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What we think
The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If camera quality is paramount, the iPhone 14 Pro offers superior performance with more consistent photo and video quality. On the other hand, the Galaxy S21 Ultra has a versatile camera system with a powerful telephoto lens and stylus support, which can be quite useful for creative tasks, even though the stylus isn't included. For those who prioritize screen real estate, the S21 Ultra boasts a larger display, which could enhance media consumption and multitasking experiences. The iPhone offers better integration with other Apple products and generally receives longer software support, which might be important for longevity. Battery size is larger in the Galaxy, which might translate to longer battery life under certain usage patterns. The iPhone, with its higher cost, has the latest Apple hardware, whereas the Galaxy offers comparable performance and features at a more budget-friendly price point, considering it's a slightly older model. Each phone's operating system is different, with those accustomed to iOS or Android likely preferring to stick with what they know. 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 Pro
- Excellent for taking photos
- Best in class for recording videos
- Good battery life
- Best in class display quality
- Best in class performance
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
- The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has no clear advantages over the Apple iPhone 14 Pro.
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
9.2
7.8
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro has excellent overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has good overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro has an edge in camera performance with the highest photo software experience and selfie quality, making for a better overall camera experience. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has strong photo capabilities too, but it ranks just below the iPhone 14 Pro in these categories, indicating good but not top-tier selfie performance.
Photo Quality
9.1
7.8
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro takes excellent photos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra takes good photos.
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro has an excellent score for selfie quality, suggesting it captures superior front-facing photos, benefiting from its advanced camera technology and software. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, while still very capable, has a lower selfie quality score, indicating that while it performs well, it may not match the selfie camera performance of the iPhone 14 Pro.
Video Quality
9.5
7.1
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro takes best in class videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra takes good videos.
The iPhone 14 Pro takes better videos due to its superior software experience, stabilization, dynamic range, low light performance, and microphone quality compared to the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, which still provides good video capabilities but does not match the iPhone's performance in these areas.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro has a screen size of 6.1 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is 6.8 inches.
Cost
$900
$423
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro has a price of $900 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra costs $423.
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Key similarities
Battery
7.3 Hours
6.7 Hours
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro 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 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 14 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$900 | $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 | 2556 x 1179 | 3200 x 1440 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | Yes | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 460 | 515 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A16 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 6 GB | 12 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 9.2/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 9.2/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 9.5/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto, Super Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 48 megapixels + OIS | 108 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7.3 Hours | 6.7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 3200 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 | 5.81" x 2.81" | 6.5" x 2.98" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 7.27 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 | Deep Purple, Gold, Silver, Space Black | 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 Pro
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Tom's Guide
Jordan Palmer | March 2023
"I am confident in saying that, based on my usage and time with the device, the iPhone 14 Pro is the best phone Apple’s made. It’s powerful, has amazing cameras, sports a beautiful display, and the notch is dead. It’s hard to think of anything truly wrong with this device and it’s perfect for people tired of giant handsets."
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
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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 Pro 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
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Phones evaluated
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Proprietary Phones ratings developed
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Recommendations made
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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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