iPhone XS vs Samsung Galaxy S21
Short Description
iPhone XS
Screen size: 5.8" / Resolution: 1125 x 2436 px / Main camera: 12 MP & 12 MP / Front camera: 7MP / RAM: 4GB / Battery power: 2658 mAh / Internal storage: 64GB, 256GB, 512GB / SIM cards: 1 SIM, 1 eSIM
Samsung Galaxy S21
Screen size: 6.2" / Resolution: 1080 x 2400 px / Main camera: 64 MP & 12 MP & 12 MP / Front camera: 10MP / RAM: 8GB / Battery power: 4000 mAh / Has 5G support: ✔ / Internal storage: 128GB, 256GB / SIM cards: 1 SIM, 1 eSIM
Key Differences
iPhone XS
Samsung Galaxy S21
How is iPhone XS better than Samsung Galaxy S21?
More internal storage in max option: 64GB, 256GB, 512GB vs 128GB, 256GB
Better display resolution: 1125 x 2436 px vs 1080 x 2400 px
Narrower: 70.9 mm (2.79 inches) vs 71.2 mm (2.8 inches)
Shorter: 143.6 mm (5.65 inches) vs 151.7 mm (5.97 inches)
iPhone XS
Samsung Galaxy S21
How is Samsung Galaxy S21 better than iPhone XS?
Bigger battery capacity: 4000 mAh vs 2658 mAh
Faster CPU speed: 1 x 2.9 GHz & 3 x 2.8 GHz & 4 x 2.2 GHz vs 2 x 2.5 GHz & 4 x 1.6 GHz
More RAM memory capacity in max option: 8GB vs 4GB
AnTuTu score is about 22% higher
More megapixels main camera: 64 MP & 12 MP & 12 MP vs 12 MP & 12 MP
More megapixels front camera: 10MP vs 7MP
Has a larger display diagonal: 6.2" vs 5.8"
Lighter: 171 g (6.03 ounces) vs 177 g (6.24 ounces)
More color options: Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink vs Space Gray, Silver, Gold
The phone is 2 years and 4 months newer
Size Comparison
iPhone XS
Samsung Galaxy S21
Height
143.6 mm
(5.65 inches)
Width
70.9 mm
(2.79 inches)
Thickness
7.7 mm
(0.3 inches)
Screen size
5.8"
Weight
177 g
(6.24 ounces)
5.8"
6.2"
Height
151.7 mm
(5.97 inches)
Width
71.2 mm
(2.8 inches)
Thickness
7.9 mm
(0.31 inches)
Screen size
6.2"
Weight
171 g
(6.03 ounces)
Height
143.6 mm
(5.65 inches)
Width
70.9 mm
(2.79 inches)
Thickness
7.7 mm
(0.3 inches)
Screen size
5.8"
Weight
177 g
(6.24 ounces)
Height
151.7 mm
(5.97 inches)
Width
71.2 mm
(2.8 inches)
Thickness
7.9 mm
(0.31 inches)
Screen size
6.2"
Weight
171 g
(6.03 ounces)
3D comparison
iPhone XS
Samsung Galaxy S21
iPhone XS
Samsung Galaxy S21
Expert Score
Score 4.3
Score 3.9
iPhone XS
Samsung Galaxy S21
iPhone XS
Samsung Galaxy S21
Score 4.3
Score 3.9
TechRadar
iPhone XS
Samsung Galaxy S21
Tech Advisor
iPhone XS
Samsung Galaxy S21
PCMag
iPhone XS
Samsung Galaxy S21
Smartprix
iPhone XS
Samsung Galaxy S21
Vote for Your option
iPhone XS
Vote for Your option
Samsung Galaxy S21
Benchmarks
AnTuTu Score
iPhone XS
738,192
Samsung Galaxy S21
903,780 +22.43%
The score reflects a device's overall performance by summing up results from tests of RAM speed, CPU, and 2D/3D graphics.
CPU
iPhone XS
207,549
Samsung Galaxy S21
253,391 +22.09%
Measures the performance of a device's processor, focusing on tasks such as computing power and multi-core efficiency.
GPU
iPhone XS
203,822
Samsung Galaxy S21
281,676 +38.2%
Measures the graphical performance of a device's GPU, evaluating its ability to handle graphics-intensive tasks such as gaming and rendering.
Memory
iPhone XS
121,678
Samsung Galaxy S21
158,352 +30.14%
Measures the performance of a device's memory (RAM), measuring its speed and efficiency in handling multitasking and data-intensive applications.
UX
iPhone XS
205,143
Samsung Galaxy S21
210,361 +2.54%
Measures the overall user experience performance of a device, including factors like system responsiveness, touch sensitivity, and app launching speed.
3DMark Wild Life benchmark
iPhone XS
5,698 +3.79%
Samsung Galaxy S21
5,490
Is a cross-platform benchmark designed to test the graphical performance of devices under high GPU load.
3DMark Wild Life Unlimited benchmark
iPhone XS
6,048 +5%
Samsung Galaxy S21
5,760
Is a cross-platform graphical benchmark that tests a device's performance while eliminating the impact of screen resolution for more objective platform comparisons.
3DMark Wild Life Extreme benchmark
iPhone XS
1,446
Samsung Galaxy S21
1,800 +24.48%
Is a cross-platform graphical benchmark that tests a device's performance under higher workloads with more detailed visuals, designed for powerful GPUs.
Geekbench 6 · Multi-Core
iPhone XS
2,571
Samsung Galaxy S21
3,339 +29.87%
Measures the aggregate performance of all processor cores in a device, simulating tasks optimized for multi-threaded processing.
Geekbench 6 · Single-Core
iPhone XS
1,270
Samsung Galaxy S21
1,334 +5.04%
Measures the performance of a single processor core by assessing how efficiently the device handles single-threaded processing-based tasks.
Geekbench 5 · Multi-Core
iPhone XS
2,476
Samsung Galaxy S21
3,715 +50.04%
Measures the aggregate performance of all processor cores in a device, simulating tasks optimized for multi-threaded processing in Geekbench 5.
Geekbench 5 · Single-Core
iPhone XS
1,108 +1.37%
Samsung Galaxy S21
1,093
Measures the performance of a single processor core in a device, evaluating its efficiency in handling single-threaded tasks in Geekbench 5.
Battery Performance
iPhone XS
Samsung Galaxy S21
Battery Life
Charging timeComparison videos
40,000+ views
Samsung Galaxy S21 Vs iPhone XS! (Comparison) (Review)
200+ views
Samsung Galaxy S21 Vs iPhone XS Speed Comparison
Technical Specifications
Show differences
Show differences
Specs
iPhone XS
Samsung Galaxy S21
Design
Weight
177 g (6.24 ounces)
171 g (6.03 ounces)
Thickness
7.7 mm (0.3 inches)
7.9 mm (0.31 inches)
Width
70.9 mm (2.79 inches)
71.2 mm (2.8 inches)
Height
143.6 mm (5.65 inches)
151.7 mm (5.97 inches)
Is weather-sealed (splashproof)
✔
✔
Ingress Protection (IP) rating
IP68
IP68
Waterproof depth rating
2 m
1.5 m
Volume
78.4 cm³
85.33 cm³
Is dustproof and water-resistant
✔
✔
Color options
Space Gray, Silver, Gold
Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink
Lowest potential operating temperature
0 °C
-
Maximum operating temperature
35 °C
-
French Repairability Index
4.7
1
Display
Screen size
5.8"
6.2"
Display type
OLED/AMOLED
OLED/AMOLED
Pixel density
458 ppi
421 ppi
Resolution
1125 x 2436 px
1080 x 2400 px
Refresh rate
60Hz
120Hz
Touch sampling rate
-
240Hz
Brightness (typical)
625 nits
1300 nits
Has branded damage-resistant glass
✔
✔
Gorilla Glass version
-
Gorilla Glass Victus
Supports HDR10
✔
✔
Supports HDR10+
-
✔
Always-On Display
-
✔
Supports Dolby Vision
✔
-
Contrast ratio
1000000:1
3000000:1
Has a touch screen
✔
✔
Performance
Internal storage
64GB, 256GB, 512GB
128GB, 256GB
RAM
4GB
8GB
Android version
-
Android 11
CPU speed
2 x 2.5 GHz & 4 x 1.6 GHz
1 x 2.9 GHz & 3 x 2.8 GHz & 4 x 2.2 GHz
Has integrated LTE
✔
✔
RAM speed
2133 MHz
3200 MHz
Semiconductor size
7 nm
5 nm
Supports 64-bit
✔
✔
DirectX version
-
DirectX 12
Has integrated graphics
✔
✔
OpenGL ES version
-
3.2
Uses big.LITTLE technology
✔
✔
CPU threads
6 threads
8 threads
Uses HMP
-
✔
Has TrustZone
✔
✔
Maximum memory bandwidth
34.1 GB/s
51.2 GB/s
OpenCL version
-
2
L2 cache
8 MB
-
DDR memory version
4
5
Maximum memory amount
-
16GB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)
-
9W
Release date
2018
2021
Has NX bit
✔
✔
L1 cache
128 KB
-
Number of transistors
6900 million
-
GPU turbo
-
854 MHz
Memory channels
-
4
Turbo clock speed
2.49GHz
-
Cameras
Main camera
12 MP & 12 MP
64 MP & 12 MP & 12 MP
Front camera
7MP
10MP
Has built-in optical image stabilization
✔
✔
Video recording (main camera)
2160 x 60 fps
4320 x 24 fps
Wide aperture (main camera)
f/2.4 & f/1.8
f/1.8 & f/2 & f/2.2
Has a dual-tone LED flash
✔
✔
Has a BSI sensor
✔
✔
Has continuous autofocus when recording movies
✔
✔
Has phase-detection autofocus for photos
✔
✔
Supports slow-motion video recording
✔
✔
Has a built-in HDR mode
✔
✔
Has a flash
✔
✔
Has manual exposure
✔
✔
Has a dual-lens (or multi-lens) main camera
✔
✔
Optical zoom
2x
1.1x
Number of flash LEDs
2
2
Has a CMOS sensor
✔
✔
Has manual ISO
✔
✔
Has a serial shot mode
✔
✔
Has manual focus
✔
✔
Has a front camera
✔
✔
Has manual white balance
✔
✔
Shoots raw
-
✔
Has touch autofocus
✔
✔
Has manual shutter speed
-
✔
Can create panoramas in-camera
✔
✔
Wide aperture (front camera)
f/2.2
f/2.2
Has timelapse function
✔
✔
Pixel size (main camera)
1.4 µm & 1 µm
1.8 µm & 0.8 µm & 1.4 µm
Operating system
Has location privacy options
-
✔
Has camera/microphone privacy options
-
✔
Has theme customization
-
✔
Has dark mode
-
✔
Has Wi-Fi password sharing
✔
✔
Has battery health check
✔
-
Has focus modes
-
✔
Can offload apps
✔
-
Has customizable notifications
✔
✔
Has scrolling screenshots
✔
-
Supports split screen
-
✔
Supports instant markup
✔
✔
Supports PiP and PaP
-
✔
Can be used as a PC
-
✔
Has sharing intents
✔
✔
Has a child lock
✔
✔
Is free and open source
-
✔
Tracks the current position of a mobile device
✔
✔
Is a multi-user system
-
✔
Can block app tracking
✔
-
Blocks cross-site tracking
✔
-
Gets direct OS updates
✔
-
Has AirPlay
✔
-
Supports widgets
-
✔
Has Quick Start
✔
-
More languages supported
56
125
Has offline voice recognition
-
✔
The browser has word wrap
✔
✔
Has voice commands
✔
✔
Battery
Battery power
2658 mAh
4000 mAh
Has wireless charging
✔
✔
Supports fast charging
✔
✔
Charging speed
-
25W
Wireless charging speed
-
15W
Has reverse wireless charging
-
✔
Reverse wireless charging speed
-
4.5W
Has a battery level indicator
✔
✔
Has a rechargeable battery
✔
✔
Audio
Has stereo speakers
✔
✔
Number of microphones
3
2
Features
Has 5G support
-
✔
Wi-Fi version
Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)
Download speed
1024 MBits/s
3000 MBits/s
Upload speed
150 MBits/s
422 MBits/s
Has USB Type-C
-
✔
USB version
2
3.2
Has NFC
✔
✔
SIM cards
1 SIM, 1 eSIM
1 SIM, 1 eSIM
Has a fingerprint scanner
-
✔
Bluetooth version
5
5.1
Has a gyroscope
✔
✔
Has GPS
✔
✔
Has a compass
✔
✔
Supports Wi-Fi
✔
✔
Has a cellular module
✔
✔
Has a barometer
✔
✔
Supports Galileo
✔
✔
Has an infrared sensor
✔
-
Has an accelerometer
✔
✔
Supports ant+
-
✔
Uses 3D facial recognition
✔
-
Disclaimer! NFC, GSM network support, and some other specs can be different depending on the country.
Vote for Your option
iPhone XS
Vote for Your option
Samsung Galaxy S21
Popular iPhone XS comparisons
iPhone XS vs iPhone XR
See comparison
iPhone XS vs iPhone 11
See comparison
iPhone XS vs iPhone XS Max
See comparison
iPhone XS vs iPhone X
See comparisonPopular Samsung Galaxy S21 comparisons
Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Samsung Galaxy S22
See comparison
Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
See comparison
Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Samsung Galaxy S23
See comparison
Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Samsung Galaxy S24
See comparison
