Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G
SMARTPHONE HUNTER
Apple's iPhone 13 lineup is officially available, with the iPhone 13 Pro Max serving as the huge, gleaming flagship phone.
It will have to compete with the early-crowned king of the 2021 smartphone market, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra if it is to win over the public ahead of the lucrative end-of-year time.
Both phones were reviewed and received a 4.5-star rating from us. Who will emerge victorious from this heavyweight fight?
Apple's iPhone 13 lineup is officially available, with the iPhone 13 Pro Max serving as the huge, gleaming flagship phone.
It will have to compete with the early-crowned king of the 2021 smartphone market, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra if it is to win over the public ahead of the lucrative end-of-year time.
Both phones were reviewed and received a 4.5-star rating from us. Who will emerge victorious from this heavyweight fight?
iPhone 13 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra price and availability
On September 24, 2021, the iPhone 13 Pro Max was released. The 128GB model costs $1,099 / £1,049 / AU$1,699, while the 256GB model costs $1,199 / £1,149 / AU$1,869, and the 512GB model costs $1,399 / £1,349 / AU$2,219. This time around, there's also a 1TB variant available for $1,599 / £1,549 / AU$2,569.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra debuted on January 29, 2021, significantly earlier in the year. The 256GB variant costs $1,399 / £1,349 / AU$2,149, while the entry-level 128GB model costs $1,199 / £1,149 / AU$1,849 Finally, the 512GB model costs $1,599 / £1,549 / $2,449 (AU$2,449).
Surprisingly, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the less expensive of the two phones in every way - at least in terms of the usual price. However, because the Galaxy S21 Ultra is older, you should be able to get a good deal on it.
On September 24, 2021, the iPhone 13 Pro Max was released. The 128GB model costs $1,099 / £1,049 / AU$1,699, while the 256GB model costs $1,199 / £1,149 / AU$1,869, and the 512GB model costs $1,399 / £1,349 / AU$2,219. This time around, there's also a 1TB variant available for $1,599 / £1,549 / AU$2,569.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra debuted on January 29, 2021, significantly earlier in the year. The 256GB variant costs $1,399 / £1,349 / AU$2,149, while the entry-level 128GB model costs $1,199 / £1,149 / AU$1,849 Finally, the 512GB model costs $1,599 / £1,549 / $2,449 (AU$2,449).
Surprisingly, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the less expensive of the two phones in every way - at least in terms of the usual price. However, because the Galaxy S21 Ultra is older, you should be able to get a good deal on it.
Design
These two smartphone designs are instantly recognizable. The iPhone 13 Pro Max is a carbon copy of the iPhone 12 Pro Max, which was itself a dramatic redesign of Apple's design language.
Since the iPhone 5's heyday - or at least the original iPhone SE - we hadn't seen flat, symmetrical surfaces like this. The rim is made of gleaming surgical-grade stainless steel, which is more luxurious than the aluminum used in the Galaxy S21 Ultra.
Indeed, the Galaxy S21 Ultra appears to be a regular Android flagship until you turn it around to its front. That swooping camera unit is very stunning, and it makes the iPhone's bland back look drab in comparison.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is unquestionably less expensive. Graphite, Gold, Silver, and Sierra Blue are the available colors for the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Titanium, Phantom Navy, and Phantom Brown are among the colors available on the Galaxy S21 Ultra. All are professional-grade hues that are somewhat subdued.
These are, however, two of the heaviest phones available. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra measures 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9mm and weighs 228 grams, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max measures 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.65mm and weighs 238 grams. As a result, Apple's phone is thinner and lighter than Samsung's. Both phones have an IP68 grade for water and dust resistance (but the iPhone 13 Pro Max is certified to deeper depths).
The implementation of a front camera differs significantly between these two phones. The iPhone 13 Pro Max has a large notch, although it's 20% smaller than the previous model. The central punch-hole of the Galaxy S21 Ultra is less noticeable. It's a shame Apple didn't use the extra pixels to provide us with more information, like a battery %. We're satisfied with it because it's a step toward a future.
These two smartphone designs are instantly recognizable. The iPhone 13 Pro Max is a carbon copy of the iPhone 12 Pro Max, which was itself a dramatic redesign of Apple's design language.
Since the iPhone 5's heyday - or at least the original iPhone SE - we hadn't seen flat, symmetrical surfaces like this. The rim is made of gleaming surgical-grade stainless steel, which is more luxurious than the aluminum used in the Galaxy S21 Ultra.
Indeed, the Galaxy S21 Ultra appears to be a regular Android flagship until you turn it around to its front. That swooping camera unit is very stunning, and it makes the iPhone's bland back look drab in comparison.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is unquestionably less expensive. Graphite, Gold, Silver, and Sierra Blue are the available colors for the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Titanium, Phantom Navy, and Phantom Brown are among the colors available on the Galaxy S21 Ultra. All are professional-grade hues that are somewhat subdued.
These are, however, two of the heaviest phones available. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra measures 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9mm and weighs 228 grams, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max measures 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.65mm and weighs 238 grams. As a result, Apple's phone is thinner and lighter than Samsung's. Both phones have an IP68 grade for water and dust resistance (but the iPhone 13 Pro Max is certified to deeper depths).
The implementation of a front camera differs significantly between these two phones. The iPhone 13 Pro Max has a large notch, although it's 20% smaller than the previous model. The central punch-hole of the Galaxy S21 Ultra is less noticeable. It's a shame Apple didn't use the extra pixels to provide us with more information, like a battery %. We're satisfied with it because it's a step toward a future.
Display
The display on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is a 6.8-inch AMOLED with a 120Hz refresh rate and a QHD+ (1440 x 3200) resolution. The 6.7-inch 1284 x 2778 OLED display on the iPhone 13 Pro Max is smaller and less crisp. When it comes to raw image quality, there isn't much to be found. Apple, on the other hand, can match Samsung for the first time with its 120Hz refresh rate. To apply a variable refresh rate, both phones employ LTPO technology.
When viewing static graphics or text, they can save power by lowering the refresh rate from 120Hz. Both can go down to 10Hz, but only the iPhone 13 Pro Max's UI has been properly tuned. While Android app developers have been working with 120Hz panels for years, programmers will have to catch up and upgrade their games and apps to take advantage of the improved smoothness.
The Samsung display becomes somewhat brighter with a peak brightness of 1500 nits. Maximum brightness of 1200 nits is available on the iPhone 13 Pro Max. The iPhone 13 Pro Max's display has a little more artificial 'pop' than previous iPhones, which is a quality more often associated with Samsung phones. There's a lot of color on each of these screens. Samsung also conceals its ultrasonic fingerprint sensor within the display, which is 1.7x larger than its predecessor. Apple has been strong in its stance on the subject.
The display on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is a 6.8-inch AMOLED with a 120Hz refresh rate and a QHD+ (1440 x 3200) resolution. The 6.7-inch 1284 x 2778 OLED display on the iPhone 13 Pro Max is smaller and less crisp. When it comes to raw image quality, there isn't much to be found. Apple, on the other hand, can match Samsung for the first time with its 120Hz refresh rate. To apply a variable refresh rate, both phones employ LTPO technology.
When viewing static graphics or text, they can save power by lowering the refresh rate from 120Hz. Both can go down to 10Hz, but only the iPhone 13 Pro Max's UI has been properly tuned. While Android app developers have been working with 120Hz panels for years, programmers will have to catch up and upgrade their games and apps to take advantage of the improved smoothness.
The Samsung display becomes somewhat brighter with a peak brightness of 1500 nits. Maximum brightness of 1200 nits is available on the iPhone 13 Pro Max. The iPhone 13 Pro Max's display has a little more artificial 'pop' than previous iPhones, which is a quality more often associated with Samsung phones. There's a lot of color on each of these screens. Samsung also conceals its ultrasonic fingerprint sensor within the display, which is 1.7x larger than its predecessor. Apple has been strong in its stance on the subject.
Cameras
In recent years, Apple and Samsung have battled it out for camera supremacy. They're both towards the peak of their games right now, but taking completely different approaches. The new iPhone 13 Pro Max features an enhanced triple–12MP camera system, led by a primary sensor with a wide f/1.5 aperture. This is supported by a 12MP ultra-wide camera with a new macro capability that allows you to go as close to your subject as 2cm. A new telephoto lens with a 3x zoom is also included, and it can now photograph in Night Mode. The camera of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Pro is led by a massive 1/1.33" 108MP primary wide sensor that employs a 9-to-1 pixel binning method.
It also features a 12MP ultra-wide sensor and two 10MP telephoto cameras, one with a 3x zoom lens and the other with 10x. Apart from hardware distinctions, Apple and Samsung are known for their contrasting color science approaches. Apple generally keeps just a little calmer and more natural than Samsung, which amps up the colors to create them more Instagram-worthy.
In terms of hardware and software, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has a new feature that lets you choose from a variety of Photographic Styles and change the Tone and Warm without distorting the picture. You may also add a splash of color to your photographs if you favor the way used by the South Korean corporation. With the iPhone 13 Pro Max, you also have Smart HDR 4, which can adjust for several individuals in a scene.
The Galaxy S21 Ultra can capture video at up to 8K at 24fps, whilst the iPhone 13 Pro Max can only record at 4K at 60fps. However, Apple's computational skill is once again its strength. This version has a new Cinematic function that can refocus automatically depending on a subject's attention and predict when an item will appear. Later this year, ProRes mode will be accessible, allowing you to record, edit, and distribute broadcast-ready material in 4K/30fps on the fly.
As the best all-around camera, the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max comes out on top. It creates richer, more balanced shots in a variety of lighting situations, and it ranks top on our list of the best phone cameras. That said, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is still the zoom king, so if you want to photograph your subjects from afar, this is the phone to get.
In recent years, Apple and Samsung have battled it out for camera supremacy. They're both towards the peak of their games right now, but taking completely different approaches. The new iPhone 13 Pro Max features an enhanced triple–12MP camera system, led by a primary sensor with a wide f/1.5 aperture. This is supported by a 12MP ultra-wide camera with a new macro capability that allows you to go as close to your subject as 2cm. A new telephoto lens with a 3x zoom is also included, and it can now photograph in Night Mode. The camera of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Pro is led by a massive 1/1.33" 108MP primary wide sensor that employs a 9-to-1 pixel binning method.
It also features a 12MP ultra-wide sensor and two 10MP telephoto cameras, one with a 3x zoom lens and the other with 10x. Apart from hardware distinctions, Apple and Samsung are known for their contrasting color science approaches. Apple generally keeps just a little calmer and more natural than Samsung, which amps up the colors to create them more Instagram-worthy.
In terms of hardware and software, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has a new feature that lets you choose from a variety of Photographic Styles and change the Tone and Warm without distorting the picture. You may also add a splash of color to your photographs if you favor the way used by the South Korean corporation. With the iPhone 13 Pro Max, you also have Smart HDR 4, which can adjust for several individuals in a scene.
The Galaxy S21 Ultra can capture video at up to 8K at 24fps, whilst the iPhone 13 Pro Max can only record at 4K at 60fps. However, Apple's computational skill is once again its strength. This version has a new Cinematic function that can refocus automatically depending on a subject's attention and predict when an item will appear. Later this year, ProRes mode will be accessible, allowing you to record, edit, and distribute broadcast-ready material in 4K/30fps on the fly.
As the best all-around camera, the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max comes out on top. It creates richer, more balanced shots in a variety of lighting situations, and it ranks top on our list of the best phone cameras. That said, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is still the zoom king, so if you want to photograph your subjects from afar, this is the phone to get.
Specs and performance
Let's jump right into the subject. The iPhone 13 Pro Max outperforms Samsung's Galaxy S21 Ultra in terms of performance. The A15 Bionic chipset in the iPhone 13 Pro Max continues Apple's reputation of having the most processing power in its class.
This comparison isn't completely accurate in other areas. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra looks more like the iPhone 12 Pro Max than the iPhone 13 Pro Max in terms of design, and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra will almost probably be required to match the iPhone 13 Pro Max in terms of performance. Despite this, we do not believe it is a viable option. On the Android side, Apple boasts that its six-core CPU and five-core GPU are up to 50% faster than the leading competitors, which would likely include the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.
Indeed, the iPhone 13 Pro Max outperformed its opponent in our tests when it came to framing rate, multi-core capability, and video transcoding speed. In certain cases, we're talking almost twice as quickly. Samsung also doesn't help themselves when it comes to performance. You'll either get a Galaxy S21 Ultra with a Snapdragon 888 processor (in the US and China) or an Exynos 2100 chipset (in the rest of the globe) (everywhere else). The latter isn't a bad chip, but it can't compete with the Snapdragon 888 in terms of speed.
Both phones are highly fluid in the real world. You probably wouldn't notice the difference between general chores and even high-end games. The iPhone 13 Pro Max, on the other hand, will give you more bang for your money if you're looking for a phone to record high-quality video or perform high-power tasks, which is what the whole Pro/Ultra phone concept is about.
Both phones have internal storage options of 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB, but the iPhone 13 Pro Max has a 1TB option as well. With support for Samsung's S Pen stylus, the Galaxy S21 Ultra responds. Samsung's stylus is versatile and strong, whether you're taking notes for automatic transcription or drawing a masterpiece. Of course, Apple has its own competing Pencil, but it has yet to see fit to include support for it in its iPhone lineup. As you might anticipate, both phones are 5G capable.
Battery
The Samsung phone boasts a 5,000mAh battery, whilst the iPhone 13 Pro Max has a 4,352mAh cell. That's a lot less than the Samsung, but it's a significant boost over the iPhone 12 Pro Max's 3,687mAh equivalent, which had amazing endurance.
We say more importantly' because iOS and Android employ the power that has been granted to them in very different ways. Apple phones have historically been more efficient, resulting in smaller batteries. Apple claims that the iPhone 13 Pro Max would have up to 2.5 hours more battery life on a single charge than its immediate predecessor. We discovered that the iPhone 13 Pro Max has the best battery life we've ever observed on an iPhone.
We noticed that after a normal intensive day's use, we would go to bed with only one-third of a tank of power. That is a truly outstanding job. Meanwhile, it outlasted every phone we've ever tested when using 5G to access the internet, even the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, on the other hand, is a capable smartphone in its own right. Even with a QHD resolution and a refresh rate of 120Hz, it will easily last you a full day of moderate usage. In terms of charging technology, neither the iPhone 13 Pro Max nor the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the most advanced. The Galaxy S21 Ultra only supports wired charging up to 25W, whilst the iPhone 13 Pro Max only supports wireless charging.
Neither phone comes with a charger, which is a little disappointing given how much money you're paying. We understand the environmental motivation here, but users should be given the choice of using a charger. Both phones enable up to 15W wireless charging, which isn't as fast as some of their Android-based competitors.
Let's jump right into the subject. The iPhone 13 Pro Max outperforms Samsung's Galaxy S21 Ultra in terms of performance. The A15 Bionic chipset in the iPhone 13 Pro Max continues Apple's reputation of having the most processing power in its class.
This comparison isn't completely accurate in other areas. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra looks more like the iPhone 12 Pro Max than the iPhone 13 Pro Max in terms of design, and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra will almost probably be required to match the iPhone 13 Pro Max in terms of performance. Despite this, we do not believe it is a viable option. On the Android side, Apple boasts that its six-core CPU and five-core GPU are up to 50% faster than the leading competitors, which would likely include the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.
Indeed, the iPhone 13 Pro Max outperformed its opponent in our tests when it came to framing rate, multi-core capability, and video transcoding speed. In certain cases, we're talking almost twice as quickly. Samsung also doesn't help themselves when it comes to performance. You'll either get a Galaxy S21 Ultra with a Snapdragon 888 processor (in the US and China) or an Exynos 2100 chipset (in the rest of the globe) (everywhere else). The latter isn't a bad chip, but it can't compete with the Snapdragon 888 in terms of speed.
Both phones are highly fluid in the real world. You probably wouldn't notice the difference between general chores and even high-end games. The iPhone 13 Pro Max, on the other hand, will give you more bang for your money if you're looking for a phone to record high-quality video or perform high-power tasks, which is what the whole Pro/Ultra phone concept is about.
Both phones have internal storage options of 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB, but the iPhone 13 Pro Max has a 1TB option as well. With support for Samsung's S Pen stylus, the Galaxy S21 Ultra responds. Samsung's stylus is versatile and strong, whether you're taking notes for automatic transcription or drawing a masterpiece. Of course, Apple has its own competing Pencil, but it has yet to see fit to include support for it in its iPhone lineup. As you might anticipate, both phones are 5G capable.
Battery
The Samsung phone boasts a 5,000mAh battery, whilst the iPhone 13 Pro Max has a 4,352mAh cell. That's a lot less than the Samsung, but it's a significant boost over the iPhone 12 Pro Max's 3,687mAh equivalent, which had amazing endurance.
We say more importantly' because iOS and Android employ the power that has been granted to them in very different ways. Apple phones have historically been more efficient, resulting in smaller batteries. Apple claims that the iPhone 13 Pro Max would have up to 2.5 hours more battery life on a single charge than its immediate predecessor. We discovered that the iPhone 13 Pro Max has the best battery life we've ever observed on an iPhone.
We noticed that after a normal intensive day's use, we would go to bed with only one-third of a tank of power. That is a truly outstanding job. Meanwhile, it outlasted every phone we've ever tested when using 5G to access the internet, even the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, on the other hand, is a capable smartphone in its own right. Even with a QHD resolution and a refresh rate of 120Hz, it will easily last you a full day of moderate usage. In terms of charging technology, neither the iPhone 13 Pro Max nor the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the most advanced. The Galaxy S21 Ultra only supports wired charging up to 25W, whilst the iPhone 13 Pro Max only supports wireless charging.
Neither phone comes with a charger, which is a little disappointing given how much money you're paying. We understand the environmental motivation here, but users should be given the choice of using a charger. Both phones enable up to 15W wireless charging, which isn't as fast as some of their Android-based competitors.
Takeaway
Despite being older than the iPhone 12 Pro Max, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the iPhone 13 Pro Max's main opponent. For the majority of 2021, it was perhaps the best all-around smartphone on the market. Specs like a 10x zoom camera and a QHD+ display continue to outperform Apple's new rival. The iPhone 13 Pro Max, on the other hand, brings its camera magic to the party, with remarkable low-light performance and unrivaled all-around photo consistency, not to mention a few impressive new stunts.
The late addition of a 120Hz display to the iPhone lineup successfully closes the gap to the magnificent screen of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, albeit we'd have to give the latter the edge on brightness and crispness. In terms of performance, though, there is simply no comparison, with the iPhone 13 Pro Max doing certain high-end tasks nearly twice as rapidly as its Samsung opponent.
With both smartphones competing for a phone of the year, it's difficult to declare an overall winner. You could argue that the iPhone 13 Pro Max's fresher vintage and powerful performance give it the edge, but the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra retains its crown in our best smartphones list. The true test will be whether Apple's latest can compete with the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. Keep an eye out for another ding-dong duel in early 2022.
Despite being older than the iPhone 12 Pro Max, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the iPhone 13 Pro Max's main opponent. For the majority of 2021, it was perhaps the best all-around smartphone on the market. Specs like a 10x zoom camera and a QHD+ display continue to outperform Apple's new rival. The iPhone 13 Pro Max, on the other hand, brings its camera magic to the party, with remarkable low-light performance and unrivaled all-around photo consistency, not to mention a few impressive new stunts.
The late addition of a 120Hz display to the iPhone lineup successfully closes the gap to the magnificent screen of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, albeit we'd have to give the latter the edge on brightness and crispness. In terms of performance, though, there is simply no comparison, with the iPhone 13 Pro Max doing certain high-end tasks nearly twice as rapidly as its Samsung opponent.
With both smartphones competing for a phone of the year, it's difficult to declare an overall winner. You could argue that the iPhone 13 Pro Max's fresher vintage and powerful performance give it the edge, but the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra retains its crown in our best smartphones list. The true test will be whether Apple's latest can compete with the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. Keep an eye out for another ding-dong duel in early 2022.
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