Genau wie bei der vorherigen Fan-Edition gibt es auch beim S21 FE nur ein paar kleine, aber feine Unterschiede. So wächst das Display von 6,2 auf 6,4 Zoll an – und punktet im Test mit ähnlich exzellenten Ergebnissen.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Snapdragon) Camera review: The better S21
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE (“Fan Edition”) 5G (Snapdragon) offers many of the features, including the Snapdragon 888 chipset, of the standard S21 5G model, at a slightly more affordable price point. FE users can compose images on a large 6.4” Dynamic AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution and power is supplied by a 4,500 mAh battery.
Let’s have a closer look at how the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Snapdragon) performs in the DXOMARK Camera tests and compares to its rivals.
Primary: 12 MP sensor, f/1.8-aperture lens About DXOMARK Camera tests: For scoring and analysis in our smartphone camera reviews, DXOMARK engineers capture and evaluate over 3000 test images and more than 2.5 hours of video both in controlled lab environments and in natural indoor and outdoor scenes, using the camera’s default settings. This article is designed to highlight the most important results of our testing. For more information about the DXOMARK Camera test protocol, click here. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Snapdragon) 117 camera 119 Preview Preview 64 91 Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max Best: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max (91) 111 %s Outdoor Photos & videos shot in bright light conditions (≥1000 lux) BEST 160 Top score
%s Indoor Photos & videos shot in good lighting conditions (≥100lux) BEST 132 Top score %s Lowlight Photos & videos shot in low lighting conditions (<100 lux) BEST 149 Top score
%s Friends & Family Portrait and group photo & videos Please be aware that beyond this point, we have not modified the initial test results.
While data and products remain fully comparable, you might encounter mentions and references to the previous scores. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G 102 116.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G 78 136. Xiaomi Redmi 12C 45 14th 14 Position in Premium Ranking 1.
Nice color in indoor and outdoor images Pretty accurate subject isolation in bokeh mode
Accurate exposure, white balance and focus preview when zooming Good exposure in low contrast video Accurate white balance and color in bright light and indoor video Good video stabilization for static scenes Cons Limited dynamic range results in highlight clipping
Ghosting, hue shift and color fringing artifacts Frame shifts and ringing artifacts in video
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Snapdragon) camera does a respectable job, earning itself a DXOMARK Camera score of 120 that puts it into a mid-field position in the Premium segment.
The score is one point higher than the S21 5G (Snapdragon), making the FE model a great alternative to the standard model for photocentric users. This said, with the S21 5G having been available at retailers for several months now its street price has come down to a level that is very close to the FE. Overall, the camera performs on a very similar level to the other models in the S21 series from Samsung.
This indoor image offers accurate color rendering without any casts. However, slight color fringing and huw shifts are noticeable.
In this shot and the graph below, we can see that the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE’s texture performance has been improved over the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. Textures are slightly more refined in all light conditions. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Snapdragon), low light texture Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Snapdragon), crop: slight loss of texture Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Snapdragon), low light texture Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Snapdragon), stronger loss of texture, stronger noise Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Snapdragon), indoor texture Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Snapdragon), crop: slight loss of texture Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Snapdragon), indoor texture Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Snapdragon), stronger loss of texture, more highlight clipping
Texture comparison: the S21 FE Snapdragon is very slightly improved over the S21 5G across all light levels. The preview image in bokeh mode is very close to the final capture.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Snapdragon), preview image Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Snapdragon), crop: preview only slightly different to final capture
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Snapdragon), final capture in bokeh mode Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Snapdragon), crop: similar bokeh effect to preview image
In bokeh mode, images can sometimes be slightly underexposed, but the simulated bokeh effect provides mostly accurate depth estimation, with only a few visible depth artifacts. Bokeh mode: good depth estimation When using the tele zoom, exposure is generally accurate and stable, but dynamic range is limited, which can result in highlight clipping in high contrast scenes. Our testers also observed a loss of detail at most tele and ultra-wide zoom settings, as well as some autofocus failures.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Snapdragon), long range zoom Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Snapdragon), crop: good exposure but loss of detail In video mode, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Snapdragon) records footage with good exposure in low-contrast scenes. However, in more difficult high-contrast conditions video clips tend to be underexposed. Our testers also observed some color and white balance instabilities but overall white balance and color rendering are generally accurate when recording in bright light or under typical indoor conditions.
In low light, an orange cast is more intrusive than on the comparison phones. Noise is quite visible in all conditions, it’s particularly strong in low light.
We also noticed frame shift and ringing artifacts in all conditions. Video stabilization does a good job in static scenes and is on a similar level as the competitors. In this sample clip, we can see that at the start of the video the subject is slightly underexposed. Strong color and exposure instabilities are noticeable between 00:19 and 00:25 are visible.
We can also see frame shifts and an exposure adaptation issue towards the end of the clip when the model turns around.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE review
On paper, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is a fine mid-range phone, with adequate features like an attractive screen, powerful processor and capable cameras for those looking for a handy, less expensive mobile. However, the launch price is still far too high for what you get, not to mention issues like slow charging speed, laggy software and an unimpressive battery life.
This is purportedly the budget member of the Samsung Galaxy S21 range, offering features and specs from the main S21 family, but at a lower asking price because of a few select downgrades that average phone users likely won’t notice. You can pick up the Galaxy S21 – a now older phone with more impressive specs and features – for less (assuming you find a good, sub-$600 deal).
We also found the software to be rather laggy, and swiping between menus, closing and booting up apps, and simply unlocking the phone often took longer than it would have on another mobile. That’s a surprise given the phone’s processor, screen refresh rate and RAM, but this isn’t the first time we’ve found Samsung’s One UI to behave like this.
To be clear, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE isn’t a bad phone, which is why we gave it a mixed score as opposed to a negative one. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE went on sale on January 11, 2022, after being unveiled at CES 2022 a week before, and retailers in the US, UK and Australia offered various incentives to encourage purchases, including free headphones or in-store credit. What’s more, many mid-range phones like the Realme GT, Moto G200, Pixel 5 and iPhone SE (2020) cost a lot less, and most come with comparable specs that make them more tempting mobiles.
You’d be forgiven for confusing the Galaxy S21 FE with its non-FE siblings, because other than its size, it’s a dead ringer for the vanilla and Plus members of its family. That’s right, this is a plastic phone – or maybe we should call it Glasstic, which is Samsung’s marketing term for it, even though its similarities to glass (a common smartphone material) end with the name. Colors, contrast, and brightness all look great, and it made streaming TV shows or playing games on the phone a treat.
This telephoto snapper may be lower-res than the S21’s, but it’s actually paired with the same lens, which allows for 1.1x optical or 3x hybrid zoom; this seeming downgrade therefore won’t make a huge difference for most people. We found pictures taken on the main camera to be very colorful, which is pretty standard for shots taken on a Samsung phone – it’s apparent the brand’s scene optimization software has never heard of oversaturation.
Still, the main camera capabilities make shots look instantly social media-worthy, especially pics taken in well-lit situations. If we have a criticism, it’s that on the rear camera, the autofocus was a little iffy for close-up subjects, both ones that were very close like flowers, and ones taken at a medium distance like pets.
We took the phone for a spin playing games, and it performed admirably, with quick loading, top graphical options available, and no significant lagging or freezing. The RAM, processor and screen refresh rate should make navigating the FE’s menus a breeze, but in our experience, that wasn’t the case. We found that swiping between home pages, opening apps and unlocking the phone felt a little sluggish, especially when using gesture navigation. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has a 4,500mAh power pack – that’s a fairly standard size for a mobile – but we still found the battery life disappointingly lacking. With average use – that is to say, some social media browsing, music streaming and maybe the odd game and photo capture here and there, we found the battery just about limped to the finish line and barely survived a whole day between powering.
That’s with the fastest-charging cables we had at home, but since a charger isn’t included in the box, you’ll have to power at the speed of whatever plug you already own or choose to buy.
While the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has similar screen specs to its siblings, it sits at a nice middle ground between them in terms of size. We found the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE comfortable to hold in the hand, with a thin body and light weight, so if you don’t want a chunky device it’s a good option.
We often found we needed to augment our behavior to get the Galaxy S21 FE to last a full day between charges – if you want a reliable one-day-plus mobile, it’s not going to be great for you.
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