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What we think
The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you place a high value on camera performance, the iPhone 14 Pro Max has a superior camera system that offers better photo and video quality. However, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, while cheaper, offers respectable camera capabilities that might suffice for regular use. The iPhone will give you a larger screen and much longer battery life, which is important if you use your phone heavily throughout the day. The tradeoff is its higher price. The Galaxy S21 FE is more budget-friendly and still delivers adequate performance, making it a good choice if you're looking for savings and don't require the top-end features of the iPhone. Each phone runs a different operating system, with the iPhone on iOS and the Galaxy on Android, which might factor into your decision based on your preference. 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 Max
- Excellent for taking photos
- Best in class for recording videos
- Excellent battery life
- Best in class display quality
- Best in class performance
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
- The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has no clear advantages over the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
9.2
7.0
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max has excellent overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has good overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max offers the best selfie camera quality along with excellent photo software experience, dynamic range, low light performance, and camera versatility, which is superior to the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE's selfie score and camera attributes, which are good but not at the same highest level.
Photo Quality
9.1
6.9
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max takes excellent photos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE takes only fair photos.
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max delivers better selfies, with a rating underlining excellent selfie quality, compared to the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE's good rating. Additionally, the iPhone 14 Pro Max offers a superior photos software experience, dynamic range, low light performance, and more versatile camera features, contributing to its overall better photography capabilities.
Video Quality
9.5
5.9
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max takes best in class videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE takes poor videos.
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max takes the best videos due to its higher Video Software experience, Video Stabilization, Video Dynamic Range, and Video Low Light Performance, as well as superior Mic Quality. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, while capable, falls short in these areas, especially in Video Stabilization and Video Low Light Performance, making it good for video but not on par with the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Battery
10.0 Hours
6.7 Hours
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max has 10 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has 6.7 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max has a screen size of 6.7 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is 6.4 inches.
Cost
$1,000
$770
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max has a price of $1,000 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE costs $770.
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How the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S21 FE |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,000 | $770 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 16, 2022 | January 29, 2022 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.7" | 6.4" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2796 x 1290 | 2400 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 460 | 401 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A16 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 6 GB | 6 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 9.2/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 9.2/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 9.5/10 | 5.9/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 48 megapixels + OIS | 12 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 6.7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4323 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 3.06" | 6.13" x 2.93" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 8.47 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 | Deep Purple, Gold, Silver, Space Black | Graphite, Lavender, Olive, White, Navy Blue | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
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Dig into reviews and images
Pocket-lint
Britta O'Boyle | March 2023
"The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max is not just big in form, it's big in character. There's a refreshed design that's really striking, especially in this larger format, coupled with performance enhancements, battery improvements, camera improvements, the Always-On Display and the Dynamic Island feature. It will be too big for some, but if you're looking for the best iPhone Apple has made to date in the biggest possible format, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is definitely the one - it is excellent."
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 Pro Max 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
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CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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