82 PCWorld MARCH 2021FEATURE SAMSUNG GALAXY S21 VS. iPHONE 12
In this shot of a flower, the S21 (left) blew out the colors and detail a bit while the iPhone 12 (center) and
Pixel 5 (right) handled the bright surrounding light well.faraway shots, the iPhone 12 is simply the
superior shooter.
My pick: iPhone 12.OS AND UPDATES
As always, you’re getting the latest OS with
each of these phones—One UI 3.1 based on
Android 11 with the S21, and iOS 14 with the
iPhone 12—but the future isn’t quite as clear.
Since the launch of the Galaxy S20, Samsung
has promised that all new phones will get
three generations of Android updates, so the
S21 is guaranteed to get Android 14 when it
arrives in 2023. Apple technically offers no
such guarantee, but iPhones are generally
supported for five years of upgrades. For
example, the iPhone 6s, which launched with
iOS 9 in 2016, got iOS 14 when it landed in
September 2020.You’re also guaranteed to get iOS
updates the day they arrive. In contrast, while
Android’s monthly security updates land
quickly, new versions often take months to
arrive on the latest phones.
My pick: iPhone 12.BOTTOM LINE
Samsung and Apple have been competitors
for as long as they’ve been making phones,
but it’s been a while since they’ve had phones
that were such close competitors. Both
phones are fantastic and either will bring
exceptional value compared to nearly every
other competitor. However, if the OS or a
specific color isn’t a factor, I’d go with the
iPhone 12, despite its somewhat stale design.
You won’t be unhappy with the S21, but
you’ll be a little happier with the iPhone 12.