iPhone 13 Camera Versus Galaxy S21

When it comes to smartphone cameras, Apple and Samsung are at the top of the class. Of course, that's long been the case. Right now, it's most evident in their current flagship handsets. These are the iPhone 13 and Galaxy S21, respectively.

Buyers of Apple's latest iPhone can choose from various models, including the standard iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 Pro Max. However, between the four currently available options, only two distinct camera setups are available. One is shared by the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini, while the other is exclusive to the costlier iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max.

All current-generation iPhones get a 12MP camera system. On the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini, this is a dual setup with a pair of seven-element wide-angle and five-element ultra-wide-angle lenses. In ultra-wide-angle mode, iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini owners get an impressive 120-degree field of view.

In addition, 2x optical zoom and 5x digital zoom are both standard. Elsewhere, stand-out features include Apple's portrait mode with advanced depth control, built-in portrait lighting with six effects, sensor-shift optical image stabilization, and image capture in either HEIF or JPEG. Also included are:

When opting for either Apple's iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 13 Pro Max, buyers get all of the same camera features found on the manufacturer's two cheaper iPhone 13 models. However, a variety of improvements have also been made to the 12MP camera setup on the two priciest handsets.

With that, the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max get three lenses instead of two. These are a seven-element wide-angle lens, a six-element ultra-wide-angle lens with the same 120-degree field of view found on the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini, and an exclusive six-element telephoto lens.

Pro model-wise, there's an overall 6x optical zoom. There's then an impressive digital zoom up to 15x – three times better than on the two less expensive models. Also exclusive to the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max are a night portrait mode and dual optical image stabilization when using a handset's telephoto and wide lenses.

Above and beyond the dozen or so stand-out features found on the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max buyers further get in-built Macro photography and Apple ProRAW functionality.

Meanwhile, all four iPhone 13 models are essentially comparable when it comes to video recording, each boasting the ability to capture 4K footage at up to 60 fps. The only significant difference is the option of so-called ProRes video recording on the costlier iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max.

When it comes to Samsung's latest Galaxy S21 smartphone, things are slightly more straightforward. For a time, just two models, the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus, were available. Even more straightforward is the fact that buyers of either handset continue to get the same camera setup.

The Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus both have camera setups consisting of three main lenses: a standard lens, an ultra-wide-angle lens, and a telephoto lens. Ultimately, it's a system not dissimilar to that found on the latest flagship iPhones.

Yet, where the Galaxy S21 lineup really excels is in terms of video recording. Here, Samsung's two most popular flagship smartphones are each capable of capturing super-high-resolution 8K video – the maximum currently available with any smartphone.

Uniquely, it's also possible to pull incredibly crisp photos of up to 33MP straight from every 8K video caught on either a Galaxy S21 or Galaxy S21 Plus handset. Crucially, it's something that no iPhone can do.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 also improves over the current Apple offering in numerous other areas. For example, there's a built-in 30x digital zoom on both the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus, allowing users to observe massive levels of detail.

Furthermore, a third Galaxy S21 model, the S21 Ultra, is also now available. Above and beyond everything offered by the camera setup found on the two existing models, Galaxy S21 Ultra buyers get a 100x so-called Space Zoom, an upgraded 108MP wide-angle lens, and even a 40MP front-facing selfie camera.

This means that when it comes to the iPhone 13 camera versus that found on the Galaxy S21, it's the top-of-the-range Samsung handset that's by far the best. Of course, this comes at a cost – up to $1,249.99 for the 256GB Galaxy S21 Ultra.

While that's considerably more expensive than the original 128GB Galaxy S21 at $799.99, it's largely on par with the $1,199 cost of the comparable 256GB iPhone 13 Pro Max. Either way, picking up the latest flagship smartphone from either brand involves a significant investment. It's for that reason that an extended smartphone warranty is so important.

Upsie offers smartphone warranty coverage that's both comprehensive and affordable. Upsie cuts out unnecessary middlemen to pass on potential savings. In fact, Upsie's subscription warranties cost just $9.99 per month.

In addition, customers have access to comprehensive warranties, each with accident protection included. Upsie’s warranties are designed to safeguard against screen cracks or damage resulting from drops, liquid spills, and other mishaps.

Eligibility is open to Apple iPhone 13 and Samsung Galaxy S21 smartphones. Upsie also offers non-subscription warranties for tablets, laptops, gaming consoles, and more.