The latest addition to the Samsung Galaxy S21 family - Galaxy S21 FE; has landed and looks just as good as Samsung’s other flagship models or maybe even better. The phone is a “Fan Edition” of the famous S21 with most of its features and design inspired by the 2021 device along with being a tribute to Samsung fans.
That being said, the release of the Fan Edition S21 has raised both excitement and confusion among the community. Which is the better phone or which one is best suited for users?
We have had an exclusive hands-on experience on the Galaxy S21 FE and are here to break down the pros and cons of the phone in comparison with its original model.
Alternatively, check out our experience with the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE (Scavenger Hunt event)/video below!
Table of Contents
Similarities
There are many aspects of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE that resembles the Galaxy S21. It is no surprise that both of the phones have a lot in common as the Galaxy S21 was commended by the community as a good phone at a reasonable price.
Display:
The display of both phones are close to identical as both devices have a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with HDR10+ and 120Hz Refresh Rate. They also have a 20:9 screen-to-body ratio and have similar pixel densities, not to mention the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus screen protection on both devices.
A small difference between the two is that the S21 FE has a slightly larger screen at 6.4 inches versus 6.2 inches on the S21.
With display specifications like that, both displays feel buttery smooth and scrolling are very enjoyable without lags or stutters. Video and movie watching is a seamless experience as the high refresh rate really brings the best out of videos. Moreover, the gaming experience is also very enjoyable on both phones as they have high touch sampling for more immersive gameplay.
Performance:
Speaking of gaming, although the phones are really built as gaming phones, the performance on them are excellent as they both come with the same powerful chipset - the Exynos 2100 chip for international models.
As for memory, both models come with two variants: 8GB RAM + 128GB ROM and 8GB RAM + 256 ROM variants. With high RAM and a powerful CPU, both phones can basically run any mobile game at high frame rates.
Paired with the displays’ high refresh rate and touch sampling, gaming is enjoyable with the experience of the S21 FE even comparable to most top-tier phones in the market.
Build and Design:
Both phones come with a matte finish at the back of the phone named “Glasstic”. We found the case to be very clean and that it makes the phones look very premium, though a little lacklustre compared to a glass rear.
What stands out from the back is the Contour Camera Cut with the cameras vertically aligned which is a really bold design. Still, we honestly think it fits the phones very well.
So how about differences? It’s on the colour options as the S21 comes with Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Pink, and Phantom Violet colour options. Meanwhile, the S21 FE comes with Olive, Graphite, White and Lavender colour options.
For the ports, both phones have the same connectivity options, which include a SIM tray, USB Type-C port and a speaker grille, aside from the power button and volume buttons.
Overall, both phones look and feel very premium. Samsung has definitely outdone themselves with the designs yet again.
Differences
Battery:
Battery life and charging speed is undoubtedly two of the most important specifications in buying a phone. And when it comes to these specifications, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE outdoes the S21 by a small margin.
Truly a phone for the fans; the Galaxy S21 FE comes with a 4500 mAh battery that can last the whole day and even overnight with moderate usage. As for charging speed, the phone supports all sorts of super-charging, including Wired 25W Super Fast Charging, Wireless 15W Fast Charging and Wireless Powershare.
Moreover, the S21 FE can charge up to 50% within 30 minutes with its Fast Charging which is quite an impressive charging speed.
On the other hand, the S21 has a 4000mAh battery which means it doesn’t last as long as the S21 FE but can still get the job done. Super Charging is also supported, with 25W Fast Charging, 15W Wireless Fast Charging and 15W Reverse Wireless Charging. Even so, we found that the charging speed is not as quick as the S21 FE, but the difference is very marginal here.
Camera:
The camera quality on both the Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21 FE are phenomenal, but they each have their own advantages when it comes to the rear camera and front camera.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE’s rear camera includes a 12MP wide camera, a 12MP ultrawide camera and an 8MP telephoto camera.
You’ll notice that there’s no 64MP telephoto lens like the original S21. But here, the picture quality captured is still clear and of high resolution, which goes to show that the image processing is very good. Moreover, its front camera is a 32MP wide selfie camera that takes selfies at very high resolution and has been found to outdo the selfie camera of the S21 by a mile.
Meanwhile, Samsung Galaxy S21 also has a triple camera setup which includes a 12MP wide camera, a 64MP telephoto camera and a 12MP ultrawide camera. Its camera quality is like the S21 FE but with post-processing picture quality being marginally better than the S21 FE.
A tradeoff for the S21 is its front camera, being quite underwhelming with a 10MP wide selfie camera. The picture quality on selfies are not as good but aren’t terrible.
Not only that, but the S21 FE has some camera features that make it stand out more than the S21. For instance, the FE has a 30X Digital Zoom which can capture faraway objects. There are also many AI features on the S21 FE that automatically adjusts the camera settings for better pictures under various lighting conditions.
Other notable features
UI:
In terms of UI and operating system, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE runs on the newest One UI 4 compared to the One UI 3.1 on the S21. The One UI 4 brings more personalisation and customisation options, as well as new widget recommendations and animated stickers.
Wireless Connectivity:
Besides that, another big difference between the two phones is the connectivity between other devices. Samsung has placed more emphasis on its ecosystem, which is why the S21 FE is built with more wireless connectivity features compared to the S21. S21 FE has the likes of Quick Share and other UI widgets for more seamless connections.
Conclusion
No doubt that the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is a proud addition that is also a true successor (and sister) to the original Galaxy S21. Samsung has made several changes that exceeded expectations and improvements to the Fan Edition such as on the camera, connectivity and UI aspects.
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is a better phone than the S21 in terms of various aspects, and it’s vice versa for the S21 to the S21 FE; none are bad smartphones compared to each other.
In short; if you’re a camera enthusiast who prefers to be behind the camera, go for the original Samsung Galaxy S21. And if you’re an active social media user and constantly use your phone for many other media consumption, go with the Galaxy S21 FE.
Last but not least, if you’re price-sensitive, know that the S21 is slightly more expensive than the S21 FE, despite the FE being the newer smartphone.
With that being said, both phones are of flagship quality and users need to weigh the differences between them in order to make the right decision.
Table of Contents
PROMO ALERT! Customers can enjoy discounts and add-on promotions for selected accessories with every purchase of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G.
30% OFF the following Galaxy S21 FE 5G Accessories:
- Silicone Cover with Strap
- Smart Clear View Cover
- Clear Standing Cover
- Slim Strap Cover
- From 6 January - 28 February 2022
20% OFF the following Samsung Galaxy items:
- Galaxy Watch4 Classic (42mm & 46mm)
- Galaxy Watch4 (40mm & 44mm)
- Galaxy Buds (Pro, Live & Buds2)
- From 6 January - 28 February 2022
Related articles
- Samsung Galaxy A Series: Getting Things Done The Budget Way
- Live More Healthily: 5 Best Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Features You Must Know
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Series: How To Live Without a Laptop
- Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra vs S21 Ultra - Which Should You Get??
- Our Top Recommendations: 5 Best Games To Play on Flagship Phones
- 7 Reasons to Get a Mid-Range vs High-End Smartphone in 2024
- Purchase the Samsung Galaxy S22 Series Today and Enjoy Irresistible Deals
- Yes Launches “5G For All” Campaign with Revolutionary 5G Mobile Plans
- Samsung Announces Samsung Wallet, An Easy-to-Use Secure Platform that Does Everything You Need
- Samsung Galaxy A23 5G Review: A Very Basic Phone for Your Very Basic Needs
- Samsung’s The Freestyle is Now Officially Available in Malaysia with Freebies Worth Up to RM498!
- Here’s What You Should Expect From A Flip Phone in 2022
- On Vacation? You Need This Phone That Can Take Hands-Free Photos for You!
- Samsung Partners with Meta on New Foldable Feature, FlexCam
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 and Galaxy Z Fold4 Has Finally Landed in Malaysia!
- “Most Durable Smartwatch Yet?” First Impression: Samsung Galaxy Watch5