We may earn a commission if you make a purchase from the links on this page.
Samsung is, thankfully, not giving up on one of its brightest ideas in recent memory - the Fan Edition version of its respective flagship for the year that has all the right corners cut to arrive at one unbelievable price for the package. Yes, we are talking about our Galaxy S21 FE review for the heir of the successful S20 FE, here's all you need to know about it:
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE at up to $525 OFF with trade-in
Get the Galaxy S21 FE for up to $525 off its price by trading in your old phone with Samsung!
The global chip shortage may have been behind the postponed Galaxy S21 Fan Edition launch, as Samsung unveiled it much later than its predecessor which was outed in October of 2020. The Galaxy S21 FE was announced January 3, on the runup to the CES 2022 expo, and Samsung's CES keynote pegged the S21 FE release date for January 11, 2022.
Model
Announcement date
Release date
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
September 23, 2020
October 2, 2020
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
January 3, 2021
January 11, 2022
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE price and storage options
The S21 FE price starts at $699 for the 6GB128GB model
Model
6GB RAM / 128GB storage
8GB RAM / 256GB storage
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
$699.99
N/A
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
$699.99
$769.99
The Galaxy S20 FE was initially sold for a $699.99 before the trade-in deals, and Samsung kept the Galaxy S21 FE launch price exactly the same - $699 for the 6GB/128GB model, while the 256GB storage version of the S21 FE goes for $769.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE at up to $525 OFF with trade-in
Get the Galaxy S21 FE for up to $525 off its price by trading in your old phone with Samsung!
6.4" 120Hz Flat Dynamic 2x AMOLED display w/ 2340 x 1080 pixels and Gorilla Glass Victus cover
6.5" 120Hz AMOLED display, 2400x1080 pixels
Processor
Snapdragon 888 processor
Snapdragon 865 processor
Chipset modem
Qualcomm X55 5G modem
Qualcomm X50 5G modem
RAM
6GB/8GB RAM
6GB/8GB RAM
Previously, we heard that the display of the S21 FE won't differ much from what's on the S20 FE, namely a 6.5" panel, but it is actually with a tad shorter, 6.4" diagonal. Samsung went the flat-screen route with the Galaxy S21 FE, which many prefer over curved edges. Another major difference is that this time around the 8GB RAM model is paired with the Snapdragon 888 processor, meaning that the top S21 FE version now also comes to the U.S. shores.
Galaxy S21 FE review
We subtitled our Galaxy S21 FE Review "in the shadow of giants," as it has become increasingly hard for it to stand out in the sea of midrange Androids like its predecessor did. Nevertheless, our Galaxy S21 FE review found it to be a very well-rounded device at an excellent price considering the current S21 FE deals and discounts on it.
We've done comparisons with the Galaxy S21 FE against its predecessor the S20 FE, its direct S21 competitor, and other popular Android or iOS midrangers on the market like the Pixel 6 or iPhone 13:
Does the S21 FE have an SD card slot or an audio jack?
The Galaxy S21 FE comes with an IP68 water and dust resistance rating, just like the previous Fan Edition model, but if you are hoping for a change in Samsung's recent phone port and slot strategy, you are out of luck. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G doesn't have a headphone audio jack or an SD card slot.
The cameras on the Galaxy S21 FE are remaining largely the same as those of the S20 FE in terms of hardware, but there are numerous image processing and computational photography algorithm improvements made possible by its beefier Snapdragon 888 processor.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE battery and charging speeds
4500mAh battery
25W charger
Just as with the S21 series, you'd have to buy the fast S21 FE 25W charger separately, as Samsung isn't be including the EP-TA800 brick in the box. In fact, there will be no charger inside whatsoever, meaning the new Fan Edition is joining "that" gang of phone models.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE colors
Black, White, Olive, Violet
There are a few design changes, like a matching camera island on the back, while at the front Samsung keeps the Infinity-O design with a centered punch hole for the front shooter.
S21 FE color options
Long story short, perhaps the single piece of great Galaxy S21 FE news is that the 8GB RAM model now comes paired with the Snapdragon processor, which has made the 256GB storage option of the S21 FE available in the U.S. at a very good $769 price point.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE at up to $525 OFF with trade-in
Get the Galaxy S21 FE for up to $525 off its price by trading in your old phone with Samsung!
In case you want to buy some extra protection together with your new Galaxy S21 FE, we've made a list of the best Galaxy S21 FE cases available to get right now, including the new and unique to the S21 FE Strap Cover:
Galaxy S21 FE 5G Clear Standing Cover - transparent, with a built-in kickstand
Galaxy S21 FE 5G Silicone Cover - soft to the touch, available in variety of colors
Galaxy S21 FE 5G S View Cover - stylish, sustainable design
Galaxy S21 FE 5G Clear Slim Strap Cover - with a built-in strap for comfortable holding
Galaxy S21 FE 5G Clear Standing Cover
Shock-absorbing, transparent, with a built-in kickstand
According to Samsung, the S21 FE Clear Slim Strap Cover case delivers strengthened protection from shocks, meaning drops. Its design is see-through, so you can experiment with mixing different colors here, and, of course, this case's signature feature is the strap on the back. With it, you can comfortably and securely hold your phone for long periods of time, plus it's bound to prevent accidental drops.
What are the best Galaxy S21 FE deals?
Your best bet is Samsung’s official site. Samsung gives you up to $375 in trade-in discount for a clunker, and adds $100 instant discount in store credit or the Galaxy Buds Live for free. Alternatively, you can get the Galaxy S21 FE for $9.03/mo for 36 months with Samsung Financing.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE at up to $525 OFF with trade-in
Get the Galaxy S21 FE for up to $525 off its price by trading in your old phone with Samsung!
There's also a Galaxy S21 FE deal live at Best Buy - actually, two different promotions are available at the moment but you can stack them up. You can get a $100 gift card with the purchase and also increase the value of this gift card to $200. The $100 coupon is free with every purchase but if you want to take the whole $200 you need to activate a monthly installment plan with Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or Sprint.
The major carriers will be your next stop for Galaxy S21 FE deals. Verizon offers a trade-in deal, and you can get the Galaxy S21 FE for free if you hand in your old device and opt for a new line.
Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena since 2010, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless