Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G Vs iPhone 16 Plus

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, released in January 2021, and the Apple iPhone 16 Plus, launched in September 2024, represent different generations of flagship smartphones from their respective manufacturers. While the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G runs on the Android operating system, offering a highly customizable experience, the iPhone 16 Plus operates on Apple's iOS, known for its streamlined interface and ecosystem integration. A key differentiator lies in their camera systems, with the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G featuring a versatile quad-camera setup including multiple telephoto lenses, whereas the iPhone 16 Plus focuses on an advanced dual-camera system with computational photography enhancements.

When considering the longevity of these devices, their release timelines and software support policies are important factors.

• Release and Software Support: The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G was released in January 2021 and launched with Android 11. Samsung committed to providing four major Android OS updates and five years of security updates for the device. It received its last major OS update, Android 15 (One UI 7), in May 2025, and security updates concluded around February 2026. In contrast, the iPhone 16 Plus was released in September 2024 with iOS 18 and is expected to receive software updates until approximately 2031, supporting iOS 26.
• Repairability: The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G received an iFixit repairability score of 3 out of 10, indicating it is challenging to repair due to the extensive use of adhesive and a non-modular display cable. The iPhone 16 Plus, however, earned a significantly higher iFixit repairability score of 7 out of 10, marking it as one of the most repairable iPhones in years, thanks to a more modular design and easier battery removal.
• Expected Practical Lifespan: Users of the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G can expect its practical lifespan for optimal performance and security to align with its software support, which has now concluded for major updates and security patches. The iPhone 16 Plus, being a more recent device with a longer projected software support window, offers a longer expected practical lifespan for users who prioritize the latest software features and security updates.

The performance of a smartphone is crucial for daily tasks, app responsiveness, and demanding applications like gaming.

• Processor Capabilities: The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is powered by a high-performance processor from its release year, enabling smooth operation for most applications and multitasking. The iPhone 16 Plus features a current-generation A-series chipset, which provides significant performance improvements, ensuring faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and enhanced graphics performance for gaming.
• System Responsiveness and Multitasking: Both devices offer a responsive user experience. The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, with its 12GB or 16GB of RAM, handles multiple applications efficiently. The iPhone 16 Plus, equipped with 8GB of RAM, also delivers a fluid experience, benefiting from optimized software and hardware integration.
• Battery Behavior: The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G includes a 5000 mAh battery, which generally provides a full day of use, and for some users, up to 1.5 to 2 days under moderate usage. However, heavy usage, especially with the high-resolution, high-refresh-rate display, can lead to more frequent charging. The iPhone 16 Plus, with a 4674 mAh battery, is noted for its excellent battery life, often lasting almost 72 hours of general use or up to two days with heavy 5G usage, and is rated for up to 27 hours of video playback.

The display is a primary interface for smartphone interaction, and both devices offer distinct viewing experiences.

• Display Technology and Clarity: The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G features a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a QHD+ resolution of 3200x1440 pixels, providing a sharp and vibrant visual experience with deep blacks. The iPhone 16 Plus comes with a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, offering a resolution of 2796 x 1290 pixels at 460 pixels per inch, known for its color accuracy and contrast.
• Brightness and Refresh Rate: The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G boasts an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, contributing to smoother scrolling and animations, and can reach a peak brightness of 1500 nits. The iPhone 16 Plus has a 60Hz refresh rate, which is less fluid than higher refresh rate displays, but offers high brightness levels with 1000 nits typical, 1600 nits for HDR content, and a peak outdoor brightness of 2000 nits.
• Viewing Experience: Both phones provide large, immersive screens suitable for media consumption and productivity. The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G's higher resolution and adaptive refresh rate offer a premium visual fluidity, while the iPhone 16 Plus's display excels in brightness and color fidelity, making it suitable for various lighting conditions.

Camera capabilities are a significant consideration for many users, and these devices approach photography with different strengths.

• Camera System Configuration: The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G features a quad-camera system on the rear, comprising a 108MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide lens, a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and another 10MP telephoto lens with 10x optical zoom. It also has a 40MP front camera. The iPhone 16 Plus is equipped with an advanced dual-camera system, including a 48MP Fusion Main camera that can achieve a 2x telephoto effect through cropping, and a 12MP ultrawide camera.
• Photography Performance: The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is praised for its versatile zoom capabilities, allowing for detailed shots at various distances, and its 108MP main sensor captures high-resolution images. The iPhone 16 Plus offers improved low-light performance and enhanced computational photography, producing sharp images with vibrant colors and good dynamic range. It also supports Spatial Video recording.
• Video Recording and Audio: Both devices are capable of high-quality video recording. The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G supports 8K video recording. The iPhone 16 Plus offers 4K Dolby Vision video recording and features like Cinematic mode and Action mode, along with improved audio mixing for video. For audio, both provide stereo speaker output for an immersive media consumption experience.