Home Phone comparison Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra - Which is better?

Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

79 out 100
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
VS
67 out 100
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Compared 2 smartphones : Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max Manufactured in September, 2021, with display 6.7 with chipsetApple A15 Bionic, vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, Manufactured in February, 2021with chipsetSamsung Exynos 2100. Below are specs, tests, pros and cons for each device

  1. Differences
  2. Review
  3. Specs
  4. Benchmarks
  5. Battery Life
  6. Cameras
  7. Comments (0)

Key Differences

Device key advantages
Reasons to choose Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
    Reasons to choose Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
    • Larger display: 6.8in
    • Higher pixel density: 515ppi
    • Lighter design: 227g vs 240g
    • Higher battery capacity: 5000mAh vs 4352mAh
    • Newer Bluetooth version: 5.2 vs 5
    • Supports newer USB: 3.2 vs 2
    • Fingerprint scanner

    Versions

    Available versions and configurations
    Memory Options - 6/128 GB
    - 6/256 GB
    - 6/512 GB
    - 6/1024 GB    		 - 12/128 GB
    - 12/256 GB
    - 12/512 GB
    - 16/256 GB
    - 16/512 GB

    Review

    Key Specs Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
    Display
    Color accuracy, sharpness & brightness
    Camera
    Main & front camera tests
    Performance
    App & system performance
    Games
    3D gaming performance
    Battery
    Battery life, charging speed & type
    Connectivity
    Connectivity features
    NanoReview Score
    Overall score by NanoReview
    Adjust each parameter’s importance to find the best match for you.
    Customize your score
    Function
    Importance (Weight)
    Display:
    Camera:
    Performance:
    Gaming:
    Battery:
    Connectivity:
    Higher weight means greater impact on NanoReview score.

    Tests & specs

    Specs & test comparison
    Smartphones:
    iPhone 13 Pro Max
    vs
    Galaxy S21 Ultra

    Display

    Display quality comparison
    Type OLED Dynamic AMOLED
    Size 6.7 in 6.8 in
    Resolution 1284x2778 pixels 1440x3200 pixels
    Aspect ratio 19.5:9 20:9
    Pixel density 458 ppi 515 ppi
    Refresh rate 120 Hz 120 Hz
    Adaptive refresh rate Yes (10-120 Hz) Yes (10-120 Hz)
    Max brightness 1000 nits 1500 nits
    HDR support Yes Dolby Vision Yes HDR10+
    Screen-to-body ratio 87.7 % 89.5 %
    Features DCI-P3 - DCI-P3
    - Always-On Display
    Display test
    Peak brightness (auto)
    Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
    1049 nits
    Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
    1019 nits
    sRGB gamut99.9 %n/a
    PWM (Flicker)238 Hzn/a
    Response time8.5 msn/a
    Contrast∞ Infiniten/a
    Sources: NotebookCheck [Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max], [Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra]

    Design & Build

    Design and ergonomics comparison
    Height 160.8 mm (6.33 in) 165.1 mm (6.5 in)
    Width 78.1 mm (3.07 in) 75.6 mm (2.98 in)
    Thickness 7.65 mm (0.3 in) 8.9 mm (0.35 in)
    Weight 240 g (8.47 oz) 227 g (8.01 oz)
    Water resistance IP68 IP68
    Back panel Glass Glass
    Frame Metal Metal
    Colors - Black
    - Silver
    - Gold
    - Blue
    - Green    		 - Black
    - Silver
    - Gray
    - Blue
    Fingerprint sensor No Yes In-Display
    Screen-to-body ratio
    Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
    87.7 %
    Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
    89.5 %

    Performance

    Testing Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra In benchmarks
    Processor
    Chipset Apple A15 Bionic Samsung Exynos 2100
    Max Frequency 3230 MHz 2900 MHz
    CPU Cores 6 (2 + 4) 8 (1 + 3 + 4)
    Architecture - 4/2.02 (Blizzard)
    - 2/3.23 (Avalanche)    		 - 4/2.2 (Cortex-A55)
    - 3/2.81 (Cortex-A78)
    - 1/2.91 (Cortex-X1)
    Process TSMC Samsung
    Transistor Size 5 nm 5 nm
    Neural Processor Apple Neural Engine Yes
    Graphics Apple A15 GPU Mali-G78 MP14
    GPU Cores 640 896
    GPU Frequency 1338 MHz 854 MHz
    FLOPS 1712.6 GFLOPS 1530.4 GFLOPS
    GeekBench v6
    Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
    Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
    2266
    Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
    1449
    Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
    Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
    5459
    Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
    3892
    Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)22661449
    Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)54593892
    Sources: Geekbench v6 [Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max]
    AnTuTu 10
    AnTuTu 10
    Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
    1326730
    Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
    843008
    CPU327704232358
    GPU434683256356
    Memory248498163007
    UX315845191217
    NanoReview Score1326730843008
    3DMark Wild Life
    3DMark Wild Life
    Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
    9444
    Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
    5221
    Max Surface Temp.45.8 °C40.8 °C
    Stability82 %69 %
    Graphics Test56 fps31 fps
    Graphics Score94445221
    Sources: 3DMark [Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max], [Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra]

    Memory

    RAM
    RAM Size 6 GB - 12 GB
    - 16 GB
    Memory Type LPDDR4X LPDDR5
    Memory Frequency 2133 MHz 2750 MHz
    Channels 2 2
    Storage
    Storage Capacity- 128 GB
    - 256 GB
    - 512 GB
    - 1024 GB    		- 128 GB
    - 256 GB
    - 512 GB
    Storage TypeNVMeUFS 3.1
    Memory CardNoNo

    Software

    OS iOS 15 (Upgradeable to iOS 18.3.2) Android 11 (Upgradeable to Android 14)
    OS Size 13 GB 26.4 GB
    UI Skin n/a One UI 6

    Battery

    Volume 4352 mAh 5000 mAh
    Max Charging Power 23 W 25 W
    Battery Type Li-ion Li-ion
    Removable No No
    Wireless Charging Yes (7.5 W) Yes (15 W)
    Reverse Charging No Yes (Wireless)
    Fast Charging Yes (42% in 30 min) Yes (54% in 30 min)
    Full Charge Time 1:46 h 1:11 h
    Battery Life Test
    Battery Life
    Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
    28:08
    Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
    22:05
    Web Browsing11:16 h07:58 h
    Video Playback17:03 h13:59 h
    Games06:41 h05:14 h
    Standby Mode136 h111 h

    Main camera

    Matrix 12 MP 108 MP
    Photo resolution 4032x3024 pixels 12000x9000 pixels
    Zoom Optical, 3x Optical, 10x
    Flash Dual LED Dual LED
    Stabilization Optical Optical
    8K Recording No Up to 24FPS
    4K Recording Yes (Up to 60 fps) Yes (Up to 60 fps)
    1080p Recording Yes (Up to 60 fps) Yes (Up to 60 fps)
    Slow Motion 240 fps (1080p) 960 fps (720p)
    Wide-angle lens 120 ° 120 °
    Lenses count Standard: 12 MP
    Telephoto: 12 MP
    Ultra-wide: 12 MP
    Depth    		 Standard: 108 MP
    Telephoto: 10 MP
    Telephoto: 10 MP
    Ultra-wide: 12 MP
    Features - Bokeh effect
    - Pro mode
    - RAW support    		 - Bokeh effect
    - Pro mode
    - RAW support
    Main lens
    Matrix12 MP108 MP
    Aperturef/1.5f/1.8
    Focal length26 mm26 mm
    SensorSony IMX703Samsung S5KHM3
    Sensor size1/1.661/1.33
    Pixel size1.9 μm0.8 μm
    AutofocusPhase autofocus (Dual Pixel)Laser autofocus
    StabilizationOpticalOptical
    Telephoto
    Matrix12 MP10 MP
    Aperturef/2.8f/4.9
    Focal length77 mm240 mm
    SensorSony IMX713Samsung S5K3J1
    Sensor size1/3.41/2.65
    Pixel size1 μm1.22 μm
    StabilizationOpticalOptical
    Ultra-wide lens
    Matrix12 MP12 MP
    Aperturef/1.8f/2.2
    Focal length13 mm13 mm
    SensorSony IMX772Sony IMX563
    Sensor size1/3.41/2.55
    Pixel size1 μm1.4 μm
    StabilizationDigitalDigital
    Main camera DxOMark results
    Photo quality
    Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
    140
    Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
    121
    Video quality
    Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
    146
    Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
    100
    Overall camera score
    Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
    141
    Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
    115
    Bokeh7570
    Preview8167
    Zoom119106
    Sources: DxOMark [Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max], [Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra]

    Front camera

    Matrix 12 MP 40 MP
    Photo resolution 4032x3024 pixels 7864x5200 pixels
    Aperture f/2.2 f/2.2
    Focal length 23 mm 26 mm
    Sensor Sony IMX514 Samsung S5KGH1
    Sensor size 1/3.6 1/2.65
    Pixel size 1 μm 0.7 μm
    Autofocus Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) Phase autofocus
    Stabilization Digital Digital
    Video resolution 2160p (4K) at 60 fps 2160p (4K) at 60 fps
    TOF 3D sensor Yes No
    Selfie camera DxOMark results
    Photo quality
    Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
    128
    Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
    133
    Video quality
    Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
    143
    Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
    140

    Connectivity

    Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
    Wi-Fi features - Dual Band
    - Wi-Fi MiMO
    - Wi-Fi Direct
    - Wi-Fi Hotspot
    - Wi-Fi Display    		 - Dual Band
    - Wi-Fi MiMO
    - Wi-Fi Direct
    - Wi-Fi Hotspot
    - Wi-Fi Display
    Bluetooth version 5 5.2
    Bluetooth features LE, A2DP LE, A2DP
    USB type n/a USB Type-C
    USB version 2 3.2
    USB features - Charging
    - USB Storage Mode
    - OTG    		 - Charging
    - USB Storage Mode
    - USB-Host mode
    - OTG
    GPS - GPS
    - GLONASS
    - Beidou
    - Galileo
    - QZSS    		 - GPS
    - GLONASS
    - Beidou
    - Galileo
    NFC* Yes Yes
    Infrared Port No No
    Connectivity
    SIM Count*12
    SIM TypeNanoNano
    SIM Moden/aDual SIM Standby
    eSIM Support *YesYes
    Hybrid SlotNoNo
    2G BandsGSM/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHzGSM 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
    3G BandsUMTS 850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHzWCDMA Band 1, 2, 4, 5, 8
    LTE Bands*LTE (B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B11/B12/B13/B14/B17/B18/B19/B20/B21/B25/B26/B28/B29/B30/B32/B66/B71)LTE (B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B13/B17/B18/B19/B20/B25/B26/B28/B32/B38/B39/B40/B41/B66)
    LTE category1824
    5G SupportYesYes

    Sound

    Speakers Stereo Stereo
    3.5 mm Jack No No
    FM Radio No No
    Dolby Atmos Yes Yes
    Speaker Test
    Max Volume
    Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
    80.2 dB
    Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
    88 dB

    Other

    Class Flagship Flagship
    Announced September, 2021 yr January, 2021 yr
    Release Date September, 2021 yr February, 2021 yr
    Launch Price ($) 1100 1200
    Sensors - Barometer
    - Proximity Sensor
    - Gyroscope
    - Accelerometer
    - Ambient Light Sensor
    - Compass
    - Face Sensor    		 - Hall Sensor
    - Barometer
    - Proximity Sensor
    - Gyroscope
    - Accelerometer
    - Ambient Light Sensor
    - Compass
    - Fingerprint sensor
    * Attention! Config, frequencies, NFC, and other specs may vary by region.

    Results

    After analyzing the data, we consider Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max the clear winner in this comparison.

    Survey

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    Total Votes: 0

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