JAKARTA – Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra are two of the best premium smartphones available on the market today. The former was launched in October 2020 from rupiah 16 million, while the latter launched in January 2021 from rupiah 17.5 million.
Choosing one of these two is a tough decision considering how much engineering they do. In this iPhone vs Samsung guide, we help you approach purchasing decisions.
1. Caméra: 4K vs 8K
First, let’s talk about the specs. The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a total of four cameras. 12MP main sensor, 12MP ultra-wide, 12MP telephoto and 12MP front camera. It can record videos up to 4K on the front and back.
The Galaxy S21 Ultra has a total of five cameras. The 108MP main sensor is powered by laser autofocus, a 10MP telephoto lens, an additional 10MP periscope telephoto lens, a 12MP ultra-wide lens (which doubles as a macro camera) and a 40MP front camera. Can record up to 8K video on the rear and 4K video on the front.
For die-hard enthusiasts who love natural-looking photos and videos, the iPhone 12 Pro Max delivers realistic and consistent output across all cameras and functions, but that needs to look a bit flat at times.
The Galaxy S21 Ultra has a more capable camera system with an aggressive image processing algorithm that produces high contrast live photos, but at the expense of unnatural or oversaturated screens under certain conditions.
While the shot looks good to the eye, the output is more experimental and doesn’t have the same level of consistency as the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Both phones are said to have their own areas of specialization. Portrait mode, video quality, and night mode are truly stunning on the iPhone 12 Pro Max. But in terms of zoom capability, optical image stabilization, and overall camera experience, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is clearly a winner for its versatility.
2. Performance: A14 Bionic vs. Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100
The iPhone 12 Pro Max phone is powered by an Apple-made A14 Bionic chip running iOS 14.1 and comes with 6GB of RAM and 128/256 / 512GB of internal storage.
The Galaxy S21 Ultra competes with snapdragon 888 in the US and China or with exynos 2100 chips in-house in most other parts of the world. It runs the original One UI 3.1 skin on Android 11 and comes with 12 or 16GB of RAM and 128/256 / 512GB of internal storage.
On average, the slim performance exhibited by the iPhone 12 Pro Max and Galaxy S21 Ultra is very similar. The former has better rendering speed while the latter opens the app a bit faster.
3. Display: Super Retina XDR vs. Dynamic AMOLED 2X
The iPhone 12 Pro Max comes with a 60Hz Super Retina XDR panel and can reach a peak brightness of 1200 nits. The screen spans 6.7 inches, surpassing FHD + resolution at 1284 x 2778 pixels with a pixel density of 458 ppi which scales the screen-to-body ratio by around 87.4%.
The Galaxy S21 Ultra comes with a 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X adaptive panel with HDR10 + support, and can reach a peak brightness of 1500 nits. The screen spans 6.8 inches with QHD resolution at 1440 x 3200 pixels with a density of 515 ppi which scales the screen-to-body ratio by around 89.8%.
Both panels are very responsive, amazing to look at and the colors are accurate. However, the Galaxy S21 Ultra still stays strong even in the scorching afternoon sun due to the higher peak brightness. It also looks sharper due to its higher pixel density, although there are no noticeable differences in everyday use.
The screen of this device is also smoother with a higher refresh rate and feels more modern to look at thanks to its higher screen-to-body ratio. This shouldn’t come as a surprise as Samsung has a reputation for building the best display technology in the industry.
4. Batterie: 3687mAh vs 5000mAh
The ideal battery is the one that keeps you from worrying and can ensure that it won’t suddenly die when you need it most. The Galaxy S21 Ultra has a powerful 5000mAh battery with a 25W fast cable, 15W wireless and 4.5W reverse wireless charging support.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a 3687mAh battery and supports 15W “fast” charging using Apple’s MagSafe charger, which takes over 3 hours to go from empty to full. However, because the integrated A14 Bionic chip is very efficient and integrates well with the Apple ecosystem, it does not consume a lot of power throughout the day, which makes it last roughly the same as the S21 Ultra.
5. Build quality: stainless steel vs aluminum
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is protected by Apple’s new ceramic shield (a hybrid between glass and ceramic) on the front which is claimed to be stronger than any smartphone glass. The back of the device doesn’t get the same protection and is protected by the weaker glass found on the iPhone 11 last year. The frame is made of solid stainless steel which easily shows fingerprints.
The Galaxy S21 Ultra uses Victus Gorilla Glass protection on both sides and features a softer aluminum frame. When tested, both devices hold up well to scratches and accidental drops. However, the new domed contour cut design of the S21 Ultra can sometimes bring unwanted effects to the camera module when exposed directly.
Compared to Victus’ Gorilla glass, Apple’s ceramic shield is not as strong as the tech giant has advertised. Both devices have the same level of power and can survive in daily use without major damage, and are supported by official IP68 ratings.
The matte coating that freezes on both devices is smooth when held and helps prevent fingerprint smudges.
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