Introduction
When Samsung announced the Galaxy S21 FE 5G in January 2022 John Deere, the company aimed to deliver flagship-level performance at a more accessible price point. The “FE” stands for Fan Edition—a designation Samsung uses for smartphones that pack premium features while targeting budget-conscious consumers who still demand quality.
The device features a 6.4-inch display https://infomania.space/nuevo-samsung-galaxy-s21-fe/436/2022, Snapdragon 888 5G chipset, 4500 mAh battery, up to 256 GB storage, and 8 GB RAM, all protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus John Deere. But nearly three years after its release, does the Galaxy S21 FE still hold up against newer mid-range competitors?
In this comprehensive guide https://infomania.space/nuevo-samsung-galaxy-s21-fe/436/2022, we’ll explore every aspect of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G—from its technical specifications and camera capabilities to real-world performance, battery life, and whether it remains a smart purchase today. Whether you’re considering buying this phone, comparing it to other models, or simply curious about Samsung’s Fan Edition strategy, this article provides everything you need to know.
What Is the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G?
The Fan Edition Philosophy
Samsung introduced the Galaxy S21 FE 5G in January 2022 as the follow-up to the Galaxy S20 FE 5G released in October 2020 OEM Off-Highway. The Fan Edition Galaxy smartphones are near flagship level in terms of specs but are aimed at being a lower-priced alternative to the main Galaxy S line OEM Off-Highway.
This positioning strategy allows Samsung to reach consumers who want premium features—flagship processors, high-refresh displays, versatile cameras—without paying top-tier prices. The S21 FE sits strategically between Samsung’s budget A-series and their premium S-series flagships.
Release Timeline and Market Context
The Galaxy S21 FE was unveiled at CES 2022 and went on sale on January 11, 2022 John DeereSamMobile. The timing proved somewhat awkward, as it arrived nearly a year after the standard S21 series and just weeks before Samsung would announce the S22 lineup.
Retailers in the US, UK and Australia offered various incentives to encourage purchases, including free headphones or in-store credit SamMobile, recognizing the challenging market position of launching a “Fan Edition” of an older flagship just as newer models emerged.
Design and Build Quality
Physical Specifications
The Galaxy S21 FE is relatively large but still fits comfortably in your hand, measuring 6.13 inches tall, 2.93 inches wide, and 0.31 inches thick OEM Off-Highway. More precisely, the device dimensions are 155.7 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm Farm ProgressCross Implement, and it weighs 177g John DeereCross Implement.
The S21 FE is actually slightly larger and heavier than the standard S21, so it doesn’t really feel like a ‘lite’ alternative Samsung—though its 7.9mm thickness keeps it pleasantly slim.
Materials and Construction
The phone features glass front protected by Gorilla Glass Victus,https://infomania.space/nuevo-samsung-galaxy-s21-fe/436/2022, a plastic back, and an aluminum frame Cross Implement. While the plastic rear may disappoint some users expecting premium materials throughout, it does reduce weight and manufacturing costs without significantly compromising durability.
The camera array is integrated almost seamlessly into the back of the handset, with only a slightly noticeable bump to account for all the lenses, meaning it can lie pretty flat on a table and is easy to slide into your pocket or bag Samsung.
Water and Dust Resistance
The S21 FE carries an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, certified to withstand submersion up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes Cross Implement. This protection matches what Samsung offers on their flagship S-series phones, providing peace of mind for everyday accidents.
Full IP68 water and dust resistance definitely stands up competitively in terms of flagship specs GSMArena, especially impressive at the FE’s price point.
Available Colors
The Galaxy S21 FE comes in four color options: Graphite, Lavender, Olive, and White Farm Progress. There’s also quite a charming ‘ring’ around the phone for any of the colour options you choose Samsung, adding subtle visual interest to the design.
Display: A Visual Highlight
Screen Specifications
The Galaxy S21 FE offers an excellent display, measuring 6.4 inches with a 1080 x 2400 pixel resolution OEM Off-Highway. The screen uses Dynamic AMOLED 2X technology with an Infinity-O display design Farm Progress, featuring Samsung’s signature center punch-hole for the front camera.
The display offers a stellar pixel resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, great pixel density of 401 PPI, and an impressive screen-to-body ratio of 89.6% OEM Off-Highway. The S21 FE’s brightness maxes out around 700 nits OEM Off-Highway, sufficient for outdoor visibility in most conditions.
High Refresh Rate Performance
The display supports Dynamic AMOLED 2X technology with 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ Cross Implement. It’s a typical AMOLED beauty from Samsung with great saturation, contrast, brightness and pop that also has 120Hz and 60Hz refresh rate modes for either silky smooth animations or better battery life in the latter setting GSMArena.
The 120Hz refresh dramatically improves the user experience when scrolling through apps, browsing the web, or playing compatible games. Users can switch between 120Hz and 60Hz modes to balance smoothness against battery consumption.
Screen Protection and Always-On Display
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protects the display John DeereCross Implement, offering superior scratch and drop resistance compared to previous Gorilla Glass versions. The phone also supports always-on display functionality Cross Implement, letting users check time, notifications, and other information without fully waking the device.
Display Quality Assessment
Overall the display quality was excellent, with resolution high enough, close to or greater than 300dpi, so you see a smooth, crisp display Swappa. Watching a movie is going to be delightful Samsung on this screen, thanks to the vibrant AMOLED technology, HDR10+ support, and generous 6.4-inch size.
The display measuring in at 6.4-inches is probably one of the most efficient phones real estate-wise on the market right now, and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser, as it’s not too big for those that like a more compact handset and not too small for those that want more of a full featured experience GSMArena.
Performance and Processor
Chipset Variants
The Galaxy S21 FE uses either the Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) – Version 1, or the Exynos 2100 (5 nm) – Version 2 Cross Implement, depending on the market. The relatively affordable almost-flagship phone keeps the “fan-favorite” features of the S21 series, including a Snapdragon 888 processor AgUpdate.
The processor you receive depends on your region—North American models typically feature the Snapdragon 888, while some international markets receive the Exynos 2100. Both are powerful flagship-class processors from 2021, though the Snapdragon variant generally edges ahead in sustained performance and efficiency.
RAM and Storage Options
The S21 FE offers three internal storage options: 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB OEM Off-Highway. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE comes in two storage sizes SamMobile primarily—128GB and 256GB configurations being most common, with RAM varying by model.
The tested version came with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage Swappa, though 8GB RAM versions are also available John Deere. Unfortunately, there is no card slot John Deere for expandable storage, so choose your capacity carefully at purchase.
Real-World Performance
Performance of the Galaxy S21 FE 5G was very good—while not the best, the maximum upload and download speeds and tested processor performance were fast, with most tasks seeming quick with only minor slowdowns Swappa.
However, not all reviews were entirely positive. We 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 SamMobile.
This isn’t the first time we’ve found Samsung’s One UI to behave like this SamMobile, suggesting software optimization rather than hardware limitations may cause occasional performance hiccups.
Gaming and Intensive Tasks
The Snapdragon 888 remains a capable gaming processor. The powerful processor is good for gaming SamMobile, handling demanding titles smoothly at high settings. The combination of the 120Hz display and flagship processor creates an excellent gaming experience, though extended gaming sessions will drain the battery quickly and generate noticeable heat.
Camera System: Triple Threat Photography
Main Camera Setup
The tri-camera setup on the back consists of a 12MP primary, a 12MP ultrawide, and an 8MP telephoto camera, with a 32MP Quad-Bayer shooter on the front PhoneArena.
Primary Wide Camera: The 12MP camera uses different sensors depending on the chipset model—the Snapdragon 888 version gets the Sony IMX555 sensor, while the Exynos model relies on Samsung S5K2LD. Both imagers have 1.8µm pixels, Dual-Pixel AF, and sit behind 26mm f/1.8 OIS lens PhoneArena.
Ultrawide Camera: The ultrawide camera has either Sony IMX258 or the Hynix Hi1336—both are 13MP sensors with 1.12µm pixels behind 13mm f/2.2 lens and with focus fixed at infinity, saving 12MP images as advertised by the PR materials PhoneArena.
Telephoto Camera: The zoom camera uses an 8MP sensor and yet saves 12MP photos—it appears those are upscaled from the original resolution PhoneArena. While the S21 has a 64MP telephoto camera, the S21 FE only has an 8MP one, though it’s actually paired with the same lens which allows for 1.1x optical or 3x hybrid zoom SamMobile.
Front-Facing Camera
The 32MP selfie camera relies on a Sony IMX616 Quad-Bayer sensor with a 25mm f/2.2 lens and focus fixed at infinity PhoneArena. This camera, contrary to the majority of Quad-Bayer selfie shooters, saves native 8MP images PhoneArena by default, though a 32MP mode is available.
Key camera features include a 32 megapixel selfie camera AgUpdate, providing significantly higher resolution than the 10MP front camera found on the standard S21 models.
Camera Features and Modes
Software and shot mode features remain the same as the Galaxy S21 series, including unique Samsung modes like Single Take and Super Slow Mo, as well as more standard modes like Night, Portrait and Panorama GSMArena.
The camera has optical image stabilization to improve your chances of taking better handheld photos under low-light conditions Swappa, present on both the main wide and telephoto cameras.
Photo Quality Performance
The 12MP default photos from the Galaxy S21 FE’s main camera are excellent PhoneArena. As the Galaxy S21 FE shares a similar camera set-up to the Galaxy S21, it’s no surprise that image quality is great, with exposure levels good and a good amount of detail and sharpness Samsung Mobile Press.
Colours are, generally, also accurate but like the Galaxy S21, it does have a tendency to overcook greens and blues on occasion Samsung Mobile Press. Colours, in particular, are very true-to-life and depicted very accurately—after you’ve taken a photo, Samsung’s impressive camera AI will automatically edit the scene to look as close to how it appears in front of you Samsung.
Overall the camera performance was very good, with the main camera among top performers for shooting stills Swappa. Images were rated very good overall, among the best results for color quality, exposure level, sharpness, and image noise Swappa.
Telephoto and Ultrawide Performance
The 12MP pictures from the telephoto camera are quite nice, with resolved detail in the high range, even if the sharpness isn’t on par with the other cameras because of the minor upscaling PhoneArena.
The Ultra-Wide, Standard and Telephoto cameras all perform well but the best detail/sharpness appears in images captured with the standard lens, with detail starting to fall off when digital zoom is introduced Samsung Mobile Press. Anything over 10X we’d avoid using Samsung Mobile Press due to significant quality degradation.
Low-Light and Night Mode
Night mode does a good job of expanding the dynamic range so more detail is present, and the scene optimiser will quickly automatically recognise a scene to help you get a better shot Samsung Mobile Press.
The standard low-light photos with the S21 zoom camera are noisier, darker and softer than the S21 FE’s, which makes it easy for the S21 FE to win PhoneArena in certain comparison scenarios.
Video Recording Capabilities
With regards to video recording, both the front and rear cameras can hit 4K resolution and 60fps, and while that’s expected for the rear camera, it’s a surprise for the front one, as very few phones hit 4K selfie recording SamMobile.
The camera setup can produce 4K video at 60fps, which is the standard quality for a flagship phone Samsung. The only difference is that the S21 can also produce 8K video, but given that almost all screens on the market can’t display that quality right now, it’s not a very essential feature Samsung.
Video is captured in Full HD or Ultra HD with 30 or 60fps options available, with no 8K option as there is on the Galaxy S21 Samsung Mobile Press, though most users won’t miss this feature.
Camera Comparison: S21 FE vs Standard S21
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Snapdragon) camera earned a DXOMARK Camera score of 120 that puts it into a mid-field position in the Premium segment, with the score one point higher than the S21 5G (Snapdragon), making the FE model a great alternative to the standard model for photocentric users Samsung.
Though some of the specs are different, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE’s camera performance is largely comparable to that of the S21 and S21 Plus, with far more similarities than differences SamMobile.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery Capacity
The Galaxy S21 FE sports a massive 4,500mAh lithium-ion battery OEM Off-Highway. Battery expectations for this device include roughly 10 hours of web browsing, 16 hours of video playback, and 31 hours of call time OEM Off-Highway.
While these specifications sound promising, real-world battery performance depends heavily on usage patterns, screen brightness, refresh rate settings, and network conditions.
Real-World Battery Performance
The phone doesn’t last long enough between charges—we sometimes had to curtail our standard usage to ensure the phone lasted a full day SamMobile. This represents one of the S21 FE’s more significant shortcomings, especially for power users.
If you are a very heavy user, then this phone might not be for you—for moderate to kind-of-heavy usage, it’s fine Columbia University. Managing battery life may require adjusting settings like screen refresh rate, brightness, and background app activity.
Charging Options
The phone supports wireless charging AgUpdate, though even with its wireless charging, it is rather slow to charge SamMobile. Other key features include fast charging AgUpdate, though Samsung no longer includes a charger in the box—users must purchase one separately or use an existing compatible charger.
Software and User Experience
Operating System
The Galaxy S21 FE shipped with Android 12 John Deere, running Samsung’s One UI 4.0 Farm ProgressCross Implement interface on top. The device is eligible for up to 4 major Android upgrades John Deere, meaning it should receive updates through Android 16.
Samsung has started rolling out the long-awaited One UI 8.0 update to the now four-year-old Galaxy S21 FE, based on Android 16, currently available in Thailand and Vietnam, with other regions expected to follow soon Electrek.
Security Updates
The device is set to receive monthly security patches from Samsung Columbia University, ensuring ongoing protection against vulnerabilities. The Galaxy S21 FE started receiving the October 2024 security update in the United States, with support for the Camera Assistant app giving users the ability to customize the camera Electrek.
One UI Features and Customization
There’s a Privacy dashboard that lets you quickly control app-level access to your microphone, camera, device location and even whatever might still be in your clipboard, allowing you to enable/disable alerts for each of these areas GSMArena.
Samsung’s persistence with respect to reinventing its own versions of the Android interface includes the keyboard and Samsung voice input, though these can be swapped out for savvy users who prefer stock Google apps GSMArena.
Ease of Use
Ease of use on the Galaxy S21 FE 5G was excellent, with the touchscreen’s use of menus, web browser, camera, buttons, and unlocking the phone top notch Swappa. You should be able to comfortably hold the phone and use its buttons and touchscreen easily Swappa.
Connectivity and Additional Features
5G and Network Support
The device supports 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks Farm ProgressCross Implement, providing future-proof connectivity. It accepts Nano-SIM (4FF) cards Farm Progress and comes in Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) configurations Cross Implement depending on the market.
However, there is no eSIM support Farm Progress, which may disappoint users who rely on digital SIM profiles for travel or multiple carrier plans.
Wireless Features
Key features include NFC and Wi-Fi 6 AgUpdate, providing modern connectivity standards. The NFC capability enables contactless payments through Samsung Pay or Google Pay, as well as quick pairing with compatible accessories.
Biometric Security
The display houses an optical in-display fingerprint reader, which is pretty fast and accurate, although an ultrasonic one would have been appreciated Columbia University. Optical fingerprint sensors work by photographing your fingerprint, while ultrasonic sensors (used on more expensive Samsung models) use sound waves for potentially higher accuracy and security.
Additional Hardware Features
The device has a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type C port, which is really useful when transferring data from computers Columbia University, offering faster file transfer speeds than USB 2.0.
Pricing and Value Proposition
Launch Pricing
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G was priced at £749 for the 256GB version at launch, with the 128GB version slightly cheaper at £589 Kalvo. The price difference between the S21 FE and the standard S21 at launch was just £70, or £5.83 a month over 12 months Samsung.
This narrow price gap created challenges for the S21 FE’s market positioning, especially as the standard S21’s price dropped over time while the FE maintained its launch pricing longer.
Current Value Assessment
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE’s price problem is a shame, because the mobile could be a tempting buy at a more competitive price point—nowadays, you can get phones with the same processor, screen specs and camera capabilities for less SamMobile.
The price and what it has to offer simply doesn’t warrant a higher score at the time of writing—perhaps when the price comes down we’ll be saying something different Kalvo.
However, as the device ages, its street price has decreased significantly, making it more attractive. 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 SamMobile.
Pros and Cons
Advantages
Excellent Display The 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen with 120Hz refresh rate delivers vibrant colors, smooth animations, and an immersive viewing experience that rivals flagship devices.
Strong Camera Performance The camera performance is good, with almost the same camera line-up as you get on the original Galaxy S21 Kalvo. The versatile triple-camera system handles most photography scenarios well, from landscape shots to portraits.
Flagship Processor The Snapdragon 888 (or Exynos 2100) provides powerful performance for gaming, multitasking, and demanding applications, though it’s now a few generations old.
Premium Build Features IP68 water and dust resistance, wireless charging, and Gorilla Glass Victus protection GSMArena deliver flagship-level durability and convenience.
Long Software Support With four major Android updates promised, the S21 FE will receive software support longer than many competing devices.
Comfortable Size The 6.4-inch display hits a sweet spot—not too big for those who like a more compact handset and not too small for those who want a full featured experience GSMArena.
Disadvantages
Battery Life Concerns The phone doesn’t last long enough between charges, sometimes requiring curtailed usage to ensure it lasted a full day SamMobile. Heavy users may struggle to make it through a day.
Slow Charging Even with wireless charging, it is rather slow to charge SamMobile, and Samsung doesn’t include a charger in the box.
Occasional Software Lag The software can be rather laggy, with swiping between menus, closing and booting up apps, and unlocking the phone often taking longer than expected SamMobile.
Limited Zoom Quality Detail starts to fall off when digital zoom is introduced, with anything over 10X best avoided Samsung Mobile Press.
Plastic Back Panel While it reduces weight and cost, the plastic rear may feel less premium compared to glass-backed competitors.
No MicroSD Expansion There is no card slot for storage expansion John Deere, forcing users to choose sufficient storage at purchase.
Pricing at Launch The launch price positioned it too close to discounted standard S21 models, creating value confusion.
Comparison: Galaxy S21 FE vs Galaxy S21
Design and Display
The S21 FE is actually slightly larger and heavier than last year’s S21 Samsung, despite being positioned as a more affordable alternative. Both share similar display quality, with the camera setup on the S21 FE almost identical to the standard Galaxy S21 Samsung.
Camera Differences
The main 12MP camera and 12MP ultrawide are holdovers from the S21, but while the S21 has a 64MP telephoto camera, the S21 FE only has an 8MP one paired with the same lens SamMobile.
On the front, the S21 FE has a 32MP snapper compared to the 10MP on other S21 models SamMobile, though resolution alone doesn’t determine camera quality.
Performance and Features
The phones share the same Snapdragon 888 processor (in regions where this version is available), similar battery capacity, and comparable feature sets. With a price difference of just £70, it’s not too much of a surprise that the two handsets (released one year apart) seem so similar Samsung.
The only difference is that the S21 can also produce 8K video, but given that almost all screens on the market can’t display that quality right now, it’s not a very essential feature—so even though it’s £70 cheaper, you still get all the best elements of the S21’s brilliant camera array in the FE Samsung.
Who Should Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE?
Ideal Buyers
Samsung Ecosystem Users If you already use Samsung devices, the S21 FE integrates seamlessly with Galaxy Watches, Galaxy Buds, and Samsung’s suite of services.
Camera Enthusiasts on a Budget If you want a phone at this price with amazing cameras, this is hands down the phone for you Columbia University, especially when found at discounted prices.
Moderate Phone Users For moderate to kind-of-heavy usage, it’s fine Columbia University. Those who don’t push their phones to the limit will find the battery adequate and performance satisfactory.
Display Quality Prioritizers Anyone who values a vibrant, high-refresh screen for media consumption will appreciate the excellent AMOLED display.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
Heavy Power Users If you are a very heavy user, then this phone might not be for you Columbia University due to battery life limitations.
Budget Shoppers There’s a lot of competition out there that prevent it from standing out from the crowd, with alternatives like the Google Pixel 6, Samsung Galaxy S21, OnePlus 9 Pro, and the OnePlus Nord CE 2 priced at less than £300 Kalvo.
Latest Technology Seekers Those who want the absolute newest processor, camera sensor, or features should consider current-generation devices rather than a phone from 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the specs of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G?
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G features a 6.4-inch display, Snapdragon 888 5G chipset (or Exynos 2100 in some markets), 4500 mAh battery, up to 256 GB storage, 8 GB RAM, and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection John Deere. It includes a triple rear camera system with 12MP main, 8MP telephoto, and 12MP ultrawide lenses, plus a 32MP front camera. The device supports 5G connectivity, has an IP68 water resistance rating, and runs Android 12 with One UI 4.0 out of the box.
Does the Galaxy S21 FE have a high-refresh-rate display?
Yes, the Galaxy S21 FE features a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support Cross Implement. The display has 120Hz and 60Hz refresh rate modes for either silky smooth animations or better battery life GSMArena. Users can switch between these modes in settings to balance performance with battery conservation.
What processor does the Samsung S21 FE use?
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE uses either the Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) or the Exynos 2100 (5 nm) Cross Implement, depending on your region. North American models typically receive the Snapdragon variant, while some international markets get the Exynos version. Both are flagship-class processors from 2021 capable of handling demanding applications and games.
Is the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE good for photography?
Yes, the Galaxy S21 FE delivers strong photography performance. Overall the camera performance was very good, with the main camera among top performers for shooting stills Swappa. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Snapdragon) earned a DXOMARK Camera score of 120, one point higher than the S21 5G, making the FE model a great alternative for photocentric users Samsung. The triple camera system handles various scenarios well, though extreme zoom quality drops off beyond 10x magnification.
How does the Galaxy S21 FE compare to the S21?
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE’s camera performance is largely comparable to that of the S21 and S21 Plus, with far more similarities than differences SamMobile.