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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you want a more recent device with a potentially better camera and display, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro is a great choice, but it comes at a premium price. It boasts a high-quality OLED display with a higher refresh rate and higher resolution than the Samsung Galaxy S21+, which means sharper images and smoother scrolling. The iPhone also has more advanced camera capabilities that may result in better photo and video quality. However, if cost is a major factor for you, the Samsung Galaxy S21+ is less expensive and still offers a large OLED screen, decent camera performance, and a long battery life; it's an excellent value for its price. Keep in mind that the iPhone runs iOS, while the Galaxy is Android-based, which could affect your app preferences and user experience. 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 Pro
- Best in class for taking photos
- Best in class for recording videos
- Best in class display quality
- Best in class performance
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S21+
- Very good battery life
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
9.5
7.2
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro has best in class overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S21+ has good overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro boasts superior selfie capabilities and generally excels in other camera functionalities such as photos and videos dynamic range, low light performance, and camera versatility compared to the Samsung Galaxy S21+, which offers good performance across these areas but does not match the iPhone's excellence in selfie quality.
Photo Quality
9.5
7.0
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro takes best in class photos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21+ takes good photos.
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro's camera excels in software experience, dynamic range, and low light performance, which allows it to capture better-quality photos compared to the Samsung Galaxy S21+. Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 Pro's selfie camera is rated higher than that of the Galaxy S21+, making it a stronger choice for selfie enthusiasts.
Video Quality
10.0
6.6
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro takes best in class videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21+ takes only fair videos.
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro excels at taking videos due to its exceptional video stabilization, dynamic range, and low light performance, coupled with high-quality microphones, making it suitable for capturing clear and stable footage in various lighting conditions. On the other hand, while the Samsung Galaxy S21+ has strong video capabilities, it doesn't match the iPhone 15 Pro in these areas, but may still appeal to those looking for a reliable video experience at a potentially lower cost.
Battery
7.3 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro has 7.3 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S21+ has 8 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro has a screen size of 6.1 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S21+ is 6.7 inches.
Cost
$900
$340
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro has a price of $900 and the Samsung Galaxy S21+ costs $340.
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How the Apple iPhone 15 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S21+ compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S21+ |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$900 | $340 | ||
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 | 6.1" | 6.7" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2556 x 1179 | 2400 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 461 | 394 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A17 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 9.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 10/10 | 6.6/10 | |
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 | 7.3 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 3274 mAh | 4800 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 | 5.77" x 2.78" | 6.36" x 2.98" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.60 oz | 7.05 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 | 5.0 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6e | 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 | Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium, White Titanium, Black Titanium | Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink, Phantom Gold, Phantom Red | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 15 Pro
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Guide
Mark Spoonauer | September 2023
"The iPhone 15 Pro is the one to get if you want a powerful flagship you can easily use it with one hand. Not only is the titanium design stronger and lighter, Apple made the design smaller with slimmer bezels. You also get very strong cameras with night mode and portrait improvements, blazing performance from the A17 Pro chip and a smart Action button."
Samsung Galaxy S21+
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Guide
Jordan Palmer | May 2022
"All told, Samsung nailed it with the Galaxy S21 Plus. It has most of the strengths of the smaller S21 in a bigger package. It’s got a lot going for it. If you’re coming from an older device, like the Galaxy S10 series, this is a solid upgrade."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 15 Pro 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
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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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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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