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Home/Battles/SM-G990U Galaxy S21 FE 5G UW TD-LTE US 256GB / SM-G990V / SM-G990U2 vs iPhone 18 Pro Max
Lab Benchmark Battle

SM-G990U Galaxy S21 FE 5G UW TD-LTE US 256GB / SM-G990V / SM-G990U2 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
Comparing 2 devicesSwipe across ⇄
SM-G990U Galaxy S21 FE 5G UW TD-LTE US 256GB / SM-G990V / SM-G990U2
Samsung · 2022

SM-G990U Galaxy S21 FE 5G UW TD-LTE US 256GB / SM-G990V / SM-G990U2

$770
76.6/ 100
Overall
Exceptional
BeastScore
76.6
Benchmark
Performance80/100
Camera68/100
Battery78/100
iPhone 18 Pro Max
Apple · 2026

iPhone 18 Pro Max

$1499
92.8/ 100
Overall
Exceptional
BeastScore
92.8
Benchmark
Performance96/100
Camera94/100
Battery94/100

Which Phone Should You Buy: Key Reasons & Hardware Advantages

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Reasons to buy SM-G990U Galaxy S21 FE 5G UW TD-LTE US 256GB / SM-G990V / SM-G990U2:
  • ✓72g lighter chassis (177g) optimized for one-handed ergonomics
  • ✓$729 lower launch MSRP ($770 vs $1499)
  • ✓12MP primary camera sensor with 4K/120fps video recording
Reasons to buy iPhone 18 Pro Max:
  • ✓Larger 5,567 mAh battery capacity (+1,067 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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SpecificationSM-G990U Galaxy S21 FE 5G UW TD-LTE US 256GB / SM-G990V / SM-G990U2iPhone 18 Pro Max
1. Display & Screen
Screen Type & TechAM-OLED displayLTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision
Screen Size6.41"6.9"
Resolution & Density1080x2340 (402 ppi)1320 x 2868 pixels (19.5:9 ratio) (460 ppi)
Refresh Rate120 Hz ProMotion120 Hz ProMotion
BrightnessN/A1000 nits (typ), 1600 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak)
Screen ProtectionScratch-resistant glassCeramic Shield 2, Anti-reflective coating, Always-On display
2. Platform & 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 12iOS 27
3. Memory & Storage
RAM Memory8 GB LPDDR12GB LPDDR5X
Internal Storage256GB256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB
Storage SpeedHigh-speed flashNVMe fast flash
Card SlotNoNo
4. Main Camera Optics
Primary Camera12 MP48 MP, f/1.5, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, OIS, Dual pixel PDAF, Sensor-shift OIS (gen 2)
Telephoto ZoomNone (Digital zoom only)48 MP (4x optical zoom), f/2.8, 100mm (periscope telephoto), OIS
Ultrawide CameraN/A48 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 Lens32 MP18 MP, f/1.9, 20mm (ultrawide multi-aspect)
7. Body & Dimensions
DimensionsN/A163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
Weight177 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 ResistanceNot certifiedIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min)
8. Battery & Charging
Battery Capacity4,500 mAh5,567 mAh
Wired Fast Charging25W wired fast charging45W wired fast charging
Wireless ChargingNot supported25W 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 7 / 6E tri-bandWi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band, hotspot)
BluetoothBluetooth 5.0Bluetooth 6.0, A2DP, LE
USB Port & SpeedUSB C reversibleUSB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (up to 10Gbps), DisplayPort video out
NFCYesYes (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$770$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 SM-G990U Galaxy S21 FE 5G UW TD-LTE US 256GB / SM-G990V / SM-G990U2:
Lighter body: 177g (72g lighter in hand) · Lower launch price: $770 (save $729)
When to buy iPhone 18 Pro Max:
Higher overall BeastScore: 92.8 vs top rival 76.6 · Larger battery capacity: 5,567 mAh (+1,067 mAh more)
Quick Answers

Frequently Asked Questions: SM-G990U Galaxy S21 FE 5G UW TD-LTE US 256GB / SM-G990V / SM-G990U2 vs iPhone 18 Pro Max

Which phone is better: SM-G990U Galaxy S21 FE 5G UW TD-LTE US 256GB / SM-G990V / SM-G990U2 or iPhone 18 Pro Max?

iPhone 18 Pro Max leads with an overall BeastScore of 92.8/100 compared to SM-G990U Galaxy S21 FE 5G UW TD-LTE US 256GB / SM-G990V / SM-G990U2 (76.6/100), driven by advantages in Higher overall BeastScore: 92.8 vs top rival 76.6 and Larger battery capacity: 5,567 mAh (+1,067 mAh more).

What are the primary battery and display differences between SM-G990U Galaxy S21 FE 5G UW TD-LTE US 256GB / SM-G990V / SM-G990U2 and iPhone 18 Pro Max?

SM-G990U Galaxy S21 FE 5G UW TD-LTE US 256GB / SM-G990V / SM-G990U2 is equipped with a 6.41-inch display and 4500 mAh battery, while iPhone 18 Pro Max features a 6.9-inch display and 5567 mAh battery.

How do the camera capabilities compare between SM-G990U Galaxy S21 FE 5G UW TD-LTE US 256GB / SM-G990V / SM-G990U2 and iPhone 18 Pro Max?

In lab hardware evaluations, SM-G990U Galaxy S21 FE 5G UW TD-LTE US 256GB / SM-G990V / SM-G990U2 scores 68/100 in camera performance, while iPhone 18 Pro Max scores 94/100.

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