Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G evaluation: extra of the identical

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G struck a chord with followers and critics alike and the machine was among the many model’s most popular telephones in 2021. Why, you could be questioning? Properly, the smartphone supplied Samsung’s premium Galaxy expertise at a wallet-friendly worth level. Extra importantly, the machine was backed by a top-end Qualcomm chip that lend the S20 FE 5G (evaluation) oodles of uncooked horsepower.

Contents

Verdict Design Show Cameras Efficiency, Battery life, and Software program Closing verdict Editor’s ranking: 3.5 / 5 Execs:Cons:

That’s partly why I’m on the fence in regards to the firm’s newest Fan Version contender – the S21 FE 5G. On paper, the smartphone checks all the correct containers and ships with options like IP ranking, in addition to wi-fi charging. Nevertheless, this time round, the corporate has launched the telephone with the Exynos 2100 SoC in India, which is decidedly slower than its Qualcomm counterpart. However, is the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G greater than the sum of its elements? Properly, let’s discover out on this evaluation.

Desk of Contents

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is a pretty proposition total. That mentioned, the machine’s pricing sandwiches it between the Galaxy S20 FE 5G and the Galaxy S21, with the previous providing higher worth and the latter, nicer options.

Design

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G doesn’t stray too removed from the design of its pricier S21 siblings. In actual fact, very similar to the Galaxy S21 (evaluation) and the Galaxy S21 Plus (evaluation), the smartphone employs a mixture of plastic and metallic in its building. Regardless of that, the telephone feels fairly premium, which could be accredited to its chamfered metallic body that ups the handset’s in-hand really feel tenfold. Furthermore, the handset’s matte again doesn’t decide up any fingerprints or stains both, which is nice. The smartphone additionally options the enduring contoured digital camera bump we first noticed with the Galaxy S21 vary. This time round, nonetheless, the digital camera bump hasn’t been given any particular remedy. So, in contrast to the metallic digital camera bumps of the S21 vary, the S21 FE 5G utilises a plastic digital camera module that merges seamlessly with the telephone’s again.

Barring its plastic again, Samsung hasn’t minimize any main corners with the design of the telephone. In actual fact, the Galaxy S21 FE 5G is IP68 rated and the smartphone even comes with assist for wi-fi charging. What’s extra, the machine is extraordinarily comfy to grip and use day in and time out, because of its smooth body that measures simply 7.9mm. That’s not all, because the telephone even comes with a flat display screen which mitigates unintentional touches like a champ. If something, I’d’ve appreciated to see a 3.5mm audio jack with the telephone – that is the Fan Version, in any case, and I’m sure followers would’ve appreciated to see the beloved analogue port on the handset. Fortunately, the machine does ship with a twin speaker setup which will get fairly loud for watching motion pictures and movies on the fly.

As for the remainder of the I/O, the handset ships with a clicky quantity rocker and energy button on its right-hand backbone. The machine additionally ships with a USB Kind-C port for charging on the backside, which is sandwiched between a speaker grille and a dual-SIM tray. For biometrics, the machine utilises an in-display fingerprint sensor which labored fairly properly throughout my stint with the telephone. That mentioned, the telephone additionally comes with speedy facial recognition tech, which when paired with the handset’s “elevate to wake” performance, bought me into my residence display screen within the blink of a watch.

Show

When you ask me, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G’s show is undoubtedly its finest characteristic. For one, the panel measures 6.4-inches, making it pretty compact and one-hand pleasant. What’s extra, the show is bordered by extraordinarily smooth bezels which maximises the general display screen actual property. Consequently, regardless of its pocket-friendly type issue, I didn’t discover the show to be too cramped or congested. That’s not all, because the display screen is backed by AMOLED know-how, so you can be greeted with vibrant colors and wealthy distinction from each which angle.

I’d additionally like so as to add that the show presents a handy guide a rough 120Hz refresh charge, guaranteeing animations and UI transitions seem buttery clean on the telephone’s display screen. Furthermore, the display screen additionally presents a contact sampling charge of 240Hz, so the show ought to decide up on all of your swipes and gestures with out breaking a sweat. Lest I neglect, the smartphone is Widevine L1 licensed and may even relay HDR media from Netflix seamlessly. Coupled with its tiny punch-hole notch, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G’s show will undoubtedly be lauded by movie-buffs and hardcore avid gamers alike.

Following Apple’s go well with, Samsung has decreased the equipment that come bundled with the retail packaging of its telephones too. To wit, the Galaxy S21 FE 5G doesn’t ship with a display screen protector or a TPU case. Fortunately, the machine presents a layer of Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus on prime of the panel, which ought to maintain scratches and scuffs at bay.

Cameras

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is backed by a triple digital camera setup on the again comprising a 12MP important sensor which works alongside a 12MP extremely extensive lens and an 8MP telephoto digital camera. For selfies, the machine will get a 32MP selfie shooter upfront.

On the entire, I’ve been fairly proud of the S21 FE 5G’s images chops. Photographs taken throughout the day provide ample particulars and good dynamic vary. That mentioned, very similar to most different 12MP shooters, the general sharpness takes successful when you zoom into the composition. Consequently, at a more in-depth crop, you’ll discover that the leaves of a tree, as an example, begin to lose their definition and the body seems a tad muddy. The lowlight stills, alternatively, look fairly good, particularly with the night time mode enabled. The smartphone tackles noise fairly properly, though I seen that the machine struggled to maintain the lens flaring in test. Moreover, with the night time mode enabled, the S21 FE 5G tightens the body ever so barely, so that you would possibly need to take a few steps again to seize the whole scene. Apart from that, I didn’t discover any points with the smartphone’s 12MP important digital camera.

The identical goes for the handset’s telephoto sensor too, which nets serviceable particulars at 3x optical zoom. That mentioned, the standard of the pictures takes a steep dip in the event you zoom in additional digitally. Consequently, when you can, in idea, use the telephone’s 30x house zoom characteristic, you’ll usually end up discontent with the images as you climb up the zoom ladder. The ultra-wide sensor clicks fairly detailed images too. Sadly, the photographs will not be with out fault and I seen that objects across the periphery of the body have been rendered fairly comfortable. On the brilliant facet, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G ships with a succesful selfie digital camera that may snap high quality self-portraits come night time or day. The photographs are replete with particulars and provide wonderful colors too, so no complaints right here.

Unsurprisingly, the S21 FE 5G’s cameras don’t provide any noticeable enhancements over its predecessor, the S20 FE 5G. When you take a look at the slider hooked up above, then you definately’ll discover that each the telephones click on near-identical pictures, with the S21 FE 5G edging out barely by way of the general sharpness. Regardless, in the event you don’t pixel-peep, you can be hard-pressed to search out any variations within the pictures shot from the 2 telephones throughout the day.

The identical is true for his or her respective telephoto sensors too and at a 3x crop, each the gadgets snap related images. In actual fact, the S20 FE 5G’s composition seems a tad sharper, though the machine does introduce a bit extra grain within the body. Relaxation assured, consumers at present utilizing the corporate’s Galaxy S20 FE 5G needn’t improve to the newer mannequin.

Efficiency, Battery life, and Software program

Coming to the meat of the matter, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is backed by the corporate’s in-house Exynos 2100 SoC. The chipset works alongside UFS 3.1 storage and LPDDR5 reminiscence. Unsurprisingly, the Galaxy S21 FE 5G is a very quick telephone, although the handset’s pricing pits it in opposition to gadgets backed by snappier Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 / 888 processors. Ipso facto, the S21 FE 5G – whereas not sluggish – shouldn’t be as highly effective because the competitors both. The handset’s Mali GPU isn’t as well-equipped for gaming as its Adreno counterparts too.

In actual fact, demanding video games are likely to run higher on the S20 FE 5G, versus the S21 FE 5G. Working example, BGMI, which maxes out at HDR graphics and Extremely FPS on the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G. Quite the opposite, the Galaxy S20 FE 5G can play the sport at HDR graphics with the Excessive body charge preset enabled, and the machine additionally helps the in-game UHD texture pack.

Once more, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G shouldn’t be a foul performer and I seldom bumped into situations of lag or stutter on the telephone. That mentioned, the wealth of alternate options (together with Samsung’s very personal Galaxy S20 FE 5G) forged a shadow on the handset’s efficiency chops. Curiously, I seen the telephone would warmth up fairly a bit too. In actual fact, in our CPU throttle take a look at, the machine throttled to 66 p.c of its peak efficiency, which is the bottom I’ve seen shortly. To the corporate’s credit score, the Exynos 2100 SoC runs fairly cool so I’m prepared to chalk this off on OneUI 4.0’s sub-par optimisation.

Talking of which, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G runs Android 12 with the corporate’s OneUI 4.0 interface on prime. The customized pores and skin presents a treasure trove of customisation options and comes with a devoted theme retailer that permits consumers to alter the wallpaper, All the time-on Show clock face, and extra. That mentioned, the customized pores and skin doesn’t assist third-party icon packs, which is a bummer. Regardless, the interface greater than makes up for it by providing slick animations, a truckload of utilities like a built-in display screen and name recorder, customisable edge panels, and extra. It additionally helps that the machine helps the corporate’s famed DeX platform, guaranteeing productivity-fiends have one thing to look ahead to as properly.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G ships with a 4,500mAh battery that comfortably noticed me by means of the top of a heavy workday. Do notice that on the times I performed video games on the telephone, the battery life would take a small dip and I’d needed to plug within the telephone across the 7 pm mark. On the brilliant facet, the telephone helps each wired in addition to wi-fi charging. The charging speeds pale compared to the trade requirements although, with the telephone maxing out at 25W for wired and 15W for wi-fi charging. Regardless, I doubt potential consumers may have any main battery woes from the Galaxy S21 FE 5G.

Closing verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G retails for Rs 54,999 for the bottom variant, although consumers can avail of a Rs 5K cashback provide by utilizing an HDFC card, thereby bringing the worth of the telephone all the way down to Rs 50K. For its discounted worth, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G will get some issues proper and the smartphone presents a classy design that has been paired with a shocking show. That mentioned, as prefaced beforehand, the machine’s efficiency leaves quite a bit to be desired. Moreover, seeing how the telephone’s cameras haven’t seen any drastic upgrades over its predecessor, I’d reckon it is best to avoid wasting bucks and cop the corporate’s Galaxy S20 FE 5G as an alternative. Else, potential consumers can even get the Samsung Galaxy S21, which at present retails for a similar worth because the S21 FE 5G and presents a greater telephoto digital camera, amongst different issues. All issues thought-about, the Galaxy S21 FE 5G, whereas good, ought to’ve been priced extra aggressively to make it stand out that significantly better.