SAMSUNG GALAXY S21 VS. iPHONE 12 THIS IS THE $800 PHONE TO BUY

THE FIGHT IS SURPRISINGLY CLOSE BUT THERE’S A CLEAR WINNER.

- MICHAEL SIMON

The year is still young and we are already seeing our first heavyweight smartphone battle of 2021. Samsung has released its lineup of Galaxy S21 phones (go.pcworld. com/gl21) a little earlier than usual this year, and it clearly has Apple’s newest phone in its sights. Samsung hasn’t reinvented the S21 so much as it’s retooled it to take on the iPhone 12 (go.pcworld.com/i12p), with a lower price point, sharper design, and some new camera tricks. I’ve had a chance to review both, and here’s how the two $800 phones stack up.

DESIGN

Samsung’s Galaxy S is always at the forefront of Android smartphone design, and the S21 continues that tradition. Samsung has crafted a truly unique design where the metal sides seamlessly blend into the camera array, as if it were snapped onto the back. The back is made of plastic rather than glass, but it still has a premium feel, even if it’s not quite as luxurious as the S20.

Of course, the iPhone is no slouch in the looks department. Apple introduced a new, flatter design with the iPhone 12 that has a retro charm reminiscent of the iPhone 4, and it feels great to hold. The square camera array is nearly identical to the iPhone 11’s and not nearly as unique as the S21’s.

The two phones are very similar in size. The S21 is slightly bigger and a bit heavier. However, Samsung has done a fantastic job of distributing the weight on the S21, so it doesn’t feel as heavy as it weighs in specs:

Galaxy S21: 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9mm, 171 grams

iPhone 12: 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4mm, 164 grams