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The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize camera performance, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra might be a better option as it generally has higher camera quality and more megapixels on its main camera. However, if you prefer a phone with a more recent release and potentially better long-term support, the Apple iPhone 14 could be the choice for you. The iPhone 14 also runs iOS, whereas the S21 Ultra uses Android, which could influence your decision based on your preference for a particular ecosystem. The S21 Ultra has a larger and curved screen with a higher refresh rate, which is great for media consumption and gaming. Despite being a budget-friendly choice, the Galaxy S21 Ultra doesn't compromise on performance. In contrast, the iPhone 14, while coming at an upper midrange price, offers competitive quality and performance but with a smaller display and lower variable refresh rate. Keep in mind, the choice might also hinge on the importance of specific features like wireless charging speed, dual SIM support, or headphone jack presence, depending on your needs. 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 Ultra
- The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has no clear advantages over the Apple iPhone 14.
Key differences
Video Quality
8.8
7.1
The Apple iPhone 14 takes very good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra takes good videos.
The iPhone 14 delivers excellent videos thanks to its best-in-class video stabilization and dynamic range, ensuring smooth footage with balanced exposure in varied lighting conditions. In contrast, the Galaxy S21 Ultra also offers great video capabilities, particularly in low light performance and resolution/frame rate, but falls slightly short in software experience and stabilization when compared directly to the iPhone 14.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 14 has a screen size of 6.1 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is 6.8 inches.
Cost
$629
$423
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
The Apple iPhone 14 has a price of $629 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra costs $423.
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Key similarities
Overall Camera Quality
8.0
7.8
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple iPhone 14 to have very good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has good overall camera quality.
The iPhone 14 boasts superior selfie quality and excels across the board in software experience and dynamic range for both photos and videos, indicating a very cohesive and high-quality camera system. Conversely, the Galaxy S21 Ultra offers a more diverse camera setup with higher resolution and superior telephoto capabilities, making it a compelling choice for those looking for camera versatility and zoom features.
Photo Quality
7.9
7.8
The Apple iPhone 14 and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra both have good photos.
The Apple iPhone 14 provides an excellent selfie experience and captures very good photos with its high software quality, dynamic range, and low-light performance. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra offers good selfies and photo quality with the added advantage of camera versatility due to its higher megapixel telephoto cameras and super telephoto zoom, which may appeal to those who prioritize zoom capabilities.
Battery
7.3 Hours
6.7 Hours
The Apple iPhone 14 has 7.3 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has 6.7 hours of battery life.
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How the Apple iPhone 14 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 14 | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$629 | $423 | ||
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" | 6.8" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 3200 x 1440 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | Yes | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 460 | 515 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A15 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 6 GB | 12 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 8.1/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.9/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 8.8/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto, Super Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 108 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7.3 Hours | 6.7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 3279 mAh | 5000 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" | 6.5" x 2.98" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.07 oz | 8.01 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 6e | |
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 Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Navy, Phantom Titanium | |
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 Ultra
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Android Authority
David Imel | January 2023
"The Galaxy S21 Ultra is a killer combo of great design, blazing-fast performance, a wonderful display, long-lasting battery life, and one of the most versatile camera systems you can get in a smartphone today."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 14 or the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
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
68
Phones evaluated
7,820
Phones stats compiled
8
Proprietary Phones ratings developed
152,100
Recommendations made
86,190
Consumer hours saved
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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