The Galaxy S21 FE and Galaxy S21 are two of the most similar phones available right now — making the decision of which Samsung flagship to buy all the more complicated. With all the smartphones coming out these days, it’s expected that some of them will have certain things in common. Whether it be similar display resolutions, processors, or battery capacities, there’s plenty of room for overlap.

This is especially true with smartphones from the same manufacturer. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro have a lot in common, as do the OnePlus 8 Pro and OnePlus 9 Pro. When it comes to Samsung’s current lineup, this is on full display with the S21 FE and S21. The latter of the two was released in January 2021, with the S21 FE following a year later in January 2022. Despite a whole year separating the two phones, it’s almost impossible to discern any real difference between them.

SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY

Comparing the Galaxy S21 FE and Galaxy S21, the similarities are immediately apparent with their designs. Both handsets have matte plastic backs with Samsung’s ‘contour-cut’ camera design that flows right into the frame. Both phones are also the same width at 7.9mm, but the regular S21 is shorter and lighter — measuring 71.2 x 151.7 x 7.9mm and weighing 169g. By comparison, the S21 FE is 74.5 x 155.7 x 7.9mm wight a weight of 177g. The S21 FE and S21 further share an IP68 dust/water resistance rating, an optical in-screen fingerprint sensor, and stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos.

The S21 FE And S21 Are Almost Identical

One of the only differences between these two phones is the display. The Galaxy S21 FE touts a 6.4-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 and a 120Hz refresh rate. The regular Galaxy S21 uses the same AMOLED panel and its own 120Hz refresh rate. However, it’s smaller at 6.2-inches and has a slightly sharper 2400 x 1080 resolution. Powering both phones is the same Snapdragon 888 processor, along with a choice between 6-8GB of RAM and 128 or 256GB of storage.

See also  Valorant Night Market's Best Deals & Discounts

Things get a bit more interesting regarding the camera systems. The S21 FE and S21 use the same 12MP primary sensor with an f/1.8 aperture. They also both feature 12MP ultra-wide cameras, though the S21 FE has a slightly wider FoV (123° vs 120° on the S21). However, the S21 quickly makes up for that thanks to its telephoto camera. The phones each have a telephoto camera capable of 3x optical zoom and 30x Space Zoom. The S21 delivers substantially more detail, though, offering a 64MP sensor instead of the S21 FE’s 8MP one. As for the selfie camera, the S21 FE cranks out a 32MP camera over the S21’s 10MP offering.

There are two last areas to talk about: battery and software. The regular S21 delivers a respectable 4000 mAh capacity, but the S21 FE bests it with a 4500 mAh one. Also, while both phones are currently running Android 12, the S21 FE’s newer release means it’s treated to an extra year of software support. Then, of course, there’s the price. The Galaxy S21 FE retails for $699, while the S21 has a $799 MSRP. It’s worth keeping in mind, however, that the S21 is often on sale for $699 or less. In that context, picking between the two really comes down to a couple of small differences. For someone who wants a more compact device and/or values a better telephoto camera, the regular Galaxy S21 is still worth look. Beyond that, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is the better choice for people who want a bigger display, longer battery life, and an ever-so-slightly more capable ultra-wide camera.

Source: Samsung

Thor: Love And Thunder Funko Pops Revealed

About The Author


Joe Maring
(1539 Articles Published)

See also  Judi Dench Has Been In More 007 Movies Than Any James Bond Actor

Joe has been actively writing and talking about consumer tech since 2012. His biggest passion lies with smartphones, but he’s happy to talk your ear off about just about anything with a CPU. He lives in Kalamazoo, MI with his wife, two cats, and pit bull/boxer mix.

More From Joe Maring