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What we think
The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If a superior camera is important to you and you're willing to invest more, the Apple iPhone 14 Plus offers a higher overall camera quality with better photo and video quality. However, if you prefer a phone with a slightly larger and curved screen, a higher screen refresh rate for smoother visuals, and the flexibility of the Android operating system, then the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra would suit you better and it comes at a lower price. The iPhone 14 Plus offers longer battery life, but the Galaxy S21 Ultra includes features like a higher peak screen brightness and a higher pixel density. Both have similar storage capacity and no option for expandable storage. The choice ultimately depends on what features you prioritize and how much you're willing to spend. 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
- Very 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 Plus.
Key differences
Video Quality
8.8
7.1
The Apple iPhone 14 Plus takes very good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra takes good videos.
The iPhone 14 Plus offers superior video stabilization, dynamic range, and low light performance, ensuring smoother and clearer videos in various lighting conditions, along with excellent microphone quality for crisp audio capture. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra also records high-quality videos with good stabilization and dynamic range, but its video software experience and microphone quality are not as refined as that of the iPhone 14 Plus.
Battery
9.3 Hours
6.7 Hours
The Apple iPhone 14 Plus has 9.3 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has 6.7 hours of battery life.
Cost
$729
$423
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Apple iPhone 14 Plus has a price of $729 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 Plus to have very good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has good overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 14 Plus boasts superior selfie capabilities and camera software experience, making it ideal for capturing high-quality self-portraits and offering an intuitive photography experience. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra provides great camera versatility and decent selfie quality, suited for users looking for diverse shooting options with good results.
Photo Quality
7.9
7.8
The Apple iPhone 14 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra both have good photos.
The Apple iPhone 14 Plus delivers excellent selfie photos thanks to its high-quality front camera and superb photos software experience, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has good overall camera versatility and low light performance but falls slightly behind in selfie image quality. If selfies are a priority, you'd likely prefer the iPhone 14 Plus, but for a more versatile rear camera setup, including better telephoto features, the Galaxy S21 Ultra might be the better option.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 14 Plus has a screen size of 6.7 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is 6.8 inches.
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How the Apple iPhone 14 Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 14 Plus | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$729 | $423 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 7, 2022 | January 29, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.7" | 6.8" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2778 x 1284 | 3200 x 1440 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | Yes | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 458 | 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 | 9.3 Hours | 6.7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4325 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 | 6.33" x 3.07" | 6.5" x 2.98" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 7.16 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 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 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 Plus 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
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Proprietary Phones ratings developed
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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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