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So, let’s dive right in!
Galaxy S21 vs Galaxy S20 FE design comparison
The Galaxy S21 and S20 FE being released just a few months apart means we shouldn’t expect a huge difference in how they look. As you can see below, the main difference between the two phones, at first glance, is the size. That’s to be expected since the S21 is the smallest phone of the S21 trio, but we’ve picked the S21 rather than the S21+ because the price will likely be a bigger factor for people than a fraction of an inch in size difference.
The Galaxy S21 also has a slightly slimmer bottom bezel than that of the S20 FE, but that’s just nitpicking. Here are some more display specs:
|
Display |
Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S20 FE |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.2″ | 6.5″ |
| Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 2400 x 1080 |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Shape | Flat | Flat |
The displays are actually more similar than some of you might have expected. The lower resolution and the flat panel on the premium Galaxy S21 are the biggest changes this year. Of course, the panel on the S21 will be one of Samsung’s best so far and a tier higher than that on the S20 FE. You’ll have to put them side-by-side to tell exactly what the differences are in a real-life scenario. Once we have our S21 unit, we’ll make sure to do just that and report the results.
It’s worth noting that the glass on the Galaxy S21 is Gorilla Glass Victus, Corning’s best right now, which should make the S21 more durable than the S20 FE.
Galaxy S21 left, Galaxy S20 FE right
And yes, you do get different colors with each phone.
Galaxy S21 vs Galaxy S20 FE specs comparison
Moving to the internal specs, the differences start to become more obvious. Here’s a quick rundown of what the two devices offer:
|
Specs |
Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S20 FE |
|---|---|---|
| CPU |
Snapdragon 888 (US) Exynos 2100 (Global) |
Snapdragon 865 |
| RAM | 8GB LPDDR5 | 6GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage |
128GB |
128GB |
| Battery | 4,000mAh | 4,500mAh |
| Wirelss charging | Yes | Yes |
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| IP68 rated | Yes | Yes |
Despite the Galaxy S21 having a smaller battery, the smaller display it needs to power and the more efficient system chip should result in excellent battery life. Once we get to test it, we’ll add here the exact numbers from our battery life tests so you can easily compare the two phones.
Overall, however, the Galaxy S21’s lead over the S20 FE is still marginal, maybe the cameras will tilt the scales? Let’s see!
Galaxy S21 vs Galaxy S20 FE camera comparison
|
Camera specs |
Galaxy S21 | Galaxy S20 FE |
|---|---|---|
| Main | 12MP, OIS, PDAF | 12MP, OIS, PDAF |
| Second | 12MP Ultra wide | 12MP Ultra wide |
| Third | 64MP Telephoto | 8MP 3X Telephoto |
| Front | 10MP | 32MP |
Main and ultra wide sensors are pretty much identical (there are some slight differences) and for telephoto, the S20 FE is using a camera with actual optical zoom unlike the Galaxy S21, which uses a large sensor and crops for zoom. Which approach gives the better results, we’ll know for sure once we take both phones out for a camera comparison.
The Galaxy S21’s chip is said to allow for some new camera software features which the Galaxy S20 FE will lack, but most of those will likely have niche application. Again, we’ll have to wait and see, but the quick conclusion at the moment is that the Galaxy S21 doesn’t seem to offer anything next-gen compared to the S20 FE.
Galaxy S21 vs Galaxy S20 FE software comparison
The biggest software difference we expect to see is in a year or two, the Galaxy S21 receiving a major software update that the Galaxy S20 FE won’t get. But those are concerns for another time.
Galaxy S21 vs Galaxy S20 FE price comparison
Time to put all those specs and features into perspective by adding a price tag to each phone.
- Galaxy S21 price: $899 (expected)
- Galaxy S20 FE price: $699
The exact price of the Galaxy S21 won’t be known until the phone’s official release, but for now we expect it will be priced at $900. The Galaxy S20 FE is, of course, $699, but it can easily be found for $599 or even less.
So, we’re dealing with a $200-300 difference. Is the Galaxy S21 bringing $200 worth of features on the table? Certainly doesn’t seem so. You have to really care for cutting-edge performance and the smaller body to fork out the extra cash for the Galaxy S21. With what we know so far, the Galaxy S20 FE looks like an even better deal than it already was. Will something change after the official announcement and our first interactions with the Galaxy S21? We’ll know soon enough!
