the Samsung Galaxy S21 may be almost a year old, but it’s still one of the most sought-after flagship devices on celebratory deals.
However, with the cheaper brother coming out soon, we watch carefully whether the older brother continues to enjoy the same respect or whether the latest affordable device dwarfs its premium counterpart. the Galaxy 21 FE lineup is a scaled-down variant of the flagship lineup presented earlier and aims to offer a similar experience as the premium variant at an affordable price.
Samsung only has has started accepting pre-orders for the Galaxy S21 FE in India, suggesting this launch is just around the corner. So we thought it would be a good idea to quickly compare the two devices and express our considered opinion as to which of the two offers the best value for money.
Samsung Galaxy S21 vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE Price and Availability
The Samsung Galaxy S21 is currently priced at Rs. 64,999 for the variant with 8 GB of Ram and 128 GB of internal storage. The 8 GB RAM and 256 GB variants appear to be out of stock on both Amazon and Samsung websites.
By comparison, the Galaxy S21 FE cost £ 699 in the UK and $ 699.95 in the US for the 6GB RAM and 128GB storage model, and hit £ 749 / $ 769.99 for the 8GB RAM / 256GB version .
Indian prices are not yet available as the phone has not officially launched. However, the phone is reportedly priced at around Rs. 52,000 – although the effective price may be lower thanks to card deals and other discounts.
Samsung Galaxy S21 vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE – Design and Build
The Samsung Galaxy S21 was available in four colors, with all other variants except the Phantom Black variant having a dual-tone finish. The company may not have changed much in the design of the Galaxy S21 FE, but the monochromatic finish doesn’t look as premium as the non-FE device.
Samsung has used similar material for both devices – somewhere between plastic and glass, called Glasstic. Thanks to the matte surface worn by the Galaxy S21, however, it looks more elegant and is one of the best devices in its price range.
Other than that, there is absolutely no difference in the other aspects of the phones – including the design or size of the camera island, lens placement, ports, etc. The Galaxy S21 FE is slightly larger than the Galaxy S21 – a factor that is difficult to gauge if you don’t put both devices next to each other.
Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE – Specifications and Performance
| Specifications | Samsung Galaxy S21 | Samsung Galaxy S21 FE |
|---|---|---|
| display | 6.2-inch AMOLED 2,400 x 1,080; 120Hz | 6.4-inch AMOLED 2,400 x 1,080; 120Hz |
| processor | Snapdragon 888 / Exynos 2100 | Snapdragon 888 / Exynos 2100 |
| camera | 12 MP wide angle, 12 MP ultra wide angle, 64 MP telephoto lens | 12 MP wide angle, 12 MP ultra wide angle, 8 MP telephoto lens |
| Front camera | 10 MP | 32MP |
| Battery and charging | 4,000 mAh capacity; fast loading; Wireless PowerShare | 4500 mAh capacity; fast loading; Wireless PowerShare |
| warehouse | 128 GB or 256 GB | 128 GB or 256 GB |
| reminder | 8GB | 6GB / 8GB |
In terms of specifications, there is hardly anything that separates the two devices. A quick look at the specification table shows that the Galaxy S21 FE is slightly larger and has a slightly larger battery and a 32 MP selfie camera than the 10 MP of the standard variants. However, it has to forego the primary 64 MP rear camera and instead gets an 8 MP snapper.
Depending on the region, the Galaxy S21 comes with a Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100 SoC at its core, while the Galaxy S21 FE only came onto the market with the Snapdragon 888 SoC in some regions. Although there are rumors that the Indian variant might rock an Exynos chipset – we’ll have to wait for the official announcement and we’ll update the story in due course.
Should that happen, however, the Galaxy S21 will automatically gain the upper hand and probably give users another reason to distance themselves from the fan edition.
In our review too Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, said the editor that “the introductory price for what you get is still way too high, not to mention issues like slow loading speeds, lagging software, and inconspicuous battery life.
Summarized…
Although both devices look and feel almost identical, the flagship still has an advantage over its cheaper sibling. A better camera setup, a first-class look and feel and a slightly compact design are the main highlights.
In addition, the Galaxy S21 FE is expected to hit the market at around Rs. 52,000 for the basic variant and possibly a little higher for the top-end variant, on the other hand, the Galaxy S21 with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage was already sold for the same price during the festive sale. So there is a high probability that with a little patience you will get the better version at the same time.
It should also be taken into account that the Samsung Galaxy S22 FE was significantly delayed. While the global chipset shortage may have stalled the market, we already have the next generation SoCs from both MediaTek and Qualcomm already in the market. These SoCs will power the upcoming flagship of several Chinese brands that are known to offer their phones at an affordable price.
Therefore, opting for a slimmed-down variant compared to the flagship Galaxy S21 may not be the best investment decision in 2022.
Would you like to be informed about the latest developments in technology? Follow TechRadar India on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram