Introduction

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has great features that you would find on a more overpriced phone but it is cheaper. This makes the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE one of the popular Samsung Fan Edition phones. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has a great screen that looks very smooth and it is called a 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE also has a camera with three lenses that can connect to 5G networks and the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE also has a large 4500 mAh battery that lasts for a very long time. All these features are in a phone that looks and feels very nice and the design of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is sleek and premium. This infographic breaks down the specs and features of the Galaxy S21 FE in a way that helps you quickly see why it is a great practicality option in the mid-to-high-end smartphone market.

Quick verdict 

The Galaxy S21 FE is still a good phone in 2026. It is especially great for people who want a phone, with a bright and smooth screen. The Galaxy S21 FE has an AMOLED screen and it works with Samsung’s One UI ecosystem.

The Galaxy S21 FE performance is good because it has a processor. The processor is either the Snapdragon 888 or the Exynos 2100. This depends on where you buy the Galaxy S21 FE. The Galaxy S21 FE can manoeuvre things you do every day. It can also handle when you do things at the same time. The Galaxy S21 FE can even handle games. The battery of the Galaxy S21 FE is 4,500 mAh. This means the Galaxy S21 FE battery usually lasts for a day when you use it for different things. The trade-offs are clear: a plastic back instead of glass, cameras that are serviceable but not class-leading in low light, and charging that’s slower than many modern rivals. At full launch price it sits unskillfully close to newer models; with a discount of ~$100+ or strong trade-in offers it becomes a compelling buy. If you want the independent best camera or the fastest charging tech, consider a Pixel or S-series flagship instead.

What’s new with the Galaxy S21 FE 

Short summary: The S21 FE line prices are set from the S21 flagship formula, retaining the key strengths: a 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, a flexible triple-camera system, and a capacious 4,500 mAh battery. The internal hardware is flagship-level from the 2021 generation (Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100). The design leans towards using lighter statistics to cut costs.

Quick specs table 

Field	Specification
Model	Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
Display	6.4″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 1080×2400, adaptive 120Hz
Chipset	Snapdragon 888 (many regions) / Exynos 2100 (some regions)
RAM	6GB / 8GB
Storage	128GB / 256GB (no microSD)
Cameras	12MP main (f/1.8, OIS), 12MP ultrawide, 8MP tele (~3x equiv)
Front camera	32MP
Battery	4,500 mAh
Charging	Wired ~25W spec, wireless charging carry
OS	Shipped Android 12 + One UI (upgradable)
IP rating	IP68
Weight / Size	~155.7 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm  ~177 g
Extras	Stereo speakers, under-display fingerprint, NFC, 5G (sub-6)

Galaxy S21 FE review 

Note: This review is written in simple, easy-to-understand language and organized in a way that is friendly to human readers as well as NLP indexing (short paragraphs, clear keywords, header organization, and bullet points). The bolded text is used for SEO keywords.

Design & build: light, colorful, and practical

The Galaxy S21 FE retains the visual identity of the S21 series: the camera island that optically merges with the frame, clean lines, and a deliberately streamlined design. Samsung focused on weight and Ergonomics by employing a polycarbonate (plastic) rear panel on most variants. This design decision reduces the weight and fragility of the phone when dropped, but it’s certainly not as premium in the hand as glass.

What you should know

• The phone is comfortable for one-handed use thanks to its modest 6.4″ footprint and balanced weight.
• A polycarbonate back offers resilience (less prone to shattering) but feels less sumptuous than glass.
• IP68 dust/water resistance helps ensure everyday durability.
• The camera module is well-integrated, which improves pocket comfort and reduces wobble.

Quick pros / cons for design

• Pros: Lightweight, many color options, solid frame, IP68 rated.
• Cons: Plastic back feels cheaper, less premium finish, not the heaviest “built-like-a-tank” impression.

Display why the screen still shines

The S21 FE uses a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with adaptive 120Hz. This is one of the device’s strongest assets. Colors pop, contrast is excellent, and the adaptive refresh rate lets the display scale to conserve battery when high refresh isn’t needed.

Why this matters

• Media (video/streaming) looks vibrant and crisp.
• Text and UI elements are sharp at 1080p, good for browsing and reading.
• The 120Hz experienced refresh delivers silky smooth scrolling when the phone decides to use it.

Battery vs smoothness quick tips

• For the best feel, keep Adaptive 120Hz on.
• If battery life is critical, switch to 60Hz.
• Use Auto brightness to save power in changing lighting conditions.

Chipset,memory & performance

Performance is grounded in 2021 flagship silicon. The majority of units come with the Snapdragon 888, which provides them with excellent CPU and GPU capabilities. In certain markets, the Exynos 2100 unit freight is replaced by a competent performer with a slightly different thermal design and power efficiency.

Real-world notes

• App load times and multitasking are fast, particularly on 8GB RAM models.
• The 6GB model is sufficient for casual users but will show more background app reloads under heavy multitasking.
• Under extended gaming or long CPU/GPU loads the phone warms up, which can trigger thermal throttling  typical for a thin handset built to be light.
  

Gaming tips

• Lower some in-game settings to keep frame rates steady.
• Avoid charging while gaming to reduce heat.
• Consider a breathable case to help dissipate heat.

Battery life & charging 

The 4,500 mAh battery is generous for the device’s class. In typical mixed-use (messaging, social apps, light gaming, music streaming), expect a full day of battery life, often hitting 4–6 hours of screen-on time depending on refresh rate and brightness.

Battery behavior summary

• 120Hz uses noticeably more energy than 60Hz.
• 60Hz + Auto brightness = best battery endurance.
• Samsung’s wired charging spec (about 25W nominal) gives respectable speeds but lags behind modern fast-charging leaders (50–120W).

Practical battery tips

• Use Adaptive refresh to balance smoothness and longevity.
• Enable Power saver during long days or travel.
• Disable always-on or condition features you don’t need.

Recommended charging routine

• For healthier long-term battery life, top up at ~20–30% rather than letting the battery fall to zero.
• If you need a quick top-up, shorter, higher-power bursts are fine periodically  the phone’s battery supervision helps protect cell longevity.

Cameras  

The triple-camera setup is quite flexible, with a 12MP primary camera featuring OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and an 8MP telephoto camera that offers roughly 3x optical equivalent zoom. The 32MP front camera is also decent for taking selfies.

Strengths

• Daylight photos are bright and share-ready with vivid color reproduction.
• Ultrawide is good for landscapes and group shots.
• The front camera gives high-resolution selfies suitable for social media.
• Weaknesses

• Low-light detail falls behind the best camera phones (Pixel series, top-tier Samsung flagships).
• Color saturation leans toward dynamic images; some users prefer more natural tones.
• Tele is useful for crops but lacks the high detail of dedicated periscope telephoto lenses.

Camera tips for better shots

• Use Night mode in dim scenes to extract more detail.
• For portraits, lock focus on the subject and ensure good lighting.
• Ultrawide is great for composition  watches for edge softening.

Video & stabilization

Video quality is good for everyday creators: capable of 1080p and 4K capture with electronic stabilization that keeps handheld clips steady. For professional-level smoothness use a gimbal or tripod.

Suggestions for better videos

• Record 4K if you plan to edit later or crop in post.
• Use pro video mode for manual control over revelation and focus when needed.
• Keep scenes well-lit to avoid noise and improve autofocus.

Software,updates & One UI features

One UI, which is based on Android, provides a lot of functionality,counting device customization, privacy, Samsung apps, and optional features such as DeX. More importantly, Samsung has been providing multi-year operating system and security updates for many of its mid-to-high-end devices, which is a huge value proposition.

One UI features to try

• Edge panels for quick app access.
• Device Care to manage storage and battery.
• Samsung DeX for fruitfulness with a compatible dock or cable.

Update notes

• Keep the phone updated to receive ongoing performance improvements and security patches.
• Samsung occasionally adds new camera modes or performance tweaks via feature updates.

Audio & haptics

Stereo speakers provide clear audio for the media. Haptics are serviceable but not class-leading; they’re adequate for intelligence and UI interactions.

Audio tips

• Use Dolby Atmos (where available) for richer media playback.
• For gaming and better fidelity, connect headphones with high-quality codecs via Bluetooth.

Benchmarks, gaming & thermal behavior

Synthetic benchmarks place the S21 FE near flagship performance for its generation. In real use you’ll notice smooth scrolling, rapid app switching, and generally reliable gaming performance.

Gaming

• Heavy games run well, but watch for thermal throttling during extended sessions.
• Lower in-game graphics if you want consistent high frame rates.
  

Thermals

• The phone will warm under sustained heavy load (CPU+GPU). If temperatures spike and FPS drops, reduce settings or pause to cool down.

Photos & sample gallery recommendations

If you publish a review page, include full-resolution images, RAW files, and crops to help readers compare image quality. These assets also boost SEO when properly labeled with EXIF/crop notes.

Suggested gallery types

• Daylight comparison: S21 FE vs Pixel 6/7 vs S22.
• Ultrawide corner crops for edge sharpness analysis.
• Telephoto crops at 3x and higher digital zoom.
• Night mode shots showing low-light performance.
• Video frame grabs for modification and detail checks.

Price, deals & value

Price is the most important variable. At launch the S21 FE was criticized for sitting too close in price to newer flagships. Where it shines is when discounter discounts it by $100+ or include trade-in bonuses.

Buying tips

• Watch seasonal sales (Black Friday, regional festivals).
• Check carrier bundles and trade-in promotions.
• Compare local retailers and major online stores for the best offers.

Who gets the best value?

• Buyers who want a Samsung OLED and One UI without paying full flagship prices.
• Users who accept compromises (plastic back, slower charging) for a lighter phone.
• People planning to keep their phone for several years for software support.
  

Comparisons: S21 FE vs Pixel 6 / Pixel 7 / Galaxy S22

Short comparison bullets for quick decisions:

Vs Pixel 6 / 7

• Camera: Pixel often wins for natural color and night shots due to Google’s computational processing.
• Display & Features: S21 FE has a better display and broader One UI features.
• Updates: Pixel sometimes gets faster OS updates from Google.
  

Vs Galaxy S22

• Materials & cameras: S22 is more premium with improved camera hardware.
• Value: S21 FE can beat S22 on value when discounted.
• Weight & color options: S21 FE is lighter and offers more playful colorways.
  

Overall

• Choose S21 FE for display + Samsung ecosystem and value deals.
• Choose Pixel for camera-first users.
• Choose S22 if you want a more premium build and slightly better cameras.

Who should buy the Galaxy S21 FE? 

Buy the S21 FE if:

• You want a great Samsung OLED display without flagship price.
• You value One UI and Samsung-specific features (DeX, Samsung Pay).
• You prefer a lighter, colorful phone that’s comfortable daily.
• You want multi-year software support at a lower entry price.
  

Don’t buy the S21 FE if:

• You need best-in-class camera performance (look at Pixel or S-series Ultra).
• You require very fast charging (>65W).
• You want the most premium materials and finish (look at S22/S23).

FAQs 

Final verdict  

The Galaxy S21 FE is a phone that you can rely on. It comes with a screen that it functions well with, and Samsung has done a great job with the software. This makes the Galaxy S21 FE a great phone. The Galaxy S21 FE also has some issues. It is not Competitively Priced when you consider that there are newer models of phones that are available. The back of the Galaxy S21 FE is made of plastic. It does not feel as good as other phones. The cameras on the Galaxy S21 FE are not the best when it is dark outside. If you can get the Galaxy S21 FE for a price or if you trade in your old phone or get a deal from your phone company, then the Galaxy S21 FE is a great buy. For people who want a great camera and fast charging, consider the Pixel or Galaxy line.