Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (6GB + 128GB) Review | 197 Data compared

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G acts as a "Familiar Edition," balancing flagship power with a more accessible price, featuring a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, IP68 resistance, and a 120Hz refresh rate. While the matte plastic back is less premium, it makes the phone durable and lightweight. Performance is a highlight, driven by the Snapdragon 888 chipset, providing a snappy experience for users. The camera system includes a capable 12MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, and an 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. Additional features, such as 32MP selfie capabilities with Night Mode and Dual Recording, improve creative flexibility. The device provides high-quality results across various scenarios, making it a competitive option for photography enthusiasts. Key drawbacks include the absence of a headphone jack and expandable storage, along with the lack of a charger in the box. Furthermore, its 25W charging speed is considered slow by modern standards. Because of its release timing, it faces tough competition from the S21 and S22, making it a better value only at a discount.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, reviewed by Android Authority, is a solid "Fan Edition" flagship featuring an excellent 6.4-inch 120Hz AMOLED display and reliable Snapdragon 888 performance, but its late release date hurts its value proposition. Pros include a comfortable design, IP68 rating, and a capable triple-camera system, though the 8MP telephoto lens is a downgrade from the standard S21. Notable cons include the lack of an adaptive refresh rate, no microSD card slot, and relatively slow 25W charging. At its $699 launch price, the device faces stiff competition from the Pixel 6 and Samsung's own S22, making it a compelling buy only at a significant discount.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE offers a balanced, flagship-level experience with a 6.4-inch 120Hz AMOLED display and capable Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100 performance, but arrives too late to be competitive, positioning it as a "phone out of time". While praised for its sleek design, matte finish, and solid camera system, its value proposition is weakened by a high launch price that pits it against superior alternatives. Key compromises include only average battery life, lack of fast charging, minor heating issues, and a downgraded 8MP telephoto lens compared to the standard S21. Tech Advisor

The HotHardware review describes the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE as an affordable flagship featuring a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display and a Snapdragon 888 processor that delivers, in their words, "snappy, flagship-grade results". Despite the plastic composite back, the build is praised for durability, although the review notes it feels less premium and prone to fingerprints. The camera system shines with a 32MP front-facing camera and capable telephoto lens, though the 120Hz display lacks adaptive refresh functionality, requiring manual adjustments to manage battery life. The optical fingerprint sensor is also considered a downgrade from the standard S21's ultrasonic version. While offering IP68 water resistance, the device faces stiff competition from the Pixel 6 and Galaxy S22 due to its $699 launch price and late release timing. Ultimately, the review considers it a solid choice for Samsung fans, particularly if purchased during promotions.

Consumer Reports rated the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G as "very good" overall for its performance, ease of use, camera, and durability. While it offers snappy performance, excellent touchscreen responsiveness, and robust durability, the phone's non-adaptive 120Hz display contributes to average battery life and the camera's telephoto lens shows less detail when zoomed in compared to the standard S21. The review also noted the absence of a charger and expandable storage as potential drawbacks.

According to a Mashable review, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE offers a larger 6.4-inch AMOLED display, a 4,500mAh battery, and retains the Snapdragon 888 5G processor, providing smooth performance with a 120Hz refresh rate. Key pros highlighted include a brilliant display, a high-performing chipset, and a capable camera system with impressive nighttime photography. However, the review notes disappointing battery life (around 12 hours), the removal of the headphone jack, the absence of a charger in the box, and a downgraded telephoto lens as significant cons. Mashable

DXOMARK's review of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Snapdragon) camera awarded it a score of 120, highlighting good exposure, contrast, and texture in bright light for still photos, and accurate exposure during telephoto zoom. However, the camera suffers from limited dynamic range, significant image noise, and various artifacts like ghosting and color fringing, while video performance shows reliable autofocus and stabilization but underexposes high-contrast footage.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE includes flagship features like a 120Hz AMOLED display and a Snapdragon 888 chipset but faces criticism for its release timing and value proposition compared to the subsequent S22 model. While it offers a capable camera system with features like 3x optical zoom and dual video recording, the device has drawbacks such as a plastic back, non-adaptive refresh rate impacting battery life, and the absence of a microSD card slot.

PCMag reviewed the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, describing it as a solid device with good battery life (nearly 12 hours in testing) and a vibrant 120Hz AMOLED display. Key pros highlighted include dual-SIM card slots and an upgraded 32MP front camera. Cons mentioned are aggressive thermal throttling compared to other S21 models, the lack of an SD card slot, no headphone jack, and the absence of a charger in the box. The review notes that the phone's biggest drawback is its late release date, making it hard to recommend over discounted S21 models or newer devices unless dual-SIM functionality is essential.

TechRadar reviewed the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, describing it as a capable mid-range phone hindered by a late release and a high initial price. The review highlights pros such as its display quality, performance, camera system, wireless charging, and software updates. However, cons include poor battery life, slow charging, occasional software lag, a less premium build, and the lack of an included charger.