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Samsung’s Galaxy S21 FE 5G is the newest and cheapest phone in the Galaxy S21 range. What does FE stand for? Fan Edition, and there’s plenty to stoke enthusiasm in this affordable take on a classic.
Read More...Please note: Every care is taken in compiling product details and reviews, but they are provided for broad guidance only. On occasion they may relate to older or more recent models than those offered on Mozillion at any one time.
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£270
An affordable flagship phone
Strong performance and great looks
Android updates until 2026
Not convinced? Try one of these alternatives to a Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G:
Google Pixel 6 - cheaper, and arguably better
Samsung Galaxy A53 - a bit less powerful, but newer and significantly cheaper
Refurbished Samsung Galaxy S21 5G - get the flagship for less
The Samsung Galaxy S21 range is the South Korean giant’s answer to the iPhone, and it very nearly beats Apple at its own game. But while its highlights will set you back a fortune, the S21 Fan Edition (FE) aims to deliver flagship performance and features for a more wallet-friendly price.
In essence, then, this is a de-specified version of the Galaxy S21 for a bit less. Samsung hopes you won’t notice less RAM, a bit more plastic, a slightly more basic camera. It’s a safe bet - The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G still feels and behaves like a high-end phone.
Despite the name, the Galaxy S21 FE 5G is physically a little different from the actual Galaxy S21. For a start, it’s a few millimetres bigger, measuring 156x75x8mm, and at 177g it’s slightly heavier too. At the back it’s pretty similar to the S21, sharing a plastic cover, but where the standard phone has an alloy camera hump, on the S21 FE 5G this is also plastic. For some that might be a dealbreaker - and it certainly doesn’t feel as special as the glass back of an iPhone - but this is still a classy device.
Like other Galaxy S21 phones, the S21 FE 5G is waterproofed to 1.5 metres for up to 30 minutes. But while you could expand the S20 series’ storage with a microSD card, there’s no slot here - you’re stuck with what you buy.
Taken in isolation, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G has an impressive camera setup. Its triple-lens array offers a 12 megapixel (MP) wide sensor, backed up by a 12MP ultra-wide and 8MP telephoto unit with a 3X optical zoom. It is a good camera, particularly given that both the wide and telephoto lenses offer optical image stabilisation, but the latter is significantly downgraded from the 64MP sensor in the regular S21.
Curiously, the Galaxy S21 FE 5G’s front-facing camera is actually upgraded from the regular S21. While its namesake has a decent 10MP selfie camera, the S21 FE gets a larger sensor with 32 megapixels.
Like all Galaxy S21 models, the Galaxy S21 FE 5G has seriously impressive video specifications. It can shoot 720p up to a ridiculous 960 frames per second (fps) for amazing ultra slo-mo effects. It will shoot 1,080p video up to 120fps, 4K video up to 60fps, and even incredibly detailed 8K video at 24fps. Optical image stabilisation helps to keep everything shake-free when you’re moving, and helps reduce blurring in low-light shots.
However, keen film makers might encounter some limitations, particularly if they’re shooting at the phone’s maximum resolution or frame rates. Shooting 4K video at 60fps can generate around 750MB of data every minute. At that rate, you’ll half-fill the standard 128GB phone in less than 90 minutes.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G doesn’t have the high resolution screen you’d find on a truly flagship phone. Its 1,080x2,400 screen is beaten by the standard iPhone 13, and comfortably so by larger rivals. Even so, the 6.4” display features a variable refresh rate that tops out at 120Hz, making for impressively smooth graphics and slicker interaction. And it’s as bright and punchy as you’d expect from a Samsung AMOLED display.
Like other Samsung phones, there’s a small hole-punch cutout for the front-facing camera. It’s much less intrusive than Apple’s large notch, although we wish it was in a corner rather than the middle-top of the screen. While other S21 models have an under-glass, ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, the S21 FE makes do with an optical one.
This phone shares the same Samsung Exynos 2100 chip that powers the rest of the Galaxy S21 range, and it performs similarly on most benchmarks. While it’s outclassed by several newer Android phones - and blown into the weeds by recent iPhones - it’s still a powerful device, capable of ripping through most apps and games. If you’re into very demanding 3D games, you might want something faster, but this phone will dance through the average user’s everyday needs.
Although it’s not a huge phone, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G manages to pack in a substantial 4,500mAh battery. In theory this gives it plenty of power to survive long days and unplugged journeys, but some reviewers have found it comes up short with heavier use. If you do run low, you can grab a wired or wireless charge. The S21 FE 5G supports fast charging up to 25W, but you’ll need to buy an appropriate charger as there isn’t one in the box.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G comes in a choice of graphite, white, lavender or olive colours. You can buy it with either 128GB or 256GB of storage - the larger model also gets a RAM upgrade from 6GB to 8GB. Typically for a modern mobile, there are no other options, and neither earphones or a charger come in the box. Still, there are loads of official and third-party accessories should you need them.
The S21 FE 5G launched long after the rest of the Galaxy S21 range, and costs more than many were expecting for a truly budget-friendly alternative. On the plus side, with four years of Android updates starting from its 2022 launch, it might make a better long-term purchase.
