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iPhone 15 Plus
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Galaxy S21+
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What we think

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The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·

Choosing between the Apple iPhone 15 Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S21+ involves some notable differences. If you prioritize camera performance, the iPhone 15 Plus boasts higher photo and video quality, making it a strong choice for photography enthusiasts. However, the Galaxy S21+ offers a higher screen refresh rate, which could be more appealing if you enjoy smooth scrolling and gaming. The iPhone 15 Plus has slightly better battery life, but it's not a drastic difference compared to the Galaxy S21+. The Galaxy S21+ is less expensive and runs on Android, contrasting with the premium price and iOS platform of the iPhone 15 Plus. If budget is a concern but you still want a quality device, the Galaxy S21+ is a compelling option. If you're invested in the Apple ecosystem and are willing to pay for top-tier camera quality, the iPhone 15 Plus is your match. 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 15 Plus
  • Very good for taking photos
  • Excellent for recording videos
  • Best in class performance
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S21+
  • The Samsung Galaxy S21+ has no clear advantages over the Apple iPhone 15 Plus.

Key differences

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Overall Camera Quality

8.6
iPhone 15 Plus
Galaxy S21+
7.2
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus has very good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S21+ has good overall camera quality.

Photo Quality

8.5
iPhone 15 Plus
Galaxy S21+
7.0
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus takes very good photos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21+ takes good photos.

Video Quality

9.1
iPhone 15 Plus
Galaxy S21+
6.6
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus takes excellent videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21+ takes only fair videos.

Battery

8.9 Hours
iPhone 15 Plus
Galaxy S21+
8.0 Hours
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus has 8.9 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S21+ has 8 hours of battery life.

Cost

$829
iPhone 15 Plus
Galaxy S21+
$340
Product image
Product image

$0

$200

$400

$600

$800

$1,000

$1,200

$1,400

The Apple iPhone 15 Plus has a price of $829 and the Samsung Galaxy S21+ costs $340.
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Key similarities

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Screen Size

The Apple iPhone 15 Plus has a screen size of 6.7 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S21+ is 6.7 inches.

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How the Apple iPhone 15 Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S21+ compare to other phones

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Spec Comparison

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Apple iPhone 15 PlusSamsung Galaxy S21+
Apple iPhone 15 PlusSamsung Galaxy S21+

GENERAL

Price
$829
$340
Brand
AppleSamsung
Operating System
iOSAndroid
Release Date
September 22, 2023January 29, 2021

SCREEN

Screen Size
6.7"6.7"
Resolution
2796 x 12902400 x 1080
Variable refresh rate
NoNo
Pixels Per Inch
460394
Display Type
OLEDOLED

INTERNAL

Processor
A16SD888
Internal Storage
128 GB128 GB
RAM
6 GB8 GB

CAMERA

Overall Camera Quality Score
8.7/107.2/10
Photos Score
8.5/107/10
Videos Score
9.2/106.6/10
Rear Cameras
Main, UltrawideMain, Ultrawide, Telephoto
Main Camera
48 megapixels + OIS12 megapixels + OIS

BATTERY

Battery Life
8.9 Hours8 Hours
Battery Capacity
4383 mAh4800 mAh
Wireless Charging
YesYes
Wireless charging Speed
15 W15 W
Reverse wireless charging
NoYes (4.5 watts)

PHYSICAL

Size
6.33" x 3.06"6.36" x 2.98"
Weight
7.09 oz7.05 oz
Back Material
GlassGlass
Stereo Speakers
NoNo

CONNECTIVITY

Dual SIM
YesYes
Bluetooth Version
5.35.0
A2DP
YesYes
WiFi Version
66
NFC
YesYes
US 5G Bands
(SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 75, 76, 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
Face unlockFace unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display
Unlockable Bootloader
NoNo
Color
Yellow, Pink, Blue, Green, BlackPhantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink, Phantom Gold, Phantom Red
Stock Android
N/ANo
SD Card
NoNo

Shopping

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Apple iPhone 15 Plus

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Dig into reviews and images

PC Mag

Eric Zeman | October 2023
"Apple's iPhone 15 Plus is the phone to get if battery life and budget are your top concerns. It outlasts the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro, coming in second only to the top-shelf Pro Max. Otherwise, it includes a larger display than the standard iPhone 15, the same speedy processor, a fine pair of cameras, excellent wireless radios, and a waterproof build."

Samsung Galaxy S21+

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Dig into reviews and images

Tom's Guide

Jordan Palmer | May 2022
"All told, Samsung nailed it with the Galaxy S21 Plus. It has most of the strengths of the smaller S21 in a bigger package. It’s got a lot going for it. If you’re coming from an older device, like the Galaxy S10 series, this is a solid upgrade."

Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 15 Plus or the Samsung Galaxy S21+

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

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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
129,900
Recommendations made
73,610
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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