Galaxy S21 FE 5G • Locked AT&T vs Galaxy S22+ 5G • Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, released in January 2022, and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus 5G, launched in February 2022, are both Android smartphones from Samsung's Galaxy series. While they share the same operating system and a similar design philosophy, the S22 Plus 5G generally offers enhancements in display brightness, camera capabilities, and processing power, reflecting its position as a more premium device in a slightly newer generation.

Both devices offer a robust software support policy, ensuring users receive timely updates and security patches for an extended period.

• Software Longevity: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G launched with Android 12 and is expected to receive four years of Android OS updates and five years of security updates. The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G also launched with Android 12 and benefits from the same commitment of four years of OS updates and five years of security updates, giving it a slightly longer overall support window due to its later release.
• Physical Durability: Both models feature an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, meaning they can withstand submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G uses Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for screen protection, while the Galaxy S22 Plus 5G upgrades to Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both the front and back, offering enhanced resistance against drops and scratches.
• Repairability Considerations: While specific repairability scores can vary, both devices are designed with modern smartphone construction, which typically involves specialized tools and expertise for repairs. The availability of parts and service for both models is generally good, especially considering their relatively recent release dates.

The performance of these devices is driven by their respective processors, influencing how smoothly they handle daily tasks and demanding applications.

• Everyday Responsiveness: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G, powered by a capable processor, delivers smooth performance for general use, including browsing, social media, and most applications. Users can expect quick app loading and efficient multitasking.
• Demanding Tasks and Gaming: The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G features a newer generation processor, which provides a noticeable boost in performance, particularly for graphically intensive games and complex applications. This allows for a more fluid experience during extended gaming sessions and when running multiple demanding apps simultaneously.
• Storage and Multitasking: Both phones offer various internal storage options, typically 128GB or 256GB, paired with 6GB or 8GB of RAM for the S21 FE 5G and 8GB of RAM for the S22 Plus 5G. Neither device supports expandable storage via a microSD card, so choosing the appropriate internal storage capacity at the time of purchase is important.

Both smartphones feature high-quality displays, but the Galaxy S22 Plus 5G offers some notable advancements in brightness and adaptive refresh rate technology.

• Display Technology and Clarity: Both devices utilize a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, providing vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast. They both have a Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2400 pixels for S21 FE 5G, 1080 x 2340 pixels for S22 Plus 5G), ensuring sharp and clear visuals for everyday viewing.
• Brightness and Outdoor Visibility: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G offers a peak brightness of around 700 nits, which is sufficient for most indoor and outdoor conditions. The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G significantly enhances this with a peak brightness of up to 1750 nits and Vision Booster technology, making its screen exceptionally visible even in direct sunlight.
• Refresh Rate and Smoothness: Both phones feature a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and responsive interactions. The S22 Plus 5G further refines this with an adaptive refresh rate that can scale down to 48Hz, which helps conserve battery life when displaying static content. The S21 FE 5G's refresh rate is also adaptive, but the specific range is not as widely detailed.

Both phones are equipped with versatile camera systems, but the Galaxy S22 Plus 5G introduces a more advanced main sensor and improved low-light capabilities.

• Rear Camera System: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G features a triple camera setup with a 12MP wide lens, an 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide lens. The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G also has a triple camera system, but it upgrades the main sensor to 50MP, alongside a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and a 12MP ultrawide lens. Both wide and telephoto lenses on both models include optical image stabilization (OIS).
• Photography Performance: The S21 FE 5G delivers dependable photos in various conditions, with features like Scene Optimizer and an improved Night Mode. The S22 Plus 5G, with its larger main sensor, generally captures more detail and performs better in challenging lighting conditions, offering enhanced low-light photography. Both support 30x Space Zoom, which is a combination of optical and digital zoom.
• Video Recording and Front Camera: Both devices can record video at 4K resolution at 30/60fps, with the S22 Plus 5G also capable of 8K video recording at 24fps. The S21 FE 5G has a 32MP front camera, while the S22 Plus 5G features a 10MP front camera, both capable of capturing clear selfies and video calls.