Samsung and Apple had large virtual events last year, divided into two sections, during which they unveiled a slew of innovative and fascinating goods. In addition to Samsung’s new Galaxy Flip 3 and Fold 3, which introduced novel and highly anticipated phones, Apple introduced its gorgeous iPhone 13 Pro and Max, as well as the fastest-running laptop on the market. According to product reviews from several technology websites, who was the winner in 2021? Let’s have a look at this.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 and Flip3
They have a design that enables them to open up like a book in one case and another that opens up like a compact mirror in the other, dubbed the Fold. The two phones give customers a little tablet and a phone that can be folded down into a small gadget that can be carried in a pocket or purse. They feature strong water-resistance ratings of IPX8, as well as a protective coating on the screen that increases the screen’s durability and scratch resistance by 80 percent. The aluminum frame and hinge give ten percent more protection while lightweight and durable.
One criticism leveled about both of these phones is that their hinges are too stiff, making it impossible for them to be opened with only one hand. While the phone is water-resistant to a certain degree, it does not have an official dust protection grade. Thus users must exercise caution while using it, particularly when dust collects in the hinge gap. But thanks to its hinge, the phone can be opened and closed smoothly without breaking or grinding when opened or closed. An online tech reviewer said that the phone was not suitable for everyone and that the mobile price was the same as the price of a standard Samsung phone. However, after the novelty of a folding phone has worn off, the phone demonstrates that it may function as a regular phone.
Samsung Galaxy Watch4 and Watch4 Classic
Samsung’s 5-nanometer chip, which ran on Google’s OS operating system and was developed with Fitbit, was used to power these watches. The watches boast high-resolution displays, 16 gigabytes of storage, battery life of 40 hours, and the ability to charge wirelessly. The sensor on the gadget is used to monitor sleep and blood oxygen readings, which is done by the device. It is, without a doubt, a significant improvement over Samsung’s prior Active range. The Wired magazine assessed the watches and said that although it was not “exactly” an Apple watch replacement, it was “very, very near,” particularly in terms of access to applications accessible on Apple watches but not on Samsung watches. The gadgets were criticized for not being compatible with iOS smartphones, and even the ECG feature was restricted to Samsung phones. The battery life on smaller phones was seen to be disappointing, and the gadget was found to be deficient in wide app compatibility. Although the watches are visually appealing, Samsung’s inclusion of a mechanical bezel and stainless steel to these gadgets raises the price by an additional $100. The designs of the watches, on the other hand, have been compared to those of Tizen forebears.
Galaxy Buds 2
Along with active noise-cancellation and a superior sounding dual-driver array, the elegant form of these buds allows them to be 15 percent smaller and 20 percent lighter than the previous generation Buds Plus. Their battery life is the same as that of the AirPods, and they come with a Qi wireless charging case, much like the AirPods. Unfortunately, these are Samsung’s least priced wireless earbuds, and as a result, they do not have all of the capabilities included on other, more expensive versions, particularly the function that automatically pauses the music when an earbud is withdrawn from the ear. The Verge gave the device an 8.5 out of 10 solely because it deemed the ambient sound mode subpar, the water-resistance lacking, and the lack of an auto-pause feature while removing the earphones. On the other hand, the earbuds have been praised for their compact, discrete design, high-quality music, and wireless charging capabilities.
Samsung S21
While the business has concentrated its efforts on the S21 Ultra, this phone has a strong CPU, a significant camera upgrade over previous models, a longer battery life, wireless charging, and efficient charging choices. Compared to the S20 from 2020, the phone’s screen has a lesser spec. It features a full HD+ 6.2-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, which allows for smooth scrolling and great color and brightness results, but it is less vibrant. The S20 and the most current model, according to Techradar, are so similar that spending extra money for an upgrade isn’t a good deal of difference. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the year’s most expensive piece of technology, while the S21 is much less expensive.
The S21 Ultra offers improved cameras, specifications, and compatibility with the S Pen over the S21. The phone is equipped with laser cameras to resolve the auto-fix problem that occurred in the previous S20 Ultra model from 2020. Using the phone’s incredible camera can capture crisp images at 30x and 100x zoom settings. However, even though the phone is still pricey, its sleek and attractive design has won it the distinction of “Samsung’s most beautiful phone ever,” according to Tech Radar. According to the firm, a microSD card slot has been removed from the phone, and consumers will not get a charger for the phone in the box, which is due to an unspecified business reason.
iPhone 13 and 13 Mini
The new iPhone 13, which received the Editor’s Choice Award from CNET, has considerable advancements over the previous generation, including better cameras, a larger battery, more storage, and a brighter screen. Although the phones have been immersed in water 6 meters deep for 30 minutes, the ceramic covering on the devices has kept them safe from dust and water. While the phones are significantly heavier than previous models, this is solely due to the larger battery, which can last a whole day on a single charge on the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini models. In addition, it has been decided to move the cameras diagonally to provide a better and larger camera.
The iPhone 13 uses the same primary camera as the iPhone 12 Pro Max, which means the pixels are the same size on both devices. However, the front-facing camera has been praised as acceptable but not outstanding. Even while the phone’s cinematic mode provides stunning results, it cannot be utilized in low light and is not intended as a professional tool. The iPhone 13 is equipped with an A15 Bionic processor capable of running games, films, picture editing, FaceTime calls, and augmented reality applications.
iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max
The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro max offer much-anticipated features such as a display with a high refresh rate, which was previously unavailable. While both phones have the same camera, the main differences are their sizes, battery life, and prices. However, although the phones feature a sturdy frame, a ProMotion display, and a 3x optical telephoto lens, they are also hefty and do not have an on-off switch for macro photography. Additionally, the movie mode is more curious than a useful professional tool.
The notch on the new iPhone 12 series is 20 percent lower and has the same squared appearance as the previous iPhone 12 series. The photos shot with these phones were brighter and had quicker shutter speeds, and the new macro mode, which is automatically activated when the phone gets within a few millimeters of the subject, was also more effective than before. The GPU in the A15 Bionic processor has five cores instead of four, as is the case with the iPhone 13 and 13 mini, allowing for faster performance. According to Apple, the battery life on the iPhone 13 Pro is one day on a single charge, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max can last two days on a single charge.
iWatch Series 7
If you compare it to the Series 6, the iWatch boasts a much bigger screen with a QWERTY keyboard, new color choices, increased durability, and quicker charging speed. However, neither the battery life nor the sleep monitoring has improved. In addition to having a dust-resistant construction and aluminum housing, the Series 7 charges 33 percent quicker than the Series 6. The timer, alarm, and calculator buttons have been enlarged to make them easier to press, which is particularly important while entering your password. It also lets users alter the text size for better aesthetics, including adding more lines to the screen to show news, videos, or alerts.
However, typing on the watch needs a great deal of concentration, making it advisable to use your phone instead for longer words. With the addition of the Modular Duo face, which contains two large-format complications that show information, and the Contour face, which features numbers that flow over the sides of the face, Apple has increased the number of watch faces available in this series to six. In addition, the new series has improved brightness, particularly in the always-on mode, which now shines brighter even when the device is not in use. Even though the battery charges more quickly than the Series 6, the battery life has not increased over the previous series.
iPad Mini
Even though this iPad is tiny, it provides excellent ease of use because of the larger screen, the USB-C port, and a different design from the previous versions. Nonetheless, the iPad Mini does not enable multi user functionality, does not have a headphone connection, and does not seem to have been sufficiently adapted for usage in a smaller form factor. With the A15 Bionic chip installed, users will take advantage of 5G, but not the ultra-fast mmWave variant. Although The Verge noted that the screen quality was not as good as prior iPad Pro models, they could not find any evidence of a jelly effect when scrolling in Portrait mode during their testing. Furthermore, the screen brightness does not adapt adequately when used outside in direct sunlight. The Apple iPad Mini is compatible with the second-generation Apple Pencil, which can be magnetically attached to the side of the tablet and charged while in use. The volume controls have been relocated to a more convenient place, and the camera quality has been greatly enhanced. However, the battery life isn’t the finest, and full-time usage may need a charge session throughout the day.
A criticism raised by a reviewer was the lack of support for numerous iPad users, each with their own set of accounts. Users have reported that text and buttons have been chopped off while using the iPad Mini vertically, yet using the tablet horizontally causes the keyboard to stretch up the whole length of the screen. It seems that the operating system has not been made compatible with the iPad Mini. Because of the tiny screen, the iPad mini has been criticized for being impractical for multitasking and viewing movies compared to other iPads. However, the smaller screen makes the tablet more portable while still performing all of the functionalities of a regular iPad. In addition, since the Mini lacks a smart connection for keyboards, they will have to be linked over Bluetooth, necessitating an additional keyboard.
iPad 2021
Despite the outdated look and tiny speakers, the new iPad offers excellent performance, multi-year OS updates, greater storage, and a decent solid front-facing camera for the price of a new iPad. This ninth-generation iPad is the cheapest tablet available, costing less than half the price of comparable Android devices. According to the publication, it has been awarded the Editor’s Choice Award and is the most highly recommended of all of Apple’s products this year. It is possible to use the iPad with the first-generation Apple Pencil and the Logitech Crayon, but not with the second-generation Apple Pencil. True Tone, a feature introduced by Apple, allows users to alter their device’s brightness and color temperature. The speakers have a maximum volume of 84db, and the sound quality has been characterized as ‘tinny’ and ‘lacking any discernible bass’ by reviewers.
On the other hand, the iPad has a 3.5mm headphone connector and Bluetooth 4.2 for wireless audio connectivity. In addition, the device packaging contains a 20W power converter and a USB-C lightning connection for charging the gadget itself. Because of this, the iPad is only capable of supporting dual-band Wi-Fi (802.11ac), and it does not have Wi-Fi 6. With the purchase of an Apple Smart Keyboard, the device may be used as a laptop, complete with the same functions. However, this is the only iPad that presently supports the first-generation Apple Pencil, and the gap between its touch screen and display glass causes it to be a little less exact in terms of touch than the other iPads on the market.
Additionally, many people have said that this iPad is the finest laptop substitute. In terms of battery life, Apple claims that the iPad Pro’s battery would last up to 10 hours, yet a battery drain test done by PCMag found that the battery only lasted around 5 hours while using the device’s high-function capabilities. Compared to the previous model, the front camera has been greatly increased to a 12MP ultra-wide lens with a 122-degree field of view, ensuring higher video call quality during video calls. However, the rear-facing 8-megapixel camera sensor has not changed. In addition, other multitasking capabilities, like an app library, Universal Control, and Focus Mode, make work and organization much simpler on the iPad.
Apple MacBook Pro 14 and 16
According to The Verge, these are the quickest laptops they’ve ever seen, as well as the ones with the longest battery life. The transition to Apple silicon processors has been amazing for the devices, whose performance has increased dramatically as a result. However, reviewers believe it will be some time before the Max software ecosystem is fully integrated with the new processors since it is still catching up with the new chips. The Apple laptop has also been criticized for being prohibitively costly, with RAM prices shockingly out of line. The new MacBooks, both the 14-inch and 16-inch variants, are much larger, heavier, and thicker than the prior models in almost every way. Thunderbolt 4 connections, an HDMI port, and a complete SDXC slot have all reappeared in the most current devices to hit the market.
The MagSafe 3 connection charging is incredible; it is powerful enough to drag the laptop across a desk while also disconnecting instantly if the laptop is moved at an angle. The charging adapter also has a USB-C connector, and a fast-charging option for MacBook is available with a 100-watt USB-C adaptor and a USB-C cable that can handle that amount of power (sold separately). On the keyboard, Apple has abandoned the unfortunate Touch-Bar in favor of full-height function keys, which are a welcome improvement. The laptop displays brilliantly at 16:10 with an XDR, but the business neglected to include Face ID and a camera comparable to that of iPhone to android in the gadgets. Several reviewers have expressed concern about blooming difficulties on the screen, particularly when the screen is already dark. The speakers on the 14-inch MacBooks are decent, but the speakers on the 16-inch MacBooks are outstanding, and the battery life on the 16-inch MacBooks is exceptional, lasting 16 hours of continuous usage on a single charge. The battery life of the 14-inch Macbook was 10 and a half hours with constant usage on its battery.
Apple AirPods
The new AirPods scored 6/10 from The Wired for its superb spatial audio support, excellent integration with Siri, good microphones, quick connection with devices, powerful bass response, and clear highs, among other qualities. However, reviews noted that the audio device had audio leakage with no noise-cancellation, was difficult to put in ears, had stem-based controls that caused them to move while being worn in the ears, and was generally pricey. Apple has added an hour of battery life, spatial audio, and new drivers to these new earbuds, justifying the price rise by claiming that they are more expensive. Most crucially, the shape of the earphones makes it impossible to get a suitable seal, resulting in them falling out of the user’s ears the majority of the time. Despite their high price, the new AirPods boast excellent sound quality, with a strong focus on vocalists and low-end bass. Instead of tap sensors, Apple has replaced them with touch-capacitive force centers, making them simpler to operate.
HomePod Mini
The S5 CPU, 360-degree audio, and a U1 chip are all included in the inexpensive smart speaker, which is available in various colors. When compared to the Amazon Echo and Google Nest, the HomePod small offers far more functionality, particularly in terms of connection with Apple Music and Siri compatibility, among other things. However, the gadget should not be utilized for big gatherings, according to Macrumors’ reviewers, who believe it is too tiny for such occasions. Through computational audio, the audio device can keep a constant sound and replicate the tones of a bigger speaker. In addition, the HomePod listens for Siri orders using a three-microphone array, with a fourth microphone pointing inward to separate sound originating from a speaker, allowing it to identify speech sounds more accurately than previous models. Apple has received high praise from critics for its excellent sound quality and including a function that allows the gadget to be charged even when connected to a battery pack.
Sum up the Entire Debate
Even while Samsung may have stolen the show with the debut of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Fold 3, which quickly became the new must-have gadget, Apple has released a great selection of goods that have helped the company grow its sales in the third quarter. According to ZDNet, Samsung’s sales have decreased from 80 million per year to $69 million, while Apple’s sales have increased to $48.5 million from $40.5 million, according to the same publication. While the worldwide chip shortage may contribute to these figures, Samsung’s best smartphones have been priced on par with Apple’s iPhones in recent months.
Samsung seems to have concentrated only on its Flip 3 and Fold 3, failing to give higher quality and more functionality for its other recently announced products, particularly the Galaxy Buds 2 and Galaxy Note 8. Even though the S21 has an excellent camera and a gorgeous appearance, the features are underwhelming compared to other smartphones in this price range. Compared to other smartphones, the iPhone 13, Pro, and Pro Max offer much more features, including a robust, water-resistant IPX certification and an incredible camera with many settings for superb photography. The new MacBook has also won fans over with its smooth performance and excellent battery life, establishing Apple as the obvious victor in every category announced thus far.