Tech Guide – The first flagship Android smartphone of 2021, the Samsung S21 series, has finally been released in Indonesia. Let’s compare its performance with the Apple iPhone 12. This time, Samsung has made some significant upgrades to the entry-level Samsung Galaxy S21 in terms of screen resolution, build quality, and other aspects. Some of these features make it superior to the iPhone 12.
However, there are also some improvements across the board and a fairly reasonable price tag, which should make the Samsung Galaxy S21 a serious contender in the high-end smartphone market. Does the Samsung Galaxy S21 have what it takes to surpass the iPhone 12? Let’s find out.
Price: Samsung Galaxy S21 vs. Apple iPhone 12
For comparison, the iPhone 12 with 6GB RAM and 64GB storage is priced at around 15 million IDR, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage is priced at around 13 million IDR. Neither offers an option to expand storage with external memory.
Both also do not include earphones and a charger adapter. From this perspective, Samsung still offers better value, as you get double the storage at a lower price. Thus, the Samsung Galaxy S21 wins in terms of value for money.
Design: Samsung Galaxy S21 vs. iPhone 12
The next comparison between the Samsung and iPhone smartphones is in the build. As the cheapest variant, the Samsung S21 comes with a Glasstic back. On the other hand, the iPhone 12 has an all-glass body, giving it a much more premium feel.
Both phones have IP68 water and dust resistance. However, the Samsung Galaxy S21 offers slightly more screen real estate with its hole-punch selfie camera. But that’s not enough to surpass the iPhone.
Specifications: Samsung Galaxy S21 vs. iPhone 12
These specifications affect the performance of both premium smartphones, such as how they handle multiple apps, long-term use, and more. To see this in detail, let’s look at the following aspects:
Processor: Samsung and Apple iPhone
Whether it’s the Samsung S21 with the Exynos 2100 chipset or the one with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, both still lag behind the Apple A14 Bionic iPhone 12 in single-core performance. Geekbench shows that the A14 Bionic processor can easily score over 1,500 in single-core tests, while the Exynos 2100 Galaxy S21 only reaches 1,100.
However, the gap narrows in multi-core performance, as the A14 Bionic is a hexa-core chipset, while the Exynos 2100 is an octa-core. It’s difficult to compare the GPUs of both phones, as they use different renderers for handling graphics-intensive tasks.
Display
On paper, the Samsung Galaxy S21 is the clear winner here. Its display features a 120Hz refresh rate, whereas the Apple iPhone 12’s display clocks at 60Hz. This is a significant difference, especially if you’re used to budget phones.
The screen size is almost negligible here, with both phones being within 0.1 inches of each other. The Apple iPhone 12 uses a 6.1-inch AMOLED panel, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 has a 6.2-inch AMOLED display. Additionally, the Samsung phone’s screen has a peak brightness of 1300 nits, while the iPhone’s is slightly lower at 1200 nits.
However, these specifications don’t mean much in terms of raw performance, as Apple has, on several occasions, outperformed Samsung with its own panels. It’s hard to crown a winner here without knowing how accurate the Samsung Galaxy S21’s screen colors are compared to the Apple iPhone 12.
Camera
The Samsung Galaxy S21 has a clear advantage here as it comes with three camera sensors, while the iPhone 12 only has two lenses. However, more camera sensors do not always mean better performance.
The iPhone 12’s main 12MP lens and 12MP wide sensor are not inferior. However, they cannot compete with the Samsung Galaxy S21’s 12MP main sensor, 12MP ultra-wide lens, and 64MP telephoto lens. The latter sensor allows the Samsung Galaxy S21 to offer up to 30X hybrid zoom, also known as Space Zoom. For more details, read the article “Samsung S21 Ultra Camera Specifications with Zoom Lock.”
Furthermore, the Samsung Galaxy S21 can record videos in 8K at 30 fps, while the Apple iPhone 12 is limited to 4K at 40 fps. However, the iPhone has always been at the top in terms of videography. Both anecdotal and empirical evidence seem to agree with this statement.
It should also be noted that the Apple iPhone 12’s 12MP selfie camera is richer in features than the Samsung Galaxy S21’s 10MP unit. However, the Samsung Galaxy S21 wins this round due to its better camera setup.
Battery, Software, and Features
iPhones have always been notorious for their mediocre battery life. It becomes even more frustrating when Apple refuses to disclose the battery capacity on its official spec sheets. Teardowns reveal that the Apple iPhone 12 comes with a 2,815mAh battery.
While this might seem insignificant compared to the Samsung Galaxy S21’s 4,000mAh battery, direct comparisons are not straightforward as both phones run entirely different operating systems. We need to wait for comprehensive reviews for a more accurate comparison.
However, the Samsung Galaxy S21 gets extra points for its reverse wireless charging capability. Speaking of operating systems, the handset comes with One UI 3.0 based on Android 11, while the iPhone 12 runs iOS 14.1. As the only smartphone OEM that promises updates for up to five years, Apple leads the industry in long-term software support. Conversely, Samsung devices will receive no more than three to four updates.
OneUI 3.0 and iOS 14 each have their own features, so it’s hard to objectively call one better than the other. It all comes down to preference. Some users will find iOS to their liking, while others might prefer OneUI 3.0.
Apple’s new design eliminates the fingerprint sensor on all iPhones after the iPhone X, making them unlockable only with Face ID. Although it is the best in the industry, it can be challenging during these times when masks are an essential part of life.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 also offers Face ID biometric authentication but comes with Qualcomm’s second-generation ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, which makes unlocking the phone much faster.
In conclusion, the Apple iPhone 12 has better software support, but the Samsung Galaxy S21 comes with a more comprehensive set of features and advantages.
| Apple iPhone 12 | Samsung Galaxy S21 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 64GB Memory – Rp 15 million | 128GB Memory – Rp 13 million |
| Back Body | All-glass body | Glasstic material |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Processor | Apple A14 Bionic | Exynos 2100/Snapdragon 888 |
| Display | 6.1-inch AMOLED | 6.2-inch AMOLED |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Rear Cameras | 2 | 3 |
| Video Quality | 4K 40 fps | 8K 30 fps |
| Battery | 2,815mAh | 4,000mAh |
That’s the comparison between the Apple iPhone 12 and the Samsung Galaxy S21. The latest Apple iPhone always has a much higher price than Samsung, with arguably fewer technologies than Samsung, which has both Face ID and a fingerprint sensor. However, iPhones always have higher prestige. It’s all up to you. Buy the Samsung S21, iPhone 12, or even a 2 million IDR phone according to your budget.