Galaxy S21 FE 5G • Locked AT&T vs Galaxy S23 FE • Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, released in January 2022, and the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, launched in October 2023, represent two generations of Samsung's 'Fan Edition' smartphone line. Both devices aim to deliver a flagship-like experience with a focus on core features. While they share the Android operating system and Samsung's One UI, the newer S23 FE introduces updates to its internal components, camera system, and build materials, offering a refined experience over its predecessor.

When considering the longevity of these devices, several factors come into play, including their release timelines, software support, and physical durability.

• Release Timeline and Software Support: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G, launched in early 2022, began its software support cycle with Android 12. Samsung has committed to providing four major Android OS upgrades for this model, meaning it is expected to receive updates up to Android 16, along with security patches until at least the end of 2025, and potentially longer for critical vulnerabilities. The Galaxy S23 FE, released in late 2023 with Android 13, benefits from a later starting point, ensuring it will receive major OS updates up to Android 17 and security updates for five years from its launch. This provides the S23 FE with a longer period of official software support.
• Physical Durability: Both models feature an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, indicating protection against immersion in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. The Galaxy S21 FE's display is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus, while its back panel is made of plastic. The Galaxy S23 FE upgrades to Gorilla Glass 5 for both its front display and back panel, offering enhanced scratch and drop resistance.
• Repairability: The Galaxy S21 FE has a reported repairability score of 7.5 out of 10, suggesting a relatively manageable repair process for common issues. The Galaxy S23 FE shows improvements in repairability, particularly with the inclusion of pull tabs for easier battery replacement, contributing to a higher score of 8.0 to 8.5 out of 10.

The performance of a smartphone is largely determined by its processing power, memory, and how efficiently it manages tasks and power consumption.

• Processing Capabilities: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G is equipped with a processor that handles everyday applications and multitasking smoothly. For more demanding tasks like gaming or intensive photo editing, users generally experience competent performance, though some reports indicate the device can warm up under sustained heavy load. The Galaxy S23 FE features a newer generation processor, which translates to more responsive performance across a wider range of applications. This allows for quicker app launches, smoother transitions, and more efficient handling of graphically intensive games and complex tasks, with some users noting improved thermal management compared to its predecessor.
• Multitasking and Storage: The S21 FE is available with 6GB or 8GB of RAM, paired with 128GB or 256GB of internal storage. The S23 FE comes standard with 8GB of RAM and offers 128GB or 256GB storage options. The increased base RAM in the S23 FE contributes to more fluid multitasking, allowing more applications to run in the background without significant slowdowns. Neither device offers expandable storage via a microSD card.
• Battery Behavior: Both models house a 4500mAh battery. User experiences with the S21 FE's battery life suggest it can last a full day with moderate use, but heavy usage, especially with 5G connectivity, can lead to more frequent charging. The S23 FE, despite having the same battery capacity, often demonstrates slightly better endurance due to its more power-efficient processor. Both support 25W wired fast charging and 15W wireless charging.

The display is a primary interface for smartphone interaction, and both the Galaxy S21 FE 5G and S23 FE offer vibrant viewing experiences with some key distinctions.

• Display Technology and Size: Both devices feature a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, providing rich colors and deep blacks. This technology ensures a high-contrast viewing experience, suitable for various content types.
• Resolution and Clarity: Both screens offer a Full HD+ resolution (2340 x 1080 pixels), resulting in sharp images and clear text with a pixel density of approximately 403 pixels per inch. This resolution is sufficient for detailed viewing in typical daily use.
• Refresh Rate and Smoothness: Both the S21 FE and S23 FE boast a 120Hz refresh rate, which provides a noticeably smoother scrolling experience and more fluid animations compared to standard 60Hz displays. This feature enhances the responsiveness of the user interface and is particularly beneficial for gaming.
• Brightness Levels: The Galaxy S21 FE offers a peak brightness of up to 1200 nits, ensuring good visibility in most outdoor conditions. The Galaxy S23 FE improves upon this with a higher peak brightness of 1450 nits, which can make a difference in direct sunlight, providing better readability outdoors.

The camera systems on both Fan Edition models are designed to capture quality images and videos, though the newer model brings notable enhancements.

• Rear Camera System: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G features a versatile triple-camera setup on the rear, consisting of a 12-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and an 8-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The Galaxy S23 FE upgrades the main sensor to 50-megapixels, retaining the 12-megapixel ultra-wide and 8-megapixel telephoto (3x optical zoom) lenses. The larger main sensor on the S23 FE, often combined with optical image stabilization (OIS), generally results in more detailed photos, especially in challenging lighting conditions.
• Photography Performance: In everyday scenarios, both phones produce good quality images. The S23 FE's enhanced main sensor tends to capture more light and detail, leading to improved low-light performance and overall image clarity. Some users of the S21 FE have noted occasional inconsistencies in color profiles between its main and ultra-wide lenses.
• Video Recording: Both devices are capable of recording 4K video at 60 frames per second. The S23 FE's improved stabilization and processing can lead to slightly more stable and refined video footage.
• Front Camera: For selfies and video calls, the S21 FE is equipped with a 32-megapixel front camera. The S23 FE features a 10-megapixel front camera. While the S21 FE has a higher megapixel count for its front camera, the S23 FE's front camera benefits from newer image processing, often resulting in balanced and natural-looking selfies.