Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs iPhone 13 Pro

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, released in January 2022, and the Apple iPhone 13 Pro, launched in September 2021, are both advanced smartphones designed to offer a premium experience. While the Galaxy S21 FE operates on the Android ecosystem, the iPhone 13 Pro runs on Apple's iOS, presenting distinct user interfaces and app environments. Key differentiators include their camera systems, display technologies, and overall software support timelines.

When considering the long-term usability of a smartphone, factors like software support and physical durability are important. Both devices offer robust build quality, but their software longevity and repairability approaches differ.

• Software Support: The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G was released with Android 12 and is expected to receive four major Android OS upgrades, extending its support up to Android 16, along with five years of security updates. The iPhone 13 Pro, launched with iOS 15, typically receives major iOS updates for six to eight years from its release, with expectations for support until at least 2027, and potentially until 2028 for iOS upgrades, followed by security updates.
• Repairability: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G generally offers a more straightforward repair process, with its plastic back cover being relatively easy to remove and many internal components secured with similar-sized screws. However, its battery is tightly glued, making replacement more challenging. The iPhone 13 Pro received a repairability score of 5 out of 10 from iFixit, noting that while display and battery replacements are prioritized in its design, software limitations can complicate third-party repairs, particularly concerning Face ID functionality after a non-genuine display swap.
• Physical Durability: Both devices feature IP68 ratings for dust and water resistance. The iPhone 13 Pro incorporates a Ceramic Shield front cover for enhanced drop protection, while the Galaxy S21 FE 5G uses Gorilla Glass Victus. The iPhone's double-glass design, however, means potential for costly rear glass damage.

Both smartphones deliver capable performance for daily tasks and demanding applications, though they achieve this through different hardware and software optimizations.

• System Responsiveness: The iPhone 13 Pro is equipped with a powerful processor that ensures smooth navigation, rapid app launches, and efficient multitasking. Users generally experience consistent and fluid performance across various applications and games. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G, depending on the region, features either a Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100 processor, providing strong performance for everyday use, gaming, and handling multiple apps simultaneously.
• Multitasking and Storage: The iPhone 13 Pro comes with 6GB of RAM and offers storage options up to 1TB, catering to users with extensive storage needs for media and applications. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G is available with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage, which is suitable for most users but does not offer the same high-end storage capacity as the iPhone.
• Battery Behavior: The iPhone 13 Pro features a battery that provides improved endurance compared to its predecessors, often lasting a full day for many users. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G includes a larger battery capacity, supporting extended usage throughout the day, with fast wired and wireless charging capabilities.

The visual experience on both devices is a highlight, with each offering vibrant and detailed displays tailored to different preferences.

• Display Technology and Clarity: The iPhone 13 Pro features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, known for its deep blacks, high contrast, and accurate color reproduction, with a resolution of 2532 x 1170 pixels. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G sports a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, offering vivid colors and sharp details at a 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution.
• Brightness and Outdoor Visibility: The iPhone 13 Pro's display can reach a typical brightness of 1000 nits and a peak HDR brightness of 1200 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in bright outdoor conditions. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G also offers a peak brightness of 1200 nits, providing good readability under various lighting conditions.
• Refresh Rate and Smoothness: A notable feature of the iPhone 13 Pro is its ProMotion technology, which provides an adaptive refresh rate ranging from 10Hz to 120Hz. This results in exceptionally smooth scrolling and responsive interactions, dynamically adjusting to content to conserve power. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G also features a 120Hz refresh rate, offering a fluid visual experience, particularly noticeable during scrolling and gaming.

Both smartphones offer advanced camera systems capable of capturing high-quality photos and videos, each with its own strengths and unique features.

• Rear Camera System: The iPhone 13 Pro boasts a versatile triple 12MP camera system, including Wide, Ultra Wide, and Telephoto lenses. Its Wide camera features a large sensor and sensor-shift optical image stabilization for improved low-light performance, while the Telephoto lens offers 3x optical zoom. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G also comes with a triple camera setup, featuring a 12MP main, 12MP ultrawide, and an 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.
• Photography Features: The iPhone 13 Pro excels in low-light photography across all its lenses and introduces features like Photographic Styles and a macro mode using the Ultra Wide camera. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G provides a comprehensive set of photography modes, including a capable night mode and various computational photography enhancements.
• Video Recording and Audio: For video, the iPhone 13 Pro supports 4K HDR recording up to 60 frames per second, with advanced features like Cinematic mode for depth-of-field effects and ProRes video recording for professional-grade editing. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G also records 4K video at 60 frames per second. Both devices offer good microphone quality for calls and recordings, and stereo speakers for media consumption.