Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

6.4-inch FHD+ 120Hz display ; Premium chipset and specs ; Decent camera system

No charger in the box ; Slow charging ; Still quite expensive

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is the most affordable phone in the S21 series - its specs and features have been streamlined to keep the cost down. While it may not be as good value as we'd have hoped for it's still a very capable piece of kit with a decent...

Vibrant display ; Lots of processing power ; Slender design

Far too expensive ; Takes a long time to charge ; Unimpressive battery life

Plenty of power ; Great display ; Good looking phone ; Latest software

No microSD card slot ; Price and launch timing is awkward - S22 is incoming

The Fan Edition of the S21 arrives at an awkward time, with the 'full fat' Galaxy S21 now selling at a similar price and the Galaxy S22 due to to launch in February. But this is still a powerful handset, so while it might be out-specced by some cheaper...

Under-stated, attractive design ; Impressive triple rear camera ; Updates through to Android 15

Expensive for the specs ; Average battery & charging ; Older tech

The S21 FE is a phone out of time. It’s a pretty great, well-rounded hardware package and I doubt many people would come away disappointed, but it's launched six months too late. If it cost less I might be here singing the phone’s praises – but at this...

Sleek design ; Solid performance ; Dazzling HDR screen

A bit too expensive ; Poor battery life

First out of the gate, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE had the potential to be the first must-have phone of 2022. With a similar design and specifications to last year’s flagship Galaxy S21, but at a lower launch price of £699 and a larger display, it looked...

Good camera ; Appealing design ; Phone trade-in service slightly mitigates price concerns

Samsung One UI is not the smoothest ; Some Samsung bloatware ; Price compares poorly to competitors ; Awkward release timings

During testing, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE generally gave us a good experience. We liked the camera, the look and feel of the handset and the wonderful display. Samsung offers plenty of software support too, with regular updates. But the elephant in the...

Different, vibrant colorways to choose from Should be cheaper than the regular S21 Excellent screen

Powerful specifications Solid cameras Impressive 120Hz display Priced well for a flagship

Touchscreen issues Battery just OK Too much competition at its price point

“The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is the capable successor to the S20 FE, but comes at a poor time with the S22 around the corner, making it tougher to justify its value.”

Excellent AMOLED HDR10 screen, 120Hz, superb color accuracy.

No charger in the box.

So, the Galaxy S21 FE is a powerful and capable smartphone, no two ways about that. But we just cannot recommend it at this price, not without reservations. Once Samsung introduces its first price cut, though, the Galaxy S21 FE should get a spot on the...