Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
34.4Performance39.3
49.1Display49.4
40.8Camera46.1
36.9Battery51.4
78.7Features78.7
4 spec wins — Samsung Galaxy S217 spec wins — Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
InnoReviews verdict
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE wins this phone face-off, 49 to 43.6, pulling ahead mainly in battery (+15) and camera (+5). 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
- 18% lower weight: 171 g vs 209 g
Reasons to pick the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
- Stronger performance score: 39 vs 34
- Stronger camera score: 46 vs 41
- Stronger battery score: 51 vs 37
- 317% higher Main camera: 50 MP vs 12 MP
- 45% higher AnTuTu 10: 1,080,000 vs 746,547
- Lower launch price: $600 vs $799
Display
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S21 | Samsung Galaxy S23 FE |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.2 ″ | 6.4 ″+3% |
| Panel type | AMOLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2400x1080 | 1080x2340 |
| Pixel density | 421 ppi+4% | 403 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 1,300 nits | 1,450 nits+12% |
| Screen-to-body | — | 85.8 % |
| 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 S23 FE |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Samsung Exynos 2100 | Samsung Exynos 2200 |
| AnTuTu 10 | 746,547Top 66% | 1,080,000+45%Top 44% |
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 1,430Top 52% | 1,450+1%Top 48% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 3,550Top 56% | 3,800+7%Top 52% |
| RAM (max) | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128GB / 256GB | 128/256GB |
| Storage type | UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 |
Camera
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S21 | Samsung Galaxy S23 FE |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 12 MP | 50 MP+317% |
| 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 | 8K@24fps |
| Front camera | 10 MP | 10 MP |
| OIS | Yes | Yes |
Battery
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S21 | Samsung Galaxy S23 FE |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4,000 mAh | 4,500 mAh+13% |
| Wired charging | 25 W | 25 W |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 15 W |
| Active use endurance | — | 11 h |
Design
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S21 | Samsung Galaxy S23 FE |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 171 g+18% | 209 g |
| Thickness | 7.9 mm+4% | 8.2 mm |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame material | Aluminum | Aluminum |
Connectivity
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S21 | Samsung Galaxy S23 FE |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| USB | USB-C 3.2 | USB-C 3.2 |
| eSIM | Yes | Yes |
Software
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S21 | Samsung Galaxy S23 FE |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | Android 11 (One UI 3.1) | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| OS update pledge | 4 years | 4 years |
Audio
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S21 | Samsung Galaxy S23 FE |
|---|---|---|
| Stereo speakers | Yes | Yes |
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
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