Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G Mobile Phone 256GB SIM Free Android Smartphone Lavender (UK Version)

Product Information

You’d be forgiven for confusing the Galaxy S21 FE with its non-FE siblings, because other than its size, it’s a dead ringer for the vanilla and Plus members of its family. Images shown here are for representational purpose only, actual may vary. All features, specifications and prices are subject to change without prior notice. Model availability may vary from location to location. On the front of the phone is a 32MP snapper - that’s a jump up from the 10MP on the other S21 models - but resolution isn’t necessarily the be all and end all of camera quality. Battery: Actual battery life varies by network environment, features and apps used, frequency of calls and messages, number of times charged, and many other factors. At 25W, the phone takes about an hour and a half to power from empty to full, though we’d imagine most users will power it up overnight at that speed. That's with the fastest-charging cables we had at home, but since a charger isn't included in the box, you'll have to power at the speed of whatever plug you already own or choose to buy.

The phone supports wireless charging speeds up to 15W, with wired 25W charging via the USB-C port at the bottom. The S21 FE, like its predecessor, is also capable of reverse wireless charging supported devices, such as the Galaxy Buds 2 – you simply place them on the handset’s rear and enable the feature in the phone’s settings. Requires optimal 5G connection. Availability and actual speed may vary depending on country, network operator and user environment. Measured diagonally, Galaxy S21 FE 5G’s screen size is 6.4" in the full rectangle and 6.3” with accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and camera hole.We wouldn’t be surprised if the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE ends up being the last phone using the Snapdragon 888 chipset - the 888 was the top-end Android processor for the best part of 2021, but at this time, the newly-unveiled Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is already being used in a few phones. The most notable difference, however, is that the Galaxy S21 FE has opted for Qualcomm’s top-end Snapdragon 888, rather than going for Samsung’s homemade Exynos 2100 equivalent (found inside the normal S21 in the UK). Architecturally speaking, both of these chipsets are pretty much identical, so there’s a good chance you won’t notice a difference between the two in regular use anyway – but we’ll find out later in this review. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE review: Price and competition That 888 chipset is a 5G-enabled one, so the Galaxy S21 FE can connect to next-gen networks if you have a 5G contract and are in an area that allows for it. The chip is also paired with 6GB or 8GB RAM, depending on the model of phone you opt for. Requires optimal 5G connection. Availability and actual speed may vary depending on country, carrier and user environment.

The S21 FE 5G’s cameras are pretty close to what you get with the older Galaxy S21. Indeed, the main camera’s specifications are identical, shooting 12MP images from a 1/1.76in, f/1.8 sensor with 1.8um pixels and optical image stabilisation (OIS). Though some of the specs are different, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE’s camera performance is largely comparable to that of the S21 and S21 Plus. We would even say there are far more similarities than there are differences. Like those aforementioned mobiles, the FE has the same rear camera, Contour Cut bump to house its three lenses. One tiny difference is that the FE uses plastic material around these rear cameras whereas the S21 features metal. S Pen Pro and S Pen Fold Edition sold separately. Only use the Samsung S Pen Pro or the S Pen Fold Edition designed exclusively for Galaxy Z Fold3 5G. All other S Pens or stylus pens not designed for Galaxy Z Fold3 5G (including those by other manufacturers) may damage the screen.User Available Memory : User memory is less than the total memory due to storage of the operating system and software used to operate the device features. Actual user memory will vary depending on the operator and may change after software upgrades are performed This telephoto snapper may be lower-res than the S21’s, but it’s actually paired with the same lens, which allows for 1.1x optical or 3x hybrid zoom; this seeming downgrade therefore won’t make a huge difference for most people.

Sadly, while the battery is identical in capacity at 4,500mAh, the S21 FE’s stamina is the worst of the lot. Reaching only 15hrs 42mins in our video rundown test, the S21 FE falls three hours short of the S21 and almost five hours behind the iPhone 13 under the same conditions. So if you’re only a light phone user, you might find the Galaxy S21 FE’s lasting power is just fine; but if you like to use your mobile a lot, it might not be enough. The main snapper here is a 12MP main camera and that, as well as the 12MP ultrawide, are both holdovers from the S21. But while the S21 also has a 64MP telephoto camera, the S21 FE only has an 8MP one.

Galaxy S21 FE 5G is rated as IP68. Based on test conditions for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Not advised for beach or pool use. Measured diagonally, Galaxy S21 FE 5G’s screen size is 16.29cm (6.4") in the full rectangle and 15.89cm (6.3") with accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and camera hole.

Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 at 10W or higher is currently available with Wireless Charger Stand (EP-N5200) and Wireless Charger Duo Pad (EP-P5200). Wireless Chargers sold separately. Other wireless chargers compatible with WPC support wireless charging under 5W. Actual charging speed may vary depending on the actual usage, charging conditions and other factors. Wireless charger requires power connection. Recommend using Samsung charging cable and/or travel adapter for optimal performance. Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 4370mAh. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors. Based on Super Fast Charging results from internal Samsung lab tests, conducted with 25W Travel Adapter while it has 0% of power remaining, with all the services, features, and screen turned off. Actual charging speed may also vary depending on the actual usage, charging conditions and other factors. 25W Travel Adapter sold separately. That’s right, this is a plastic phone - or maybe we should call it Glasstic, which is Samsung’s marketing term for it, even though its similarities to glass (a common smartphone material) end with the name. There are pros and cons of a plastic phone: it’s more durable and easier to grip, but it feels a little cheap in the hand. If we have a criticism, it’s that on the rear camera, the autofocus was a little iffy for close-up subjects, both ones that were very close like flowers, and ones taken at a medium distance like pets. It’s something you can toggle while taking a picture, but in the case of furry friends, you often don’t have the time to manually change the focus.Estimated against the usage profile of an average/typical user. Independently assessed by Strategy Analytics between 2021.06.18–06.23 in USA and 2021.12.08–12.20 in the UK with pre-release versions of SM-G990 under default setting using 5G Sub6 networks (NOT tested under 5G mmWave network). Actual battery life varies by network environment, features and apps used, frequency of calls and messages, number of times charged, and many other factors. User Available Memory: User memory is less than the total memory due to storage of the operating system and software used to operate the device features. Actual user memory will vary depending on the operator and may change after software upgrades are performed.