The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE closely resembles the regular S21 but with some cost-cutting measures to reduce the retail price by $100. It’s important to note that despite being advertised at $699, the Galaxy S21 FE may not frequently be available at that price.
Initially, there was much excitement about Pixel 6 due to its impressive specs, positioning it as a great value option. However, there were also reports of bugs and issues, which I experienced myself with Pixel phones.
Specifications
Galaxy S21 FE 5G | Galaxy S21 5G |
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CPU Type – Octa-Core | CPU Type – Octa-Core |
CPU SPEED – 2.9GHz, 2.8GHz, 2.2GHz | CPU SPEED – 2.9GHz, 2.8GHz, 2.2GHz |
Size & Display – 16.29cm (6.4″) full rectangle / 15.89cm (6.3″) rounded corners | Size & Display – 15.84cm (6.2″) full rectangle / 15.46cm (6.1″) rounded corners |
Resolution – 2340 x 1080 (FHD+) Dynamic AMOLED 2X | Resolution – 2400 x 1080 (FHD+) Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
Price: $540 | Price: $263.34 |
Overall, they’re quite similar to the one-year-old S21. It features the same Snapdragon Triple Eight, which is a last-gen flagship CPU. The phone sports a 1080p AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, matching the brightness of the Galaxy S21 screen. This means the FE offers a bright and responsive display, even in sunlight.
The FE also includes flagship features like IP68 water and dust resistance, 15-watt fast wireless charging, and Gorilla Glass Victus protection. Interestingly, it’s slightly heavier and has a larger screen than the S21, but the weight difference is hardly noticeable when holding both phones simultaneously. The S21 FE maintains the same plastic body with an aluminum frame, and the plastic back has a smooth texture that resists fingerprint smudges.
Cameras
Samsung S21 FE 5G | Galaxy S21 5G |
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Front Camera – 32.0 MP, F2.2 | Front Camera – 10.0 MP, F2.2 |
Both the S21 and the S21 FE version have the exact same main camera sensor, which is a nice feature. Surprisingly, the S21 FE also boasts a higher resolution selfie camera that captures better photos. As seen here, the FE’s photos have less noise in the shadows.
Aside from the sharper selfie camera, the S21 FE has a few other advantages over the S21. Firstly, its later release date means it will receive an additional year of software support.
Galaxy S21 FE | Galaxy S21 |
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Rear Camera – 12.0 MP + 12.0 MP + 8.0 MP, F1.8 , F2.2 , F2.4 | Rear Camera – 12.0 MP + 64.0 MP + 12.0 MP, F1.8 , F2.0 , F2.2 |
Rear Camera Zoom – Optical Zoom at 3x , Digital Zoom up to 30x | Rear Camera Zoom – Hybrid Optic Zoom at 3x , Digital Zoom up to 30x |
Video Recording Resolution – UHD 4K (3840 x 2160)@60fps | Video Recording Resolution – UHD 8K (7680 x 4320)@24fps |
The telephoto lens on the FE is only 8 megapixels compared to the 64 megapixels on the S21, and this difference is noticeable. The S21 FE’s photos appear less clear and sharp as a result. However, it still outperforms the Pixel, which lacks a telephoto lens. We’ll discuss that in more detail later. Additionally, the S21 FE’s ultrawide lens is a slight downgrade, with a smaller sensor leading to more noise and less sharpness in the photos.
Battery Life
Additionally, the S21 FE, being slightly larger, has a bigger battery at 4,500mAh compared to 4,000mAh on the S21. However, disappointingly, this doesn’t translate to longer battery life in my testing. This might be because the S21 FE’s 120Hz screen isn’t adaptive.
Apart from the screen, there are a few more areas where corners were cut for this phone. For example, the camera bump is made of plastic instead of aluminum. While this doesn’t affect the phone’s functionality, it does affect its visual appeal. The plastic camera bump contributes to the lower-quality appearance, and the silver rings around the camera don’t add much either.
Finger Print, Speakers and Storage
Now, besides the cameras, the fingerprint reader on the S21 FE is optical rather than ultrasonic. This means it emits a bright light every time you use it, which can be annoying at night. However, in terms of speed, it’s still quite fast. One drawback is that when your finger is slightly moist, the optical reader may not work as well, whereas the ultrasonic reader performs consistently.
Additionally, the haptics and speakers on the S21 FE are slightly inferior. The haptics feel more intense, almost shaky, compared to the S21. The speakers, although still stereo, produce a slightly tinny sound. It’s worth noting that the bass is also not as robust on the S21 FE compared to the S21.
The S21 FE version comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, matching the S21. However, the difference in RAM doesn’t significantly impact performance, even during demanding tasks like gaming. Despite this, both the S21 FE and S21 scored similarly in tests.
Conclusion
The corners cut to lower the S21 FE’s price don’t harm its performance or user experience. It’s excellent that they maintained the same system-on-a-chip (SoC), the 120Hz AMOLED screen, IP68 water and dust resistance, and wireless charging. Using the S21 FE feels very similar to using the S21.
It’s worth noting that the S21 often goes on sale for about $700, so buying the FE at the same price doesn’t make much sense. Therefore, it’s wise to consider the S21 FE only when it’s discounted. Currently priced at $600, the FE offers great value, especially if you can overlook its drawbacks.
Samsung S21 FE vs Pixel 6
Now, let’s discuss how the Samsung S21 FE stacks up against the Pixel 6.
It’s important to note that the Pixel 6 launched at $599, $100 less than the FE priced at $699. However, it’s unlikely that the Pixel 6 will go on sale. It wasn’t discounted even during the holiday season, whereas the FE is already available for the same price as the Pixel.
Galaxy S21 FE | Pixel 6 |
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CPU Type – Octa-Core | CPU Type – Octa-Core |
CPU SPEED – 2.9GHz, 2.8GHz, 2.2GHz | CPU SPEED – 2×2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2×2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 |
Chipset – Samsung Tensor | Chipset – Google Tensor |
Operating System – Android | Operating System – Android v12 |
Price: $540 | Price: $398.96 |
Design, Screen and Speakers
These two phones are quite similar in size, both featuring a 6.4-inch display. However, the Pixel has a glass back, which I personally prefer over the all-plastic back of the FE. Yet, it could be a downside as it makes the phone heavier and more prone to cracking.
Samsung S21 FE 5G | Google Pixel 6 |
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Size & Display – 16.29cm (6.4″) full rectangle / 15.89cm (6.3″) rounded corners | Size & Display – 6.4 inches (16.26 cm) FHD+ OLED |
Resolution – 2340 x 1080 (FHD+) Dynamic AMOLED 2X | Resolution – 1080 x 2400 Pixels |
Regarding their screens, both the Galaxy S21 FE and Google Pixel 6 sport a 1080p AMOLED display. However, the Pixel 6 only offers a 90Hz refresh rate, whereas the FE provides 120Hz. Although 90Hz is an improvement over 60Hz, it’s noticeably inferior to 120Hz, resulting in less smooth scrolling. A 120Hz screen would enhance gaming experiences, although neither of these phones handles heavy games well.
Both the Samsung S21 FE and Pixel 6 feature stereo speakers with similar sound quality. However, I slightly prefer the haptics on the Pixel as they feel more refined and controlled.
Performance and Tensor Chip
On paper, the Pixel does boast a faster GPU, initially performing better. However, thermal management is a significant concern for both phones. Under a heavy load for 20 minutes, they both quickly overheated, within about five minutes.
In reality, the Pixel doesn’t hold an advantage in gaming performance, especially with its 90Hz screen. In contrast, the Realme GT, designed with gaming in mind, exhibits much better overall thermals, sustaining performance for longer periods under the same test. However, for everyday tasks, both the Tensor and Snapdragon chips perform adequately without overheating issues.
Now, let’s delve into the Tensor chip. It introduces some unique features, like faster and smarter voice typing. Pixel-exclusive features include using Google Assistant to screen calls and automatically displaying playing songs. Live captions, which provide subtitles for videos and can be translated, are also available. However, I recently discovered that Samsung can do this as well, making it no longer exclusive to Pixel.
Battery Life
When it comes to battery life, the Pixel lasts noticeably longer. In my test, after 30 minutes of benchmarking and 30 minutes of video playback, the Pixel remained at 85% while the FE dropped to 75%. This difference might be due to the Pixel’s adaptive 90Hz refresh rate.
The Samsung S21 FE offers wireless powershare, handy for charging accessories like AirPods or Galaxy Buds. Plus, it integrates well with other Samsung devices and computers. For instance, Galaxy Buds can utilize the higher resolution Samsung Scalable Codec. However, the Pixel has some peculiar flaws. Its wireless charging behaves oddly, sometimes not charging or charging very slowly. I’ve tested this on three different charging pads with various bricks, but the issue persists.
Software Updates
Samsung also offers unique features like Samsung DeX, which transforms your phone into a desktop, though it’s not quite a full desktop experience. My Pixel 6 and 6 Pro have been plagued with bugs since launch. At one point, I couldn’t even scroll through Google’s YouTube Studio app without it crashing. While the January 2022 update seems to fix most issues, adaptive brightness still behaves erratically for me. Dealing with buggy software for two months straight, starting from November, raises doubts about the quality and software support for these Pixels.
Cameras
Galaxy S21 FE | Pixel 6 |
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Rear Camera – 12.0 MP + 12.0 MP + 8.0 MP, F1.8 , F2.2 , F2.4 | Rear Camera – 12.2 MP f/1.7, Wide Angle (77° field-of-view), Primary Camera, 12 MP f/2.2, Ultra-Wide Angle Camera |
Rear Camera Zoom – Optical Zoom at 3x , Digital Zoom up to 30x | Rear Camera Zoom – 5 x Digital Zoom, Auto Flash, Face detection, Touch to focus. |
Video Recording Resolution – UHD 4K (3840 x 2160)@60fps | Image Resolution – 4032 x 3024 Pixels |
Front Camera Resolution – 32.0 MP, F2.2 | Front Camera Resolution – 8 MP f/2.0, Wide Angle, Primary Camera |
The main sensors of both phones appear comparable in technical abilities, offering detailed images with great dynamic range. However, I noticed that the Pixel’s processing sometimes produces a less realistic look. For instance, in one photo, the Pixel rendered the sky blue during golden hour, while it appeared more orange on the Samsung. Regarding telephoto capabilities, the Pixel 6 lacks a dedicated lens, resulting in a noticeable difference in detail compared to Samsung’s photo. The Pixel’s image quality is notably inferior, with less detail, especially evident in window details. Both phones have similar quality selfie cameras, but the FE may offer slightly better detail. However, individual preferences may lean towards the processing and appearance of Pixel selfies.
Final Thought
Overall, I prefer the S21 FE over the Pixel 6 for a few reasons. The FE has a faster screen, reliable wireless charging, and a more comprehensive camera system. Despite being $100 cheaper than the S21, it doesn’t compromise much on flagship features, resulting in strong overall performance and user experience.
Compared to similar or lower-priced phones from other brands like the Realme GT or ZTE Axon 30, the FE often outshines them by offering features like water resistance, stereo speakers, wireless charging, and Gorilla Glass. Being part of the Samsung Galaxy series ensures excellent software support, as I’ve experienced in my nine months with the regular S21. Samsung’s One UI has been reliable with no major bugs, unlike the Pixel.
At $540, the S21 FE is my top choice. However, I wouldn’t pay the full $700 retail price when discounted S21 models are available. The upcoming S22 is expected to be more expensive and isn’t directly competing with the S21 FE. If you’re considering a phone around $540, now is a good time to make a decision.