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The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If camera quality is a priority for you, the iPhone 13 mini has a slight edge over the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra in overall camera performance, despite being more expensive. The iPhone 13 mini also has a smaller screen size which could be a good fit if you prefer a more compact phone, but if you enjoy larger screens for media consumption, the Galaxy S21 Ultra's larger display might be more appealing. For battery life, you would benefit more from the Galaxy S21 Ultra which offers longer usage between charges. The Galaxy S21 Ultra also features a variable refresh rate for smoother scrolling and animations, and is more cost-effective compared to the iPhone 13 mini. Keep in mind, the operating systems are different, with the iPhone running iOS and the Galaxy running Android, offering different user experiences and app ecosystems. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple iPhone 13 mini
- Very good performance
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
- The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has no clear advantages over the Apple iPhone 13 mini.
Key differences
Video Quality
8.0
7.1
The Apple iPhone 13 mini takes very good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra takes good videos.
The iPhone 13 mini delivers very good videos thanks to its top-tier video stabilization and dynamic range, combined with exceptional software experience that ensures smooth and color-accurate footage even in varying light conditions. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, while also providing good video stabilization and dynamic range, excels particularly in video resolution and framerate, offering higher definition and smoother motion capture capabilities, which are beneficial for detailed and high-speed video recording.
Battery
5.6 Hours
6.7 Hours
The Apple iPhone 13 mini has 5.6 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has 6.7 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 13 mini has a screen size of 5.4 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is 6.8 inches.
Cost
$600
$423
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The Apple iPhone 13 mini has a price of $600 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra costs $423.
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Key similarities
Overall Camera Quality
7.7
7.8
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and Apple iPhone 13 mini both have good overall cameras quality.
The Apple iPhone 13 mini offers a very good selfie camera quality with a strong software experience for photos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra provides a good selfie camera with higher versatility thanks to its additional lenses and features like a periscope camera for enhanced zoom capabilities. Both phones perform well in low light conditions and provide a dynamic range that's rated good; however, the iPhone 13 mini's superior software experience for photos might make it a preferable choice for users heavily focused on selfie quality and software intuitiveness.
Photo Quality
7.5
7.8
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and Apple iPhone 13 mini both have good photos.
The Apple iPhone 13 mini has a higher selfie quality ranking than the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, suggesting the iPhone might deliver superior self-portraits. Both offer a range of photo capabilities; however, the S21 Ultra provides more versatility with additional camera features such as a higher telephoto optical zoom, which may matter to users who prioritize variety and zoom over selfie performance.
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How the Apple iPhone 13 mini and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 13 mini | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$600 | $423 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 24, 2021 | January 29, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 5.4" | 6.8" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 3200 x 1440 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | Yes | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 476 | 515 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A15 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 12 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 7.7/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 8.1/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto, Super Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 108 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.6 Hours | 6.7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 2438 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 12 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | Yes (4.5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 5.18" x 2.53" | 6.5" x 2.98" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.97 oz | 8.01 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.2 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 6e | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Blue, Pink, Midnight, Starlight, Green, Red | Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Navy, Phantom Titanium | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 13 mini
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Guide
Jordan Palmer | May 2022
"It’s the best small phone you can possibly buy, outpacing anything Android can offer. With the A15 Bionic system-on-chip, which includes a quad-core GPU, the iPhone 13 mini is a very powerful little phone. Fans of smaller handsets will love this phone, as it fits in many a pocket."
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
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Dig into reviews and images
Android Authority
David Imel | January 2023
"The Galaxy S21 Ultra is a killer combo of great design, blazing-fast performance, a wonderful display, long-lasting battery life, and one of the most versatile camera systems you can get in a smartphone today."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 13 mini or the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
About Apple
The tech giant called Apple is synonymous with the most popular smartphone in the world: the iPhone. Known for their build quality and aesthetics, as well as for their excellent integration between hardware and software, iPhones have defined the smartphone industry ever since their conception and they continue to do so by setting new industry standards. Apple's own operating system, called iOS, is known for its simplicity and ease of use, and the company tends to complement it well by creating devices with some of the most powerful processing hardware available in the mobile world. The iPhone is also known for its robust ecosystem of accessories, as it facilitates a very seamless experience when interacting with other Apple products, more so than most of its competitors.
About Samsung
Samsung is one of the most recognizable names in the smartphone industry, standing as the undisputed best-selling brand of Android smartphones in the United States for many years now. Samsung is known for offering a variety of smartphones in all available price points, as well as for implementing cutting-edge technology and innovative features in their flagship devices, ones that often shape the market going forward. The company offers its own unique spin on Android, called One UI, which focuses on offering a multitude of features and is heavily customizable, according to user preference.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
68
Phones evaluated
7,820
Phones stats compiled
8
Proprietary Phones ratings developed
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Recommendations made
107,440
Consumer hours saved
About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Seth Peoples
Phones Expert
Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.
Efthimis Kotanidis
Phones Expert
Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.
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