iPhone 13 Professional Max vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra: which 2021 flagship phone is for you?

iPhone 13 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
iPhone 13 Pro Max (left) vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Radical (Image credit: Apple, Samsung)

Orchard apple tree's iPhone 13 range is out at once, and the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the big and shiny flagship phone ahead the charge.

If it's to convince the common ahead of the lucrative end of year period, however, it's going to have to wrestle with the young-comate king of the 2021 smartphone scene - the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.

We've reviewed both phones, and awarded both smartphone titans an impressive 4.5 stars. Who comes verboten of this heavyweight clash on pass?

iPhone 13 Pro Grievous bodily harm vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra price and availability

The iPhone 13 In favor Max was released on Sept 24, 2021. Prices start from $1,099 / £1,049 / AU$1,699 for the 128GB model, while $1,199 / £1,149 / Gold$1,869 will get you 256GB, and $1,399 / £1,349 / Gold$2,219 will secure you the 512GB model.

There's besides a 1TB model this time around, which will cost you $1,599 / £1,549 / AU$2,569.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra appeared some in the first place in the year, on January 29, 2021. The entry-level 128GB model starts at $1,199 / £1,149 / AU$1,849, while the 256GB model costs $1,399 / £1,349 / AU$2,149. Finally, the 512GB model increases that price to $1,599 / £1,549 / AU$2,449.

Perhaps surprisingly, then, the iPhone 13 Pro Grievous bodily harm is the cheaper phone of the two right crossways the plank - at least in damage of the classic toll. But thanks to the Galaxy S21 Ultra's greater eld, you should be capable to line up it at a key discount.

Purpose

Both of these smartphone designs are beautiful iconic. The iPhone 13 Pro Max is a dead ringer for the iPhone 12 Pro Max in front IT, which itself represented a sheer revamp of Apple's intention linguistic communication.

We hadn't seen flat, symmetrical surfaces like this since the iPhone 5's heyday - or the original iPhone SE leastways. It also uses shiny medical procedure-grade stainless brand for the rim, which is Thomas More premium than the aluminum used in the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Indeed, the Galaxy S21 Ultra looks like-minded a fairly typical Android flagship - right up until you flip it onto its front. That swooping camera unit is flatbed-out gorgeous, and makes the iPhone's nondescript as looking at rather dull aside compare.

The iPhone 13 Pro Max is definitely less comfortable to hold than its rival, too. As favourable as it looks, Apple's industrial intention rather digs into your palms, while Samsung's persistence with a curvier design language proves easier on the hands.

iPhone 13 Pro Max

(Image credit: TechRadar)

In terms of colors, the iPhone 13 Pro Max comes in Graphite, Gold, Bright and Scomberomorus sierra Blue. The Galaxy S21 Ultra offers up a wider selection of Phantasma Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Ti, Phantom USN, and Phantom Chocolate-brown options. All are somewhat muted, professional-form shades.

These are two of the heftier phones happening the market, though. The iPhone 13 Pro Scoop is 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.65mm and 238g, spell the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9mm and 228g. So Orchard apple tree's phone is shorter and slimmer, while Samsung's is narrower and lighter.

Some phones go with an IP68 evaluation, which agency they're some good at resisting water supply and detritus immersion (though the iPhone 13 In favour of Max is certificated to greater depths, of six meters to the S21 Immoderate's 1.5). The iPhone 13 Professional Max also has a slimly tougher display, with Apple's ceramic shield over again providing a fourfold increase in huskiness compared to other phones.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

(Image deferred payment: Aakash Jhaveri)

On that point's a big departure in how these 2 phones treat the implementation of a in advance camera. The iPhone 13 Pro Max uses a chunky pass, albeit one that's 20% smaller than before. The Galaxy S21 Ultra gives you a central punch-hole, which is rather less protrusive.

It's a shame Apple hasn't used the extra pixels to give USA or s extra selective information, so much American Samoa a battery percentage. But it's a step on the road to a notchless future, sol we'ray reasonably happy with IT.

Expose

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Radical's screen is a 6.8-inch AMOLED, and can run at both a 120Hz refresh rate and a QHD+ (1440 x 3200) resolution simultaneously.

The iPhone 13 Pro Max has a smaller, less sharp 6.7‑inch 1284 x 2778 OLED screen door. There really isn't much in IT when information technology comes to raw image quality.

However, for the first fourth dimension, Apple can match Samsung with a 120Hz refresh rate of its own. Both phones use LTPO technology in order to apply a variable refresh order.

This means that they can economise power by scaling back from 120Hz when viewing static images or textbook. Both can drop A low as 10Hz, simply single the iPhone 13 Pro Max has fully optimized its UI to respond to the focal ratio of your bear upon.

iPhone 13 Pro Max

(Effigy credit: TechRadar)

It will take a patc for developers to fascinate up and update their apps and games to take vantage of this supernumerary smoothness, while Humanoid developers have been working with 120Hz displays for years.

The Samsung display gets a bit brighter, with a peak figure of 1500 nits. The iPhone 13 Pro Max can 'simply' hit 1200 nits.

Interestingly, we found that the iPhone 13 Pro Max's display had a miniature more artificial 'pop' than older iPhones, which is a trait more usually associated with Samsung phones. Both of these screens are extremely vibrant.

Samsung also stashes its ultrasonic fingermark sensor, complete with 1.7x greater surface area than its predecessor, inside that display. Apple has resisted re-implementing Advert ID in favour of of its Face Idaho facial realization system.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review

(Image citation: Future)

Cameras

Orchard apple tree and Samsung have gone back and forth when it comes to camera mastery in recent years. Right now, they'atomic number 75 both near the top of the plot, though they payoff very different approaches.

The new iPhone 13 Pro Scoop gives you an improved triple–12MP television camera system, led by a main sensor with a wide f/1.5 aperture. This is stiff-backed by a 12MP ultra-extensive that comes with a new big function, allowing you to get As nigh as 2cm away from your subject.

You also get a new telephoto lens with a 3x zoom, and it's capable of shooting in Night Mode now.

The Samsung Extragalactic nebula S21 Pro's camera is led past a whopping 1/1.33" 108MP main wide sensor, which uses a 9-to–1 pixel binning technique to create crisp, bright 12MP images.

iPhone 13 Pro Max

(Image credit: TechRadar)

IT likewise has its own 12MP extremist-wide sensor, along with a duet of 10MP telephoto sensors - united for 3x optical zoom, and the other for 10x.

Hardware differences aside, Apple and Samsung famously approach color in scientific discipline a little differently. Samsung typically punches its colours risen to a more Insta-worthy level, while Apple keeps things a little cooler and more natural.

Speaking of software, the iPhone 13 Pro Max includes a new feature that lets you select from different Photographic Styles, dynamical the Tone and Affectionateness without pushing the subject nonfunctional. You hindquarters even give your shots an extra dose of Samsung-like vibrancy, if you prefer the South Korean company's plan of attack.

You also get Smart HDR 4 with the iPhone 13 Pro Max, which can make adjustments for multiple people in a scene.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

(Image credit: Aakash Jhaveri)

When it comes to video, the Galaxy S21 Ultra can seize in up to 8K at 24fps, spell the iPhone 13 Pro Max can only hit 4K at 60fps. Only again, Apple's strength is in its algorithmic mastery.

That includes a new Medium fashion that can intelligently refocus according to a subject's stare, as cured as predict when a national is about to inherit view. Later in the year, ProRes mode will let you record, edit, and deliver broadcast-ready content connected the go at 4K/30fps.

We'd have to pick the iPhone 13 In favor of Max as the every-round camera title-holder Here. Information technology takes richer, more balanced shots in a range of ignition conditions, and IT tops our list of the best camera phones.

With that said, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra remains the zoom king, so if you like to shoot your subjects from afar it's the phone to go for.

Specs and performance

Let's not prevaricate here. The iPhone 13 Professional Max is quite bit more powerful than the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Orchard apple tree's iPhones receive been the most powerful in their class for some time now, and the iPhone 13 Favoring Max's A15 Bionic chipset continues that trend.

In a way, this comparison isn't completely sporty. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra falls closer to the iPhone 12 Pro Max than the iPhone 13 Pro Max in terms of its vintage, and it'll likely take the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra to compete with the iPhone 13 Pro Liquid ecstasy on power. Plane then, we don't fancy its chances.

Orchard apple tree claims that its six-core CPU and fin-core GPU are capable 50% faster than the stellar competitor on the Android side, which would presumptively include the Samsung Galaxy S21 Immoderate.

Sure, in our tests, the iPhone 13 In favour of Max blitzed its rival when information technology came to frame rate, multi-gist capability, and video transcoding speed. We're talking almost twice every bit smart in some cases.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

(Image acknowledgment: Aakash Jhaveri)

Samsung doesn't actually help itself on the performance front either. Depending connected where you are in the world, you'll either get a Galaxy S21 Extremist with a Snapdragon 888 chipset (in the US and China), operating theater the Exynos 2100 (everywhere else). The latter isn't a icky bit, but it's not as fast American Samoa the Snapdragon 888.

In the real life, both phones feel extremely fluid. For general tasks, and even high-end play, you liable wouldn't notice the difference. But if you're buying your next phone to record high-lineament video or work at upper-power tasks – which is gracious of what the whole Pro/Extremist phone construct is about – the iPhone 13 In favor Max will give more bangs for your bucks.

In reposition damage, both phones give you a choice of 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of internal capacity, but the iPhone 13 Pro Max also supplies a 1TB selection.

The Galax S21 Ultra hits back with support for Samsung's S Pen stylus. Whether you'atomic number 75 jot notes for automatic transcription, or sketching a masterpiece, Samsung's stylus is versatile and powerful. Malus pumila has its own competitive Pencil, of course, but IT hasn't yet seen fit to add together support for it to the iPhone roll.

Both phones are 5G fit, as you mightiness expect.

Assault and battery

Samsung's phone has a 5,000mAh battery, while the iPhone 13 Affirmative Max has been found to have a 4,352mAh cadre.

That mightiness be a mickle smaller than the Samsung, but more significantly it's a massive increase happening the iPhone 12 Pro Max's 3,687mAh equivalent, which had excellent stamina.

We say 'more importantly' because iOS and Mechanical man use the power allotted to them identical otherwise. Apple's phones are traditionally more efficient, resulting in littler batteries.

Apple has claimed that the iPhone 13 Pro Max wish get capable 2.5 hours of extra life out of a single charge compared to its proximate predecessor. Certainly, we plant the iPhone 13 In favour of Max to have the best battery life we've ever seen from an iPhone.

iPhone 13 Pro Max

(Image credit: TechRadar)

In a normal intensive mean solar day's use, we launch that we would run low to bed with a third of a tankful of power. That's many good going. Meanwhile, it lasted longer browsing the web on 5G than any phone we've ever tested, including the Samsung Beetleweed S21 Ultra.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is solid in its own right, however. It will get you through a full day of moderate usage with ease, straight-grained with a QHD resolution and 120Hz brush up pace operating absent together.

Neither the iPhone 13 Pro Max nor the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the nearly advanced when it comes to recharging. The Galaxy S21 Ultra lonesome supports up to 25W wired charging, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max only goes adequate to 20W.

Neither headphone gives you a charger in the boxful, which is a trifle annoying given how so much money you're paying. We appreciate the environmental impetus Hera, but for certain customers should be offered the option of a battery charger.

Both phones support up to 15W wireless charging, which again ISN't all that competitive with some of their Humanoid-settled rivals.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

(Image credit: Aakash Jhaveri)

Takeout food

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the iPhone 13 Pro Max's biggest competitor, despite being nigher in age to the iPhone 12 Pro Max. IT's been arguably the best all-around smartphone along the market for most of 2021.

Specs like a 10x telephoto camera and a QHD+ display continue to outdo Apple's young challenger. Withal, the iPhone 13 Pro Max brings its have photographic camera tricks to the party, with stunning low light performance and uncomparable all-round shot consistency, not to mention one operating theatre two impressive new tricks.

The belated addition of a 120Hz display to the iPhone range successfully closes the spread to the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra's stunning screen, though we'd smooth induce to give way the latter the bound on brightness and sharpness.

In performance price, even so, there's simply no contest, with the iPhone 13 Pro Max blitzing through certain soaring-end tasks all but double every bit rapidly as its Samsung rival.

IT's tough to call in an outright winner here, with some devices in the lengthways for sound of the year. You could contend that the iPhone 13 Pro Georgia home boy's fresher vintage and reigning performance give it the edge, but in our best smartphones guide the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has kept its crown.

And the real test leave be whether Apple's latest can pedestal equal to the forthcoming Samsung Galax S22 Radical. Stay tuned for another nick-dong battle in early 2022.

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  • We'atomic number 75 already earreach about the iPhone 14

You might also want to check out the Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 comparison.

iPhone 13 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra: which 2021 flagship phone is for you?

Source: https://www.techradar.com/news/iphone-13-pro-max-vs-samsung-galaxy-s21-ultra