People always eagerly wait for Samsung’s Fan Editions. These phones by Samsung are great options for those who seek the flagship experience on a budget. Currently, there are rumours that the company is launching the Samsung S23 FE. But prior to that, Samsung reintroduced the Samsung S21 FE 5G 2023 in India, making a minor modification to its chipset. Apart from the chipset, all other features remain identical, including the body design, camera system, display, and battery.
Samsung has changed the phone’s chipset from Exynos 2100 to Snapdragon 888. The new chipset has upgraded the phone significantly improving its performance. Apart from that, the Samsung S21 FE 5G (2022) will now come with a Navy Blue instead of the White.
Specifications
| Dimension | Height: 155.7mm Width: 74.5mm Thickness: 7.9mm Weight: 177 grams |
| Display | 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| SIM | Dual SIM |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 |
| OS | Android 13, One UI 5.1 |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 888 (5nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 |
| Storage | 256GB |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Rear camera | 12MP, f/1.8 (main camera) 12MP, 123 degrees (ultrawide) 8MP, (telephoto) PDAF, 3x optical zoom |
| Selfie camera | 32MP, f/2.2 |
| Sound | Loudspeakers with stereo speakers No 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Battery | 4500mAh, Li-ion, non-removable |
| Charging | 25W Fast charging 15W wireless charging |
| Sensors | Under-display fingerprint Accelerometer Compass Gyro Proximity |
| Colours | Graphite | Lavender | Navy Blue | Olive |
| Price (expected) | Rs 88,999 (8/256GB) |
Design and Display
Everything is the same on the Samsung S21 FE 5G 2023 in terms of design and display. It has a design similar to the Galaxy S21 series. It features a glass front, plastic back, and aluminium frame. The phone has rounded edges and a hole-design screen housing a front camera. The device weighs 177 grams and has a thickness of 7.9mm.
The phone boasts a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x HDR10+ display with a refresh rate of 120Hz and a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. The display is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus and is IP68 dust/water resistant certified.
Performance and Storage
The only change on the Samsung S21 FE 5G 2023 is the Snapdragon 888 (5nm) chipset. The changes the chipset brings are good as the chipset is better than Samsungs own Exynos 2100 chipset. Battery performance, camera processing and overall performance are said to be better than the Exynos 2100. The GPU is the same Adreno 660 which helps for gaming and graphics performance.
The RAM option is 8GB LPDDR5 which is paired with one storage option of 256GB.
Camera
In terms of cameras, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G 2023 features a triple camera setup on the rear. It includes a 12MP wide camera, an 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide lens with a 123-degree field of view.
The phone also has a 32MP front-facing camera for capturing selfies. The cameras support 4K video recording at 60fps, slow-motion videos at 240fps, and super slow motion at 360fps. Additionally, there are various features such as HDR10+ video recording, dual recording mode, tracking autofocus, and night mode for enhanced photography and videography.
The chipset has brought a significant change in the camera processing and output. The Samsung S21 FE 5G (2021) has a warmer tone in the photos and videos whereas the Samsung S21 FE 5G 2023 has a more natural cooler tone. The dynamic range is also a bit better. The details and the sharpness in both day and night conditions are improved. The details in zoomed photos also have a better result.
Battery and Others
Powering the device is a non-removable 4500mAh Li-ion battery. The phone supports 25W fast charging and also supports 15W fast wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.
In terms of connectivity, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G supports 5G SIM (where available), dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, USB Type-C, NFC, and various location services such as GPS, Galileo, Glonass, and BeiDou.
The phone also features stereo speakers for immersive audio but does not include a 3.5mm headphone jack. The sensors include an Under-display fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyro and Proximity.
The expected price in Nepal for the Samsung S21 FE 5G 2023 for the 8/256GB option is around Rs 88,999.
Verdict
Is it worth buying the Samsung S21 FE 5G 2023? The chipset is improved but other than that nothing else. People might tend to wait for the Samsung S23 FE to get the latest flagship performance and design experience at a reasonable price. The Samsung S21 FE 5G 2023 is set to get an OS upgrade till Android 17. So there might be two kinds of people who might get this or wait for the 2023 one.
