If the Galaxy S21 FE is nearly indistinguishable from the base Galaxy S21 model, you'll have an easier time telling it apart from the larger Galaxy S21+ purely based on size. The Galaxy S21 FE, the Galaxy S21, and the Galaxy S21+ all look almost alike, but the Plus model stands out more thanks to a larger display and a couple of other extra features.
In essence, the Galaxy S21+, the Galaxy S21, and the Galaxy S21 FE are the same phone, save for the fact that the Plus model has a nicer Gorilla Glass finish rather than a plastic back. In addition, it has a slightly brighter (by 100 peak nits) and larger 6.7-inch display, as well as a more generous 4,800mAh battery.
Finally, the Galaxy S21+ has UWB (Ultra-Wideband) technology, which the other two models lack, so anyone that's planning to use the UWB Galaxy SmartTag variant or other technologies that rely on UWB — such as digital car keys — should lean more towards the Galaxy S21+.
The phones have the same chipsets (Snapdragon 888 and Exynos 2100), the same IP68 rating, and nearly identical memory options without expandable storage.
As for cameras, the Galaxy S21 FE has an 8MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom rather than a 64MP unit with 3x hybrid zoom, and a 32MP selfie camera with fixed-focus instead of a 10MP selfie sensor with autofocus. So, the Galaxy S21 FE is seemingly superior at capturing telephoto shots, while the Galaxy S21+ offers a better selfie experience.
Finally, the newer Galaxy S21 FE ships with Android 12 and One UI 4, which means it should benefit from an additional year of firmware support.
Galaxy S21 FE vs Galaxy S21+: In the end, it comes down to size and price
The Galaxy S21 FE is a much cheaper option than the Galaxy S21+. You could say that the price of a low-cost Galaxy A phone stands between these two S21 variants, which makes the Fan Edition device an interesting choice for customers who care less about the Plus model's few extra benefits.
The base Galaxy S21 model was always there to fill that space, but the Galaxy S21 FE is an even cheaper option that promises the same performance levels. Samsung's new Fan Edition device isn't a Galaxy S21+ replacement by any means, but it is a solid addition to the lineup and more of an affordable alternative to the Galaxy S21.
Samsung
Galaxy S21 FE
Samsung
Galaxy S21+
General Information
-
Model Name
Galaxy S21 FE
Galaxy S21+
-
Model type
Bar
Bar
-
Colors
Graphite ()Lavender ()Olive ()White ()
Silver (Phantom Silver)Black (Phantom Black)Violet (Phantom Violet)Red (Phantom Red)Gold (Phantom Gold)Pink (Phantom Pink)
-
Announced
2022, January
2021, January
-
Released
2021, January
Physical specifications
-
Dimensions
Bar: 155.7 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm
Bar: 161.5 x 75.6 x 7.8 mm
-
Weights
177g
202g
-
IP rating
IP68
IP68
Operating system
-
Operating system
Android 12
Android 11
-
One UI version
4.0
3.1
Networks
-
SIM
Dual SIM model
Dual SIM model
-
SIM card sizes
Nano-SIM (4FF)
Nano-SIM (4FF)
-
Networks
2G3G4G5G
2G3G4G5G
-
eSIM support
No
Yes
Display
-
Kind
Main Display
-
Name
Infinity-O Display
Infinity-O Display
-
Technology
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
-
Size
6.4 inch / 162.6 mm
6.7 inch / 170.18 mm
-
Resolution
FHD+ / 2400x1080 pixels
FHD+ / 2400x1080 pixels
-
Pixel density
411 PPI
394 PPI
-
Screen to body ratio
~88.3%
-
Refresh rate
120Hz
120Hz
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