The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE: A Fan Edition Deep Dive
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, or Fan Edition, arrived with a mission: to deliver key flagship features at a more accessible price point. While its release timing and initial pricing faced scrutiny, it remains a compelling option for those seeking a well-rounded Android experience. Let’s delve into the intricacies of this device, examining its strengths, weaknesses, and overall value proposition.
The S21 FE largely mirrors the design language of the S21 series. It boasts a sleek, minimalist aesthetic with a “Contour-Cut” camera housing that seamlessly blends into the rear panel. This design, while familiar, remains visually appealing and feels premium in hand.
Material Choices and Durability
The device features a plastic back, which, while not as luxurious as glass, contributes to its lighter weight and improved durability. The aluminum frame provides structural rigidity, and the IP68 rating ensures resistance to dust and water, a crucial feature for peace of mind.
Display Quality: A Visual Treat
The 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display is a highlight. It offers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast, making it a joy to consume multimedia content. The 120Hz adaptive refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and animations, enhancing the overall user experience. The display’s brightness is also commendable, providing good visibility even in direct sunlight.
Bezel and Form Factor
The bezels are relatively slim, contributing to a modern and immersive viewing experience. The compact form factor, compared to the larger S21 Ultra, makes it comfortable to hold and use with one hand.
Under the hood, the S21 FE packs a punch. Depending on the region, it features either the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 or the Exynos 2100 chipset. Both processors deliver flagship-level performance, handling demanding tasks and graphics-intensive games with ease.
Chipset Variations and Performance
The Snapdragon 888 variant is generally considered to offer slightly better performance and thermal management, particularly for gaming. However, the Exynos 2100 is no slouch, providing a smooth and responsive user experience. Both chipsets are paired with 6GB or 8GB of RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking and app switching.
Software Experience: One UI 4.1 and Beyond
The S21 FE launched with Android 12 and Samsung’s One UI 4.1, offering a clean and intuitive interface. Samsung’s commitment to software updates means that users can expect several years of Android and security updates, ensuring the device remains secure and up-to-date. Samsung’s One UI is generally very well received due to it’s customizability, and feature rich nature.
Gaming Performance
The combination of the powerful processor and 120Hz display makes the S21 FE a capable gaming device. Games run smoothly at high settings, and the device’s thermal management is generally adequate, although prolonged gaming sessions may lead to some heat buildup.
The S21 FE features a triple-camera setup on the rear, comprising a 12MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and an 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. This configuration offers versatility, allowing users to capture a wide range of shots in various scenarios.
Main Camera Performance
The 12MP main sensor delivers excellent image quality in daylight, producing sharp and detailed photos with accurate colors. Low-light performance is also respectable, thanks to Samsung’s image processing algorithms.
Ultra-Wide and Telephoto Lenses
The 12MP ultra-wide lens captures expansive landscapes and group shots with minimal distortion. The 8MP telephoto lens provides a useful 3x optical zoom, allowing users to get closer to their subjects without significant loss of detail.
Front-Facing Camera
The 32MP front-facing camera captures detailed selfies with good dynamic range. It also performs well in low-light conditions, making it suitable for video calls and social media content creation.
Video Recording
The S21 FE supports 4K video recording at up to 60fps on both the front and rear cameras. It also offers features like Super Steady mode for smooth video stabilization and Director’s View, which allows users to record with both the front and rear cameras simultaneously.
The S21 FE is powered by a 4,500mAh battery, which provides adequate battery life for most users. However, heavy users may need to top up the battery before the end of the day.
Battery Performance
The battery life is generally sufficient for a full day of moderate use, including browsing, social media, and light gaming. However, demanding tasks like gaming and video recording can drain the battery more quickly.
Charging Speeds
The device supports 25W wired fast charging and 15W wireless charging. While the wired charging speed is decent, it’s not as fast as some competitors. It takes approximately 1.5 hours to fully charge the battery.
No Charger Included
It is important to note that Samsung, following industry trends, does not include a charger in the box. Users will need to purchase a compatible charger separately.
The S21 FE offers a comprehensive suite of connectivity options, including 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, and NFC. It also features an in-display fingerprint sensor for secure biometric authentication.
5G Connectivity
The 5G support ensures fast download and upload speeds, allowing users to take advantage of the latest cellular networks.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
The Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 support provide reliable and fast wireless connectivity.
In-Display Fingerprint Sensor
The optical in-display fingerprint sensor is fast and accurate, providing a convenient and secure way to unlock the device.
Stereo Speakers
The stereo speakers deliver clear and loud audio, enhancing the multimedia experience.
No Headphone Jack
Like many modern smartphones, the S21 FE does not feature a 3.5mm headphone jack. Users will need to use wireless headphones or a USB-C adapter.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE aims to provide a flagship-like experience at a more accessible price. While its initial pricing faced criticism, subsequent price drops have made it a more attractive option.
Target Audience
The S21 FE is ideal for users who want a well-rounded smartphone with flagship-level performance, a good camera system, and a vibrant display, without breaking the bank.
Strengths
Flagship-level performance
Weaknesses
Plastic back
Final Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is a solid all-around smartphone that delivers a compelling blend of features and performance. While it may not be perfect, its strengths outweigh its weaknesses, making it a worthy contender in the mid-range to upper mid-range segment. If you’re looking for a reliable and feature-rich Android smartphone, the S21 FE is definitely worth considering, especially if you can find it at a discounted price. The longevity of Samsung’s software support is a major plus, and should not be overlooked.
