Samsung’s Galaxy S21 FE (Fan Edition) is a testament to the company’s commitment to providing a flagship experience at a more affordable price. Positioned as a more accessible variant of the Galaxy S21 series, the S21 FE brings many of the high-end features found in its pricier siblings while making smart compromises to keep the cost down. Let’s take a deep dive into what makes the Galaxy S21 FE an attractive option for smartphone buyers in 2022.
Design and Build: Sleek and Stylish
The Galaxy S21 FE inherits much of its design language from the standard Galaxy S21 series. The phone features a sleek, modern look with a flat display, minimal bezels, and a matte finish on the back that gives it a premium feel. The camera module blends seamlessly into the frame, creating a unified and polished look.
Materials and Colors:
The S21 FE uses a polycarbonate back, which, while not as premium as glass, makes the phone lighter and more durable. The device is available in four colors—Olive, Lavender, White, and Graphite—catering to a variety of style preferences.
Build Quality:
Despite being a more affordable model, the S21 FE is IP68-rated for dust and water resistance, which means it can handle submersion in water up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. This durability is a significant plus for those who want a phone that can withstand the elements.
Display: Immersive and Vivid
The Galaxy S21 FE sports a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, slightly larger than the Galaxy S21 but smaller than the S21+. The screen offers Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2400 pixels) and a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth scrolling and responsive touch interactions.
Color and Brightness:
The display is one of the best in its class, offering vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast. With a peak brightness of 1,200 nits, the screen remains easily viewable even under direct sunlight, making it perfect for outdoor use.
Gorilla Glass Protection:
The front is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, which provides excellent resistance to scratches and drops, adding to the overall durability of the phone.
Performance: Flagship-Level Speed
Under the hood, the Galaxy S21 FE is powered by either the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 or Samsung’s own Exynos 2100 processor, depending on the region. Both chips are flagship-level processors, ensuring that the S21 FE delivers fast, smooth, and responsive performance across all tasks, from gaming to multitasking.
RAM and Storage:
The device comes with two configurations: 6GB of RAM with 128GB of storage, or 8GB of RAM with 256GB of storage. Unfortunately, the S21 FE does not have a microSD card slot, so users will need to choose their storage option wisely.
Gaming and Multitasking:
Thanks to the powerful GPU and high refresh rate, gaming on the S21 FE is a delight. It can handle graphically demanding games with ease, while the ample RAM ensures that switching between apps is fluid and lag-free.
Camera System: Versatile and Capable
The Galaxy S21 FE features a triple-camera setup on the rear, which includes a 12MP wide sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide sensor, and an 8MP telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom. While it doesn’t have the highest megapixel count, the camera system is versatile and performs admirably in a variety of lighting conditions.
Main Camera:
The 12MP main sensor captures detailed and sharp images with excellent color accuracy. Samsung’s software optimization helps in enhancing photos, especially in bright outdoor conditions.
Ultra-Wide Camera:
The 12MP ultra-wide sensor offers a 123-degree field of view, perfect for landscape shots or large group photos. The quality is consistent with the main camera, with minimal distortion around the edges.
Telephoto Camera:
The 8MP telephoto lens provides 3x optical zoom and up to 30x digital zoom. While the digital zoom is more of a novelty, the optical zoom performs well, maintaining clarity and detail in zoomed shots.
Night Mode:
The Night Mode on the S21 FE is impressive, allowing for clear and bright photos in low-light conditions. The software does an excellent job of reducing noise and enhancing details.
Front Camera:
On the front, the 32MP camera captures sharp and vibrant selfies. It also supports 4K video recording, making it great for vlogging or video calls.
Battery Life: All-Day Power
The Galaxy S21 FE is equipped with a 4,500mAh battery, which is slightly larger than that of the regular S21. The battery life is solid, offering a full day of use under normal conditions, even with the 120Hz refresh rate enabled.
Charging Options:
The phone supports 25W fast charging, 15W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging. However, like other recent Samsung models, the S21 FE does not include a charging brick in the box, so users will need to purchase one separately if they don’t already have a compatible charger.
Software: One UI and Android 12
The Galaxy S21 FE runs on Samsung’s One UI 4, based on Android 12 out of the box. One UI is known for its clean, user-friendly interface and customization options, allowing users to personalize their experience extensively.
Key Software Features:
- Customization: One UI 4 offers extensive customization options, from changing the color palette to adjusting widgets and icon shapes.
- Privacy and Security: The new privacy dashboard provides a clear overview of which apps have accessed sensitive information like your camera, microphone, or location.
- Software Updates: Samsung has committed to providing three major Android updates and four years of security updates for the S21 FE, ensuring the phone remains up-to-date for years to come.
Connectivity and Other Features
The Galaxy S21 FE includes all the modern connectivity options you’d expect from a 2022 smartphone, including 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, and NFC. The phone also supports Samsung DeX, which allows you to connect your phone to a monitor and use it like a desktop computer—perfect for productivity on the go.
Biometrics:
For security, the S21 FE features an in-display fingerprint sensor, which is fast and reliable. It also supports face recognition, though it’s less secure than the fingerprint option.
Conclusion: A Balanced Package
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is a well-rounded device that offers flagship-level performance, a vibrant display, and a versatile camera system at a more affordable price point. While it makes a few compromises, such as the use of a polycarbonate back and the lack of a microSD slot, these are minor trade-offs for the overall value it provides.
For users who want a premium smartphone experience without paying the premium price, the Galaxy S21 FE is an excellent choice. It strikes a balance between performance, features, and cost, making it a strong contender in the mid-to-high-end smartphone market.
This article covers all the essential aspects of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, providing a comprehensive overview of what the phone offers.
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