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What we think
The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize a better camera, the iPhone 15 Pro offers superior photo and video quality, but it comes at a premium price. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, being more budget-friendly, provides good camera performance but not on par with the iPhone. The iPhone 15 Pro has a smaller screen which could be a plus for ease of handling, while the Galaxy S21 Ultra's larger screen might be more appealing for media consumption. Regarding battery life, the Galaxy S21 Ultra lasts a bit longer than the iPhone. If you prefer iOS and its ecosystem, the iPhone 15 Pro is the way to go, otherwise, the Galaxy S21 Ultra runs on Android and offers more flexibility at a lower cost. 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
- 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 15 Pro.
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
9.5
7.8
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro has best in class overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has good overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro is renowned for its camera capabilities, with top-notch photos software experience, exceptional dynamic range, superior performance in low light, and impressive camera versatility, including a high selfie score. While the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra also performs well, especially in video resolution and framerate, its selfie score and other camera features such as software experience, dynamic range, and low light performance are not as highly regarded as the iPhone 15 Pro's.
Photo Quality
9.5
7.8
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro takes best in class photos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra takes good photos.
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro offers the best photo experiences across a range of important camera aspects, including software, dynamic range, and low light performance, while also coming out on top in selfie quality compared to the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Although the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has good capabilities, it doesn't quite match the iPhone 15 Pro's performance in these areas, reflecting a tradeoff in overall photo quality in favor of the iPhone 15 Pro.
Video Quality
10.0
7.1
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro takes best in class videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra takes good videos.
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro takes better videos because it outperforms the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra with superior video software experience, better stabilization, and better dynamic range, which contributes to overall video quality, especially in varied lighting conditions. Additionally, the iPhone 15 Pro boasts of better mic quality for audio recording, which is important for capturing clear sound to go with high-quality videos.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 15 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 15 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 15 Pro has 7.3 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has 6.7 hours of battery life.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple iPhone 15 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$900 | $423 | ||
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" | 6.8" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2556 x 1179 | 3200 x 1440 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | Yes | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 461 | 515 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A17 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 9.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 10/10 | 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 | 3274 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 | 5.77" x 2.78" | 6.5" x 2.98" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.60 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 | 6e | 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, 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 Navy, Phantom Titanium | |
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 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 15 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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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.
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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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