini ensures good dynamic range and low light performance in photos, which, combined with its fair camera versatility, leads to its very good overall photo-taking experience, a notch above the good overall experience that the Galaxy S21 delivers with its fair dynamic range and good low light performance.
Video Quality
8.0
6.6
The Apple iPhone 13 mini takes very good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 takes only fair videos.
The Apple iPhone 13 Mini provides a superior video recording experience due to the higher evaluation in video software experience, stabilization, and low light performance, coupled with excellent microphone quality. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S21 offers good performance in these areas but does not match the iPhone 13 Mini's standards, indicating that the iPhone might be the better option for customers prioritizing video recording capabilities.
Battery
5.6 Hours
6.7 Hours
The Apple iPhone 13 mini has 5.6 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S21 has 6.7 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 13 mini has a screen size of 5.4 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S21 is 6.2 inches.
Cost
$600
$145
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
The Apple iPhone 13 mini has a price of $600 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 costs $145.
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How the Apple iPhone 13 mini and the Samsung Galaxy S21 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 13 mini | Samsung Galaxy S21 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$600 | $145 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 24, 2021 | January 29, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 5.4" | 6.2" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 2400 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 476 | 421 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A15 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 7.7/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 8.1/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 12 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.6 Hours | 6.7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 2438 mAh | 4000 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 12 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | Yes (4.5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 5.18" x 2.53" | 5.97" x 2.8" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.97 oz | 5.96 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)2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 | |
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 | Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 13 mini
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Guide
Jordan Palmer | May 2022
"It’s the best small phone you can possibly buy, outpacing anything Android can offer. With the A15 Bionic system-on-chip, which includes a quad-core GPU, the iPhone 13 mini is a very powerful little phone. Fans of smaller handsets will love this phone, as it fits in many a pocket."
Samsung Galaxy S21
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Dig into reviews and images
Android Central
Huseman Joe | February 2022
"The Galaxy S21 delivers the flagship Samsung experience in a phone that's much more pocketable (and affordable) than the top-end S21 Ultra.The triple-camera system is incredibly capable, Samsung's One UI 3.1 software is chock-full of features and settings to mess with, and I've not once missed having expandable storage."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 13 mini or the Samsung Galaxy S21
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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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.
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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
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Chandradeep Chowdhury
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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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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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