Need help deciding between two phones

[Server_42]

Hi,

 

I thinking about upgrading my phone which is an iPhone 8 Plus and I am between the new iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Samsung S21 Ultra 5G. I am used to iPhones but not opposed to switching from IOS. I love the design of the S21 Ultra 5G. I am interested in taking photos and videos with my new phone that look close to how it looks in person. I really don't play games on my phone other than 2048 and Pokémon GO every so often. However, I do Geocache. I am planning on using my next phone for at least the next 5 years. I'm really torn between the two and what to hear other people's opinions on them.

 

Things I'm looking for:

- 5 Years + of use

- Good camera for photos and videos (close to how it looks in person)

- Long Battery Life

 

Other Devices/Accessories

     Apple:

     - Apple Watch

     - Airpods Pro

     Samsung:

     -None

 

 

Ask for clarification if needed. I may update this post if needed. Thank you, in advance for helping me make my decision.

 

Edit: Added other devices and accessories that I use for both companies.

[BondiBlue]

I own the S21 Ultra, and it's a great phone. It would be fine for you, but Apple would likely be much better in the OS update department over the course of several years. The S21 Ultra is already nearly a year old, and unless something has massively changed Samsung doesn't usually offer too many OS updates for their devices. 

 

However, a lack of an OS update doesn't mean the phone won't last 5 years. Older versions of Android tend to do pretty well when it comes to app support, so I don't see running an older version as much of an issue at all. 

 

I haven't personally compared the camera in the S21 Ultra to the iPhone 13 (Pro, Pro Max or otherwise), but IMO it's a great camera. I've been very pleased with it, even more so than my previous Galaxy S9s. Hopefully someone who has experience with both cameras can give their input. 

 

Basically I don't think you'd be making a bad decision either way. They're both excellent phones, and both should last for many years. 

[D13H4RD]

If it were my money, I would get the iPhone. Because you'd be using it for 5 years, having the latest software version for at least that long is going to be a major boon.

 

The Galaxy S21 Ultra is a fantastic phone and even though it will "only" be supported for at least

 3 years (OS upgrades) to 4 years (for security patches), beyond that point, it should still be fantastic, albeit losing a bit of its shine.

 

However, taking into account the other 2 requirements, namely a good video camera and long battery life, the Pro Max still gets my vote. It's still the best phone camera out there when it comes to video and it's a legitimate battery champion, besting even the already excellent S21 Ultra in endurance.

[Commodus]

19 hours ago, Server_42 said:

Hi,

 

I thinking about upgrading my phone which is an iPhone 8 Plus and I am between the new iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Samsung S21 Ultra 5G. I am used to iPhones but not opposed to switching from IOS. I love the design of the S21 Ultra 5G. I am interested in taking photos and videos with my new phone that look close to how it looks in person. I really don't play games on my phone other than 2048 and Pokémon GO every so often. However, I do Geocache. I am planning on using my next phone for at least the next 5 years. I'm really torn between the two and what to hear other people's opinions on them.

 

Things I'm looking for:

- 5 Years + of use

- Good camera for photos and videos (close to how it looks in person)

- Long Battery Life

 

Ask for clarification if needed. I may update this post if needed. Thank you, in advance for helping me make my decision.

I'd lean to the iPhone 13 Pro Max in your situation.

 

It'd represent a more seamless upgrade, of course, but if you expect to use the phone for five years with OS updates throughout, the iPhone will offer the better experience. Samsung is better about OS updates these days, but you're still going to get a max of four years of security updates, and fewer system updates.

 

Both phones are great for photography. I'd say Apple does better with colour reproduction, consistency between cameras and portraits, while Samsung obviously has advantages in sheer resolution and zoom. However, Apple still thumps Samsung when it comes to video. Better colour and HDR, better consistency (including transitions between cameras), better stabilization, better frame rates and resolutions across cameras... you get the idea.

 

Battery life is good for both; the 13 Pro Max might have an edge, but I wouldn't use this as the decisive factor.

[Server_42]

Thank you all for helping me.

[CptnReflex]

I think you should consider the pixel 6;

 

They promise 5 years of software support