The Galaxy S21 FE appears to be a terrific worth to this point.
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The Galaxy S20 FE was well-received when it launched in 2020, so it isn’t shocking to see Samsung launch a sequel. The new Galaxy S21 FE, which begins at $700 and launches on Jan. 11, is $100 cheaper than the common Galaxy S21. It has the identical processor and comes with perks like a bigger display, a triple-lens digicam and assist for each variations of 5G. The S21 FE checks all of the packing containers most individuals would anticipate from a contemporary telephone. The efficiency is snappy, it takes nice photographs and might final for a very long time on a single cost.These attributes make the Galaxy S21 FE a promising choice if you would like a comparatively reasonably priced new Android 12 machine. You will not get a few of the pricey extras discovered on extra premium telephones — like a fourth digicam lens, a crisper telephoto lens or a brilliant refined design — however you are not compromising by going for Samsung’s cheaper choice.
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However, the Galaxy S21 FE could find yourself feeling misplaced in Samsung’s lineup and the broader Android telephone market. We’re anticipating the Galaxy S22 to launch imminently, and if the rumors are true, it may have a brand new 50-megapixel digicam and quicker charging. Plus, the $600 Pixel 6 is barely cheaper than the Galaxy S21 FE and was named certainly one of our favourite telephones of 2021. Although the Pixel 6 would not have the S21 FE’s third digicam lens, it is loaded with Google-specific options that might make it extra interesting for some.
LikeReasonably priced priceLong battery lifeSolid digicam
Don’t LikePlain designMay really feel dated when the Galaxy S22 launches
The Galaxy S21 FE feels precisely like what it’s: a previous-generation telephone. That’s not a foul factor; in any case, shopping for older telephones could be a good way to save cash. But it additionally means you should not anticipate something shocking or new from the S21 FE.A smooth however primary design that appears lots just like the Galaxy S21The Galaxy S21 FE has a 6.4-inch display.
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The Galaxy S21 FE seems virtually an identical to the Galaxy S21 from the entrance. It’s barely larger and heavier than the S21 (177 grams versus 169 grams) however is simply as slim at 7.9 millimeters thick. For me, the S21 FE’s 6.4-inch show and lightweight construct present the suitable steadiness of display house and ease of use: It’s larger than the 6.2-inch Galaxy S21 however only a hair smaller than the 6.5-inch Galaxy S20 FE, Samsung’s previous-generation midrange telephone. The Galaxy S21 FE’s display makes use of Samsung’s Dynamic AMOLED know-how and has an FHD Plus decision identical to the Galaxy S21. The pixel density, or variety of pixels per inch, is decrease than the Galaxy S21’s because the S21 FE’s display is bigger, however the distinction is not noticeable. Photos, video games and information articles all look sharp and daring on the S21 FE’s display. It has a flat-edge display identical to the Galaxy 21 and Galaxy S1 Plus, which I truly desire over the pricier Galaxy S21 Ultra’s barely curved sides.On the again, you will discover the identical digicam bump as on the Galaxy S21. Both telephones have a matte end that appears extra elegant and would not choose up fingerprints as simply as Samsung’s older telephones (though it nonetheless does get smudgy, so you will need to use a case). The Galaxy S21 does, nonetheless, have some design accents that make it really feel like a costlier telephone, such because the shiny metallic end on its digicam module and sides.
Samsung’s Galaxy S21 FE seems virtually precisely just like the Galaxy S21
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Though it is a good sufficient telephone for $700, the true drawback for my part is that Google has raised the bar for what’s anticipated of a midtier telephone. Google’s $600 Pixel 6 has an eye catching two-tone glass design with sharper corners that nearly makes it really feel much like the Galaxy Note. Design could be subjective, however to me the Pixel 6 feels costlier than it truly is. The Galaxy S21 FE is smooth and lighter than the Pixel 6, and a few would possibly discover it simpler to make use of with one hand, but it surely would not depart the identical impression.There’s additionally an in-screen fingerprint reader and facial authentication for unlocking the machine, which I usually discovered to be fairly dependable. You will not discover expandable storage on this mannequin as was the case with the Galaxy S20 FE, however Samsung is promoting its new telephone in one other variant that comes with 256GB of storage (the bottom mannequin has 128GB).An enormous battery and strong efficiencyThe Galaxy S21 FE has the identical processor because the Galaxy S21.
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Battery life was a spotlight for the Galaxy S20 FE, and the Galaxy S21 FE appears to observe in its footsteps to this point. Like the Galaxy S20 FE, the Galaxy S21 FE comes with a 4,500-mAh battery, which is bigger than the common Galaxy S21’s 4,000-mAh battery. The Galaxy S21 FE nonetheless had 32% of its battery left after a full day and a half’s price of utilization. That’s not too shabby, particularly since I had the movement smoothness setting on excessive, which cranks the display’s refresh fee as much as 120Hz. That ends in quicker scrolling but additionally usually means shorter battery life. Samsung’s new telephone comes with the identical processor because the Galaxy S21, which suggests the US model runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888. That chip is present in different high-end telephones like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the OnePlus 9 Pro, so the S21 FE ought to be capable of sustain with these units simply.
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The Galaxy S21 FE feels zippy and fluid, particularly with movement smoothness turned on. The interface is slick, video games run with no hitch and the digicam launches in just some seconds. Samsung additionally says the S21 FE helps a response fee of 240Hz, permitting for even faster response occasions in sport mode like the remainder of the Galaxy S21 collection. But I personally have not seen a distinction when taking part in video games like Asphalt 9 and Shadowgun: Legends on the S21 FE in contrast with taking part in them on the Pixel 6. The Galaxy S21 FE scored about the identical as Galaxy S21 however increased than the Pixel 6 on Geekbench 5, a benchmark check meant to evaluate the telephone’s efficiency normally duties. However, it scored barely decrease than each the common S21 and Pixel 6 on a separate benchmark referred to as 3DMark Slingshot Unlimited for testing graphics efficiency. Check out the outcomes beneath. Geekbench 5 Single Core
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Higher scores are higher.
Geekbench 5 Multicore
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Higher scores are higher.
3DMark Slingshot Unlimited
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Higher scores are higher.
A triple-lens digicam much like the Galaxy S20 FE’s and S21’sThe Galaxy S21 FE has a triple-lens digicam.
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Samsung’s new telephone has a triple-lens digicam that is much like the Galaxy S20 FE’s digicam setup. There’s a 12-megapixel ultrawide digicam, a 12-megapixel vast digicam and an 8-megapixel telephoto digicam with a 30x digital zoom. Based on my expertise, the Galaxy S21 FE appears to carry its personal towards the Pixel 6’s 50-megapixel digicam and the usual Galaxy S21. The S21 FE’s pictures are wealthy intimately and colour, and the digicam performs nicely in several lighting circumstances.Whether the picture high quality on the Galaxy S21 FE or Pixel 6 is healthier depends upon your desire. Samsung’s telephone cameras are inclined to exaggerate colours, and that is no completely different on the S21 FE. Some folks would possibly desire Samsung’s extra colourful photographs, however Google’s pictures appeared more true to their environment more often than not. (Note: I did not change the digicam settings on both telephone previous to testing apart from to regulate the Pixel’s 6 crop ratio.)Overall, I believe the Pixel 6’s photographs supplied the very best steadiness of consistency and accuracy, but it surely’s protected to say that each telephones are able to taking actually nice footage. Photos taken on each telephones appeared the identical in some circumstances, however the pictures beneath of a inexperienced bush actually spotlight the distinction between Samsung’s and Google’s cameras. You’ll discover the Galaxy S21 FE’s picture seems extra lush and daring, however Google’s seems extra true to life. For instance, you cab see notes of purple close to the guidelines of the leaves within the Pixel 6 photograph beneath. They aren’t even seen within the Galaxy S21 FE’s picture.A photograph of a plant taken on the Galaxy S21 FE.
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A photograph of a plant taken with the Pixel 6.
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Check out the gallery beneath to see extra photograph samples from the Galaxy S21 FE and Pixel 6.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE digicam testing: See the way it compares to the Pixel 6 and Galaxy S21
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The larger distinction between these telephones is within the images options they provide. The most notable distinction between the Pixel 6 and Galaxy S21 FE is that Samsung’s telephone has an 8-megapixel telephoto lens along with a 12-megapixel vast and ultrawide lenses. The Pixel 6, by comparability, simply has two lenses: a 50-megapixel primary lens and a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens. As a end result, the Galaxy S21 can obtain nearer zoom photographs with as much as a 30x digital zoom, whereas the Pixel 6 offers a 7x zoom.Both the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 FE have triple-lens cameras, however the telephoto lens on the common S21 has a higher-resolution sensor (64 megapixels versus 8 megapixels). The customary S21 also can report 8K video, not like the S21 FE, which maxes out at 4K UHD video. However, I did not discover a lot of a distinction within the high quality of zoomed-in photographs when evaluating pictures taken on the Galaxy S21 FE and Galaxy S21.Hardware apart, every telephone comes with its personal array of taking pictures modes and software program. The Galaxy S21 FE, unsurprisingly, has lots in frequent with the common Galaxy S21 on this regard. You’ll discover acquainted modes like Single Take, which helps you to seize a number of pictures and video clips with a single press of the shutter button, Super Slow-Mo video and Night Mode, amongst others. You also can report video with the entrance and rear cameras on the similar time on the Galaxy S21 FE. But this function is extra restricted than the Galaxy S21’s Director’s View; you’ll be able to’t toggle between the three rear lenses when taking pictures on this mode as you’ll be able to on the Galaxy S21. Google, in the meantime, has a number of software-based instruments of its personal that make its machine stand out. One of my favorites is Face Unblur, which, as its identify suggests, can seize sharp pictures of peoples’ faces even when there’s motion within the scene. I took a photograph of my husband shaking his head forwards and backwards to see how nicely it truly works, and I used to be impressed with how nicely the Pixel 6 was capable of freeze his face in focus. When we tried this with the Galaxy S21 FE, however, it solely produced blurry pictures.The backside lineThe Galaxy S21 FE is launching simply earlier than we’re anticipating to see the Galaxy S22.
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There is not a lot to say concerning the Galaxy S21 FE apart from that it is a strong telephone for $700. It’s one other signal that the definition of a high-end telephone is beginning to change as once-premium options like 5G, borderless shows and multilens cameras start trickling right down to extra reasonably priced units. That being mentioned, I’d suggest ready till Samsung declares the Galaxy S22 lineup earlier than making a choice. Samsung usually launches its new Galaxy S telephones early within the 12 months, and rumors counsel the subsequent era may include a 50-megapixel digicam and quicker charging. Even if you happen to do not want these upgrades, you would possibly as nicely wait with the intention to make a extra knowledgeable selection.I’d additionally counsel contemplating the $600 Pixel 6 earlier than you decide. Samsung’s telephone has an additional telephoto digicam lens for higher zoom photographs, and it is also lighter than Google’s telephone. But the Pixel 6 has a extra distinguished design and Google-specific goodies like the power to have Google Assistant display spam calls and wait on maintain for you. Pixel telephones additionally usually get Android software program updates extra shortly than telephones from different smartphone makers, and Google usually creates unique options only for Pixel telephones. Since the Pixel 6 is the primary telephone to run on the corporate’s personal Tensor chip, we’ll in all probability see much more of that down the road. But Samsung’s telephone has an enormous benefit: it helps each sub-6GHz and millimeter-wave variations of 5G. The state of affairs is a little more sophisticated with the Pixel 6, as solely sure provider fashions assist each variations. What’s extra, the variations that assist each additionally are inclined to value extra, as my colleague Eli Blumenthal reviews.If you are the kind of one that would quite purchase final 12 months’s telephone at a reduction, the Galaxy S21 FE might be for you. That being mentioned, it is best to think about which options matter to you most. Both telephones have nice cameras, however if you happen to take a variety of zoomed-in photographs you could be higher off with the Galaxy S21 FE. However, if you happen to like the concept of getting Google Assistant display your calls and need to get the newest Android options instantly, the Pixel 6 is the best way to go.