Galaxy fans rejoice as Samsung has bestowed upon us another new phone of the popular series - the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G. We had nothing but high expectations from this phone as we got the opportunity to take a closer look at the phone and were anything but disappointed.
It was an honour to be able to test out the phone that came with the Snapdragon 888 5G chip. However, the phone is planned to be officially released in Malaysia soon with the Exynos 2100 chip. Still, this is a very well-rounded smartphone, here’s what you should expect from the S21 FE 5G.
Watch our video editor's take on the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE!Specifications
- Dimensions: 74.5 x 155.7 x 7.9 mm
- Weight: 177g
- Processor: Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm)
- Memory: 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB
- Display: 6.4” FHD+ (2,340x1080)(401 ppi), Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz Refresh Rate
- Rear Camera: 12MP + 12MP + 8MP
- Front Camera: 32MP
- Battery: Li-Ion 4500 mAh, non-removable, Fast charging 25W, Fast wireless charging 15W, Reverse wireless charging 4.5W
- Operating System: Android 12, One UI 4
- Other Features: IP68 Water Resistance, Optical Fingerprint, Secure Processor
Build and Design
As always, Samsung never ceases to amaze us with the phone’s build quality and design. The design concept of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is inspired by Samsung Galaxy S21’s design heritage where it comes with the iconic Contour Cut Camera on the back of the phone that blends in seamlessly. The camera lenses are also vertically aligned.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G comes in four different colours which are: Olive, Graphite, White and Lavender. The range of colour selections is selected based on a harmonious array of clean and warm colours where each colour suits different tastes (trendy, conservative or neutral colour taste).
This is also a very slim phone, slipping easily into any pocket. Overall, the design resembles that of the Galaxy S21 which is unsurprising considering this design is clean and aesthetic.
Core Performances
Display:
The phone’s screen is a Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display with a 120Hz refresh rate. We've found it to be very smooth; you won’t notice any stutters when scrolling. And when gaming, it supports a 240 HZ touch sampling for smoother and more immersive gameplay.
One feature that is included in the display is the Intelligent Eye Comfort Shield that reduces the blue light rate by up to 5% - perfect for users who use their phones for long periods to reduce eye strain.
The screen is wide, with a 19.5:9 screen to body ratio and a minimized bezel, meaning you can see more. It is also durable with a Gorilla Glass Victus protection, so your screen doesn’t break easily.
Processor:
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G comes with the most advanced chipsets to provide excellent performance as well as maximise your mobile activities. Although we had the opportunity to witness the Snapdragon 888 5G model, the Exynos 2100 chip is also very powerful.
Compared to the Snapdragon 865 chip on the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, this phone packs a punch in terms of performance, redefining the meaning of a true flagship experience.
Battery:
The battery life on the phone is very good as it comes with a 4500mAh battery. So you'll definitely need not carry a power bank around for long periods of usage as the Galaxy S21 FE 5G helps you do more with all-day battery life.
The phone also supports all sorts of super-fast charging. Wired 25W Super Fast Charging and Wireless 15W Fast Charging is supported so the phone can charge up to 50% within 30 minutes. Wireless Powershare also allows users to charge their phones with Galaxy Buds, Watch or another Galaxy device.
Camera
Undoubtedly the main selling point of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, its camera quality is top-notch and comes with several features that further improve your picture quality.
Portrait Mode:
The camera’s portrait mode with AI features will make anyone a photogenic person. It takes very high-quality portrait pictures - almost comparable to studio quality.
There are also various AI features including Blur, High and Low-key Mono, Backdrop and Color Paint. These effects allow users to embrace their creativity and capture even more outstanding photos.
Dual Recording:
This Dual Recording feature is designed for videography lovers to help them capture their favourite moments from front to back. Moreover, Multi Recording allows users to film videos in both wide and selfie angles at the same time, creating a dynamic touch to your videos.
Dual Recording feature designed for videography lovers helps them capture their favourite moments from front to back. Multi Recording allows users to film videos in both wide and selfie angles at the same time, creating a dynamic touch to your videos.
There is also a Vlogger Mode for those who want to express themselves through their daily activities. It allows vloggers to choose from different camera views such as Split-View or Picture in Picture view.
Single Take:
With multiple shooting, options come better camera taking experiences. Another feature of the camera is its multiple shooting options that include delayed shooting time, multiple outputs and various output selection options.
These shooting options allow for easier sharing of media as users can share their pictures or videos in one take. With multiple formats to share media in the gallery, users can sort and personalise their gallery according to highlight video, scene relighting, AI Best Moment, Photo Collage and more.
Night Mode:
We all know how hard it is to capture your favourite moments at high quality given bad lighting conditions. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G’s Night Mode feature that comes with AI Low Light processing captures great photos at low light conditions as it processes up to 14 shots at once. There is even an enhanced night mode for more professional photographers to adjust various settings such as noise control, colour enhancement, and more.
Space Zoom:
Capture long-distance pictures at high quality with the phone’s Space Zoom feature. This includes a 3x Optical Zoom that zooms in without compromising the picture quality. If you want to capture something far away, the 30x Digital Zoom with Zoom luck feature can help you with that as it ensures stable shooting even on the go.
Other features:
Many AI features make the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G’s camera stand out. Its AI Face Restoration feature naturally restores blurry facial features in photos and selfies. Besides that, the AI Photo remaster feature automatically remasters old photos by AI to bring old memories to life. Finally, Object Eraser acts as a useful feature to remove those pesky photobombers from your favourite moments.
Galaxy Foundation
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G uses the newest One UI 4 that allows users to design and personalise their device of the most optimal user experience.
Firstly, the theme and background can be easily customised to best suit your taste and preference. There are more diverse options in personalisation, so go crazy with what you want your phone to look like. There are also widget recommendations where you can add your favourite apps for easier access. If the default Android emojis aren’t enough for you to express your emotions, Emoji Pair lets you create animated stickers to lively express your current mood.
Security features are also included to protect your privacy. A privacy indicator lights up when an application is your camera or microphone so that apps cannot secretly capture your beautiful face and voice. In addition, a permission dashboard allows you to see your private usage history, so only those authorised can access this “confidential” information.
Connectivity is the name of the game right now for smartphones as the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G comes with a few features for seamless connectivity between smart devices. Quick Share helps you share high-resolution content with just a few clicks while the UI is designed to work more intuitively across the Galaxy ecosystem, so using your Galaxy Watch or Earbuds with your phone is made easier.
Other features include effortless AI Editing which can deblur photos easily to help you fix your pictures taken by that one friend with shaky hands. Besides, Quick Panel gives you easy access to settings such as adjusting brightness with an enhanced slider and switching audio sources with a touch of a button.
To wrap up, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is a new addition to the Galaxy S21 family that is equipped with some of the most loved aspects of the Galaxy S21, including its eye-catching design, powerful performance, a pro-grade camera, and seamless ecosystem connectivity.
At RM 2,899 and RM 3,099 for the 128GB and 256GB variant respectively, it is a very viable mid-range smartphone considering its attractive design and helpful features. We look forward to the official launch and will be providing a more in-depth review of the Galaxy S21 FE 5G then.