Samsung Galaxy S21 FE vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra: A Detailed Hardware Comparison
When it comes to Samsung’s flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S21 FE and the Galaxy S21 Ultra are two highly sought-after models. Here’s a detailed comparison of the two phones based on the specs provided:
| Phone hardware Comparison | |
|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy S21 FE | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra |
| hardware Operating System | |
| Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5 | Android 11, One UI 3.1 |
| hardware Chipset | |
| Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) – Version 1Exynos 2100 (5 nm) – Version 2 | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) – InternationalQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) – USA/China |
| hardware CPU | |
| Octa-core (1×2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3×2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) – Version 1Octa-core (1×2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3×2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×2.2 GHz Cortex-A55) – Version 2 | Octa-core (1×2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3×2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×2.2 GHz Cortex-A55) – InternationalOcta-core (1×2.84 GHz Kryo 680 & 3×2.42 GHz Kryo 680 & 4×1.80 GHz Kryo 680) – USA/China |
| hardware GPU | |
| Adreno 660 – Version 1Mali-G78 MP14 – Version 2 | Mali-G78 MP14 – InternationalAdreno 660 – USA/China |
| hardware Performance | |
| AnTuTu: 566529 (v8), 719696 (v9) GeekBench: 3049 (v5.1) GFXBench: 56fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 657150 (v8) GeekBench: 3518 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
| hardware Internal Storage | |
| 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| hardware Card Slot | |
| No | No |
| hardware Sensors | |
| Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Hardware Review | |
| Review Samsung Galaxy S21 FE Hardware Review | Review Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Hardware Review |
Operating System:
The S21 FE runs on Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5, while the S21 Ultra runs on Android 11, One UI 3.1.
Chipset:
The S21 FE is equipped with Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)-Version 1/Exynos 2100 (5 nm)-Version 2, while the S21 Ultra has Exynos 2100 (5 nm)-International/Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)-USA/China.
CPU:
Both phones come with octa-core processors, but the S21 FE has a 1×2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3×2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 processor in Version 1 and a 1×2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3×2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×2.2 GHz Cortex-A55 processor in Version 2. The S21 Ultra has an Octa-core 1×2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3×2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×2.2 GHz Cortex-A55 processor in both International and USA/China versions.
GPU:
The S21 FE is equipped with Adreno 660-Version 1/Mali-G78 MP14-Version 2, while the S21 Ultra has Mali-G78 MP14-International/Adreno 660-USA/China.
Performance:
In terms of benchmark scores, the S21 FE has AnTuTu: 566529 (v8), 719696 (v9), GeekBench: 3049 (v5.1), and GFXBench: 56fps (ES 3.1 onscreen). The S21 Ultra, on the other hand, has AnTuTu: 657150 (v8), GeekBench: 3518 (v5.1), and GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen).
Internal Storage:
The S21 FE comes with 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, or 256GB 8GB RAM, while the S21 Ultra has 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, or 512GB 16GB RAM.
Card Slot:
Both phones do not have a card slot for expandable storage.
Sensors:
The S21 FE features a Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, and compass, while the S21 Ultra has a Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, and barometer.
Additional Considerations:
Both phones share some similarities, such as their camera setups, battery capacity, and IP68 water resistance rating. However, the S21 Ultra is the more high-end model with a larger and higher resolution display, better camera performance, and more RAM storage options. The S21 FE, on the other hand, offers a more affordable option with decent specs and features that cater to most consumers’ needs.
In conclusion, both the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra are excellent smartphones in their own right. The choice between the two will ultimately come down to the user’s preference and budget.
Full Specs Comparison For Samsung Galaxy S21 FE vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra