Blind Camera Comparison Video: iPhone 12 Pro Max Vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Samsung released its latest flagship mobile phone line in January, which includes the Galaxy S21 Ultra, a direct competitor to the iPhone 12 Pro Max that Apple unveiled in October. In our latest YouTube video, we pitted the two smartphones against each other to compare a blind camera.

In the video above and in the photos in this article, we’ve tagged images with an “A” or a “B,” with each letter corresponding to a different smartphone. All images come directly from the camera without editing.

The idea is to look at the images and decide which aesthetic you prefer before announcing which camera is which, so for the full experience, it’s worth watching our video, but we’ll also share the results at the end of this article .

We’ve compared several different camera modes, such as Portrait mode and Night mode, along with different lens options ranging from wide angle to telephoto. When considering photos, check for items such as color temperature differences, highlights, and blurred areas (too bright), subject sharpness in portrait and video photos, stabilization, and the tremor.

Both the iPhone 12 Pro Max and the Galaxy S21 Ultra have fantastic camera hardware and are capable of capturing fantastic images in most lighting conditions, so most of the time choosing a winner is limited to your personal preferences.

Since we don’t make a traditional comparison between these two smartphones, there are some features of the Galaxy S21 that are worth highlighting. Samsung used to limit its stylus, the S-Pen, to Note models, but this year, the S-Pen is compatible with the Galaxy S21 Ultra and is useful for taking notes, drawing, signing documents and more.

There’s also a wireless reverse charging feature for charging headphones or another smartphone and an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor on the screen, which is actually something we might see how Apple adopts in the future.

As for the camera, there are four lenses, including the ultra wide (12MP), wide (108MP with laser autofocus) and dual telephoto (both 10MP). The camera’s functionality is similar to that of the iPhone 12 Pro Max, for the most part, but Samsung has Space Zoom, which is a 100x digital + optical zoom option. Space Zoom was available last year, but has improved this year. The iPhone 12 Pro Max has no equivalent function and cannot zoom so far.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra also has a shorter minimum focus distance, allowing you to use it to take close-up macro photos, something iPhone 12 models can’t do.

Going back to the photo comparison test, if you’re wondering which photos are which ones, there’s an answer below the break.

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All “A” images come from the “iPhone 12 Pro Max”, while all “B” images come from the Galaxy S21 Ultra. If you’ve seen our previous comparison between the iPhone 12 Pro Max and the Galaxy Note 20, you may already know the results.

Apple’s algorithms for the sky are designed to increase color, tending towards a cool blue tone during the day that is very recognizable compared to the Galaxy S21 Ultra. The photos of the iPhone 12 Pro Max‌ are more vibrant, while the S21 Ultra has a flatter color profile. Neither is completely true to life, with the actual color somewhere in the middle.

The clarity and sharpness are similar for the two smartphones, and overall all the images are sharp and clear. Photos in portrait mode are more or less the same, but Apple iPhones have always had issues with certain items such as glasses.

There are noticeable differences in night mode. The S21 Ultra doesn’t work well with warm lighting in some situations, so some of these photos have a tone that tends to be too warm. The video is also similar (everything was captured in 4K at 30 fps), with no significant differences in quality or stabilization.

What photos do you prefer from the camera test? Were you surprised by the result? Let us know in the comments.