The Samsung S21 FE 5G - The iconic final chapter in the Galaxy S21 series
Robert Cerff / 22-02-2022 / Reviews
The Galaxy S21 series is ending on a high note with the Samsung S21 FE 5G. This fan edition smartphone is a combination of everything that made the series, featuring high-end specs across its display, performance and camera.
With the FE, you get a powerful smartphone that packs in new and fan-favourite features on a budget.
Unmatched Display
When it comes to display the S21 FE is just as good as other phones in the series but with a lower price tag. It is slightly bigger than a standard S21 at 6.4 inches, but it is still comfortable to hold thanks to its lightweight material and curved body. Built into the display is a fingerprint sensor with the option to use the selfie camera for face unlock. A standout feature is Samsung’s Dynamic AMOLED 2x display, which is an improvement from the previous AMOLED variant. The update means the S21 FE supports HDR10+, a feature that’s not available in the older model. It also has a high sampling rate of 240hz for a quick and smooth user experience.
The Best Samsung Chip
In most parts of the world, the S21 FE is powered by Samsung’s own Exynos 2100 chip. Some regions such as the USA get the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset. The Exynos 2100 is the most powerful chip that the company has ever made and allows for seamless multitasking and fast loading times of apps and games. It is paired with either 6 or 8GB RAM and 128GB or 256GB storage straight out the box. Like its siblings, the FE has no MicroSD card slot.
Crisp Camera Optics
The phone has a triple camera setup with an excellent 12MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide lens, 8MP telephoto for 3x optical zoom and 32MP front camera. It boasts Dual Pixel auto-focus and optical image stabilisation (OIS) for pictures that are crisp, vivid and vibrant with an impressive dynamic range. Plus, the OIS ensures that shots remain clear even when the sun goes down.
Wired or Wireless
With a 4500mAh battery, battery life on the S21 FE is good, lasting a full day on normal use. It’s capable of 25W wired charging and 15W wireless charging, which is on par with the series. Following in the footsteps of other smartphone manufacturers, Samsung is no longer including a charging adapter with its budget or premium phones. So, if you’re using a third-party charger, it could take around an hour to charge up from 0% to 100%.
Updated Android 15
The new fan edition has Android 12 out of the box. It benefits from top-notch privacy features and users can look forward to three major version updates that will take the FE to Android 15 with security patches for the next four years. This makes the S21 FE a great option as a long-term purchase.
If this sounds like your next smartphone, keep your eyes peeled on Mondo’s website as deals on this fan-favourite will drop soon. Sign-up to our newsletter for updates on the hottest mobile and data deals from SA’s leading networks.