Samsung Galaxy S21 FE family of smartphones — the S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra — is expanding with a new entry point: the Galaxy S21 FE.
Because it did use the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE at the end of 2020, Samsung plucked the best features in the S21 line and placed them into this smaller-sized, less expensive device. Samsung is launching the S21 FE at CES 2022, a motion picture where they sometimes concentrate on TVs and monitors.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is going to be obtainable in Australia from The month of January 11 at $999 for that 128GB model and $1,099 for 256GB of storage. Our global news partner CNN could spend a weekend using the S21 FE, and then time they’re naming it a finalist to find the best Cell Phone from CES 2022.
Similar hardware in a refined build
The Universe S21 FE looks familiar, although it is slightly bigger compared to S21, without flashy elements of design just like a metal border. Additionally, it includes a camera bump that comes from the phone’s edge.
Samsung refers to this as a contour-cut frame and also the subtle design provides uniformity around the back panel from the phone. The frame from the S21 FE is aluminum, though as may be expected with this particular more-affordable option, the phone’s rear panel is really a smooth polycarbonate. It isn’t glossy but demonstrates some fingerprints.
Coming in at 177 grams, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE feels substantial within our hands, and it’s available in olive, lavender, white-colored, or graphite color options.
The device’s front is almost all screen, having a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED panel, and it’s nice to determine minimal bezels all-around only at that cost point. We recognize how well it handles colors and supports a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother visuals than you’ll see on the majority of phones only at that cost.
Samsung’s also tucked a 32-megapixel selfie camera into the top, which is ideal for video calls and quick shots. They’ve also incorporated a fingerprint sensor included in the underside 1 / 2 of the display.
Powering all this may be the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, exactly the same one which resides in all of those other Galaxy S21 families. This means that photos are quick to process, games could be performed in your area or in the cloud, and multitasking is created easily with fluid movement between apps.
However, the RAM is gloomier compared to other S21s which can lead to slowdowns with increased intense tasks or perhaps a bevy of apps open. The $699 S21 FE features 6GB of RAM (which we’ve been testing) and also the $769 variant ships with 8GB. The S21 FE comes preloaded with Android 12 and Samsung?s One UX 4.
Battery existence has additionally been strong through the weekend, likely because of the 4,500mAh battery inside. We’ve easily become via a full day on the charge, even enduring two with lighter usage. When the time comes to charge, you’ll have to connect the incorporated USB-C cable or put it on the Qi-enabled wireless charging pad. Samsung doesn’t incorporate a wall connect this area, but we’d recommend an Anker Nano II.
Four familiar cameras
While Samsung’s S21 FE comes with a bigger battery and a faster processor inside, the same treatment was not given to the main camera array on the back. Here’s what the Galaxy S21 FE is packing.
- 12-megapixel ultrawide lens: The ultrawide lens offers a 123-degree field of view and is great for capturing a large area in a shot. In our early tests, we captured a ton in the frame without seeing much blur or fisheye effect around the edges.
- 12-megapixel wide-angle lens: The main shooter on the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE performs admirably. It’s best for portraits and more traditional shots.
- 8-megapixel telephoto lens: This is the same zoom lens as on the S20 FE and we are surprised it wasn’t improved on. It’s an 8-megapixel lens with 3x optical zoom functionality. 30x Space Zoom is supported here but without the physical periscoping lens of the S21 Ultra. It’s simply a combination of physical and digital zoom along with upscaling, which can lead to some serious distortion at a full 30x. We found the 10x zoom functionality to be the most practical.
Samsung’s various modes will also be incorporated here Night Mode, Single Take, Portrait, Pro, Food, Portrait Video, Dual Recording, and Slow Motion, amongst others, plus they all run well (samples below). Single take continues to be our favorites, allowing you to hit the shutter button and slowly move the phone around, then your S21 FE uses AI to determine which shots to capture and whether it must apply effects.
Camera performance here is going to be critical because the Pixel 6 also costs $999 while offering excellent photography. You lose the physical telephoto lens there, but Google’s processing is first-rate within the Android space.
Samsung Universe S21 FE is shaping as much as be a great new access point into the Universe S21 family.
However, it’s launching at an interesting time, as we’re only a couple of days from the rumored successors towards the Universe S21 family, also known as the Universe S22. Still, for individuals who would like a less expensive Samsung device, the $999 S21 FE will probably suit you perfectly? as lengthy as you’re awesome having a cheaper design and never probably the most impressive telephoto lens.
The Universe S21 FE can also be creating a splash at CES among a couple of cell phones to produce in the show. Because of its set of features and cost-effective positioning, it’s a finalist for the Best Cell Phone of CES 2022. We’ll be discussing our full finalists in a few days, in front of the top choices in every category.
You can buy the Universe S21 FE at $999 for 128GB of storage and 6GB of RAM, or $1,099 for 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM.
In either case, you’ll find support for 5G mmWave and Sub-6 too, that is terrific news? particularly if either network exists in your area. Individuals seeking ultra-fast speeds that may rival home systems may wish to find mmWave connectivity.
We’d also recommend searching in the standard Universe S21 or maybe you’re fine with no telephoto lens, the similarly priced Pixel 6.