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The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize a larger screen and prefer iOS, consider the Apple iPhone 15 Plus; however, it is more expensive. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE offers a slightly smaller screen size, runs on Android, and is more budget-friendly. For photography enthusiasts, the iPhone has a higher quality camera performance, but the Galaxy S21 FE still provides decent camera capabilities. The Galaxy also boasts a higher refresh rate for smoother scrolling, which is absent on the iPhone. Regarding battery life, the Galaxy has a slightly larger capacity, which may lead to longer usage between charges compared to the iPhone. Both devices have similar internal storage capacity and support fast charging, though the iPhone may charge slightly faster. Choose the iPhone if you're invested in the Apple ecosystem and want better camera quality, or the Galaxy if you prefer Android and are looking for a more cost-effective option with a high refresh rate screen. 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
- Very good 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 15 Plus.
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
8.6
7.0
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus has very good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has good overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus offers a superior camera experience with very good scores across multiple essential categories like selfie quality, dynamic range, and low-light performance, making it an excellent choice for users who prioritize camera features in their smartphone. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, although still providing good performance, has lower scores in key areas such as selfie quality and dynamic range, positioning it as a more affordable option for customers who are looking for decent camera capabilities without the higher price tag of the iPhone.
Photo Quality
8.5
6.9
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus takes very good photos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE takes only fair photos.
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus produces the best selfies, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE takes good ones; this is attributed to the selfie camera's higher quality in the iPhone. Additionally, the iPhone 15 Plus offers a superior overall photo experience, which includes better resolution, dynamic range, and low light performance compared to the Galaxy S21 FE.
Video Quality
9.1
5.9
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus takes excellent videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE takes poor videos.
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus offers superior video capabilities due to its higher resolution and frame rate, more advanced video software experience, better video stabilization, greater dynamic range, enhanced low light performance, and improved microphone quality over the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE. While the Galaxy S21 FE provides a good video experience, it falls short when compared to the iPhone 15 Plus, especially in key areas such as stabilization and low light performance which are crucial for high-quality video capture.
Battery
8.9 Hours
6.7 Hours
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus has 8.9 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 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 FE is 6.4 inches.
Cost
$829
$770
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus has a price of $829 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE costs $770.
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How the Apple iPhone 15 Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Plus | Samsung Galaxy S21 FE |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$829 | $770 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 22, 2023 | 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 | No | 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 | 8.7/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 8.5/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 9.2/10 | 5.9/10 | |
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 | 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 | 7.09 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, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 75, 76, 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 | Yellow, Pink, Blue, Green, Black | Graphite, Lavender, Olive, White, Navy Blue | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
See more
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 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 15 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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Phones evaluated
7,820
Phones stats compiled
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Proprietary Phones ratings developed
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Recommendations made
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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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