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. If you can pick up the phone as part of a bundle, with price reduced in sales, refurbished or second hand, then you might discover the mobile is worth it. 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.
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.
This new cheap Samsung phone is the Galaxy S21 FE I was asking for all along
However there is clearly some mileage in the idea of a cheaper alternative to Samsung’s flagship line, and the company has just launched a way more tempting handset that’s essentially the S21 FE we wanted all along. Those are the next entries in Samsung’s mid-range and low-cost Galaxy A family, and the A53 in particular is important, as the A52 is one of the company’s best-selling smartphones.
So in a way, the Galaxy A53 presents a typical S22 experience, but stripped back to offer just the core features that’ll impress a select market of users.
Sure, you’re missing out on some premium features – there’s no wireless charging, the camera sensors aren’t exactly cutting-edge, and the processor is pretty weak.
But at roughly half the price of the S22, the A53 is a super tempting alternative that has a lot more in common with our visions of the perfect Fan Edition phone, than the latest device actually touting that name. It could sit well under the S22, but above the A73, bringing great camera and display hardware to a device with a mid-range processor and design.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE buyer’s guide: Everything you need to know
That theory was proven wrong, though, when the company launched the phone during CES 2022. As usual, this “Fan Edition” model looks and functions much like its namesake, the Samsung Galaxy S21.
In this buyer’s guide, we’re going to give you all the information you need on the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE!
Please note: The Galaxy S21 FE is no longer the latest “Fan Edition” phone from Samsung.
Samsung launched the Galaxy S21 FE on January 3, 2022, at the annual CES convention in Las Vegas. That includes a slightly weaker camera system, lower-grade build materials, and less RAM for the base model.
These trade-offs resulted in a slightly lower Galaxy S21 FE price, which started at $699. That means it offers a bit less overall in terms of specs and features, but it also costs less. For under $600, you get one of the best mobile chipsets of 2021, a decent camera system, Android 12 out-of-the-box, and more. You can read our detailed thoughts on the device in our Samsung Galaxy S21 FE review.
When you take into account that, even today, it’s only $100 more expensive than the Galaxy S21 FE, you have a tricky situation. For specific types of buyers, the Galaxy S21 FE might be a good choice.
In our review, we thought the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE was a fine phone, giving it a score of 3.5/5 stars. However, we lamented that the phone landed at the wrong time, making it difficult to recommend. We appreciated the phone’s build quality, display, battery life, and performance. Like us, she loved the display and performance but thought the phone should cost less, considering how late in the cycle we were. Like us, she loved the display and performance but thought the phone should cost less, considering how late in the cycle we were. Once again, he loved the display, performance, and build quality, but didn’t much care for the price. Interestingly, Tom didn’t think the battery life was up to snuff, which is the opposite of how we felt about it. Once again, he loved the display, performance, and build quality, but didn’t much care for the price.
Interestingly, Tom didn’t think the battery life was up to snuff, which is the opposite of how we felt about it. He lauded the performance and display, dinged the phone for a middling camera, and also experienced disappointing battery life.
The chart makes it clear that a huge chunk of our readers would be happy to give up wireless charging if it meant a lower-cost device. Once again, they won’t need to make this sacrifice since the Galaxy S21 FE has access to both Sub-6 and mmWave 5G networks.
Note that even though the selfie camera is a 32MP shooter as compared to the Galaxy S21’s 10MP sensor, this won’t necessarily result in better photos and video. Note that even though the selfie camera is a 32MP shooter as compared to the Galaxy S21’s 10MP sensor, this won’t necessarily result in better photos and video. Security: The Galaxy S21 FE has an in-display optical fingerprint scanner. This isn’t the same as the ultrasonic sensor in the Galaxy S21 and could result in slightly slower and less accurate performance. This isn’t the same as the ultrasonic sensor in the Galaxy S21 and could result in slightly slower and less accurate performance. On the front, the phone has a single 32MP sensor in a centered display cutout.
It wasn’t even close to the best smartphone camera of 2022, but it will produce some good shots under ideal conditions. You’ll find the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset inside the Galaxy S21 FE in the United States and a few other countries.
It should be perfect for multi-taskers and even a good option for folks who toy with console emulation on their phones. Meanwhile, in many other areas of the world, the Galaxy S21 FE comes with the Exynos 2100, the same found in the global variants of the S21 series. This chipset is nice and powerful but doesn’t meet the same performance peaks as the Snapdragon 888. A note of caution we’ll make about performance, regardless of which chipset you get, is that the entry-level Galaxy S21 FE comes with 6GB of RAM.
Eric Zeman / Android Authority Samsung Galaxy S21 FE Samsung has become the best company out there when it comes to updating its large portfolio of Android phones.
Interestingly, this schedule gives the S21 FE a slight leg up over the rest of the Galaxy S21 family. This makes the Galaxy S21 FE the better buy if software longevity is a primary concern.
Since it has the same price as the Galaxy S21 FE while offering a longer update commitment, better specs, a better camera, and more, it is an easy choice over the 2022 model. ($599.99 at Amazon): The Galaxy S23 FE is now the latest “Fan Edition” phone in Samsung’s lineup. Since it has the same price as the Galaxy S21 FE while offering a longer update commitment, better specs, a better camera, and more, it is an easy choice over the 2022 model. The Galaxy S23 will have better specs nearly across the board, with battery capacity being the only notable deficiency.
Of course, you’ll pay a lot more for this phone, but the upgrades will certainly be worth the premium if you can afford them.
The Galaxy S23 will have better specs nearly across the board, with battery capacity being the only notable deficiency. Of course, you’ll pay a lot more for this phone, but the upgrades will certainly be worth the premium if you can afford them. Google Pixel 8 ($699 at Amazon): For $100 more than the Galaxy S21 FE, you can get one of the most sought-after phones of 2023.
The OnePlus 11 offers a higher-caliber experience, though, with better camera hardware, a faster processor, and a much better display. The OnePlus 11 offers a higher-caliber experience, though, with better camera hardware, a faster processor, and a much better display. However, third-party retailers, as well as Samsung’s usual carrier partners, will also sell the phone.
If you do decide to move forward with the Galaxy S21 FE, the phone comes in four colors: white, Graphite, Olive, and Lavender. In India, the phone will be available in the two 8GB RAM variants with the Exynos 2100 from major retailers starting at Rs. That means it offers a bit less overall in terms of specs and features, but it also costs less. If you want a microSD card slot, you can always grab 2020’s Galaxy S20 FE instead, although that is also missing a headphone jack.
Be First to Comment