The age-old battle of the giants | iPhone or Samsung phones?

Feel like starting a brawl? Open up Twitter, punch in four simple words – iPhone vs. Samsung phones – and watch the fireworks. We’d grab the popcorn and enjoy it with you, but we’re usually too busy joining in. So who wins this epic battle and which brand should you choose for your next phone? Both are insanely popular in Singapore, with latest numbers showing iPhones take top spot in terms of sheer sales. But crowning a champion isn’t as simple as finding out who sells the most phones.

Whether you can’t decide which phone to buy or you just love starting arguments over this ultra divisive rivalry, let’s take a look at how Apple iPhones and Samsung phones measure up against one another.

FLAGSHIPS: IPHONE 12 VS SAMSUNG GALAXY S21

First, let’s compare the best of the best from Apple and Samsung. The new iPhone 12 Pro Max is currently Apple’s most premium phone, boasting a 6.7-inch display, three rear cameras and the powerful A14 Bionic chip. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is one of the best Android phones with a 6.8-inch display, four rear cameras and an Exynos 2100 chip. Both are insanely good phones and nearly impossible to separate, though we think the iPhone 12 series has a slight edge here thanks to the unmatched A14 chip and its amazing cameras.

DESIGN

If you’re anything like us, you love a phone that looks as good as it feels. iPhones have always had a distinct style: they may get a facelift with each new launch, but that iconic Apple flair never ceases to impress us. Samsung Galaxy phones tend to change more every year, which can make them more hit or miss when it comes to design. In 2021, there’s something about the S21 that really works for us, from the cool camera bump to the awesome colour selection. Galaxy wins this battle for us but will we feel the same next year? Only time will tell.

CAMERAS

Apple and Samsung seem to take turns wearing the crown for the best phone camera, but it feels closer than ever in 2021. The quad rear camera of the S21 Ultra is an absolute beast and offers up to 100x zoom, a feature we never thought possible. Still, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is an all-round performer with three lenses and a LiDAR scanner – we think it just edges out its rival in this department.

OPERATING SYSTEM

This is where much of the iPhone vs. Galaxy battle is raged. Given iPhones are locked to Apple iOS and Galaxy phones are loaded with Samsung’s version of Android, much of the choice comes down to personal preference. Android is famous for giving more freedom to users and many wouldn’t trade this level of control for anything. On the other hand, iOS is a joy to use and it’s easy to see why so many people are happy sticking with Apple’s way of doing things. Both app stores offer millions of apps that do anything and everything, so it’s impossible to say either OS is ahead of the other. If you own a few Apple products already, the iPhone is the clear winner. If not, the flexibility of Android phones might tempt you to Samsung.

VARIETY

There’s probably only one category that has an obvious winner, and that’s variety. Samsung has no less than five Galaxy lines, each with a range of models to suit various tastes and budgets. The sheer number of phones to choose from can be a lot to digest, but there’s no denying they have options for everyone, from cheap Android phones to premium flagships. Apple, meanwhile, has stuck to a single family of iPhones with three to four models in each major release. You could argue that’s more than enough to cater to everybody, but they still fall behind strictly by the numbers.

THE VERDICT

As much as we wanted to avoid sitting on the fence, splitting Apple and Samsung isn’t as easy as we hoped. Both brands are hell-bent on being the world’s best smartphone makers and we can’t fault their latest phones. Choosing your next phone will ultimately come down to personal preference: for us, the Apple iPhone wins by a hair in 2021. Next year? It could be an entirely different story. Only one thing’s for certain, and that’s how much you can save when you snag the latest phones on a Combo Plan with Circles.Life. No contract, more benefits, better value – just how it should be.