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Lab Benchmark Battle

Galaxy S21+ vs iPhone 18 Pro Max

Direct side-by-side battle analyzing display brightness, chipset benchmark percentiles, multi-camera arrays, battery capacity, and charging speeds.

Smartphone Battle
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Samsung · 2021

Galaxy S21+

Galaxy S21+
77/ 100
Launch MSRP$999 USD
Apple · 2026

iPhone 18 Pro Max

iPhone 18 Pro Max
93/ 100
Launch MSRP$1,499 USD
WHO WINS WHERE

WHY IS iPhone 18 Pro Max BETTER THAN Galaxy S21+?

Tap an area on the radar to inspect category hardware facts

Galaxy S21+
iPhone 18 Pro MaxWinner 🏆

BIGGEST HARDWARE DIFFERENCES

Margin Delta
SPEC FACTORGalaxy S21+iPhone 18LEADER
Refresh Rate120Hz120Hz120Hz
Battery Capacity4,800 mAh5,567 mAh+5,567 mAh
Wired Fast Charging25W45W45W Max
Main Camera Sensor12 MP48 MP48 MP
Screen Display Size6.7"6.9"6.9"
Chassis Weight200g249g200g Lightest
Compare All 177+ Specifications Below↓

Which Phone Should You Buy: Key Reasons & Hardware Advantages

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Reasons to buy Galaxy S21+:
  • ✓49g lighter chassis (200g) optimized for one-handed ergonomics
  • ✓$500 lower launch MSRP ($999 vs $1499)
  • ✓12MP primary camera sensor with 4K/120fps video recording
Reasons to buy iPhone 18 Pro Max:
  • ✓Larger 5,567 mAh battery capacity (+767 mAh more capacity)
  • ✓48MP primary camera sensor with 4K/120fps video recording
  • ✓6.9" display with 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate

How Do the Specifications Compare Side-by-Side?

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SpecificationGalaxy S21+iPhone 18 Pro Max
1. Display & Screen🏆 iPhone 18 Pro Max Wins Display
Screen Type & TechDynamic AMOLED 2XLTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision
Screen Size6.7"6.9"
Resolution & Density2400x1080 (393 ppi)1320 x 2868 pixels (19.5:9 ratio) (460 ppi)
Refresh Rate120 Hz ProMotion120 Hz ProMotion
Brightness1,300 nits peak1000 nits (typ), 1600 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak)
Screen ProtectionScratch-resistant glassCeramic Shield 2, Anti-reflective coating, Always-On display
2. Platform & Performance🏆 iPhone 18 Pro Max Wins Performance
Chipset / ProcessorHigh performance SoC Apple A20 Pro (2 nm) (2nm)
CPU CoresMulti-core high performanceHexa-core (2x High Performance + 4x Efficiency)
GPU GraphicsIntegrated GraphicsApple GPU (7-core graphics)
Operating SystemAndroid 11iOS 27
3. Memory & Storage
RAM Memory8 GB LPDDR12GB LPDDR5X
Internal Storage128GB / 256GB256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB
Storage SpeedHigh-speed flashNVMe fast flash
Card SlotNoNo
4. Main Camera Optics🏆 iPhone 18 Pro Max Wins Camera
Primary Camera12 MP, f/1.8, OIS48 MP, f/1.5, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, OIS, Dual pixel PDAF, Sensor-shift OIS (gen 2)
Telephoto Zoom64 MP (3x optical zoom), f/2, OIS48 MP (4x optical zoom), f/2.8, 100mm (periscope telephoto), OIS
Ultrawide Camera12 MP, f/2.248 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide)
LiDAR / DepthNoneTOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth sensing & night portrait)
5. Video Recording Capabilities
Main Camera Video
4K@60fps1080p@240fpsHDR
4K@24/25/30/60/100/120fps1080p@240fps10-bit HDRDolby Vision HDR (up to 120fps)ProRes RAWApple Log 2Spatial 3D video & stereo sound
Front Video
4K@60fps1080p@60fpsgyro-EIS
4K@24/25/30/60fps1080p@120fpsgyro-EISDolby Vision HDR
6. Selfie Camera
Selfie Lens10 MP, f/2.218 MP, f/1.9, 20mm (ultrawide multi-aspect)
7. Body & Dimensions🏆 Galaxy S21+ Lightest Chassis
Dimensions161.5 x 75.6 x 7.8 mm163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
Weight200 g249 g (8.78 oz)
Build MaterialsGlass front, metal/glass frameGlass front (Ceramic Shield 2), aluminum frame, aluminum/glass back
SIM TypeNano-SIM / eSIM supportNano-SIM + eSIM + dual eSIM support
Water ResistanceIP68IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min)
8. Battery & Charging🏆 iPhone 18 Pro Max Wins Battery
Battery Capacity4,800 mAh5,567 mAh
Wired Fast Charging25W wired fast charging45W wired fast charging
Wireless Charging15W wireless charging25W wireless charging
Reverse ChargingReverse wireless chargingReverse wireless charging
9. Sound & Audio
LoudspeakerStereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers (Spatial Audio)
3.5mm Headphone JackNoNo
10. Connectivity & Comms
Wi-Fi StandardWi-Fi 6Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band, hotspot)
Bluetooth5.0Bluetooth 6.0, A2DP, LE
USB Port & SpeedUSB-C 3.2USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (up to 10Gbps), DisplayPort video out
NFCYes (contactless payment)Yes (Apple Pay Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
11. Sensors & Security
SensorsBiometric fingerprint/face, accelerometer, gyro, compassFace ID, LiDAR scanner, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Satellite FeaturesEmergency SOS via satellite (select markets)Emergency SOS, Messages and Find My via satellite
12. Colors & Overview
ColorsStandard finishesBlack, Silver, Glacier, Burgundy
Launch Price$999$1,499 / €1,600
Editorial Lab Verdict

iPhone 18 Pro Max edges ahead with a BeastScore of 92.8/100

After comprehensive hardware benchmark comparisons, iPhone 18 Pro Max ranks as the overall top pick in this matchup. Key differentiators include its Apple A20 Pro (2 nm) architecture and verified 94/100 camera rating.

When to buy Galaxy S21+:
Lighter body: 200g (49g lighter in hand) · Lower launch price: $999 (save $500)
When to buy iPhone 18 Pro Max:
Higher overall BeastScore: 92.8 vs top rival 77.0 · Larger battery capacity: 5,567 mAh (+767 mAh more)
Quick Answers

Frequently Asked Questions: Galaxy S21+ vs iPhone 18 Pro Max

Which phone is better: Galaxy S21+ or iPhone 18 Pro Max?

iPhone 18 Pro Max leads with an overall BeastScore of 92.8/100 compared to Galaxy S21+ (77.0/100), driven by advantages in Higher overall BeastScore: 92.8 vs top rival 77.0 and Larger battery capacity: 5,567 mAh (+767 mAh more).

What are the primary battery and display differences between Galaxy S21+ and iPhone 18 Pro Max?

Galaxy S21+ is equipped with a 6.7-inch display and 4800 mAh battery, while iPhone 18 Pro Max features a 6.9-inch display and 5567 mAh battery.

How do the camera capabilities compare between Galaxy S21+ and iPhone 18 Pro Max?

In lab hardware evaluations, Galaxy S21+ scores 75/100 in camera performance, while iPhone 18 Pro Max scores 94/100.

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