The iPhone 13 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Camera Test
The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max are Apple’s biggest camera upgrade since the first iPhone, and the two phones are pitted against each other in a camera test. The test consists of 12 categories, and the results will determine the 2021 camera champion.
Software Modes
Apple has made significant strides in the software modes department with the iPhone 13 Pro, introducing photographic styles, a macro mode and cinematic video. Although Samsung has more features, such as 8K video and the ability to shoot from multiple cameras at the same time, the iPhone 13 Pro is a formidable competitor in terms of software modes.
Zoom
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is equipped with a 3x optical zoom camera, an improvement from the 2.5x of last year’s models. However, Samsung’s Galaxy S21 Ultra has both a 3x and a 10x optical zoom camera, giving it an advantage in terms of zoom capabilities. When it comes to zooming in to distant objects, the S21 Ultra is the clear winner.
Image Quality
When it comes to image quality, both phones are impressive. The iPhone 13 Pro Max has a 12MP main camera and a 12MP ultra-wide camera, while the S21 Ultra has a 108MP main camera and a 12MP ultra-wide camera. Both phones have excellent low-light performance, and the S21 Ultra has a dedicated night mode.
Video Quality
The iPhone 13 Pro Max can record 4K video at 60fps, while the S21 Ultra can record 8K video at 24fps. Both phones have excellent stabilization, and the S21 Ultra has a dedicated pro video mode.
IPhone 13 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Camera Test
The iPhone 13 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra are two of the most popular smartphones on the market today. Both phones boast impressive camera capabilities, making them ideal for capturing stunning photos and videos. In this camera test, we’ll compare the two phones to see which one comes out on top.
Zoom
When it comes to zoom, the iPhone 13 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra are both capable of capturing stunning shots. The iPhone 13 Pro Max has a 3x optical zoom lens, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has a 10x optical zoom lens. However, when it comes to zoom ranges of five to seven times, the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s 3x zoom camera can get you a little closer to subjects than the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra’s 3x zoom. Additionally, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the only phone that can seamlessly switch to its zoom camera without lagging. This gives it a slight edge over the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra in this category.
Macro
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has traditionally been the leader in macro photography, with its ultra-wide camera able to focus up to three centimeters away from the subject. However, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has now caught up, with its ability to focus up to two centimeters away from the subject. This means that users of the iPhone 13 Pro Max can take small objects and blow them up to large proportions.
Low Light Performance
The iPhone 13 Pro’s new camera sensors boast up to 2.2 times better low light performance than the previous generation. To test this, I took a couple of quick photos in ultra low light and was surprised to see that Samsung was pulling in a whole extra layer of detail. Additionally, Samsung’s brightening power seemed to be higher than that of the iPhone 13 Pro.
Upon further inspection, I realized that while Samsung defaults to capturing for between three and nine seconds, the iPhone 13 Pro is set to only ever capture for between one and three seconds. Apple likely does this to reduce the chances of blurring the photo due to hand movement, but it also means that the full night mode capabilities of the iPhone 13 Pro are not being utilized.
Dynamic Range
The dynamic range of the iPhone 13 Pro is impressive, with the camera being able to capture a wide range of tones and colors in a single shot. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, however, has the edge in this regard, with its camera being able to capture even more detail and color.
Zoom
The iPhone 13 Pro offers a 2.5x optical zoom, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra offers a 3x optical zoom. Both cameras also offer digital zoom, with the iPhone 13 Pro offering up to 10x digital zoom and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra offering up to 30x digital zoom.
In terms of image quality, the iPhone 13 Pro offers better quality images at 2.5x zoom, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra offers better quality images at 3x zoom. However, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra’s digital zoom offers more detail than the iPhone 13 Pro’s digital zoom.
Portrait Mode
The iPhone 13 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra both offer portrait mode, which allows users to take photos with a blurred background. Both cameras offer a good level of detail and color accuracy when using portrait mode, but the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has the edge in terms of depth of field.
IPhone 13 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Camera Test
The iPhone 13 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra are two of the most advanced smartphones on the market. Both phones have impressive camera capabilities, but which one is better? To answer this question, a camera test was conducted to compare the two devices.
The Test
The test was conducted in a pitch-black room. Both phones were set to capture for 10 seconds. The results showed that the iPhone 13 Pro Max was able to produce better results than the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. It was able to render natural, realistic colors even in the dark, while the Samsung was prone to being influenced by the warmer lights usually found in indoor scenarios. The iPhone was also more detailed and had a stronger ultra-wide lens.
The Zoom Camera
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra’s 10x zoom camera was better than the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s 3x zoom camera. However, the Samsung’s 3x zoom camera did not perform well in the dark. The iPhone’s zoom was better until the 10x zoom.
Portrait Mode
Apple has always been known for its impressive portrait mode, and the iPhone 13 Pro Max is no exception. However, when the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra was first tested in January, its portrait mode was found to be disappointing. Fortunately, Samsung has made a few key updates to the feature, and it has since become one of the better phones for portrait mode. The software on the Samsung feels very good, and the three-time zoom camera is slightly better than the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s 3x zoom camera. This extra organic quality allows the iPhone to get away with less artificial sharpness, making it the better choice for portrait photography.
Notch
One of the main visual changes from the iPhone 12 Pro to the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the smaller notch on the front. This has not affected the selfie camera performance, so both phones are on an even playing field when it comes to video. Both phones have strong stabilization, copious levels of detail, and a similar ability to cope with harsh backlighting. Samsung’s camera is slightly more flattering, making it the better choice for those who prioritize looking good in their photos.
Cinematic Video
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is capable of shooting cinematic video on its front camera, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is capable of shooting portrait video. Apple’s camera is slightly more realistic, but both features require some work.
Audio Test
The audio test is a crucial part of the camera comparison between the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Both phones have excellent audio quality, but the Samsung’s audio is slightly better. It has a higher dynamic range and better noise cancellation, making it the better choice for audio recording.
IPhone 13 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra: Camera Test
The battle between the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has been a long-standing one, and now it’s time to see which one has the better camera. On paper, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has the clear advantage with its 40 megapixel resolution and larger sensor, but how does it fare when put to the test?
Microphones
When it comes to microphones, neither the iPhone 13 Pro Max nor the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has a clear advantage. Both phones have good quality microphones, but neither is significantly better than the other.
Selfies
On paper, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra should have the clear advantage when it comes to selfies, with its 40 megapixel resolution and larger sensor. However, in practice, the difference between the two phones isn’t that great. The Samsung’s larger sensor does give it a slight edge in terms of background blur, but for most shots the difference is negligible. The iPhone 13 Pro Max does have the advantage of a wider lens, giving it more room for group selfies.
Portrait Mode
When it comes to portrait mode, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has the clear advantage. Its selfies are more accurate with sharper edges, which is a testament to the resources Samsung has put into its portrait mode. The iPhone 13 Pro Max’s inferior hardware on the lens is a major factor in its poorer performance in this regard.
Low Light Performance
In low light scenarios, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has the edge over the iPhone 13 Pro Max. The iPhone’s camera can be too harsh in these conditions, whereas the Samsung’s camera is able to capture more natural-looking shots.
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the clear winner when it comes to camera performance. Its larger sensor and superior hardware give it the edge over the iPhone 13 Pro Max in most scenarios.
Daytime Photos
Daytime photos are a bit of a toss up between the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Even when comparing straight up landscape shots, preferences can change from photo to photo. The iPhone 13 Pro Max offers a slightly more natural look, with a more accurate color representation. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, on the other hand, offers a more vibrant and saturated look. The iPhone 13 Pro Max also has a slight edge when it comes to dynamic range, with its ability to capture more details in the shadows and highlights.
Selfie Camera
When it comes to the selfie camera, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has a slight disadvantage due to its slightly inferior hardware. As a result, it has to rely more on artificial sharpening, which can draw out every single imperfection on the skin. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, on the other hand, offers a more natural look with better detail and less skin smoothing.
Slow Motion
Slow motion video has been largely neglected in recent years, with little evolution in the feature. Both the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra can shoot 8x slow motion video continuously, with comparable quality. However, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has the edge when it comes to super slow motion, with the ability to shoot short bursts of 32x slow motion footage.
Night Mode
When it comes to night mode, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has a clear advantage. It offers a much better low light performance, with better details and less noise. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra does have a night mode, but it’s not as good as the one on the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Daytime Shots
When it comes to daytime shots, the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra are both highly capable cameras. The iPhone 13 Pro Max produces images with a high level of detail and vibrant colors. Its images are also noise-free, even when zooming in. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra produces images with slightly cooler tones and more vibrant colors. Its dynamic range is also better able to control bright areas, particularly in challenging lighting conditions.
Low-Light Performance
In low-light conditions, the iPhone 13 Pro Max produces images with a lower contrast and more realistic colors. However, some may find these images to be a bit too clinical and lifeless. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, on the other hand, has an option to choose your photographic style. This allows you to adjust the tone and tweak the color temperature to create a more vibrant and lively image.
Portrait Mode
When it comes to portrait mode, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has an advantage over the iPhone 13 Pro Max. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is able to recognize when a person is in the frame and will brighten their face accordingly. This can produce a more flattering image than the iPhone 13 Pro Max, which tends to treat people like landscapes.
Indoor Lighting
When it comes to indoor lighting scenarios, the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra are fairly evenly matched. The iPhone is slightly more consistent at keeping its focus and minimizing blur from moving animals and people, resulting in a draw in terms of general photography.
Video
In the video category, however, the iPhone 13 Pro Max steamrolls the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. iPhone video is brighter, more crisp, far less prone to noise, and more tonally balanced. This is likely due to Apple’s optimization when they design their chip to power the phone, which is built around being able to capture videos in a certain way.
Ultrawide Video and Zoomed Video
The same applies to ultrawide video and even zoomed video up to 10 times, after which the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra takes the lead. Samsung’s footage also tends to degrade faster when the lighting falls, making it difficult to record in dimly lit rooms. The only caveat for the iPhone 13 Pro Max is that it still has annoying little lens flares when pointed directly at bright sources.
Stabilization
When it comes to stabilization, the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra are usually identical. In 98% of cases, there is no difference between the two.
Camera Comparison
When it comes to comparing the camera capabilities of the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, there are some distinct differences. The iPhone 13 Pro Max is renowned for its reliable performance and excellent nighttime shots, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra offers more expressive images and a range of tools to achieve them.
Image Quality
In terms of image quality, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the clear winner. It produces clear, crisp images with accurate colors and excellent dynamic range. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra produces images that are slightly less sharp, but with more vibrant colors and greater dynamic range.
Video Quality
When it comes to video quality, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is again the clear winner. It produces smooth, high-resolution videos with excellent stabilization. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has a Super Steady mode that can improve stabilization, but it caps the resolution at 1080p.
Low Light Performance
In low light conditions, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the superior device. It produces clear, noise-free images with excellent detail and accurate colors. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra produces images that are slightly noisier, but with more vibrant colors.
Zoom
When it comes to zoom, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the better device. It offers up to 100x zoom, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max offers only 10x zoom.
IPhone 13 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra CAMERA TEST
The camera capabilities of the iPhone 13 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra have been the subject of much debate. Both phones boast impressive specs and features, but which one comes out on top in a camera test? To answer this question, we must first take a look at the specs of each device.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max features a triple-lens rear camera system, with a 12MP wide-angle lens, a 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 12MP telephoto lens. It also has a 12MP TrueDepth front-facing camera. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, on the other hand, has a quad-lens rear camera system, with a 108MP wide-angle lens, a 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens, a 10MP telephoto lens, and a 10MP periscope lens. It also has a 40MP front-facing camera.
Image Quality
When it comes to image quality, the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra both produce excellent results. The iPhone 13 Pro Max produces sharp, vibrant images with good dynamic range and accurate colors. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, however, takes things to the next level with its 108MP sensor. The images produced by the S21 Ultra are incredibly detailed and have excellent dynamic range and color accuracy.
Video Quality
The iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra both have excellent video capabilities. The iPhone 13 Pro Max can record 4K video at up to 60fps, and it also has a range of advanced video editing features. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra can record 8K video at up to 30fps, and it also has a range of advanced video editing features.
Low Light Performance
When it comes to low light performance, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has the edge over the iPhone 13 Pro Max. The S21 Ultra has a dedicated Night Mode that can capture stunning images in low light conditions. The iPhone 13 Pro Max does not have a dedicated Night Mode, but it does have a range of features that can help improve low light performance.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra are both excellent phones with impressive camera capabilities. The S21 Ultra has an advantage in terms of zoom capabilities and video quality, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max has an advantage in terms of software modes and image quality. Ultimately, the choice between the two phones will depend on the user’s needs and preferences.
Both the iPhone 13 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra are capable of capturing stunning photos and videos. When it comes to zoom, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has a slight edge due to its ability to switch to its zoom camera without lagging. However, when it comes to macro photography, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is still the leader, with its ultra-wide camera able to focus up to three centimeters away from the subject.
Overall, the iPhone 13 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra both offer excellent camera performance. The iPhone 13 Pro offers better low light performance and a wider dynamic range, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra offers better zoom capabilities and portrait mode performance. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference as to which camera is better.
The camera test showed that the iPhone 13 Pro Max was able to produce better results than the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. It was able to render natural, realistic colors even in the dark, while the Samsung was prone to being influenced by the warmer lights usually found in indoor scenarios. The iPhone was also more detailed and had a stronger ultra-wide lens. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra’s 10x zoom camera was better than the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s 3x zoom camera. However, the Samsung’s 3x zoom camera did not perform well in the dark. The iPhone’s zoom was better until the 10x zoom.
Overall, it’s difficult to pick a clear winner between the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra when it comes to camera performance. Both phones offer excellent performance in different areas, and it ultimately comes down to personal preference. The iPhone 13 Pro Max has the edge when it comes to night mode and dynamic range, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra offers better selfie performance and super slow motion.
Overall, both the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra are highly capable cameras. The iPhone 13 Pro Max produces images with a high level of detail and vibrant colors, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra produces images with slightly cooler tones and more vibrant colors. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra also has an advantage in portrait mode, as it is able to recognize when a person is in the frame and will brighten their face accordingly. Ultimately, it will come down to personal preference as to which camera is better suited for your needs.
Overall, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the clear winner when it comes to video, making it the ideal choice for those who take more video than photos on their phone.
Overall, the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra are both excellent devices with great camera capabilities. The iPhone 13 Pro Max offers reliable performance and excellent nighttime shots, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra offers more expressive images and a range of tools to achieve them. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra also offers superior zoom capabilities, but the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the clear winner in terms of image and video quality.
Both the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra are excellent phones with impressive camera capabilities. The S21 Ultra has the edge in terms of image and video quality, as well as low light performance. However, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is still a great choice for those who want a powerful camera in a smaller package.
