Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra (SM-G998U1 256GB) vs Apple iPhone 16 Plus (256GB)
Side by side comparison between Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs Apple iPhone 16 Plus phones, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
6.8"
AMOLED
AMOLED
1440x3200
108
MP
MP
40mp
12GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
5000
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
6.7"
OLED
OLED
1290x2796
48
MP
MP
12mp
8GB
RAM
RAM
Hexa-core
4674
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better phone? Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra (SM-G998U1 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!
16 Advantages 
11 Advantages | 34 Common items in both devices |
| 256GB (220GB available) / 256GB (230GB available) |
| Aluminum frame, glass front/back |
| Dynamic AMOLED / Super Retina XDR OLED |
| HDR10+ / Dolby Vision/HDR10 |
| PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras |
| OIS: Optical stabilization |
| BSI sensor |
| +27 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 | ||
| Galaxy S21 Ultra (SM-G998U1 256GB) | iPhone 16 Plus (256GB) | |
| Model | Galaxy S21 Ultra (SM-G998U1 256GB) | iPhone 16 Plus (256GB) |
| Other model names | Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (SM-G998U1) Unlocked | iPhone 16 Plus (A3290, A3082, A3289, A3291) |
| Country or region available |  USA |  (Global, International) |
| Brand | Samsung | Apple |
| Release date | 1/29/2021, Announced: 1/14/2021 | 9/20/2024, Announced: 9/9/2024 |
| Depth | 8.9 millimeters (0.35 inches) | 7.8 millimeters (0.31 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 75.6 x 165.1 millimeters (2.98 x 6.5 in) | 77.8 x 160.9 millimeters (3.06 x 6.33 in) |
| Weight | 227 grams (7.95 ounces) | 199 grams (6.97 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Aluminum frame, glass front/back | Aluminum frame, glass front/back |
| Protection against water and others | IP68 certified: water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30min and dust-resistant | IP68 certified: water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30min and dust-resistant |
📲 Display | ||
| Galaxy S21 Ultra (SM-G998U1 256GB) | iPhone 16 Plus (256GB) | |
| Display type | Dynamic AMOLED | Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Screen size | 6.8" inches | 6.7" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~89.4% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~88% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1440x3200 pixels (20:9) | 1290x2796 pixels (19.5:9) |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 516 PPI | 460 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 1 billion |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Gorilla Glass Victus | Ceramic Shield |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 60Hz |
| Display features | 1500nits[peak] HDR10+ Always-On Display | 1000nits[typ], 2000nits[peak] Dolby Vision/HDR10 Oleophobic coating screen True-tone Wide color gamut |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| Galaxy S21 Ultra (SM-G998U1 256GB) | iPhone 16 Plus (256GB) | |
| System version | Android 11 | iOS 18 |
| Firmware update | Android 15 | feature not registered |
| User Interface | One UI 3.1 / 4.1 / 5.1 / 6.0 / 7.0 | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Galaxy S21 Ultra (SM-G998U1 256GB) | iPhone 16 Plus (256GB) | |
| Chipset | 64bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (SM8350) (5nm) | 64bit: Apple A18 (3nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core, 3 processors: 1x 2.84GHz Kryo 680 (Single-core) 3x 2.42GHz Kryo 680 (Triple-core) 4x 1.8GHz Kryo 680 (Quad-core) | Hexa-core, 2 processors: 2x 3.78GHz P-Core (Dual-core) 4x 2.1GHz E-Core (Quad-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | Qualcomm Adreno 660 (840MHz) | A18 GPU (5-core) |
| Performance (benchmark) | AnTuTu: 681099 (v8), 809165 (v9) Geekbench: 3539 (v5.2) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 1539646 (v10) Geekbench: 7988 (v6.0) |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Galaxy S21 Ultra (SM-G998U1 256GB) | iPhone 16 Plus (256GB) | |
| RAM memory | 12GB LPDDR5 | 8GB LPDDR5X |
| Internal storage | 256GB (220GB available) UFS 3.1 | 256GB (230GB available) NVMe (SSD) |
| External storage | Not supported | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Galaxy S21 Ultra (SM-G998U1 256GB) | iPhone 16 Plus (256GB) | |
| Dual-SIM | Dual-SIM Standby - Call active on one sim card | Dual-SIM Standby - Call active on one sim card |
| SIM card | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) + e-SIM | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) + e-SIM |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 5000/1920 Mbps | 5000/1024 Mbps |
| Network technology | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G |
| 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 | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | LTE Cat20 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 66, 71) TD-LTE (38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48) VoLTE | LTE Cat20 VoLTE A3290 (International): LTE (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 53, 66) TD-LTE (34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 53) A3082 e-SIM only (USA): LTE (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 53, 66, 71) TD-LTE (34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 53) A3289 (Canada, Mexico, EMEA): LTE (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 53, 66, 71 TD-LTE (34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 53) A3291 No e-SIM (China): LTE (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 66) TD-LTE (34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48) |
| Primary 5G network | SA/NSA/Sub6 (2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71) mmWave (260, 261) | A3290 (International): SA/NSA/Sub6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79) A3082 e-SIM only (USA): SA/NSA/Sub6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79) mmWave (258, 260, 261) A3289 (Canada, Mexico, EMEA): SA/NSA/Sub6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6) A3291 No e-SIM (China): SA/NSA/Sub6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79) |
| Primary data network | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A, SA/NSA, Sub6 | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A, SA/NSA, Sub6, mmWave |
| Secondary 2G network | CDMA 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | Not supported |
| Secondary 3G network | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 | Not supported |
| Secondary 4G network | LTE Cat20 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 66, 71) TD-LTE (38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48) VoLTE | Not supported |
| Secondary data network | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A, SA/NSA, Sub6 | Not supported |
📷 Camera | ||
| Galaxy S21 Ultra (SM-G998U1 256GB) | iPhone 16 Plus (256GB) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | (quad camera) 108 megapixels 10MP periscope telephoto f/4.9240mm1/3.24"1.22µmPDAFOIS10x-optical-zoom 10MP telephoto f/2.470mm1/3.24"1.22µmPDAFOIS3x-optical-zoom 12MP ultrawide f/2.213mm1/2.55"1.4µmPDAFSuper-Steady-video | (dual camera) 48 megapixels 12MP ultrawide f/2.213mm120°0.7µmPDAF |
| Main camera resolution | 12000x9000 pixels | 8000x6000 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | 8K UHD (7680x4320) 24 fps | 4K UHD (3840x2160) 60 fps |
| Flash | LED flash | Dual-LED flash |
| Focal aperture | f/1.8 (aperture) | f/1.6 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 26mm (lens) | 26mm (lens) |
| Sensor size | 1/1.33" inches | 1/1.56" inches |
| Pixel size | 1.8µm pixel | 1µm pixel |
| Autofocus | PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras | PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras |
| Touch focus | Supported | Supported |
| Image stabilization | OIS: Optical stabilization | OIS: Optical stabilization |
| Zoom | Digital and optical zoom | Only digital zoom |
| Face/smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection |
| BSI sensor | Supported | Supported |
| HDR | HDR photo/video on both cameras | HDR photo/video on both cameras |
| Camera extras | 4K@60fps 1080p@240fps 720p@960fps | 4K@24/25/30/60fps 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps Dolby Vision HDR (60fps) |
📸 Front camera | ||
| Galaxy S21 Ultra (SM-G998U1 256GB) | iPhone 16 Plus (256GB) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | 40 megapixels | (dual front camera) 12 megapixels 0.3MP SL 3D |
| Front camera resolution | 7296x5472 pixels | 4000x3000 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | f/2.2 (aperture) | f/1.9 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 26mm (lens) | 23mm (lens) |
| Sensor size | 1/2.8" inches | 1/3.6" inches |
| Pixel size | 0.7µm pixel | feature not registered |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| Galaxy S21 Ultra (SM-G998U1 256GB) | iPhone 16 Plus (256GB) | |
| Loudspeaker | Stereo sound 32-bit/384kHz Dolby Atmos Tuned by AKG | Stereo sound Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio 3D |
| Active noise cancellation | 3 microphones | 3 microphones |
| Radio | FM | Not supported |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, XviD, MKV | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, XviD, MKV |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| Galaxy S21 Ultra (SM-G998U1 256GB) | iPhone 16 Plus (256GB) | |
| USB | USB 3.2 Type-C, USB OTG On-The-Go | USB 2.0 Type-C reversible connector |
| Audio output | Type-C reversible connector | Type-C reversible connector |
| TV output | USB Type-C (reversible) | USB Type-C (reversible) |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 + A2DP/LE | 5.3 + A2DP/LE |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax [wifi6] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) + MIMO WiFi Direct, hotspot | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be [wifi7/6E/6] (2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz) + MIMO WiFi hotspot |
| DLNA | Supported | Not supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou, QZSS |
| NFC | Supported | Supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Galaxy S21 Ultra (SM-G998U1 256GB) | iPhone 16 Plus (256GB) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Barometer Compass Face unlock Fingerprint sensor (under display) Gesture Gyroscope Hall effect Proximity sensor UWB (Ultra Wideband) | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Barometer Compass Face unlock Gyroscope Proximity sensor UWB (Ultra Wideband) |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| Galaxy S21 Ultra (SM-G998U1 256GB) | iPhone 16 Plus (256GB) | |
| Battery type | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 5000 mAh | 4674 mAh |
| Charger, watts | 25W Wired fast charging USB Power Delivery 3.0 | 30W Wired fast charging 4.5W Reverse charging by cable USB Power Delivery 2.0 |
| Inductive / wireless charging | 15W Qi wireless charging (Qi/PMA) 4.5W Reverse wireless charging | 25W Qi wireless charging |
| Talk time autonomy | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Standby | feature not registered | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| Galaxy S21 Ultra (SM-G998U1 256GB) | iPhone 16 Plus (256GB) | |
| 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: Phantom Black, Silver, Titanium, Navy, Brown • Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard) • Samsung DeX • Stylus pen support | • Colors: Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine • Apple Intelligence • Apple Pay • Face ID • MagSafe |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Galaxy S21 Ultra (SM-G998U1 256GB) | iPhone 16 Plus (256GB) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | 0.77W/kg (head), 1.02W/kg (body) | feature not registered |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |