As if we didn't already know a ton of stuff about every device Samsung plans to formally unveil and fully detail later this week after profusely leaking a number of times over the past couple of months, several last-minute reports seemed to answer all of our remaining Galaxy Z Fold 3, Z Flip 3 5G, and Buds 2 questions.
But what about the 5G-enabled Galaxy S21 Fan Edition (FE)? Well, all most of the recent signs appeared to point in the direction of a "late" launch for the presumably inexpensive sequel to Samsung's hugely popular Galaxy S20 FE 5G, but the company itself is bringing the unannounced handset to the spotlight today by... showing off its design on Instagram.
Wait, what?
It's true (at least at the time of this writing), Samsung's official Instagram account features a seemingly innocuous #BackToSchool post with a picture of an unreleased phone next to an existing pair of true wireless earbuds and a tablet that's probably not a member of the distant high-end Galaxy Tab S8 family.
While the (not so) mysterious handset is covered below the waist, also keeping its front panel completely under wraps, that top section of its back cover looks eerily familiar and yet different at the same time.
That's because the Galaxy S21 FE is widely expected to borrow the general aesthetic of its rear-facing camera setup from the "regular" S21 5G and the S21+ 5G while making a small but easily noticeable change.
Instead of creating a contrast between said camera module and the rest of the rear cover, the S21 FE will reportedly adopt a uniform look. In this particular case, we're looking at an all-purple back, which differs from the "Phantom Violet" flavors of the aforementioned Galaxy S21 and S21+ combining violet with a more eye-catching gold camera housing.
Following in the footsteps of the Navy-coated S21 Ultra released just last month, this image could depict an upcoming new version of the S21 or S21+. But we highly doubt that will prove to be the case, as it simply seems far more likely that we're looking at an all-new phone here.
Could the Galaxy S21 FE 5G still break cover on August 11?
In short, the answer to that question remains, even after this curious development, a definite... "probably not." Of course, nothing's certain until it's certain, but for one thing, there's been far too little buzz in the rumor mill of late for the S21 FE 5G to be just a couple of days away.
Previously leaked Galaxy S21 FE 5G renders in five colors
That being said, the timing of Samsung's social media "blunder" seems more than a little suspicious, and although we obviously can't be sure this was premeditated, it probably doesn't hurt that there's at least a whiff of pre-Unpacked intrigue in the air. We also wouldn't rule out the Galaxy S21 FE 5G making a quick appearance at the August 11 event before getting fully detailed at a later date.
The details, of course, are no big secret, starting with a slew of colors that just so happens to include violet in addition to green, white, blue, and gray. Powered by the same Snapdragon 888 chipset as its slightly higher-end cousins, the affordable flagship is pretty much guaranteed to "settle" for a triple rear camera system composed of 32, 12, and 8MP shooters while squeezing a hefty 4,400mAh or so battery into a relatively slender body.
The 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display will support 120Hz refresh rate technology, while the entry-level configuration is expected to pair 128 gigs of internal storage space with an 8GB RAM count. At the right price, that sounds like a great contender for the title of best phone available in 2021 to us.
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Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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