Samsung phone fans have more decisions to make than ever with the Samsung Galaxy S21 and Samsung Galaxy S20 FE more paired than you might expect.
While you might assume the Samsung Galaxy S21 is the best of the bunch given the naming convention, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is also a surprise winner when it comes to what to buy in this price range. Bigger than the S21, it's sure to appeal to those who like bigger phones, though on the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S21 is easily the faster of the two devices. With many comparisons between the two devices, we ask the big question:
Is the Samsung Galaxy S21 the best option for most people, or should you give the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE your time and money?
Price and availability of the Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE hit stores on October 2, 2020, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 arrived later on January 29, 2021.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE prices start at $699 / €699 / AU$1,149 for a 5G model. Alternatively,
4G models are available in the UK and Australia for €599 and AU$999 respectively, but we wouldn't recommend them to anyone who wants to try their purchase in the future.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 is slightly more expensive at $799 / €769 / AU$1,249 for a device with 128GB of storage or a 256GB variant for $849 / €819 / AU$1,349.
This means that the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is the more affordable option of the two., but there's not much between them when you consider that you're likely to invest in one of these phones for several years. Today's best deals for Samsung Galaxy S21 and Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
Integrated
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The Samsung Galaxy S21 (Image credit: TechRadar) Image 2 of 2
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE (Image credit: Future) You may think the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is the smaller of the two phones, but it's actually quite the opposite.
It has dimensions of 159,8 x 74,5 x 8,4mm, making it larger than the 151,7 x 71,2 x 7,9mm of the Samsung Galaxy S21.. Therefore, logically it is also a little heavier with
an additional weight of 19 g.
None of this is likely to be a deal breaker unless you're incredibly passionate about the smallest phone you can get away with, but it's something to consider. Expect the Samsung Galaxy S21 to be a bit more comfortable to hold for long periods of time than the alternative.
There are no curved edges on the screen with both phones, something Samsung has saved for the much higher-end Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.. It's a shame because it makes both devices a bit cheaper. This is further enhanced by the use of Glasstic, Samsung's name for its material, which falls somewhere between plastic and glass. It is superior to a normal plastic back, but it is not as good as a glass back.
Where the Samsung Galaxy S21 stands out from the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is the rearrangement of the camera array, which Samsung calls its Contour Cut camera slimmer than the more conventional shape the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE chose.
Setting
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The Samsung Galaxy S21 (Image credit: TechRadar) Image 2 of 2
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE (Image credit: future)
Both phones use the same resolution (2400 x 1080) and the same 120Hz refresh rates. Where things differ most noticeably is when it comes to screen size. As expected, the
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is larger with a 6.5-inch screen compared to the 6.2-inch screen on the Samsung Galaxy S21.
Both also offer AMOLED display types, and the Galaxy S21 provides a 'dynamic' panel. What does it mean? It has an adaptive refresh rate that alternates between 48 and 120 Hz when needed. Neither can compete with the superior QHD display of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, but you'll hardly notice the difference if you put a Samsung Galaxy S21 and a Samsung Galaxy S20 FE side by side. Keep in mind that the Samsung Galaxy S21 will be more comfortable to hold in one hand, but large-screen media will look better on the larger screen of the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE.
Camera
The camera of the Samsung Galaxy S21 (Image credit: TechRadar) At first glance,
the cameras of the Samsung Galaxy S21 and the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE look very similar. Both have
12 MP main and ultrawide sensors, which is a good starting point for anyone looking to take snapshots. Where things differ is when it comes to the telephoto lens.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 uses a 64MP sensor and 1.1x optical zoom, while the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has an 8MP sensor but 3x optical zoom.. We found the S20 FE did a better job with zoomed-in shots, the only real issue being that colors were a bit duller. Both phones offer extended camera modes that are really useful. This includes Single Shot mode where you simply point your phone at a subject, shoot a short 5-15 second video, pan through the scene, and the phone finds the best photos and video footage for you.
Other modes include Panorama, Night, Live Focus, Video with Live Focus and two slow motion modes. Either way, night mode works well for getting decent photos in low light conditions without having to hold the phone still for too long.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 only has a 10MP selfie camera, while the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has a 32MP selfie camera.. You won't get a 32MP image because it's paired with a wide-angle lens, but it does mean that if you take regular group selfies, the results will be much better than what the S21 can deliver. When it comes to video recording, the Samsung Galaxy S21 is the better of the two.
It can deliver 8K at 24 frames per second, although the image is sometimes a bit cropped. Both devices offer 4K at 30 and 60 frames per second, as well as Full HD at 30 and 60 frames per second.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 continues with Full HD up to 240fps if you need it.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition (Image credit: Future)
The Samsung Galaxy S21 uses the latest chipset compared to the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE.
It uses a Snapdragon 888 chipset in the US and an Exynos 2100 in the rest of the world..
This compares to the Snapdragon 865 and Exynos 990 chipset in the Samsung Galaxy S20 Fe.
Although the latter is still quite fast, it cannot compete with the performance of the Samsung Galaxy S21. If speed is everything, the Samsung Galaxy S21 will easily steal your heart. Either way, multitasking and gaming will run fast here thanks to the 8GB of RAM. It's just that the S21 has the upper hand when it comes to processor performance.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 and Samsung Galaxy S20 FE offer 128GB or 256GB of storage, but notably only the S20 FE has a microSD slot if you want to expand that. The S21 series ditched this option, so if you want to store a lot of files, you may need to invest in the larger capacity up front. Of course,
both devices offer 5G connectivity (unless you're using the 4G version of the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE which we don't recommend), so you're in for faster connection speeds if you're in one of the growing areas that offer 5G speeds.
Battery duration
In the cases of the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE and Samsung Galaxy S21, expect to be aware of your energy levels throughout the day. Both will come at the end of the day, but you may have to make trade-offs with settings and features if you use them a lot.
On the spec side, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has a 4.500mAh battery while the Samsung Galaxy S21 offers a 4000mAh battery life. Both will arrive at the end of the day, but features like the 5G and 120Hz display are taking their toll. There are at least several different power saving modes to make it a bit easier to achieve. Battery life will certainly take a hit if you take advantage of the reverse wireless charging of both phones. However, this is a useful feature if you want to charge your headphones or smartwatch throughout the day. Both devices support Qi wireless charging and offer fast charging via 25W USB-C chargers, but note that the Samsung Galaxy S21 doesn't come with a charger. This is supposed to be due to Samsung's need to reduce e-waste figuring you probably already have a compatible USB-C charger available to use anyway.
To go
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The Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition (Image credit: Future) Image 2 of 2
The Samsung Galaxy S21 (Image credit: LaComparacion)
Is Samsung Galaxy S21 or Samsung S20 FE better? Well, it mainly depends on what you need a phone for.
In terms of performance, the Samsung Galaxy S21 is by far the better of the two. It is faster and you can easily manage multiple tasks at once in split screen mode without any problem. However, you have limited storage options and
it offers a smaller screen than the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE.
The latter, in particular, is only a problem if you want a bigger experience. If you have smaller hands, you'll find the S21 more comfortable to hold, but if you want a bigger screen-like experience when streaming media, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is the better choice. There's also the camera issue with the top S20 FE on this front. Power users or avid gamers will need the extra oomph of the Samsung Galaxy S21,
but if you just want a great camera and a good screen, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is the best option for you and it will cost you less.