At CES 2022, Samsung unveiled the Fan Edition of its 2021 flagship smartphone. The Galaxy S21 FE builds on the series’ reputation for offering high-end features at a more affordable price. The Galaxy S21 FE, like its predecessors, faces stiff competition in this new price range, which is led by the Google Pixel 6. So, how do the two smartphones compare? Here’s a comparison of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE and Google Pixel 6.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE vs Google Pixel 6: Which one to buy?
Full specs
| Samsung Galaxy S21 FE | Google Pixel 6 | |
|---|---|---|
Display | 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 20:9 aspect ratio FHD+ resolution 2,400 x 1,080 411 ppi 120Hz refresh rate | 6.4-inch OLED 20:9 aspect ratio FHD+ resolution 2,400 x 1,080 411ppi 90Hz refresh rate |
Materials | Gorilla Glass Victus front “Glasstic” back | Gorilla Glass Victus front Gorilla Glass 6 back |
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (US) or Unnamed Exynos processor | Google Tensor Titan M2 security |
RAM | 6GB or 8GB | 8GB |
Storage | 128GB or 256GB No expandable storage | 128GB or 256GB No expandable storage |
Battery and power | 4,500mAh 25W wired charging 15W wireless charging Reverse wireless chargingNo charger in box | 4,614mAh (typical) 21W wired charging 21W wireless charging (w/ Pixel Stand) 12W Qi wireless charging Battery shareNo charger in box |
Cameras | Rear: -12MP primary (ƒ1.8, Dual Pixel AF, OIS, 79-degree FoV) – 12MP ultrawide (ƒ2.2, 123-degree FoV) – 8MP telephoto (ƒ2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS, 32-degree FoV)Front: – 32MP single (ƒ2.2, 81-degree FoV) | Rear: – 50MP main 1.2 μm, ƒ/1.85, 82-degree FoV 1/1.31-inch sensor LDAF, OIS, and EIS – 12MP ultra-wide 1.25 μm, ƒ/2.2, 114-degree FoV Laser AFFront: – 8MP single 1.12 μm, ƒ/2.0, 84-degree FoV |
Security | In-display fingerprint sensor | In-display fingerprint sensor |
Water-resistance | IP68 rating | IP68 rating |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0 NFC support | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) Bluetooth 5.2 NFC support |
Software | Android 12 One UI 4 | Android 12 |
Dimensions and weight | 155.7 x 74.5 x 7.9mm 177g | 158.6 x 74.8 x 8.9mm 207g |
Colors | White, Graphite, Olive, Lavender | Stormy Black, Kinda Coral, Sorta Seafoam |
Design and display
The Galaxy S21 and the S21 FE are nearly identical in terms of design. The phone’s camera bump holds three cameras on the back, with a centrally placed punch-hole front camera being the only flaw on a borderless screen.
The goal of the FE is to keep costs as low as possible while still producing a high-quality product. While the S21 series features a metal camera bump, the S21 FE continues to use polycarbonate. The same appearance can be found on the outside, but when you look closer, you’ll notice a considerable difference in quality.
The Galaxy S21 FE comes with a 6.4-inch AMOLED screen offering a Full HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate.
When it comes to Pixel 6, I wouldn’t say it looks like its predecessor. The first thing that catches the eye is that central punch hole notch for the front-facing camera.
The back of the phone is where things get crazy. The camera setup located on the back is literally a black bar.
The Pixel 6’s display specifications are in line with other devices in the same price range. It has a 6.4-inch OLED screen offering a Full HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. To acquire a higher resolution and faster refresh rate, you’ll have to go with the far more pricey Pixel 6 Pro.
In terms of design and display, the Galaxy S21 FE and Pixel 6 have advantages and disadvantages over each other. In terms of build quality, the Pixel 6 is superior to the S21 FE’s plastic body, with a Gorilla Glass 6 back and Victus glass front. The design, though, at the end of the day is a really personal choice.
Considering that both phones have the same screen size, I can clearly say that the Pixel 6 is a taller and heavier phone.
Performance and cameras
The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are equipped with the Tensor chip, whereas the Samsung S21 FE is still using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888. The Galaxy S21 FE offers two versions: 6GB+128GB or 8GB+256GB. Pixel 6 also has two different versions offering different storage capacities: 8GB+128GB or 8GB+256GB. Both of these phones have chosen to not offer a microSD card slot.
There are still a lot of unanswered questions about the Tensor chip. I wouldn’t call it a low-end model but it’s really hard to say that Tensor is capable of competing with Qualcomm and Apple chips, yet. That said, the difference isn’t significant in terms of real-world performance. It’s also important to remember that both phones come with Android 12.
You’ll get three years of major OS upgrades and four years of security updates with both phones, which will be greatly appreciated. The S21 FE is the first Samsung phone to launch with Android 12 and One UI 4 out of the box, owing to its later release than the original S21 series. Despite its recent problems, Google is known for fast upgrades, and Pixel phones are typically the first to receive major Android updates.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has a 4,500mAh battery and supports 25W wired charging and 15W wireless charging. In order to understand its battery usage, we need to be using the phone for a while though.
The Pixel 6 comes with a 4,600mAh battery offering up to 21W wired charging and wireless charging. Compared to other brands like Xiaomi or OnePlus, both phones lag behind when it comes to quick-charging speeds.
When it comes to cameras, Pixel 6 has no joke with its 50MP main camera and 12MP ultrawide camera. We have to remind you of Google’s AI-supported efforts when it comes to photography.
The cameras on the Galaxy S21 FE are a good example of where Samsung has cut corners to reduce cost. The S21 FE comes with a 12MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide camera, and an 8MP telephoto camera. It also has a 32MP front camera. The Galaxy S20 FE’s camera was fantastic, and the S21 FE is likely to follow in its footsteps.
Price and colors
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE will be available beginning on January 11, 2022. There are 4 different color options you can choose from White, Graphite, Olive, and Lavender. The cheaper version has a $699 price tag, while the more expensive model will be sold for $769.
Pixel 6 has a $599 starting price and there are 3 different color options you can choose from Stormy Black, Kinda Coral, and Sorta Seafoam.
I hope this article will be helpful in order to see these phones’ advantages and disadvantages over each other. Consider your needs and make your choice!
