Comparison: Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE

January 15, 2022 Luisa Rey

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has been available since this week. A few months ago there was the Galaxy S21 series with, for example, the Samsung Galaxy S21. What are the differences between these two smartphones? DroidApp gives you an overview of the differences between the Galaxy S21 and the Galaxy S21 FE.

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1 Difference between Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 FE

Difference between Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 FE

Samsung has a rich portfolio of devices with an interesting option in every segment. We also see this in the S21 series, where there was recently the expansion of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE. Expectations are high, given the experiences with the previous model in the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE review. Soon the Galaxy S21 and the Galaxy S21 FE look very similar, is that also the case, or are we dealing with more differences than we thought? We’ll break it down for you in this article.

The biggest differences

What are the biggest differences? First of all, that’s the processor. In the Netherlands, the S21 FE comes with the Snapdragon 888 chipset, while the Galaxy S21 comes with its own Exynos 2100 chipset. In practice, the Snapdragon processor often turns out to be slightly faster and more energy-efficient. Another difference is the camera setup. Both have a 12-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens. The telephoto lens is different. With the S21 this is a 64MP lens, while the S21 FE gets an 8MP lens. That of the S21 FE also has a lower light sensitivity; so when shooting wide angles there may be slight differences in favor of the S21.

For those who like to take selfies, there is also a difference. The Galaxy S21 FE comes with a 32 megapixel front camera. The front camera of the Galaxy S21 comes out at 10 megapixels. So better selfies with the S21 FE. Furthermore, the battery capacity of the new Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is larger; 4500 mAh, compared to 4000 mAh on the S21. Charging is done with the same power (25W) and can also be done wirelessly. So the S21 FE has an advantage here.

Then there are differences in the screen. Samsung has provided both screens with a refresh rate of 120Hz. However, this is variable with the S21, so that it adapts to what is happening on the screen. In practice you will not see any difference in this. Samsung has equipped the Galaxy S21 FE with a 6.4-inch AMOLED screen with a Full HD+ resolution. With the Galaxy S21 it is a fraction smaller; 6.2 inches; which means that it is also a fraction smaller in size, although it is not much of a difference.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE k

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE

Updates

A big difference is in the updates. Samsung supplies the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE with Android 12 right out of the box, along with One UI 4. The Galaxy S21 now also runs on Android 12, but it came on the market with Android 11. Samsung promises three years of Android functionality for both devices. version updates and four years of security updates. This means that the Galaxy S21 will receive an update to Android 13 and Android 14, while the Galaxy S21 FE can also expect Android 15. The security updates will also continue for a little longer.

Price

We will also not see differences in the price of the two devices; they are both priced around 750 euros. However, you will now temporarily receive 100n euros in cashback on the S21, which may be an extra incentive. That’s a lot of money, but whichever one you choose; you have a very nice smartphone that can last for years. As we had already mentioned in our Galaxy S20 review; the device is very smooth. We therefore really recommend buying a case with the device, so that you can enjoy your phone for a long time. The covers come in many shapes and sizes, and we have listed the best Galaxy S21 covers in an overview.

Samsung Galaxy S21+ review

Samsung Galaxy S21

Which one to choose?

Actually, you don’t have a bad phone with this choice. However, the new Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has an advantage in several areas. Think of longer updates, a slightly better processor and a larger battery. However, with the temporary cashback promotion, the S21 is now slightly cheaper. Below you will find the device pages, with all current prices, specifications and more.