CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. SCORE Samsung Galaxy S21 Fe $290 at Amazon $390 at Walmart Pros Affordable price A follow-up to Samsung’s previous midrange Galaxy S phone, the new S21 FE starts at $700 and launches on Jan. 11. Despite being $100 cheaper than the regular Galaxy S21, it has the same processor and comes with a larger screen, a triple-lens camera and support for both versions of 5G. However, the Galaxy S21 FE may end up feeling lost in Samsung’s lineup and the broader Android phone market. Although the Pixel 6 doesn’t have the S21 FE’s third camera lens, it’s loaded with Google-specific features that could make it more appealing for some.
The Galaxy S21 does, however, have some design accents that make it feel like a more expensive phone, such as the glossy metallic finish on its camera module and sides. Google’s $600 Pixel 6 has an eye-catching two-tone glass design with sharper corners that almost makes it feel similar to the Galaxy Note.
The Galaxy S21 FE is sleek and lighter than the Pixel 6, and some might find it easier to use with one hand, but it doesn’t leave the same impression.
There’s also an in-screen fingerprint reader and facial authentication for unlocking the device, which I generally found to be pretty reliable.
That’s not too shabby, especially since I had the motion smoothness setting on high, which cranks the screen’s refresh rate up to 120Hz. Samsung’s new phone comes with the same processor as the Galaxy S21, which means the US version runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888.
That chip is found in other high-end phones like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the OnePlus 9 Pro, so the S21 FE should be able to keep up with those devices easily. Samsung also says the S21 FE supports a response rate of 240Hz, allowing for even quicker reaction times in game mode like the rest of the Galaxy S21 series. However, it scored slightly lower than both the regular S21 and Pixel 6 on a separate benchmark called 3DMark Slingshot Unlimited for testing graphics performance. The S21 FE’s images are rich in detail and color, and the camera performs well in different lighting conditions.
Some people might prefer Samsung’s more colorful shots, but Google’s images looked truer to their surroundings most of the time. (Note: I didn’t change the camera settings on either phone prior to testing other than to adjust the Pixel’s 6 crop ratio.)
Overall, I think the Pixel 6’s photos provided the best balance of consistency and accuracy, but it’s safe to say that both phones are capable of taking really great pictures. Photos taken on both phones looked the same in some cases, but the images below of a green bush really highlight the difference between Samsung’s and Google’s cameras.
The most notable distinction between the Pixel 6 and Galaxy S21 FE is that Samsung’s phone has an 8-megapixel telephoto lens in addition to a 12-megapixel wide and ultrawide lenses.
While both phones produce similar images when photographing objects like street signs, the Galaxy S21 was able to capture more detail in other scenarios.
The Galaxy S21 FE isn’t very good at freezing moving subjects in frame when taking photos. It’s another sign that the definition of a high-end phone is starting to change as once-premium features like 5G, borderless displays and multilens cameras begin trickling down to more affordable devices.
Samsung typically launches its new Galaxy S phones early in the year, and rumors suggest the next generation could come with a 50-megapixel camera and faster charging. But the Pixel 6 has a more distinguished design and Google-specific goodies like the ability to have Google Assistant screen spam calls and wait on hold for you.
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Samsung’s new Galaxy S21 FE will keep the Galaxy S21 alive at a more affordable price
Samsung doesn’t have any immediate plans to stop selling the Galaxy S21, which launched about a year ago. Samsung is essentially borrowing certain aspects of its mainstream Galaxy S21 phone and selling it as a midrange device.
The Galaxy S21 FE is arriving as Samsung’s smartphone lineup has become increasingly crowded and will likely continue to expand. The company is expected to launch the Galaxy S22 lineup in the early part of the year, just as it has done in the past.
CNET’s Andrew Hoyle praised the Galaxy S20 FE and gave it an Editors’ Choice Award for its excellent balance of performance and price. You can also expect to see a similar selection of the software-based photography features typically available on Samsung phones.
In addition to night and portrait modes, there’s also a tool for shooting with the front and rear lenses simultaneously. But like those two phones, the Galaxy S21 FE will support the ability to boost the refresh rate up to 120Hz for smoother scrolling. But it looks like a promising option for those who want a general-purpose phone with a reliable camera, solid performance and a spacious screen. A more powerful processor, better camera and quicker charging could be enough to justify the extra $100 for some shoppers, possibly making the Galaxy S21 FE feel lost in the lineup.
Patrick Holland gave it a CNET Editors’ Choice Award for its excellent combination of elegant design, powerful performance and superb photography.
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