Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
34.4Performance37.5
49.1Display47.2
40.8Camera41.7
36.9Battery41.7
78.7Features78.7
5 spec wins — Samsung Galaxy S216 spec wins — Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
InnoReviews verdict
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G wins this phone face-off, 45.2 to 43.6, pulling ahead mainly in battery (+5) and performance (+3). Samsung Galaxy S21 still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the Samsung Galaxy S21
- 700% higher telephoto: 64 MP vs 8 MP
- 33% higher RAM (max): 8 GB vs 6 GB
Reasons to pick the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
- Stronger performance score: 38 vs 34
- Stronger battery score: 42 vs 37
- 220% higher Front camera: 32 MP vs 10 MP
- 39% higher AnTuTu 10: 1,040,324 vs 746,547
- 13% higher capacity: 4,500 mAh vs 4,000 mAh
- Lower launch price: $699 vs $799
Display
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S21 | Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.2 ″ | 6.4 ″+3% |
| Panel type | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2400x1080 | 2340x1080 |
| Pixel density | 421 ppi+5% | 401 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 1,300 nits+8% | 1,200 nits |
| AnTuTu 10 (CPU) | 252,025Top 94% | — |
| AnTuTu 10 (GPU) | 127,819Top 79% | — |
| AnTuTu 10 (Memory) | 144,909Top 91% | — |
| AnTuTu 10 (UX) | 221,794Top 88% | — |
Performance
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S21 | Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Samsung Exynos 2100 | Snapdragon 888 |
| AnTuTu 10 | 746,547Top 66% | 1,040,324+39%Top 46% |
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 1,430Top 52% | 1,450+1%Top 48% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 3,550Top 56% | 3,650+3%Top 53% |
| RAM (max) | 8 GB+33% | 6 GB |
| Storage options | 128GB / 256GB | 128GB / 256GB |
| Storage type | UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 |
Camera
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S21 | Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Main aperture | f/1.8 | f/1.8 |
| Ultra-wide | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Telephoto | 64 MP+700% | 8 MP |
| Optical zoom | — | 3 x |
| Max video | 8K@24fps | 4K@60fps |
| Front camera | 10 MP | 32 MP+220% |
| OIS | Yes | Yes |
Battery
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S21 | Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4,000 mAh | 4,500 mAh+13% |
| Wired charging | 25 W | 25 W |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 15 W |
Design
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S21 | Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 171 g+3% | 177 g |
| Thickness | 7.9 mm | 7.9 mm |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame material | Aluminum | Aluminum |
Connectivity
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S21 | Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| USB | USB-C 3.2 | USB-C 3.2 |
| eSIM | Yes | Yes |
Software
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S21 | Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | Android 11 (One UI 3.1) | Android 12 (One UI 4) |
| OS update pledge | 4 years | 4 years |
Audio
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S21 | Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Stereo speakers | Yes | Yes |
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
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