Pixel 6, Samsung S21 & iPhone 13: Which one has the Best Signal Reception
When looking at today’s smartphone market, there are a plethora of criteria to look into when buying a new phone – the quality of the cameras, CPU, screen, design, and so on. Smartphones have evolved so much that they are more powerful than many computers today, and hence people oftentimes forget the most important aspect of them all – phone functions such as phone calls and messaging.
Of course, planet Earth is pretty much covered with good signal reception, and these new smartphones have evolved so much that we don’t even notice any problems. But there are people whose jobs depend on good signal reception and will therefore look for the smartphone with the best signal reception.
Bearing that in mind, let’s take a look at the top three smartphones today – Pixel 6 from Google, Galaxy S21 from Samsung, and iPhone 13 from Apple.
Pixel 6 signal reception
Google has managed to fix many signal reception errors that the previous Pixel models had. This was to be expected as every new series is better than the previous one.
First of all, the Pixel 6 comes with 5G connectivity and that is more than you have to know about the network speed of this device. Of course, in order to use the 5G network, you must be in an area that supports the 5G network. In other words – you have to be close to a 5G antenna. Regardless of that, 5G connectivity is possible and that's a big plus.
On the other hand, standard Pixel 6 models have the Sub6GHz 5G data support built-in and not the mmWave, which is quite faster. The mmWave is still in development so those who have this option are quite fortunate to live there. But when this support spreads around, Pixel 6 users will miss out on incredibly fast 5G connectivity unless they install a mmWave antenna into their phone, which does cost extra, but it is an option nevertheless.
When it comes to standard signal reception, the Pixel 6 is fantastic. As stated above, it seems that some problems with signal loss have been eradicated and there weren't many complaints so far. Only those who depend on LTE connection will see a significant fall in signal quality, but that's not so much on the phone itself as on the mobile carriers. Yes, newer phones tend to have lower signal quality for slower networks but better signal quality for 4G and 5G, which is a standard today. Don't blame your Pixel 6 for this, it's the standard.
Verdict: The Pixel 6 has seen a significant improvement in network quality when compared to its predecessor, and as an Android with 5G connectivity that has little problems, it is one of the best phones to buy in regards to signal reception (if upgraded with various accessories, such as smart protection, it could be arguably one of the best overall). Those who manage to get Pixel 6 with mmWave 5G are golden.
Samsung S21 signal reception
It is worth noting that the S21 model has two versions – S21 and S21 5G (we are not talking about the whole S21 series with S21 + and S21 Ultra), so we will talk about both S21 and S21 5G a bit here.
Naturally, the 5G version will be much more appealing due to the 5G network possibility. Those who have the regular S21 version will have to be satisfied with the 4G network at best, which is still quite good, but for the future not so much as 5G is slowly spreading around the world.
When it comes to signal reception, both S21 models top numerous lists. According to SmartphonesReveales, Samsung S21 has the best score in signal strength based on antenna quality. The S21 smartphone tops the list with a score of 9/10, which is much higher than the OnePlus, Motorola, and iPhone 12 that have 7/10.
Samsung has been known to have a great signal strength overall, and that quality has been improving with each new model. The antenna is so good that it can have signal reception almost anywhere.
But what may be a problem for some Samsung users, especially those who have the Exynos chipset (Exynos chipsets are used all around the world except in the US and China), is that signal reception can be lost for no apparent reason. There are many ways of fixing these problems which seem to be Samsung software problems, and the solutions are usually to enable the airplane mode for a while then turn it off, reset the network settings, reboot the phone, check for updates, or simply contact the carrier and see whether the problem is mutual.
Verdict: The S21 model has the best overall score on many tests for the best signal reception and rightly so. Those who have the S21 5G model will enjoy even greater network speed and can brag about having the best phone when it comes to signal strength. On the other hand, regular S21 models don't support 5G and both phones might need reboots and other methods to fix the signal if it drops for no reason.
iPhone 13 signal reception
Apple’s iPhone smartphones have been around for ages and with each new release, they have been moving the benchmark of quality. The company is known for its creativity and innovation but when it comes to signal reception, things are not so bright after all.
Overall, the newest iPhones, including the iPhone 13, don’t seem to have great upgrades from their predecessors in the signal reception field. Why is this, we have no idea. The issue might be an outdated antenna that has been used for ages.
What’s more, the US models of iPhones have the mmWave 5G connectivity which is great, but that can't be said to the models sold outside of the US. Of course, opening up iPhones and making upgrades is completely impossible.
On the other hand, Apple did seem to fix some connectivity loss problems that have been present since iPhone 4 models (similar to those that Samsung S21 has, as described above).
Verdict: While there is a 5G connectivity (with mmWave in the US only) and some problems around network loss have been fixed, the iPhone still has a narrower connectivity range, especially in rural parts of the world.
Final words
When all is summed up, we are giving a slighter edge to Samsung Galaxy 21 over Pixel 6, and the iPhone 13 comes third. Those who wish to have the best signal reception should go for Android phones in general, while people from the US can sleep tightly with their iPhones.
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