Samsung phone fans have more decisions to make than they used to, with the Samsung Galaxy S21 and Samsung Galaxy S20 FE combined more evenly than you’d expect.
While you can assume that the Samsung Galaxy S21 is the best in the group due to the naming convention, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is also a surprise winner when it comes to what to buy in this price range.
Larger than the S21, it is sure to please those who like bigger phones, although – on the other hand – the Samsung Galaxy S21 is easily the faster of the two devices.
With a lot to compare 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 for Samsung Galaxy S21 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE hit stores on October 2, 2020, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 later arrived 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 do not recommend these models for anyone looking to prove their purchase in the future.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 is a bit more expensive: $ 799 / £ 769 / AU $ 1,249 for a device with 128 GB of storage or a 256 GB variant for $ 849 / $ 819 / AU $ 1,349.
This means that the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is the most affordable option of the two, but there is not a large amount between them when you consider that you will probably be investing in one of these phones for several years.
Project
You might think that the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is the smaller of the two phones, but it is actually the opposite. It has the dimensions of 159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4 mm, which makes it larger than 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm on the Samsung Galaxy S21. Logically, then, it is also a little heavier with an extra 19g of weight.
None of this is likely to be an obstacle unless you are incredibly passionate about the smallest phone you can get along with, but it is something to consider. Expect the Samsung Galaxy S21 to be a little more comfortable to hold for longer periods than the other.
There are no curved edges on the screen on both phones – something that Samsung saved for the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra premium. It’s a shame as it makes both devices look a little bit cheaper. This is reinforced by the use of Glasstic – Samsung’s name for its material, which lies between plastic and glass. It is superior to a normal plastic rear, but it is nowhere near as good as a glass rear.
Where the Samsung Galaxy S21 stands out over the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is its rearrangement of the camera set, which Samsung is calling the Contour Cut Camera, looking more elegant than the more conventional shape that the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has created.
Exhibition
Both phones use the same resolution – 2400 x 1080 – and the same 120Hz refresh rates. Things differ most visibly when it comes to the size of the screen. As you would expect, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is bigger with a 6.5 inch screen compared to the Samsung Galaxy S21’s 6.2 inch screen.
They also offer AMOLED screen types with the Galaxy S21 providing a ‘dynamic’ panel. What does that mean? It has an adaptive refresh rate that alternates between 48 to 120 Hz as and when needed.
None of them can compete with the top QHD screen of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, but you’ll have a hard time noticing the difference if you place a Samsung Galaxy S21 and Samsung Galaxy S20 FE side by side.
Keep in mind that the Samsung Galaxy S21 will be more comfortable to hold with one hand, but the widescreen media content will look better on the larger screen of the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE.
Camera
At first glance, the Samsung Galaxy S21 and Samsung Galaxy S20 FE cameras look very similar. Both have 12MP main and ultra-wide sensors, which is a good starting point for anyone interested in taking some pictures.
Things differ when it comes to telephoto lenses. The Samsung Galaxy S21 uses a 64MP sensor and a 1.1x optical zoom, while the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has an 8MP sensor, but a 3x optical zoom. We found that the S20 FE did a better job with enlarged photos with the only real problem being that the colors were a little more opaque.
Both phones offer several camera modes that are genuinely useful. This includes the individual photography mode, in which you simply point the phone at an object, record a short video of 5 to 15 seconds, panning the scene, and the phone finds the best photos and videos for you.
Other modes include Panorama, Night, Live Focus, Live Focus Video and two slow motion modes. In both cases, the night mode works well for taking decent photos in low-light environments, without the need to keep the phone stationary for a long time.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 features only a 10MP selfie camera, while the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has a 32MP selfie camera. You won’t get a 32 MP image because it is paired with a wide-angle lens, but it does mean that if you take group selfies regularly, the results will look much better than the S21 can offer.
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, even though the image is slightly cropped at times. Both devices offer 4K at 30 and 60 frames per second, along with Full HD at 30 and 60 frames per second. The Samsung Galaxy S21 continues to work with Full HD at up to 240fps if you need to.
Specifications and performance
The Samsung Galaxy S21 uses the latest chipset compared to the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE. It uses a Snapdragon 888 chipset in the United States and an Exynos 2100 everywhere else. This is compared to the Samsung Galaxy S20 Fe Snapdragon 865 and Exynos 990 chipset.
While the latter is still fast enough, it cannot compete with the Samsung Galaxy S21’s performance. If speed is everything, the Samsung Galaxy S21 will steal your heart easily.
In any case, multitasking and games will work quickly here thanks to 8 GB of RAM. It turns out that the S21 has the advantage when it comes to processor performance.
Both the Samsung Galaxy S21 and the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE offer 128 GB or 256 GB of storage, but notably, only the S20 FE has a microSD slot if you want to expand it. The S21 series abandoned this option, so if you like to store a lot of files, you may need to invest in a larger capacity from the start.
And of course, both devices offer 5G connectivity (unless you go with the 4G version of the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE that we don’t recommend), so you’re ready to go with faster connection speeds if you’re in one of the growth areas that offer 5G speeds.
Battery life
In both cases, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE and the Samsung Galaxy S21, keep an eye on your energy levels throughout the day. Both will reach the end of the day, but you may need to make some allowances with settings and features if you use them a lot.
In terms of specifications, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has a 4,500 mAh battery, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 offers a 4,000 mAh battery. Both will reach the end of the day, but features like 5G and the 120 Hz screen take their toll. There are at least several different energy saving modes to make it a little easier to achieve.
Battery life will undoubtedly be affected if you take advantage of the reverse wireless charging of both phones. However, it is a useful feature if you want to recharge your headphones or smartwatch during the day.
Both devices are compatible with Qi wireless charging and offer fast charging via 25W USB-C chargers, but note that the Samsung Galaxy S21 does not come with a charger. This is supposedly due to Samsung’s desire to reduce junk mail, thinking that you probably already have a compatible USB-C charger available to use anyway.
Take away
Are Samsung Galaxy S21 or Samsung S20 FE better? Well, it mostly depends on what you need from a phone.
In terms of performance, the Samsung Galaxy S21 is easily the better of the two. It is faster and easier to manage multiple tasks at the same time in split-screen view without any problem. However, it has restricted storage options and 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 more widescreen experience when streaming media content, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is the best option.
There is also the question of the camera with the S20 FE being superior on that front. Experienced users or avid gamers will need the extra dynamism of the Samsung Galaxy S21, but if you simply want a great camera and a good screen, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is the best option for you, and it will cost less.