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The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize an excellent camera and don't mind paying more, the Apple iPhone 14 should satisfy you with its higher quality camera performance. However, if you're looking to save money and still get a good phone, the Samsung Galaxy S21 offers a solid camera and a plastic back that may be more durable than glass. For battery life, both phones will serve you well, but the iPhone 14 has slightly longer battery life. Screen size differences are minimal; the iPhone 14's is 6.1 inches, while the Galaxy S21's is slightly bigger at 6.2 inches. With these considerations in mind, your choice may also be influenced by the operating system: iOS for the iPhone 14 and Android for the Galaxy S21. 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 14
- Good battery life
- Very good performance
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S21
- The Samsung Galaxy S21 has no clear advantages over the Apple iPhone 14.
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
8.0
7.2
The Apple iPhone 14 has very good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 has good overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 14 boasts an excellent selfie camera as well as high praise for photo software, dynamic range, and low-light performance. On the other hand, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 has good scores across these factors, it doesn't match the iPhone's photo software experience or selfie quality; its dynamic range in photos is particularly lower.
Photo Quality
7.9
7.0
The Apple iPhone 14 and Samsung Galaxy S21 both have good photos, though the Apple iPhone 14 takes somewhat better photos.
The Apple iPhone 14 excels in taking selfies over the Samsung Galaxy S21 due to its superior selfie camera performance, and it also offers a better photo software experience, which enhances the overall image quality. In addition to this, the iPhone 14 captures a wider dynamic range and performs better in low light situations compared to the Galaxy S21, which contributes to the iPhone's excellent photo-taking capabilities.
Video Quality
8.8
6.6
The Apple iPhone 14 takes very good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 takes only fair videos.
The iPhone 14 excels in video recording due to its superior video stabilization and wider dynamic range capabilities, ensuring smooth footage with greater detail in both bright and shadowy areas. Contrastingly, while the Galaxy S21 captures commendable videos, it falls short compared to the iPhone 14, notably in stabilization and dynamic range, which are essential for clarity and detail across varying lighting conditions.
Cost
$629
$145
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
The Apple iPhone 14 has a price of $629 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 costs $145.
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Key similarities
Battery
7.3 Hours
6.7 Hours
The Apple iPhone 14 has 7.3 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S21 has 6.7 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 14 has a screen size of 6.1 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S21 is 6.2 inches.
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How the Apple iPhone 14 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 14 | Samsung Galaxy S21 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$629 | $145 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 16, 2022 | January 29, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.1" | 6.2" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 2400 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 460 | 421 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A15 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 8.1/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.9/10 | 7/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 8.8/10 | 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 | 7.3 Hours | 6.7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 3279 mAh | 4000 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" | 5.97" x 2.8" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.07 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 | 5.3 | 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, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 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, Purple, Yellow, Midnight, Starlight, 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 14
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
Lance Ulanoff | October 2022
"The iPhone 14 is a capable smartphone with a seriously snappy CPU, lovely screen, and good cameras. The iPhone 14’s camera array is better than the iPhone 13’s, and will make most mobile photogs very happy. It also lasts more than a day on a single charge. This isn’t the fastest or most feature-rich iPhone, but it’s light, fast, and attractive."
Samsung Galaxy S21
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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 14 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.
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.
Seth Peoples
Phones Expert
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.
Efthimis Kotanidis
Phones Expert
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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