Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: Rivals Compared

Do you want an excellent smartphone and money is not an issue? In this Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs iPhone 12 Pro Max comparison, we contrast the two top devices. We compare the two titans on camera, screen, specifications and more.

Comparison: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs iPhone 12 Pro (Max)

This comparison is not interesting for everyone because both devices have a suggested retail price of more than 1200 euros. Are you looking for a good phone, but do you have a little less to spend? Then we would like to refer you to the comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 and iPhone 12, the respective entry-level models from Samsung and Apple.

1. Screen: Samsung is slightly larger

	Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra	iPhone 12 Pro Max
Screen	6.8 inch AMOLED screen	6.7 inch OLED screen
Resolution	3200 x 1440 pixels (515 ppi)	2778 x 1284 pixels (458 ppi)
Refresh rate	120Hz refresh rate	60Hz refresh rate

Not a fan of a big notch? Then the Galaxy S21 Ultra is more for you. The selfie camera of this device is processed in a small hole at the top of the screen: Apple reserves a much wider surface for this.

The Samsung also draws the longest straw in terms of general screen quality. The device has a pixel ratio of 515 ppi, while the 12 Pro Max is stuck at 458. This means that the Galaxy S21 Ultra has a sharper image than the Apple competitor.

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In addition, the Samsung has a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz, which means that the screen refreshes images at most 120 times per second and therefore looks smoother than the most expensive and largest iPhone 12. It stays at a refresh rate of 60Hz.

Furthermore, the Samsung display is brighter. It has a brightness of up to 1500 nits compared to 1200 nits on the iPhone. On the other hand, the latter does have Dolby Vision, the film standard that many cinema films use, and Ceramic Shield, which makes the screen less unruly. The most expensive Samsung Galaxy S21 has Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, which can also take a beating.

2. Format and design

	Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra	iPhone 12 Pro Max
Dimensions (L x W x H)	165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm	160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4 mm
Weight	227 grams	228 grams
Waterproofness	IP68	IP68

In terms of size, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and iPhone 12 Pro Max differ very little from each other. The former has a 6.8 inch screen and is therefore slightly larger than the Apple phone (6.7 inch), but also has slightly larger dimensions. In terms of weight, the two hardly differ: the difference is only 1 gram.

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Samsung and Apple have clearly made different design choices. The sides of the South Korean device flow smoothly into the back, while the edges of the Apple smartphone are straight ‘cut off’. The iPhone 12 Pro Max looks – just like the other iPhone 12 devices – therefore much more angular.

We encounter another design difference on the back. The S21 Ultra has more lenses and therefore a larger camera module. These lenses are mounted horizontally and vertically. With the iPhone 12 Pro Max they are placed in a triangle. The camera module protrudes slightly on both devices and is IP68 certified: they are therefore water and dust proof.

3. Camera: zoom, zoom and zoom

	Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra	iPhone 12 Pro Max
Main camera	108 megapixels with optical image stabilization	12 megapixel with sensor stabilization
Second camera	12 megapixel ultra-wide angle lens	12 megapixel wide-angle lens
Third camera	10 megapixel telephoto lens (3x optical zoom)	12 megapixel telephoto lens (2.5x optical zoom)
Fourth camera	10 megapixel periscope lens (10x optical zoom)	Not applicable
Selfie camera	40 megapixels	12 megapixel
Extras	Laser autofocus, filming in 8K, HDR10 + and ‘duo films’	LiDAR sensor, Apple ProRAW and Smart HDR

Apart from the wide-angle lens, the camera of the iPhone 12 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra differ from each other day and night. The latter namely has a primary lens with a resolution of 108 megapixels versus 12 megapixels. The reviews must show whether this theoretical difference is also clearly noticeable in practice. The S21 Ultra shoots pictures in 27 megapixels as standard because the pixels are brought together, resulting in better pictures.

The ultra-wide-angle lenses are largely the same, but that does not apply to the telephoto lenses, which you use to get a closer image. The S21 Ultra can zoom in just a bit further than the 12 Pro Max. In addition, the Samsung has a fourth lens on the back, a so-called periscope lens. This allows 10x optical zoom.

Furthermore, the iPhone 12 Pro Max has a LiDAR scanner on the back, just like the regular iPhone 12 Pro. This depth sensor comes in handy with all kinds of augmented reality apps and boosts the photo quality. On the other hand, the S21 Ultra has other cool features, such as the ability to film in 8K resolution. There is also a laser auto focus, the Samsung alternative to the LiDAR scanner of the iPhone.

4. Hardware is well matched

	Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra	iPhone 12 Pro Max
Processor	Exynos 2100	A14 Bionic
Storage	128/512 / 512GB	128/512 / 512GB
Random access memory	12 / 16GB	6GB
Internet	5G	5G
Unlock	Fingerprint scanner, face unlock and voice unlock	FaceID face unlock

Whatever device you get, they are both very fast. However, the Galaxy S21 Ultra pulls the longest end in terms of RAM. The standard model is equipped with twice as much RAM.

It is true that iOS, the operating system of the iPhone, is generally smarter with RAM than Android, on which the Galaxy runs. As a result, Apple phones generally need less RAM to still look good. It remains to be seen whether this difference in working memory is actually noticeable.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is also equipped with Bixby Voice. This allows you to unlock the device with your voice. Furthermore, the device has a fingerprint scanner under the screen and face unlock. The latter is also present on the most expensive iPhone 12 under the name Face ID. You can get started with 5G on both devices.

5. Battery and software

	Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra	iPhone 12 Pro Max
Battery	5000 mAh	3687 mAh
Fast charging	25 Watt	20 Watt
Wireless charging	15 Watt	15 Watt
Reverse charging	Yes	Not applicable

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has a larger battery capacity than its Apple counterpart. It is therefore not an unnecessary luxury that the charging speed is also higher. You can also use the S21 Ultra to power other devices by placing them on the back of the device. This option is missing on the most expensive iPhone 12.

An important difference between the two is software. The Galaxy S21 Ultra runs on Android 11, the latest version of the operating system. Samsung promises to update the device to Android 12, 13 and 14. In terms of support, however, the 12 Pro Max will probably win the longest straw. As a rule, Apple updates its devices for about five years. Since the device appeared with iOS 14, you are hopefully up to and including iOS 19.

6. Miscellaneous

Remarkable: both devices are delivered without charger in the box. This fact is all the more sour for Samsung fans, as the company previously ridiculed Apple for omitting the adapter, but is now doing the same.

That said, the iPhone 12 Pro Max can handle MagSafe. Thanks to this magnetic connection, you can attach all kinds of accessories to the back of the device, after which they ‘click’ immediately.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, on the other hand, can be used in combination with the SmartTag, a tracker for finding things back. Behind the scenes, Apple appears to be working on a competitor (the AirTag), but this sleuth has yet to be announced.

IPhone is more colorful, but slightly more expensive

Both flagships are quite expensive. For a separate Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra you put down at least 1249 euros; a separate iPhone 12 Pro Max has a suggested retail price of 1259 euros. With a device with a subscription you pay this amount in monthly installments and you can also get the Samsung on installment.

Both models start with 128GB internal storage capacity and do not have a micro SD card slot. If you need more storage, then you should go for the model with 256GB (or 512GB) internal capacity. The most expensive iPhone 12 is available in four colors: gold, graphite, ocean blue, and silver. With the S21 Ultra you only have two choices: silver or black.

To buy

Do you want to buy the iPhone 12 Pro Max? Then use the comparator below to filter offers from online stores and providers by price, color, storage capacity and more. Also read our iPhone 12 Pro Max review to know everything about the pros and cons of the largest iPhone ever.

Are you going to buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra? Then visit our sister site Android Planet to filter the complete offer and find the best deal for you. In the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra preview you can read the preliminary assessment of our sister site about the device.