Sometimes you can wonder if different departments in large groups talk to each other. At least at Samsung, which has just released its Galaxy S21 FE – less than a month before they release the next generation of S models: S22.
For this is a kind of “last Mohicans” of the S21 tribe where 21 refers to last year. FE, ie Fan Edition, was a kind of extra dispute on the outgoing generation that came with the S20, but then it was longer until the next generation change or the year voted. Now it feels way too late. And too expensive. With a 6/128 configuration and a 6.41-inch AMOLED screen, it costs NOK 8,185. It’s a couple of hundred bucks more than the S21, which will probably fall even more when they release the S22. Admittedly, the S21 has a smaller battery and screen, but has a slightly sharper telecamera and ultrasound instead of an optical fingerprint reader.
Have they listened to customers?
With Fan Edition, Samsung says they have listened to feedback and equipped the model with what customers really want. When it is still so similar to its starting point, it feels as if they hit the nail on the head for the first time. Then a da capo may seem superfluous.
But having said that, we have taken the FE model into consideration. Out of the box appears a flat and very thin and light mobile. 177 grams with such a large screen is light. It comes, like most top mobiles at the moment, in a flat box only accompanied by a cable and a SIM stick. So no one charges.
The screen is an enhanced and very bright version of the predecessor that is protected that Gorilla Glass Victus.
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Design and camera
The designers behind the Galaxy S21 FE have done a decent job. But no more. They have not cost the phone anything extra. On the contrary. It has the same plastic on the back and in the camera projection as Samsung’s much cheaper A-models. The S21 also has plastic at the rear, but a camera body in metal. It looks a little nicer. That said, we think good plastic is better than glass. It’s better to have one breakable side than two. In addition, most people use a cover that protects vulnerable glass. It is not as required here.
The S21 FE has exactly the same cameras as its almost one and a half year old predecessor, but it must be said that these cameras are extremely good. We tested night photography against an S21 Ultra and can state that it is completely opposite Samsung’s top model. This is hardly due to the camera itself, but the software’s and processor’s ability to capture many images and process them with so-called AI.
Something new
The fact that the new FE model comes with Android 12 should just be missing. S21 came with Android 11. But since Samsung guarantees four years of security updates and three updates of the operating system, this matters. That means you get Android 13, 14 and 15 when that time comes.
Another news is that the FE model comes with Snapdragon 888 5G instead of Samsung’s own Exynos processor. In terms of performance, however, the FE model does not show any progress from the S21’s Exynos processor.
Purchase?
Unfortunately, this is a difficult phone to recommend. The reason is the lack of specifications that stand out, and the price.
The time just before the launch of the S22 does not speak for buying either. Then the previous S21 models will in all probability fall even more, while this one that has just been launched will probably stand still. This phone should cost at least a thousand kroner less.
Plus
Fantastic screen
Fast
Thin and light
Minus
For lite, for sent
Too expensive
This article was first published in TU magazine, no. 1/2022
