Samsung Galaxy S21 Fe 5G Xda

Keep reading to understand how they differ and the advantages of each model in our detailed comparison.

The Samsung S21 FE: So nice, you’ll forget it’s the cheap Galaxy phone

Samsung still considers the S21 Fan Edition to be a flagship device, but it cuts the price by leaving out a couple of features most won’t miss, while maintaining all the most important ones. But Apple is starting to slip in terms of hardware innovation, and nothing makes it more clear than the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE. The S21 FE has the same frosted glass back, the same 120Hz refresh rate on its FHD+ AMOLED screen, the same RAM and storage options, the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 and both are 5G and Wi-Fi 6 capable. The S21 FE also lacks Samsung’s new under-screen ultrasonic fingerprint sensing tech, and instead uses an optical sensor.

Perhaps the biggest sacrifice S21 FE owners will have to live with is the lack of support for the ultra wide band mmWave 5G that carriers like Verizon market as the fastest possible connection. Luckily for most FE owners, UWB 5G is generally confined to high-traffic urban areas, like near sports stadiums and convention centers.

As an additional security feature, the fact that the S21 FE has both a fingerprint reader (hidden beneath the screen) and face unlocking means that when one won’t work the other is close at hand as a backup. I foresee many a comment telling me I’m late to the party, or that my iPhone has made me blind to the innovation happening elsewhere.

Regardless, I think small features like these are important considerations for both those coming from another ecosystem, like Apple’s, and those who are wondering if a budget-priced Samsung Galaxy device aimed at younger people is still useful for professionals. Despite taking multiple photos in different light settings, I couldn’t get an image enhanced in any way that truly made it better.

Pictures of my cats, some of my favorite photo subjects due to the level of detail capturable in their fur, weren’t all that improved by AI remastering compared to the original, and when zoomed in fully, my iPhone 13 Mini’s pictures were slightly sharper. There are a lot of things you can do with the S21 FE, from AI photo editing, color palette and app icon options and Samsung DeX, to security features that make it good for business users, and all of it is buried in a labyrinth of menus.

If customizability, openness and options are your priority (and you’re not afraid to do some digging to get to your destination) then this issue likely won’t be a deterrent. I’m currently testing a Galaxy S22 and S22 Ultra, and having played with all three I can say that, if you’re not considering buying the S22 Ultra for its Galaxy Note-like features, and you don’t need the latest in cutting-edge gizmos and features, the S21 FE is hands down a phone worth buying for work, or even as a fleet of company-issued devices. In addition, the S21 FE has security features like the Samsung Knox Secure Folder, which lets users store files in an encrypted space on the device, as well as encrypted file sharing features that include expiring share permissions, read only and screen capture blocking, resharing restrictions, and more.

This $699 phone has made me seriously wonder if Apple still has what it takes to attract users, both business and consumer, with its lower-priced devices.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

We took what you love most and built the ultimate fan-inspired phone so you can experience your everyday passions to the absolute fullest.

Samsung Galaxy S22 vs Galaxy S21 FE: Which one should you buy?

Samsung’s Galaxy S21 Fan Edition just passed its first birthday. It barely beat the Galaxy S22 series to market, but how has it held up over the course of 12 months?

Yes, the sizing is slightly different, but Samsung’s Contour Cut design makes its return once again. The camera bump blends into the corner on both models and matches the frame color. You’ll also find a trio of lenses on both series, covering the wide, ultrawide, and telephoto trifecta — but more on that later. Once you move away from the camera bump, you’ll notice what might be the most significant difference between the devices — the materials.

Taking the similarities a step further, all three devices offer flat AMOLED displays with 120Hz refresh rates and Full HD+ resolutions. The Galaxy S22 Plus comes out on top at 6.6 inches, and both of the newer handsets sport Gorilla Glass Victus Plus compared to the standard Victus of the Galaxy S21 FE.

All three panels offer Infinity-O designs, with a single, central-mounted selfie camera. This time, the Galaxy S21 FE is much more powerful with its impressive 32MP shooter compared to the 10MP sensor on both the S22 and S22 Plus. We loved the Phantom finishes on the Galaxy S21 series, and it’s nice to see a few options return. The new Galaxy S22 series comes in Phantom Black, Pink Gold, green, and white.

Over on the Galaxy S21 FE, your color options include white, Graphite, Lavender, and Olive, but the matte finish doesn’t catch light quite as well as the Galaxy S22 series. Complete your setup: Our guide to all the phone accessories you’ll ever need You can grab up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage on any of the three models, and there’s no microSD slot in sight.

Where the Fan Edition device offers a 12MP wide, 8MP telephoto, and 12MP ultrawide lens, the S22 duo packs far more megapixels.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Samsung Galaxy S22 offers the smallest battery of the three. However, it makes the curious decision to carry a smaller battery than the Galaxy S21.

While all three devices pack fingerprint readers in their displays, the Galaxy S21 FE once again lags behind a bit. It offers an optical fingerprint reader compared to the ultrasonic option on Samsung’s flagships. All three devices arrived with Android 12 and Samsung’s One UI skin onboard. The Galaxy S22 duo comes out slightly ahead with One UI 4.1 compared to 4, but the difference is minimal. As for colors, the Galaxy S21 FE offers a simple slate of matte selections. If you’re shopping from Amazon or a mobile carrier, your options include Phantom Black, white, pink gold, and green.

While the four base colors are single-shaded, Samsung also offers a few exclusive designs. You can grab Sky Blue, Violet, or Cream and bring back the two-toned look from the Galaxy S21 series.

Each version adds a gold finish to the camera housing. -12MP primary (ƒ1.8, Dual Pixel AF, OIS, 79-degree FoV)

Galaxy S21 FE In-display optical fingerprint sensor Galaxy S22 Gorilla Glass Victus Plus front and back Galaxy S22 Plus Gorilla Glass Victus Plus front and back Galaxy S21 FE Gorilla Glass Victus front Galaxy S21 FE White, Graphite, Olive, Lavender The newer devices carry updated processors, better build materials, and significantly improved rear cameras — even if the selfie cameras take a step back.

That said, there are a few features that you’ll have to drop $1,000 to match on a Galaxy S22 device. The Galaxy S21 FE tops the vanilla model in battery size and display size, even if the Galaxy S22 Plus offers the fastest charging and largest display of the three.

If we rule out the similar design languages and identical RAM and storage options, it makes your decision a lot easier. We’ve given you our thoughts, but now it’s up to you to vote in our poll above and choose your next device.

It makes a few improvements on the Galaxy S22, including the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and a slightly larger 3,900mAh battery.