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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize a larger screen and a more prestigious brand, the iPhone 15 Plus offers a 6.7-inch display and is made with premium materials such as glass, but it comes with a premium price tag. Its camera is highly rated for both photo and video quality and it operates on iOS. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S21, an Android phone with a plastic back, might be more budget-friendly with a reasonably good camera for photos and videos. However, the S21 has a smaller 6.2-inch screen and shorter battery life. If you want a high refresh rate for smoother visuals, the Galaxy S21's screen refreshes at 120Hz compared to the iPhone's 60Hz. 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 15 Plus
- Very good for taking photos
- Excellent for recording videos
- Very good battery life
- Best in class performance
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S21
- The Samsung Galaxy S21 has no clear advantages over the Apple iPhone 15 Plus.
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
8.6
7.2
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus has very good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 has good overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus has an edge in camera capabilities compared to the Samsung Galaxy S21, particularly for selfie enthusiasts, as it offers superior selfie camera performance. Both phones have versatile main camera setups, but the iPhone 15 Plus boasts a higher main camera megapixel count, better photo and video software experiences, enhanced low light performance, and more effective video stabilization.
Photo Quality
8.5
7.0
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus takes very good photos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 takes good photos.
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus offers superior selfie quality due to its higher camera score in that category, which indicates a better software experience and performance in dynamic range and low light scenarios for selfies when compared to the Samsung Galaxy S21, which scores lower in terms of selfie quality. Additionally, the iPhone’s overall software experience and camera versatility contribute to its enhanced capabilities in producing top-tier photographs.
Video Quality
9.1
6.6
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus takes excellent videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 takes only fair videos.
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus delivers better videos as it provides a superior video stabilization and dynamic range, which helps in capturing smoother and more visually detailed footage even in varying lighting conditions. On the other hand, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 has good video capabilities, it falls short in stabilization and dynamic range, which are key to achieving high-quality video results, especially in challenging scenarios.
Battery
8.9 Hours
6.7 Hours
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus has 8.9 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S21 has 6.7 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus has a screen size of 6.7 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S21 is 6.2 inches.
Cost
$829
$145
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus has a price of $829 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 costs $145.
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How the Apple iPhone 15 Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S21 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Plus | Samsung Galaxy S21 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$829 | $145 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 22, 2023 | January 29, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.7" | 6.2" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2796 x 1290 | 2400 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 460 | 421 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A16 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 8.7/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 8.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 9.2/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 48 megapixels + OIS | 12 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8.9 Hours | 6.7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4383 mAh | 4000 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" | 5.97" x 2.8" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 7.09 oz | 5.96 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, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 75, 76, 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 | Yellow, Pink, Blue, Green, Black | Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
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Dig into reviews and images
PC Mag
Eric Zeman | October 2023
"Apple's iPhone 15 Plus is the phone to get if battery life and budget are your top concerns. It outlasts the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro, coming in second only to the top-shelf Pro Max. Otherwise, it includes a larger display than the standard iPhone 15, the same speedy processor, a fine pair of cameras, excellent wireless radios, and a waterproof build."
Samsung Galaxy S21
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Dig into reviews and images
Android Central
Huseman Joe | February 2022
"The Galaxy S21 delivers the flagship Samsung experience in a phone that's much more pocketable (and affordable) than the top-end S21 Ultra.The triple-camera system is incredibly capable, Samsung's One UI 3.1 software is chock-full of features and settings to mess with, and I've not once missed having expandable storage."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 15 Plus or the Samsung Galaxy S21
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.
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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