Galaxy S21 FE Review: Before You Buy!

Try Surfshark: Surfshark.deals/thao Code ‘THAO’ for 83% off & 3 months FREE! FE stands for fan edition, but let's be real, the Galaxy S21 FE is essentially a ‘lite’ version of last year's Galaxy S21. They feature the exact same processor and so for the most part this is a very similar experience, but there’s definitely some cost cutting going on. Should you consider this phone or is your money better spent on its bigger competitor: the Google Pixel 6? Let’s talk about my experience with the Galaxy S21 FE.
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DISCLAIMER ‣ This video is sponsored by Surfshark. Galaxy S21 FE loaned by Samsung Canada for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own and not influenced by the developing company, and/ or its affiliates, in any way. Some links provided above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Honesty is key on my channel, thank you for supporting me
#galaxys21fe #samsung #android

[@Thao]

✌️ Google Pixel 6 or Samsung Galaxy S21FE? 💬 Try Surfshark: Surfshark.deals/thao Code ‘THAO’ for 83% off & 3 months FREE!

[@davidugono3727]

Definitely S21 FE.

[@ZEUS-pn5il]

I love your eyes . it's really soo beautiful 🥰😍😍

[@ZEUS-pn5il]

Pixel 6

[@zerog2270]

Please review OPPO FIND N. i PROMISE YOU. you wont find a better phone

[@davidugono3727]

@@zerog2270 Z Fold 3 is way better than Oppo Find N. Z Fold 3 destroys every other foldable.

[@arianasempter1992]

I love your videos- you’re one of my favorite tech reviewers and I love that you primarily use android. As someone coming from apple products looking for more I appreciate your viewpoint and your tips and tricks are super helpful!!! Keep it up!

[@ademolaabdulgafar6901]

She’s really underrated in the tech space… she’s one of my favorite reviewers.. and my very favorite female reviewer..

[@rose2dimples]

Yes I'm an android user , so my hope is that Samsung and Microsoft really make an integrated ecosystem with Google

[@isatytre]

Rt

[@parlayin]

@@ademolaabdulgafar6901 what other reviewers do u prefer?

[@ademolaabdulgafar6901]

@@parlayin tech KZbin? Mrwhosetheboss, Mkbhd, the tech chap, Linus tech… that’s pretty much it..

[@GoddessKry]

S21 FE is my first Samsung phone and I'm pretty satisfied. Got a $100 best buy gift card for the promo. I like the plastic back and doesn't find it slippery as some other cheaper phon%es. Coming from a OnePlus phone, I love the camera way better. Pixel 6 not having a face unlock and I just wanted the lavender color

[@timgallant9401]

I just got mine today at Best Buy. The first day they had trouble the first day, but they got it through today. I ended up with a 300 dollar best buy credit. Used it to pay for the 2 year replacement plane. How long does the battery life last?

[@87ssstans]

Love the review Thao! Completely agree, have to wait for a sale before getting this phone! If they give you a discount plus a trading in value, that's one heck of a deal!

[@GPerla26]

After using the s20fe for a while...I don't think I want anything to do with glass backs ever again

[@anishmistry4583]

how did u crack it lol

[@TheMizz220]

I usually skip the sponsorship ads during videos but this was really unique where you tested out the audio quality of the phone while explaining the sponsor. I like what you did there and now I know a bit more about surfshark haha. P.s love the videos and your review of the S21 vs S20 FE sold me on getting the S20 FE. Perfect phone for me and when the time is right, ill be looking forward to watching your next review of future phones :D

[@TruthAdv]

I love that you're doing pricing for Canadians too. It's definitely missing from a lot of tech reviews, especially when discussing value.

[@matthewsjardine]

I personally chose to go with the Galaxy S21 over the S21 FE earlier this month. The Galaxy S21 FE is a great phone, however, in some regions (like South Africa), you can only find the 6GB of RAM version. You end up giving up just a little too much for my taste. Fortunately, the Galaxy S21 has seen price cuts and is being bundled with other Samsung gear to sweeten the offer. I managed to get the Galaxy Watch 4 alongside my Galaxy S21 for a really good deal. This made my decision essentially a no brainer.

[@alecaboss1073]

I got s21 fe + galaxy buds 2 deal for 75% of current s21 price, and thats 8g ram. So I guess its different for every counry, I would prefer FE without even it going cheaper tho.

[@mikhaildippenaar8911]

Waar in Suid Afrika het jy gesien dat die s21 fe net met n 6gb ram kom? Ek wou so graag die 8gb een aankoop

[@giomigriauli4164]

@@alecaboss1073 yeah bigger screen is a big difference alone

[@eio1971]

Thank you for mentioning the headphone jack and SD card slot, It should be in the fan edition in my humble opinion. Toronto looks tropical☺☺

[@EricRegalDuarte]

Not sure why none of the reviewers aren't talking about the US unlocked version. Not only is it eSim, GSM, CDMA, & mmWave compatible... But it's also duel physical sim compatible as well!! As a international traveler, this is a huge selling point!! Honestly, I don't believe any other phone has that type of capability. Love your Videos Thao ❤️

[@ExySmexy]

You were right on the discounts. It got discounted to hell and Samsung gave an amazing trade offer. S20fe for the S21fe + buds pro for $50. After that it flew off shelves and isn't going to be stocked till mid April.

[@SuperBoop]

Got a free galaxy watch with my S21 FE, very worth it. I dont main the s21 fe anymore, but it's a great backup phone. And it's still great quality.

[@userunknozn]

The color is super cute though! And I actually don't mind the plastic back since I already use silicone covers.

[@thewillsfamilyaccount6486]

Another great video! Love the weather there! I miss the snow!

[@jamiehat42]

Where have you been my whole KZbin/tech/phone fan life!?! Subscribed! You have a very bouncy, fun, to the point magnetic way about you. You told me more in 7mn. what most needed twice that time to tell me. Keep up the good work!

[@chiaza7735]

I believe you can use Bixby routines to step the FE down to 60Hz when you open certain apps and back to 120Hz when you exit them.

[@Klust413]

Yeah, getting one for work and know I'm going to be going through all the settings to drop apps down if they're not needed at 120.

[@twowheeler1000]

Now with the extended software support, this and pixel 6 are really close. Especially since the Fe will drop in price

[@juansanchez7784]

I have the Galaxy S20 FE in red 5g it came with a fast 25 watts charger when I got it a year ago I love it in the red colour I got it, & the cameras are really good for a midrange smartphone & the Qualcomm snapdragon 865 with 8gb ram makes the phone a strong performer and at the time I only paid £599 on a sale deal, is got 128gb memory with an sd card slot for expanding the memory. Now Samsung has taking the fast charger away & the advantage of having expandable memory & the new S21 fe is more expensive, so I will be keeping my S20 fe for me is no point to upgrade pay more money & get less features, anyway thanks for your great video cheers & peace ✌️

[@jaysample5496]

I just subscribed to your channel you really presented your review so well with personal touch :)

[@kenyaarkansasgurl1546]

Always another good vlog 👍🏾

[@rose2dimples]

I can't wait for your review on the s22!! I love your reviews

[@jj-travels94]

Thanks Thao! Really informative 🙏🏻

[@mosheb8300]

It's a great phone. I bought it 3 weeks ago and I love it.

[@JesseJamess]

Holy smokes... A quick.. To the point honest review... Yeah definitely subscribed.

[@skyler_017]

Man I love your reviews, truly ❤❤🔥

[@kyjuliaaa]

Hi Thao! I recently found your channel because I’m thinking to change from my iPhone 13 Pro Max to a Galaxy phone. Do you think I should wait for the new one coming soon or is the galaxy flip still worth it in 2022??

[@arnoldamd6197]

Got the s21fe 3 days ago...quite impressive for the price

[@MissSmurfey]

How is the battery? How much screen time can yoy get on a full charge?

[@bettyphilipjunior8821]

How much does it cost in kenya shillings

[@BLAKEEATS1988]

finally!! you're the only one who demoed the back camera vlog style. ❤️

[@johnnymentero917]

I still have the Samsung Galaxy S20FE 4G Exynos 990 and with the cameras I'm in love. Pro Mode is awesome and as a professional photographer, sometimes, gets me out of trouble, saving the photos in RAW. I think the only best thing is the design, rather than that... I'm gonna continue with my Samsung Galaxy S20FE 4G Exynos 990. Greetings from Mexico City Mexico 🇲🇽

[@barsrustuoglu2574]

hey, glad to find another exynos s20 fe user. What do you think about the battery drain, especially on mobile data ? In my experience, it drains horribly. There were days that my phone died with no more than 2hours and 30 minutes of screen of time.

[@johnnymentero917]

@@barsrustuoglu2574 Depends on the use you give to the phone. Can you tell me which apps you use?

[@barsrustuoglu2574]

@@johnnymentero917 no games, just instagram, WhatsApp, twitch, youtube etc. On WiFi the battery drain is normal, but on mobile data it is horrible

[@Jesus-nc1jv]

I have the d20 Fe 5g amazing phone

[@johnnymentero917]

@@barsrustuoglu2574 No it's not. Maybe you have a app that is getting your battery drain

[@scottgriffin449]

Great video, the center gets warm because there is a heat pipe in that area thats doing it job by removing heat from the processor.

[@jorgeescudero5034]

My heart broke with that little camera comparison to pixel 6... Other than that, I love your videos. Amazing work.

[@terminator7541]

😂😂😂

[@malharkapadnekar4504]

Can you do one on S21FE vs S20FE? It'll be awesome

[@BrianHillegass]

I picked it up yesterday from Best Buy at $499 with the activate today price. I'm happy at that price point and it's been a great phone so far. $699 is a big ask for sure here in the states.

[@-_YouMayFind_-]

Thats an amazing price for this phone. I have tested the s22 ultra, iPhone 13 pro against the s20 FE 5G and there is not even that much difference in quality.

[@WanderThisWay]

I've always been tempted to leave my iPhone behind, and this video isn't making the decision any easier! Great video, as always.

[@montgomeryanderson1380]

I traded my iPhone 12 mini for the 21FE and it’s a nice phone! I only paid 379.00 and got free Galaxy buds as well. Just felt like trying something different and so far not disappointed. Of course I’ll go back to iPhone in a year or two I’m sure.

[@khabanh1393]

@@montgomeryanderson1380 you should just stick to your iphone

[@Nc-tubee]

my S21 FE 5G (Exynos) seems to have a refresh rate bug. There are times when the refresh rate will drop way below 60Hz, causing huge lag and stutters in the animation across the entire UI. Usually, I have to restart the phone for it to be smooth again. However, after some time, the refresh rate will plummet again. I honestly do not know if this is software or hardware related. The phone is updated to the latest version and it also occurs even if all recent apps are cleared. Im not alone🙄🙄

[@phillippugh2161]

Sooo it's a 150 dollars off plus trade in ....why would I even consider the pixel 6 with all it's problems ...... I'll take a green one thanks Thao

[@Mr.Lara01]

Yeah IMO I'll get Galaxy phones instead Pixel until they fix 'em

[@karsmemelink770]

Thanks for the info. I am for sure going to get a solid case for this phone.

[@salgzz2232]

Love your videos :)

[@patc2515]

Thao makes such great videos. Helpful and intelligent information, thorough real world reviews, excellent editing, and she's super cute. Love this channel and hope she continues to grow for a long time.

[@yprawirasoetisna]

Great review!!! Does S21 FE supports Dual SIM?

[@returnofmerenguespersempre6664]

Ok just a second here. Im currently sitting on a samsung galaxy s10 and thinking about upgrading, 21 FE came to my mind as well as s22. Still havent decided yet. The reason I bought the s10 over other phones is for its crisp high def screen, its resolution is 1440 x 3040 pixels. Looking over at gsmarena, both 21FE AND s22 have 1080 x 2400 pixels res and 25% less ppi density. Why are screens (arguably) worse on newer models? Whats going on? However price of 21FE has dropped to 533 USD where I live. Is it worth it for that kind of money or is it better to hold on few more months?

[@harrydaniels2788]

Good video Thao. I love your videos. I am watching this with my Samsung galaxy s21 plus. It's a great phone. The S21fe looks like a good little phone.

[@dimito1187]

Finally thank you soo much for this video😄

[@steelereighn9518]

New Subscriber. Great Video. I’m glad I found your channel.

[@katzcassim]

Love ur videos always 💓 ❤️ 🤗😘

[@discordluck]

So warm in Toronto 🤣🤣🤣🤣, t his is a amazing video since I've been deciding if upgrading from a s10+ to a FE... Tao if you read my comment, could you please share if it is worth it ?

[@vikrantl1824]

Hey guru Kindly provide following inputs aswell 1. When the 4G network is just 1 out of 4 lines, is the reception and call quality good? Which specification tells this aspect? 2. When I connect my Fe s21 mobile to a wifi with no internet connectivity, will I be able to use the mobile 4G data? Which mobile specification mentions this? Thank you -Vikrant

[@michaelrebeccahintz5445]

Wonderful video. Fabulous pup!🥰

[@niklas1309]

Love your viedeos !

[@NedjoKovacevic]

Review that evaluates vibration! Thank you!!! By your opinion what's the best heptic experience among Android phones?

[@dr.subhammajumder7113]

great review.BTW does it support dual physical sim?

[@Truecrimeresearcher224]

Depends on the model. The US Verizon isnt

[@Redrumm]

With the upcoming s22 next month and s-21 for roughly the same price, 600.00 would have been the best price for this phone.

[@dereknguyen111]

Great review Thao! I am waiting S22 here. Still love my S21. Hopefully S22 worth the wait. Happy Lunar New Year anyway! 😀

[@MissSmurfey]

How do you like the s22? I have s22 but battery is not that great. I get 5hrs SOT max on 120hz and 5G off.

[@marufio]

S21 is better in my opinion

[@MissSmurfey]

@@marufio i returned my s22 for the s22 plus and i LOVE it!! 💜📱😍

[@manuelmorenoaguilera1461]

Hello Thao. At first, I love yours reviews as always. Yours videos are so helpful and funny, because you´re very amusing. I smile with you. I´m learning English. Congratulations. Excuse me, if I made mistakes. Greetings from Spain

[@oseghaleagenmonmen8479]

Honestly,your videos are the best when it comes to tech reviews,I absolutely love them😍🔥💯.

[@phil7623]

I can't wait for the Tab S8 Ultra Samsung killing it lately

[@TheFireBlazen]

Just got my S21 FE and I love it!

[@ziplepingouin1186]

3:23 upto Android 16: Samsung promises from now on 4 years Android updates and 5 years security updates on the galaxy S line.

[@patrickchan9503]

healthy and happy lunar new year

[@yammymoko4882]

Love how the way she talked and her voice is clear, so decided to subscribe hehe

[@winningblack5112]

Does it support "call & text on other devices" ? I remember the s20FE didn't have that feature.....

[@firmaforex]

I agree, the finger print scanner is excellent, very fast and working all the time.

[@cheesymarshmellows]

1:24, you can change it to 60hz in settings. so more battery life.

[@caffeinelife]

I needed to buy a new phone without a trade in and this phone was $100 off on Amazon. I am really liking the phone alot. The battery is great and I made it a bit better by turning off the 120 hz. I noticed some jitter with the 120 hz and turning it off was fine. It's not a feature I need anyway. I really didn't want a pixel (sorry, it's a cult) and I didn't want to spend more for a s21 classic or s22. I also prefer the look and I do it without a case. Just a screen protector.

[@oliveri_0029]

What is you daily driver phone Please suggest me which phone is the best

[@Joshin_Jinn]

Im curious how much they usually change in a new released phone compared to the previous, like really? New parts, new this, new that, i dont actually belive they do

[@AndrewForeman88]

Great review as always. Really looking forward to your S22 review!

[@sebastianrosales113]

Nice review :)

[@xMel21x]

This is the only Samsung we can get in Europe with Snapdragon Chip. And on Bixby, you can set which apps should run on 120hz or 60 hz, so that could help to save more battery.

[@wow9673]

im trying to find a good phone to buy but im not sure which one would be good because i would want one with space and good camera quality to take pictures of sunsets and different views but also to see which one is actually worth buying

[@reggieshark]

I bought the Samsung 21 FE couple a weeks ago and it's Awesome this is a good phone

[@muhammadshahab2730]

HEY, please let us know how does it battery work in winter. because my phone battery gets empty in cold weather

[@melonppang17]

Addicted to your videos

[@arens4990]

I got this for base price but with the galaxy watch 4 44mm for free , was that a good deal ?

[@ninehneh]

would this be a recommended upgrade for S20 FE?

[@chriscollins343]

You can change the refresh rate in the settings to 60hz or 120hz.

[@guitarmyheartsbeat]

But where can you find Google service centre to get your pixel repair if don't I need to throw it in trash and stock Android is just simple looking software but one UI is just awesome .

[@soonsuicidal]

It's now at $415 yayyy my only problem is which color is better, white or lavander?

[@Mr.Lara01]

It's so attractive, but IMO if you have enough money for S21 Fe, you can get S21 Plus instead this one! Building quality and camareras are in other level, definitely 😎 but if you don't have enough money, try getting S20 FE

[@lovelyjackson3347]

Trade in your old phone

[@jeanettaszerletich5118]

IF you can find some place with the S21+. I've been having a hard time finding anywhere that has them

[@marufio]

@@jeanettaszerletich5118 try the s22 plus its a better phone

[@tirthnahar699]

Whats better google pixel 6a exynos version or s21 fe exynos version which one is good can you let me know both are at same price ...please help

[@Tmpabound]

I'm curious would you still recommend this phone right now? Especially since I can't afford the one I really want.

[@luigimolitierno4051]

will you make a comparison between s21 ultra and s22+? which one is better to buy. BTW totally agree about the S21FE I'm really into what you find important or not in smartphones or tablets

[@Mr.Lara01]

I'd get S21 Ultra just 4 it's design, it's gorgeous 😍 👌

[@-_YouMayFind_-]

S22 plus is more beautifull in my opinion especially that rose gold 😍 but I have the s22 ultra white so xD

[@maryamahmad9762]

get the cheaper option. Both are on par with eachother when it comes to specks

[@marufio]

The 21 ultra is a huge phone while the s22 plus is a take anywhere kind of phone.

[@deannag0330]

@@-_YouMayFind_- have you had heating issues with the s22 ultra how bad is the battery?

[@imramy]

Thao, should I buy S21 FE or Pixel 6 (non pro) ?

[@tilenkosir4968]

In my opinion the s21 FE is way better than pixel 6, cause i have the pixel at home and it started bugging lately, and dont know why...

[@riquisimx]

Thank you very much for your video! 👋🏻 I will be receiving this phone as a gift from my Mom, which she picked out, tomorrow. I am trying to educate myself on the phone and so far, I have read tons of bad reviews. It does make me nervous to go through the effort of switching from my A51 to the S21 FE 5G. I thought it was an upgrade, but I can't quite tell yet.

[@dangermouse_]

S21 FE is a way better phone than a A51. I'd be thanking my mum if I was you

[@fessendenful]

@@dangermouse_ This is a much much better phone. Not even close! Please enjoy!

[@heartart6168]

Is the phone camera as good as s21 ultra ?is it comparable?

[@MikeGledhill]

Here in Switzerland, Samsung was doing a "150 CHF cashback" offer, and (after cashback I got my "Samsung S21 FE 5G" phone for 421 CHF (about $436 USD) That's an amazing price for a Fan Edition of a 2022 flagship phone. It's a great phone, absolutely beautiful screen, good camera, 5G, fast as hell... but it's just annoying that it doesn't have a memory card slot. And yes, no headphone socket, but I think we've all finished mourning about those being removed from devices now.

[@iLLustrious85]

They should have had a toggle in the quick settings for 90 or 60hz, but then again I guess thats what battery saver does

[@barakatech1041]

Commenting on my S21 FE 🔥🔥🔥

[@flagger1]

I got mine today, love it😭

[@bobinjc]

I just bought the S21 FE on Lazada for $260. But I do live in Thailand so shipping is only a few days.

[@BerlinBerlin]

The s21 fe gets android 16 and not android 15, like what you have said in the video. It will get 4 mayor updates and 5 years of security update from January 22.

[@Cubano2031]

Lol she never will see your comment....

[@pmag3200]

I just picked this phone up for $300 At T-Mobile. I hope it works out and performs well

[@allenschneider1847]

Do you like this phone better than the Oneplus9? Does the oneplus9 have a variable rate screen?

[@killeguy]

well that not how we think if i think question is what does option B have that A dont have like s20+ and the s20fe

[@andyH_England]

Yes, Samsung are very clever at marketing and their fans go along with it. Price it at a silly price and quickly discount it (same day in UK, £140 off) and fans think they are getting a bargain! Of course, the reality is that is dropping to market price (should be around £500) and no one can really argue that it is not a bad choice then. They are doing the same with the S22U, leaking that there are not many in stock, so get you $1300-1500 ready to send to Samsung’s Swiss bank account, before they are sold out… I am being a bit flippant as this type of practise is legit and as long as you see what they are doing, all is fair in love and war. As for the S21FE, not sure why Samsung bothered releasing this late, but seeing that the next-gen chips only have minor CPU upgrades and iterate features, then this just adds another notch to the Galaxy S line for 2022. A good entry point for hardcore Samsung fans that only want to spend $500, so maybe, worth the wait.

[@tylerlarrison3876]

Can't wait for your s22 review videos I hope your day was good stay safe and healthy ❤

[@billbud9681]

Is this giveaway from Thao for real?

[@tylerlarrison3876]

It's probably a scam they always are on here

[@fluffywombatofdoom]

I loved your point that if it's TRULY a "fan edition" it should have a headphone jack + expandable storage. I'd be all over it if so.

[@Truecrimeresearcher224]

The headphone jack is gone and it's not coming back. We need to move on. If you want it get a midrange or budget phone

[@MiguelRPD]

Thao I can't go back from foldables !

[@ChodaBoyUSA]

I'm really torn on this. The extra years of OS upgrades (compared to the S21/+/Ultra) is important to me. However, the poor image stabilization of the front camera and higher price than the Pixel 6 is a big negative. I need to replace my Note9 (not because it does not work, but because it has been abandoned by Samsung). At $499, I would buy the S21FE and not look back. I hope the S22 release will drive down the price of the S21FE to where it should be. Thanks for the helpful video, Thao.

[@charlesegbunike4596]

Yeah it should, Just wait a little.

[@RofinoMX]

If your in the USA in best buy the s21 fe cost 499$

[@karlos777x]

I don't really care about the front camera that much, but being able to keep the phone for more than 4 years because of the security patches makes the price great for me...but i will spend a bit more for the s22 and keep it 5 years without a problem hopefully...and it will be my first Samsung phone.

[@MarlonKingShow]

I'm in same position. Both this fe and the s22 are still too pricey for the minor updates.

[@lala-pr8se]

@@charlesegbunike4596 when do you think the price will go down?

[@DariuszTech]

Nice honest review. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I think s21 Fe is a decent device but not for the price. I have to say midrange devices are getting better and better and I was compering it to a52s and there's not that much difference in camera performance 😀

[@bassiecharmaine5722]

Really

[@fahoodxx3205]

The cpu is in a different dimension man and you get 2 more years of support

[@indrasoebagjo]

Dont forget the A73 which is USD100 cheaper than the S21 FE.

[@dominikasitek8334]

Would you say its worth 408€? In comparison to A53 costing 288€?