Samsung’s Galaxy S21 FE
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
This story is a part of CES, the place CNET covers the most recent information on probably the most unimaginable tech coming quickly.
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Some firms low cost older telephones after releasing new fashions. Samsung is leaning into that idea with the $700 Galaxy S21 FE, which launches on Jan. 11 and shall be obtainable within the US and different international locations. Samsung’s new Fan Edition cellphone will fill the identical position as its predecessor, the Galaxy S20 FE, by changing into the brand new inexpensive possibility in Samsung’s premium Galaxy S lineup.The Galaxy S21 FE, introduced simply forward of CES 2022, will function a alternative for the Galaxy S21 as soon as Samsung ultimately phases out that household of gadgets. If you sometimes look ahead to the latest Galaxy S cellphone to launch to be able to get the earlier mannequin at a reduction, you are Samsung’s audience for the Galaxy S21 FE. Samsung would not have any speedy plans to cease promoting the Galaxy S21, which launched a few 12 months in the past. But it would place the Galaxy S21 FE as its previous-generation possibility as soon as it does cycle out that collection, the corporate mentioned.
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This is not a brand new technique. The previous few years have seen a resurgence in midtier and funds telephones throughout the trade. Even Apple revived its wallet-friendly $400 iPhone SE in 2020. But Samsung’s technique is completely different from Apple’s in a single key method. Samsung is basically borrowing sure features of its mainstream Galaxy S21 cellphone and promoting it as a midrange gadget. Apple, in the meantime, tends to maintain older telephones just like the iPhone 11 in its lineup to fill that hole between its funds SE and high-end iPhones. Similar to Samsung’s first FE cellphone, the Galaxy S21 FE comes with options that have been as soon as reserved for dearer telephones, reminiscent of a triple-lens digicam, 5G help, reverse wi-fi charging and a display screen that may increase its refresh fee to 120Hz. The Galaxy S21 FE is arriving as Samsung’s smartphone lineup has change into more and more crowded and can seemingly proceed to develop. The firm is predicted to launch the Galaxy S22 lineup within the early a part of the 12 months, simply because it has finished up to now. It additionally lately launched the $250 Galaxy A13 5G within the US and likewise sells different midtier telephones such because the Galaxy A52 5G.Here’s a more in-depth have a look at what to anticipate from Samsung’s new midtier Galaxy cellphone.Galaxy S21 FE specs: All the necessary particulars and optionsThe Galaxy S21 FE is a less expensive model of the Galaxy S21.
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CNET’s Andrew Hoyle praised the Galaxy S20 FE and gave it an Editors’ Choice Award for its glorious stability of efficiency and value. It looks like Samsung is carrying that method ahead with the Galaxy S21 FE, which seems to be a hybrid of the Galaxy S20 FE and Galaxy S21. It has the identical processor because the Galaxy S21, which suggests it would run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 chip within the US, however in any other case has rather a lot in frequent with the Galaxy S20 FE. For instance, each this 12 months’s FE cellphone and the 2020 model have a 4,500-mAh battery and a triple-lens digicam with a 12-megapixel ultrawide digicam, a 12-megapixel vast digicam and an 8-megapixel telephoto lens. Both the Galaxy S21 FE and Galaxy S20 FE even have a 32-megapixel entrance digicam, which is a step up from the Galaxy S21’s 10-megapixel selfie digicam.You may also count on to see an analogous choice of the software-based images options sometimes obtainable on Samsung telephones. In addition to nighttime and portrait modes, there’s additionally a device for taking pictures with the entrance and rear lenses concurrently. It’s much like the Galaxy S21’s Director’s View, however barely completely different. You cannot swap between the completely different rear lenses along with taking pictures with each the entrance and rear cameras on the Galaxy S21 FE as you’ll be able to on the Galaxy S21. One of the few areas by which the Galaxy S21 FE differs from the Galaxy S20 FE and Galaxy S21 is display screen measurement. At 6.4 inches, the Galaxy S21 FE’s display screen is bigger than the Galaxy S21’s (6.2 inches), however barely smaller than the Galaxy S20 FE’s (6.5 inches). But like these two telephones, the Galaxy S21 FE will help the flexibility to spice up the refresh fee as much as 120Hz for smoother scrolling. You’ll get each flavors of 5G within the Galaxy S21 (sub-6GHz and millimeter-wave), and the bottom mannequin will embody 6GB of reminiscence and 128GB of storage. There’s no microSD card slot, however Samsung is providing the cellphone in an alternative choice that comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $770.Samsung is constant its custom of providing a number of colour choices for its new cellphone, though the Galaxy S21 FE will not are available in as many various shades because the Galaxy S20 FE. The new cellphone shall be obtainable in white, graphite, lavender purple and olive inexperienced, whereas its predecessor got here in navy blue, lavender, pink, mint inexperienced, white and orange. Is the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE value it?The Galaxy S21 FE has a 6.4-inch display screen, making it larger than the common Galaxy S21.
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We cannot suggest the Galaxy S21 FE till we have spent extra time testing it. But it appears like a promising possibility for individuals who desire a general-purpose cellphone with a dependable digicam, stable efficiency and a spacious display screen. At $700 within the US, it is $100 lower than the present Galaxy S21 and $500 lower than the top-of-the-line $1,200 Galaxy S21 Ultra.The downside, nevertheless, is that Samsung is dealing with loads of competitors, even inside its personal product line. The Galaxy S22 is predicted to launch in early 2022, and there is a likelihood it might solely price $100 greater than the Galaxy S21 FE if Samsung sticks with its present pricing construction. Based on Samsung’s historical past, it appears truthful to imagine that the bottom Galaxy S22 will include a brand new Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and a sharper telephoto lens than the Galaxy S21 FE. It may also include a 50-megapixel digicam sensor, in accordance with well-known leaker Ice Universe. Significantly sooner charging speeds are additionally a chance, in accordance with FronTron and Ice Universe. A extra highly effective processor, higher digicam and faster charging could possibly be sufficient to justify the additional $100 for some buyers, presumably making the Galaxy S21 FE really feel misplaced within the lineup.There’s additionally Google’s $600 Pixel 6 smartphone, which is $100 cheaper than the Galaxy S21 FE. Google’s newest Pixel is among the many first to return with the corporate’s new Tensor chip, which significantly shines within the gadget’s digicam. Patrick Holland gave it a CNET Editors’ Choice Award for its glorious mixture of stylish design, highly effective efficiency and excellent images. We’ll know extra as soon as we have had an opportunity to take a look at the Galaxy S21 FE ourselves. To be taught extra about the way it compares with the Galaxy S20 FE, Galaxy S21 and Google Pixel 6, take a look at the desk beneath. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE specs comparability
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
Samsung Galaxy S21
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
Google Pixel 6
Display measurement, decision,
6.4-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2x; 2,340×1,080 pixels; 120Hz
6.2-inch Flat FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2x, 2,400×1,080 pixels
6.5-inch tremendous AMOLED; 2,400×1,080 pixels
6.4-inch OLED; 2,400×1,080 pixels; 60Hz or 90Hz
Pixel density
401 ppi
421 ppi
405 ppi
411 ppi
Dimensions (inches)
2.9×6.1×0.3 inches
2.80×5.97×0.31 inches
6.29×2.97×0.33 inches
6.2×2.9×0.4 in
Dimensions (millimeters)
74.5×155.7×7.9mm
71.2×151.7×7.9mm
159.8×75.5×8.4mm
158.6×74.8×8.9mm
Weight (ounces, grams)
6.2 oz; 177g
6.03 oz; 171g
190g
7.3 oz; 207g
Mobile software program
Android 12
Android 11
Android 10
Android 12
Camera
12-megapixel (normal), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 8-megapixel (3x telephoto)
64-megapixel (telephoto), 12-megapixel (vast), 12-megapixel (ultrawide)
12-megapixel (normal), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 8-megapixel (3x telephoto)
50-megapixel (vast), 12-megapixel ultrawide
Front-facing digicam
32-megapixel
10-megapixel
32-megapixel
8-megapixel
Video seize
4K at 60fps
8K
4K
4K 30, 60fps (rear), 1,080p 30fps (entrance)
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (5G) Samsung Exynos 990 (4G)
Google Tensor
Storage
128GB/256GB
128GB/256GB
128GB
128GB, 256GB
RAM
6GB/8GB
8GB
6GB
8GB
Expandable storage
None
None
1TB
No
Battery
4,500 mAh
4,000 mAh
4,500 mAh
4,614 mAh
Fingerprint sensor
Under show
In-screen
In-screen
Under show
Connector
USB-C
USB-C
USB-C
USB-C
Headphone jack
No
No
No
No
Special options
Reverse wi-fi charging; 25W wired fast-charging and 15W wi-fi; 30x Space Zoom on telephoto lens; multicamera recording
IP68 score, 5G-enabled, 30x Space Zoom, 10W wi-fi charging, 120Hz show
120Hz display screen refresh fee, help for 30W fast-charging and 15W quick wi-fi charging
5G sub-6 (some provider fashions even have 5G mmWave) help, Wi-Fi 6E, 30W fast-charging, Magic Eraser, Motion mode, Real Tone, Face Unblur, Cinematic Pan, 5 years OS and safety updates, IP68 score for mud and water resistance, Gorrila Glass Victus (entrance), Gorilla Glass 6 (again)
Price off-contract (USD)
$700
$800 (128GB)
$699
$599 (128GB)
Price (GBP)
Converts to £529
£769
£599 (4G) £699 (5G)
£599
Price (AUD)
Converts to AU$983
AU$1,249
£599 converts to AU$1,115
AU$999