Samsung Galaxy S21 vs S21 FE: Base model and Fan Edition compared
When Samsung launches its Fan Edition, the Galaxy S21 FE, almost a year after the Galaxy S21 base model, a comparison is inevitable. Here at NextPit, we do just that and find out which of the two models is the more recommendable as of 2022.
When the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE was introduced a few days ago, my colleague Ben even spoke of fratricide. He elaborates on that in his commentary about the Galaxy S21 FE and yes: The timing does indeed seem unfortunate. One year after the release of the Galaxy S21 and only a few weeks before the presentation of the Galaxy S22, the Fan Edition is now competing for buyers:
| 2021 flagship | Fan edition | |
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| MSRP | from $799 | from $699 |
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| Specifications | 6.2 inch, Dynamic AMOLED 1080 x 2400 pixels Snapdragon 888 (USA & China) Exynos 2100 (Europe & LATAM) 128 / 256 GB ROM 8 GB RAM Triple camera Main camera: 12 MP Ultra wide-angle: 12 MP Telephoto camera: 64 MP 4000 mAh January 2021 |
6.4 inch, Dynamic AMOLED 1080 x 2400 pixels Snapdragon 888 (USA & Europe) Exynos 2100 (other markets) 128 / 256 GB 6 / 8 GB RAM Triple camera Main camera: 12 MP Ultra wide-angle: 8MP Telephoto camera: 12 MP 4500 mAh January 2022 |
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Jump to:
- Models and prices
- Design and display
- Hardware and performance
- Cameras
- Battery and quick charging
- Software and security updates
- Conclusion
Models and prices
Let's get started and look directly at the price tag: The newcomer is available starting at $699, while the Galaxy S21 only starts at $799 when we talk about the recommended retail price at launch. However, the Fan Edition also starts with 6 GB of RAM, while the year-old Galaxy S21 is exclusively offered with 8 GB of memory. Here you can see an overview of the available models:
- Samsung Galaxy S21 FE with 6 GB RAM / 128 GB storage - MSRP $699.
- Samsung Galaxy S21 FE with 8 GB RAM / 256 GB storage - MSRP $769.
- Samsung Galaxy S21 with 8 GB RAM / 128 GB storage - MSRP $799.
- Samsung Galaxy S21 with 8 GB RAM / 256 GB storage - MSRP $849.
But don't forget that these are the recommended retail prices - you can get the Galaxy S21 for around $599 if you are lucky! So, keep an eye on our Galaxy S21 deal radar, which shows the latest prices.
Design and display
Visually, you can already tell from the picture above how the S21 design was kept for the fan edition model: Samsung has stayed true to its design language so that the FE can be visually assigned to the rest of the S21 family. However, the colors have somewhat changed. This makes the S21 FE look a bit duller, in my opinion.
You don't have to worry about the quality of the construction. Samsung always delivers above average, so a plastic body should not be considered a flaw. However, if you put both devices next to each other, you will notice that the newcomer is a bit bigger: The dynamic AMOLED panel in the Fan Edition measures 6.4 inches, whereas last year's Galaxy S21 was equipped with 6.2 inches.
Apart from that, the two smartphones don't differ much, either in terms of design or display. The screen offers FHD+ resolution in both cases and is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus. Both models are IP68-certified, use a flat instead of a rounded screen, but are available in different colors: You can choose between "Phantom Violet," "Phantom Grey," "Phantom White," and "Phantom Pink" for the Galaxy S21. The S21 FE is available in "Olive," "Lavender," "White," and finally "Graphite."
Hardware and performance
If we talk about the performance, there is a clear difference, depending on the market: In the US, both models are equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888 processor, while in Europe (and other markets) the S21 is powered by Samsung's own Exynos 2100 SoC.
But let's not fool ourselves: The Qualcomm SoC is only slightly ahead in terms of speed, and the owners of both smartphones will certainly not have to complain about performance problems. And our tests indicate that battery consumption is also similar between the components.
- Read also: The best Samsung smartphones of 2022
You should also consider that the cheaper version of the S21 FE only has 6 GB of working memory, but even with that, normal smartphone users should not have any serious problems in daily use. By the way, you can already surf in the 5G network in both cases.
Cameras
A quick glance at the back reveals that triple cameras are used in both cases. The exact numbers are interesting here, though. On the one hand, the S21 offers an ultra-wide-angle camera with 12 megapixels, while the S21 FE only manages with 8 megapixels.
On the other hand, Samsung uses a hybrid zoom with 64 megapixels in the S21. The optical focal length is only 1.1 times longer than that of the main camera, but the 64 megapixels are used to digitally zoom in on the subject when zooming. Samsung changes this strategy in the S21 FE with an optical 3x camera with 8 megapixels. Both devices perform well in the camera department, with the versatility offered by the telephoto camera, but disappointing results for the ultra-wide lens.
In short, it seems that the standard S21 is more suitable for ultra-wide-angle fans and the S21 FE for telephoto users. Also, read our review of the Galaxy S21+! There you will find the identical cam as in the S21, and Ben has examined the camera in detail.
The selfie shooter has at least been able to increase the number of megapixels from 10 MP to 32 MP. Without image stabilization or autofocus on the S21 FE, selfies look natural but focusing can be trickier than usual.
Battery and Quick Charging
Samsung has added a lot here: Instead of 4,000 mAh, it is now a whopping 4,500 mAh, which is already a significant plus. Even so, battery life is mediocre at best on the S21 FE. And when the juice runs out, quick charging is still possible with up to 25 watts, but the charger is not included in the box and has to be purchased separately. Wireless charging remains the same as well, with 15 watts.
Software and security updates
As far as software and updates are concerned, you are well served with both phones: The One UI, which is based on Android, is one of the most popular interfaces for Google's mobile OS. And Samsung has been one of the leading companies in the Android shark tank ever since it rethought its security update policy and promised updates for four years.
Three major Android updates are also guaranteed, which is a considerable benefit of the S21 FE: The Fan Edition already comes with Android 12 and OneUI 4.0 and will thus also receive Android 14.
Conclusion
To be honest, I do not want to say anything too definitive before we can test the S21 FE ourselves. But at least on paper, there are not many reasons to prefer this smartphone over the Galaxy S21, which you can now sometimes get for $100 less. The lowest price for the S21 was even below $700, and then there is also the new Galaxy S22, which is already knocking on the door with an Exynos 2200.
It might be worth considering your choice between the S21 or the upcoming S22 - but the Galaxy S21 FE doesn't really come with many good reasons to buy. The longer software support compared to the S21, the optical telephoto camera, the bigger battery, or the upgraded selfie camera could be arguments - but is that enough? I am skeptical but would like to pass the question on to you. Write us in the comments whether you rate the S21 FE more positively or whether you also see the phone without a clear purpose so close to the S22 announcement.
Comparison updated in March 2022 after reviewing the Galaxy S21 FE.
