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The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize a larger screen and longer battery life, the iPhone 14 Plus may be a better option, at the expense of paying a higher price. However, if you prefer a phone with a high refresh rate screen for smoother scrolling and potentially better overall performance, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE offers these features at a midrange price. The Galaxy S21 FE also has a plastic back as opposed to the iPhone's glass, which could be more durable. Both phones have similar camera systems, but if you value having a headphone jack or expandable storage, you'll want to consider the Galaxy S21 FE, as the iPhone lacks these features. Keep in mind, the operating systems are different, with the iPhone on iOS and the Galaxy on Android. 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 Plus
- Good for taking photos
- Very good for recording videos
- Very good battery life
- 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 14 Plus.
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
8.0
7.0
The Apple iPhone 14 Plus has very good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has good overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 14 Plus takes the lead in selfies with a very good selfie quality score compared to the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE's good rating. Furthermore, the iPhone 14 Plus outperforms in video offerings with excellent scores in video dynamic range and low light performance, while the Galaxy S21 FE has good and fair scores in these areas, respectively.
Photo Quality
7.9
6.9
The Apple iPhone 14 Plus takes good photos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE takes only fair photos.
The iPhone 14 Plus delivers excellent selfie quality, complemented by a robust photos software experience and good performance in both dynamic range and low light situations. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, while still producing good selfies, falls slightly behind in these areas, offering a generally good yet less versatile camera experience.
Video Quality
8.8
5.9
The Apple iPhone 14 Plus takes very good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE takes poor videos.
The iPhone 14 Plus delivers excellent video quality because it offers top-notch video stabilization and dynamic range, both critical for capturing clear and detailed footage in various lighting conditions. On the other hand, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE also captures good quality videos, it has less capable video stabilization and dynamic range, which may result in slightly less clarity and detail, especially in challenging lighting.
Battery
9.3 Hours
6.7 Hours
The Apple iPhone 14 Plus has 9.3 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has 6.7 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 14 Plus has a screen size of 6.7 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is 6.4 inches.
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Key similarities
Cost
$729
$770
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Apple iPhone 14 Plus has a price of $729 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE costs $770.
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How the Apple iPhone 14 Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 14 Plus | Samsung Galaxy S21 FE |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$729 | $770 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 7, 2022 | January 29, 2022 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.7" | 6.4" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2778 x 1284 | 2400 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 458 | 401 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A15 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 6 GB | 6 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 8.1/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.9/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 8.8/10 | 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 | 9.3 Hours | 6.7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4325 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 | 6.33" x 3.07" | 6.13" x 2.93" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 7.16 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 | 5.3 | 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)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, Purple, Yellow, Midnight, Starlight, Red | Graphite, Lavender, Olive, White, Navy Blue | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 14 Plus
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Dig into reviews and images
The Verge
Allison Johnson | October 2022
"If it’s time for an upgrade and you’ve been eyeing the big iPhone, but you’d rather get the best battery life possible than the very latest features, then the iPhone 14 Plus is for you. You get a significant boost in battery life, no matter what iPhone you’re upgrading from. That’s a combination of features that a lot of people will find appealing, and the 14 Plus delivers on its promises."
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 14 Plus 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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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.
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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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