Shopping for a brand new Android telephone? If you are a Samsung loyalist, you may end up deciding between the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S21 FE. Both units are across the similar worth and share some similarities in relation to measurement and digicam specs. That mentioned, there are some necessary variations between the 2.The Galaxy S21 FE is basically a repackaged model of final 12 months’s Galaxy S21, whereas the Galaxy S22 is the subsequent technology of the S21. The Galaxy S21 FE launched at $700, though Samsung is presently itemizing it for $600. It runs on a barely older processor than the S22 and its important digicam is lower-resolution. The Galaxy S21 FE would not have the enhancements that Samsung has made to nighttime pictures, and its design is much less thrilling than that of the Galaxy S22. But the S21 FE has a noticeably bigger display than the S22, a sharper selfie digicam and, most significantly, a lower cost.The Galaxy S22, which launched at $800 however is presently priced at $725 by means of Samsung, is best suited for individuals who need higher digicam high quality and like smaller units. The S21 FE, however, is for individuals who prioritize display measurement and a lower cost.Before you make your determination, keep in mind that Samsung normally launches its new Galaxy telephones at the start of the 12 months. So in case you’re able to carry off, it is a good suggestion to attend. Here’s a better have a look at how the 2 telephones evaluate.
Samsung Galaxy S22 vs. Galaxy S21 FE
Galaxy S21 FE
Galaxy S22
Display measurement, decision
6.4-inch AMOLED; 2,400×1,080 pixels; 120Hz
6.1-inch AMOLED; 2,340×1,080 pixels; 120Hz
Pixel density
401 pixels per inch
425 pixels per inch
Dimensions (millimeters)
74.5×155.7×7.9mm
70.6x146x7.6mm
Weight (ounces, grams)
177g
167 g (168 g for mmWave mannequin)
Mobile software program
Android 11
Android 12
Camera
12MP (important), 12MP (ultrawide), 8MP (telephoto)
50MP (large), 12MP (ultrawide), 10MP (telephoto)
Front-facing digicam
32MP
10MP
Video seize
4K at 60 fps
8K at 24 fps
Processor
Snapdragon 888 (within the US)
Snapdragon 8 gen 1
RAM/Storage
6GB/128GB; 8GB/128GB; 8GB/256GB
8GB/128GB; 8GB/256GB
Expandable storage
None
None
Battery/Charger
4,500 mAh (no bundled charger)
3,700 mAh (25W wired charging)
Fingerprint sensor
In-display
In-display
Connector
USB-C
USB-C
Headphone jack
None
No
Special options
5G (Sub-6GHz and mmWave), 120Hz show, IP68 ranking, 25W wired charging, 15W wi-fi charging
5G (mmw/Sub6), 120Hz show, IP68 ranking, 25W wired charging, 15W wi-fi charging
Price off-contract (USD)
$700 (128GB/6GB); $770 (256GB/8GB)
$800
The Galaxy S22 has a smaller display, however a extra elegant designThe Galaxy S21 FE (left) and Galaxy S22 (proper).
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
The most blatant distinction between the 2 units could be seen by simply them: The Galaxy S22 has a 6.1-inch display, whereas the Galaxy S21 FE has a 6.4-inch show. Which measurement is best is dependent upon your choice. The Galaxy S22 can appear a little bit cramped, particularly when typing, whereas the Galaxy S21 FE looks like a greater stability of portability and display area. Compared with the Galaxy S22 Plus and Ultra, the Galaxy S22 feels proper for individuals who choose smaller telephones just like the iPhone 13 Mini or Samsung Galaxy S10E. However, each of these telephones are significantly smaller than the S22. The Galaxy S22 and S21 FE have very comparable show high quality. The Galaxy S22 technically has extra pixels per inch, however the distinction is not noticeable. Both telephones can crank their screens’ refresh charges as much as 120Hz for smoother scrolling and so they each help HDR10 Plus, so you are not lacking out on something main by choosing the cheaper FE. The Galaxy S22 household has a brand new function known as Vision Booster, which adjusts the display to the lighting in your environment, however I did not discover a lot of a distinction between the 2. Where you’ll discover a distinction, nonetheless, is within the telephones’ design. The Galaxy S22 is comprised of metallic and glass, giving it a extra elegant and costly really feel than the cheaper Galaxy S21 FE. The S22’s metallic edges even remind me a little bit of the iPhone 13 Pro. The Galaxy S21 FE’s design appears to be like uninteresting by comparability, however that most likely would not matter a lot in case you plan to cowl your machine with a case. The Galaxy S22 can be barely lighter than the Galaxy S21 FE at 167 grams in contrast with the S21 FE’s 177 grams. Read extra: Galaxy S22 vs. Galaxy S21: Everything That’s NewThe Galaxy S22 has a greater important digicam, however the S21 FE wins at selfies The Galaxy S21 FE (left) and Galaxy S22 (proper).
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
The Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S21 FE each have triple-lens important cameras, however the distinction is within the particulars. The Galaxy S22 has a 50-megapixel important digicam, a 12-megapixel ultrawide digicam and a 10-megapixel telephoto digicam. The Galaxy S21 FE has a 12-megapixel important digicam, a 12-megapixel ultrawide digicam and an 8-megapixel telephoto digicam. As a consequence, I discovered images taken with a Galaxy S22 usually regarded extra colourful and detailed than these shot with a Galaxy S21 FE. These modifications are most noticeable in images of single topics, like a portrait or a bouquet of flowers, than in busier scenes like a avenue nook.Galaxy S22The picture of a flower bouquet was taken with the Galaxy S22.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Galaxy S21 FEThis picture was taken with the Galaxy S21 FE.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Galaxy S22This portrait was taken with the Galaxy S22.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Galaxy S21 FEThis portrait was taken with the Galaxy S21 FE.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
I additionally observed that the Galaxy S22 took sharper zoomed-in images than the Galaxy S21 FE, which is sensible because it has a barely higher-resolution digicam. Take a have a look at the images beneath to see the distinction. The images of the spiky ball hanging from a tree have been taken at a 10x zoom, and you may discover that the Galaxy S22’s is sharper.Galaxy S22This picture of a spiky ball hanging from a tree was taken with the Galaxy S22.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Galaxy S21 FEHere’s the identical picture taken with the Galaxy S21 FE.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
But it isn’t simply the decision that is modified. Samsung has additionally improved the way in which the Galaxy S22 lineup takes images in low gentle, which you’ll be able to learn extra about in our full story on the Galaxy 22’s Nightography night time pictures enhancements. The Galaxy S22 took images that have been usually clearer, brighter and crisper than the Galaxy S21 FE’s throughout my testing. Take a have a look at the images beneath, which have been captured in my condominium with the entire lights turned off. Galaxy S22This picture was taken with the lights turned off in my condominium.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Galaxy S21 FEThis picture was taken with the Galaxy S21 FE in a really darkish room.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
But the Galaxy S21 FE’s 32-megapixel entrance digicam offers it a bonus in relation to taking selfies. The Galaxy S22, by comparability, has a 10-megapixel selfie digicam. You’ll discover the Galaxy S21 FE’s picture has way more element, particularly in relation to my hair.Galaxy S22The Galaxy S22 has a 10-megapixel entrance digicam for taking selfies.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Galaxy S21 FEBut the Galaxy S21 FE’s 32-megapixel selfie digicam is sharper than the Galaxy S22’s.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Read extra: The Galaxy S22 Ultra Fails to Excite This Pro Photographer. And That’s a ProblemThe Galaxy S22 has newer Qualcomm processor, however basic efficiency is analogousThe Galaxy S22 (left) and Galaxy S21 FE (proper).
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
The Galaxy S22 runs on Qualcomm’s new processor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, whereas the Galaxy S21 FE has final 12 months’s Snapdragon 888. That’s the identical chip discovered contained in the Galaxy S21 lineup.So what does that imply for general efficiency? Not a lot. Both telephones really feel snappy and fluid when loading apps, taking part in video games and scrolling across the working system. The Galaxy S22 carried out barely greater in benchmarks that check basic computing and graphics efficiency, however by a slim margin. Check out the outcomes beneath.
Geekbench 5 Single Core
Note:
Higher scores are higher.
Geekbench 5 Multicore
Note:
Higher scores are higher.
3DMark Slingshot Unlimited
Note:
Higher scores are higher.
Where the brand new processor actually makes a distinction is in powering new options. Part of the explanation why the Galaxy S22 is best at taking images in the dead of night, for instance, is its new processor. The telephones additionally supply comparable reminiscence and storage, though the Galaxy S22 has extra reminiscence on the base stage (8GB versus the S21 FE’s 6GB). But each telephones can be found in both 128GB or 256GB storage choices. The Galaxy S21 FE has barely longer battery life than the Galaxy S22 in keeping with my testing, however not by a lot. The S21 FE lasted for 15 hours, 46 minutes in CNET’s battery check, which entails repeatedly taking part in a video in airplane mode with the display brightness set to 50%. The Galaxy S22, by comparability, lasted for 15 hours, 21 minutes throughout the identical check. Both telephones lasted noticeably shorter than the Galaxy S22 Plus and giant-size Galaxy S22 Ultra, which each exceeded 18 hours. Read extra: Samsung Galaxy S22 vs. S22 Plus vs. S22 Ultra
Galaxy S22 images: Get a better have a look at Samsung’s new telephones
See all images
Should you purchase the Galaxy S22 or the Galaxy S21 FE?The Galaxy S21 FE (left) and Galaxy S22 (proper).Before you purchase a brand new Samsung telephone, keep in mind that new units could also be simply across the nook. Samsung is predicted to launch the Galaxy S23 lineup in early 2023, which is able to probably have a brand new processor and a few digicam enhancements. The firm additionally launched the Galaxy S21 FE in January 2022, so if Samsung retains the identical launch sample a Galaxy S22 FE could possibly be arriving shortly. (However, a report from the weblog SamMobile suggests Samsung could have canceled the Galaxy S22 FE).If you do want a brand new Samsung telephone proper now, the Galaxy S22 is the only option in case you do not thoughts swapping a smaller display measurement in change for a greater digicam, marginally sooner efficiency and a classier design. If pictures is a high precedence, the Galaxy S22 is the higher possibility. It can seize images which can be usually extra detailed with extra distinction than the S21 FE offers you, and it is higher at taking zoomed-in images too. It may also take brighter images in low-light situations.But the Galaxy S21 FE is best for individuals who desire a bigger display at a considerably cheaper worth than the $1,000 price ticket of the Galaxy S22 Plus. The digicam is not pretty much as good because the Galaxy S22’s, but it surely nonetheless takes images which can be adequate for most individuals. The S21 FE’s sharper entrance digicam may even come in useful in case you take loads of selfies, or incessantly use your telephone for video calls. For extra, take a look at CNET’s Galaxy S21 FE assessment and the way the Galaxy S22 Ultra compares with the Galaxy S21 Ultra. You may also check out what Samsung’s calling Nightography and what the Galaxy S22 line means for the Galaxy Note. Want to be taught extra about Samsung’s newest flagship telephones? Check out the whole lot you need to know in regards to the Galaxy S22 and S22 Ultra.
Richard Peterson/CNET
Samsung’s latest flagship telephone is the Galaxy S22, which begins at $800.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Samsung’s more-affordable Galaxy S21 FE was simply launched earlier in 2022, for $100 lower than the S22.