Latest update on July 21, 2021 at 04:13 AM by David Webb .
It has become almost routine. Every year, Samsung and Apple launch their new devices and the same question is raised by those interested in buying a new phone : which is the best smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy or the iPhone? With the official launch of the new Galaxy S21, CCM Net offers a comparison between the models of both competitors - S21 and the apple iPhone 12 - for you to make your well-informed to make the right choice and know the strengths and weaknesses of each device.
Galaxy S21 or iPhone 12: which one to buy?
For this comparison between the features of the Samsung Galaxy S21 and the iPhone 12, we evaluated seven criteria. They are price, camera, performance, operating system, structure and design, battery and durability. It is worth noting that this comparison is between the 128 GB storage versions of the basic models of both lines. The comparison between the S21 Ultra and the iPhone 12 Pro Max, for example, could bring different results.
Price
The first question to be answered, which has the better price? Despite being recently launched, the iPhone 12 is available from $799 for the Standard iPhone 12. There are other variants: iPhone Mini at $699, the iPhone 12 Pro costs $999, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max costs $1099.
On the other hand, the standard Samsung Galaxy S21 can be purchased from $799, with the Galaxy S21+ at $999, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra at $1199.
Despite Apple offering the iPhone 12 Mini at $699, we are looking at the standard iPhone 12, and the standard Galaxy S21, the prices are identically. What separates them is the storage. The iPhone 12 standard storage size is 64GB, whereas for the same price, the Galaxy S21 is 128GB. To have the same storage price on the iPhone 12, you would need to pay an additional $50, making it more expensive that the S21. So for this reason, the Galaxy S21 wins.
Which one is better: Samsung Galaxy S21
Camera
One of the tightest disputes in this comparison involves the camera quality of the two devices. However, one thing is for sure: you will get amazing pictures with either of them. Samsung has continuously improved the Galaxy's camera, and this time it comes with a triple rear camera that includes mega zoom lens and a 64-megapixel telephoto lens. On the other hand, Apple keeps increasing the features of its well-established camera. The main highlights are the selfie mode (with 12 MP on the front camera) and the ability to take great pictures in dark environments without flash.
Which one is better: iPhone 12
Performance
This point goes to the iPhone 12, and the reason for that is its A14 Bionic chip. Apple's homemade processor is bar far the best in its class. Available across the iPhone 12 lineup, and the iPad, the 5 nanometer chip is capable of performing 11 trillion operations per second, according to Apple. The Galaxy S21 has a Snapdragon 888 chip, which is still very good, and a considerably evolution compared to the S20, but it is no match for the performance delivered by the iPhone.
Which is better: iPhone 12
Operating System
Android or iOS is one of those questions that generate long debates among experts and enthusiasts. And the answer as to which one is better is impossible to give objectively. Both systems have unique, high-quality functionalities and receive constant updates, always including new features. Thus, the choice tends to be based on the user's habits. Those who are used to one system will take some time to get used to the features of the other. However, both systems guarantee customer satisfaction.
Which one is better: A tie
Structure and Design
Another fairly close contest. The S21's screen is minimally larger than the iPhone 12's (6.2 x 6.1 inches) and Samsung's model as a whole is a bit heavier and larger than Apple's smartphone. In addition, the S21 brings a design innovation with a detail to house the cameras that may not please everyone. In turn, the iPhone keeps the already classic design loved by fans. The variety that Apple offers between the iPhone 12 Mini, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max encourages us to give this vote to the iPhone.
Which one is better: iPhone 12
Battery
Apple has improved in this aspect, and the complaints from users that the battery did not make it to the end of the day have diminished in the latest versions of the iPhone, but this is still an area in which Samsung wins by a landslide. The 4,000 mAh battery is much larger than the competitor's, which guarantees more hours of autonomy. In addition, the charging performance of the S21 is on average 50% better than the iPhone 12.
Which one is better: Samsung Galaxy S21
Durability
The iPhone 12 has a new Ceramic Shield display that has four times the drop protection of previous phones. In this Drop Test video by EverythingApplePro EAP, we can see the durability of the Ultra and Pro Max versions. The iPhone 12's display lasts longer, whilst the Galaxy S21's rear appears to resist better. Arguably, the screen's durability is more important.
If we look at water resistance, the iPhone 12 can withstand up to 6m of water for 30 minutes, whereas the Galaxy S21 can only survive 1.5m for 30 minutes.
Where these two areas are considered, the winner is the iPhone 12
Which one is better: iPhone 12
Galaxy S21 or iPhone 12: which one is better?
If you have gotten this far, you can see that the iPhone 12 has won 4 and tied 1 and the Galaxy S21, has won 2 and tied 1, giving us the final score of 5:3 to the iPhone.
Pinpointing the best smartphone is very difficult, if not impossible. The benchmark company AnTuTu, for example, gives the Galaxy S21 a score of 614,886 points while the iPhone 12 received 613,737 points. The difference is minimal.
The truth is that you should make your choice based on what you want out of a phone. If you prefer the Android experience then you won't necessarily want the iPhone 12, even it did "win" our comparison. And similarly, if the Galaxy S21 "won", and you are an iOS user, then you would most likely want the iPhone 12. The choice is yours. Hopefully you can make your decision with all of the information on the table.
Where to Buy
You can purchase the iPhone 12 from the Apple Store.
You can purchase the Samsung Galaxy S21 from the Samsung store.
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