Apple iPhone XS Max (256GB) vs Samsung Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U)
Side by side comparison between Apple iPhone XS Max vs Samsung Galaxy A21 phones, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
6.5"
AMOLED
AMOLED
1242x2688
12
MP
MP
7.1mp
4GB
RAM
RAM
Hexa-core
3174
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
6.5"
PLS
PLS
720x1600
16
MP
MP
13mp
3GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
4000
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better phone? Apple iPhone XS Max (256GB)
The phonemore's choice is much more technical than personal. Therefore, you shouldn't only consider this. Our goal is to help you, but what's important to us may not be important to you. You decide which one is the best! Comment!
20 Advantages 
11 Advantages | 23 Common items in both devices |
| 60Hz |
| 16 million |
| 6.5" |
| PDAF: phase detection autofocus |
| HDR photo/video on both cameras / HDR photo on both cameras |
| f/1.8 (aperture) |
| (front) Full HD (1920x1080) |
| +16 specs and more in the table below |
Check the comparison table below for more items that are not evaluated in comparison score above.
Highlight differences Clear highlight📱 Model features | ||
| iPhone XS Max (256GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| Model | iPhone XS Max (256GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) |
| Other model names | iPhone Xs Max A1921, A2101, A2102, A2104 | Galaxy A21 SM-A215U (Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Verizon) |
| Country or region available |  (Global, International) |  USA |
| Brand | Apple | Samsung |
| Release date | 9/21/2018, Announced: 9/12/2018 | 6/26/2020 |
| Depth | 7.7 millimeters (0.3 inches) | 8.1 millimeters (0.32 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 77.4 x 157.5 millimeters (3.05 x 6.2 in) | 76.7 x 167.8 millimeters (3.02 x 6.61 in) |
| Weight | 208 grams (7.28 ounces) | 193 grams (6.76 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Stainless steel body, glass front/back | Plastic body, glass front |
| Protection against water and others | IP68 certified: water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30min and dust-resistant | Not supported |
📲 Display | ||
| iPhone XS Max (256GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| Display type | Super AMOLED | TFT PLS |
| Screen size | 6.5" inches | 6.5" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~85.1% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~79.3% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1242x2688 pixels (19.5:9) | 720x1600 pixels (20:9) |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points | Capacitive Multitouch |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 456 PPI | 270 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Scratch-resistant glass | Not supported |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Display features | 625nits[typ] Dolby Vision/HDR10 Oleophobic coating screen | Not supported |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| iPhone XS Max (256GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| System version | iOS 12 | Android 10 |
| Firmware update | iOS 16 | feature not registered |
| User Interface | feature not registered | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| iPhone XS Max (256GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| Chipset | 64bit: Apple A12 Bionic (7nm) | 64bit: MediaTek Helio P35 (MT6765) (12nm) |
| CPU | Hexa-core, 2 processors: 2x 2.25GHz Vortex (Dual-core) 4x 1.6GHz Tempest (Quad-core) | Octa-core, 2 processors: 4x 2.3GHz ARM Cortex-A53 (Quad-core) 4x 1.8GHz ARM Cortex-A53 (Quad-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | Apple GPU (4-Core) | PowerVR GE8320 MP2 (680MHz) |
| Performance (benchmark) | AnTuTu: 353210 (v7) Geekbench: 11432 (v4.4) GFXBench: 47fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | feature not registered |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| iPhone XS Max (256GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| RAM memory | 4GB LPDDR4X | 3GB LPDDR3 |
| Internal storage | 256GB (244GB available) NVMe (SSD) | 32GB (20GB available) eMMC 5.1 |
| External storage | Not supported | Until 512GB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| iPhone XS Max (256GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Not supported |
| SIM card | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 1024/150 Mbps | 150/50 Mbps |
| Network technology | 2G, 3G, 4G | 2G, 3G, 4G |
| Frequency, bands | Expand band details Collapse details | |
| GSM MHz band | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 2G network | CDMA 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | CDMA 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | All models: CDMA2000 1xEV-DO UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 A2104 model: TD-SCDMA 1900/2000 | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | LTE Cat16 VoLTE A1921/A2104 models: LTE (Bands 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,12,13,14, 17, 18, 19,20,25,26,29,30,32,66,71) TD-LTE (Bands 34,38,39,40, 41,46) A2101 model: LTE (Bands 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,12,13,14, 17, 18, 19,20,25,26,28,29,30,32,66) TD-LTE (Bands 34,38,39,40, 41,46) A2102 model: LTE (Bands 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,11,12,13,14, 17, 18, 19,20,21,25,26,28,29,30,66) TD-LTE (Bands 34,38,39,40, 41,42,46) | LTE Cat4 (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28) TD-LTE (38, 40, 41) VoLTE |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary data network | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, TD-SCDMA, UMTS, TD-HSDPA, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE |
| Secondary 2G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 3G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 4G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary data network | Not supported | Not supported |
📷 Camera | ||
| iPhone XS Max (256GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | (dual camera) 12 megapixels 12MP f/2.452mm1.0µm | (quad camera) 16 megapixels 8MP ultrawide f/2.21/4.0"1.12µm 2MP macro f/2.4 2MP depth f/2.4 |
| Main camera resolution | 4000x3000 pixels | 4608x3456 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) 60 fps | Full HD (1920x1080) 30 fps |
| Flash | Quad-LED flash | LED flash |
| Focal aperture | f/1.8 (aperture) | f/1.8 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 28mm lens | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | 1/2.55" inches | 1/3.06" inches |
| Pixel size | 1.4µm pixel | 1µm pixel |
| Autofocus | PDAF: phase detection autofocus | PDAF: phase detection autofocus |
| Touch focus | Supported | Supported |
| Image stabilization | OIS: Optical stabilization | EIS: Digital stabilization |
| Zoom | Digital and optical zoom | Only digital zoom |
| Face/smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection |
| BSI sensor | Supported | Not supported |
| HDR | HDR photo/video on both cameras | HDR photo on both cameras |
| Camera extras | 1080p@240fps | feature not registered |
📸 Front camera | ||
| iPhone XS Max (256GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | 7.1 megapixels | 13 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 3072x2304 pixels | 4128x3096 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | Full HD (1920x1080) | Full HD (1920x1080) |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | f/2.2 (aperture) | f/2.0 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 32mm lens | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | feature not registered | 1.12µm pixel |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| iPhone XS Max (256GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| Loudspeaker | Stereo sound | Supported |
| Active noise cancellation | 2 microphones or more | 2 microphones or more |
| Radio | Not supported | FM |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MPEG4, H.265, H.264, MOV | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, XviD, MKV |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, AAX+, AIFF | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| iPhone XS Max (256GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| USB | USB 2.0 proprietary connector | USB 2.0 Type-C reversible connector |
| Audio output | proprietary audio output | 3.5mm jack |
| TV output | Proprietary TV-out | Not supported |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 + A2DP/LE | 5.0 + A2DP/LE |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac [wifi5] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) + MIMO WiFi hotspot | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac [wifi5] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) + MIMO WiFi Direct, hotspot |
| DLNA | Not supported | Not supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS |
| NFC | Supported | Not supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| iPhone XS Max (256GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Barometer Compass Face unlock Gyroscope Proximity sensor | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Face unlock Fingerprint sensor (rear-mounted) Gyroscope Proximity sensor |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| iPhone XS Max (256GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 3174 mAh | 4000 mAh |
| Charger, watts | 15W Wired fast charging USB Power Delivery 2.0 | 15W Wired fast charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | Qi wireless charging | Not supported |
| Talk time autonomy | 25 hours (1 days) | feature not registered |
| Standby | feature not registered | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| iPhone XS Max (256GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| Call control | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands |
| Messaging | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail |
| Hands-free calling | Supported | Supported |
| Video calling | Supported | Supported |
| Ringtones | Polyphonic and customized | Polyphonic and customized |
| Web browser | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 |
| Antenna | Internal antenna | Internal antenna |
| Qwerty physical keyboard | Not supported | Not supported |
| Miscellaneous | • Colors: Space Gray, Silver, Gold • Face ID • AirDrop, iCloud, FaceTime, Siri • Apple Pay • Lightning to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter included • Fast battery charging: 50% in 30min | • Colors: Black • One UI 2.0 |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| iPhone XS Max (256GB) | Galaxy A21 (SM-A215U) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | feature not registered | 0.6W/kg (head), 1.27W/kg (body) |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |