Galaxy S21 FE 5G • Locked AT&T vs Galaxy S24 • Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, released in January 2022, and the Samsung Galaxy S24, launched in January 2024, are both Android smartphones from Samsung's diverse lineup. While the S21 FE was positioned as a feature-rich option for enthusiasts, the S24 represents a more recent flagship offering. The primary distinctions between these two devices lie in their processing power, camera capabilities, and long-term software support, reflecting two years of technological advancements within the Android ecosystem.

When considering the longevity of these devices, their release timelines and software support policies are key factors. The Galaxy S21 FE, being an older model, naturally has a shorter remaining support window compared to the newer Galaxy S24.

• Software Updates: The Galaxy S21 FE launched with Android 12 and is expected to receive four major OS updates, extending its support up to Android 16, along with five years of security updates. In contrast, the Galaxy S24, launched with Android 14, benefits from Samsung's extended commitment of seven years of OS updates and seven years of security updates, potentially reaching Android 21. This difference means the S24 will remain current with the latest features and security patches for a significantly longer period.
• Physical Durability: Both devices feature an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, indicating protection against immersion in water. The S21 FE uses Gorilla Glass Victus on its front, while the S24 upgrades to Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both the front and back, offering enhanced resistance to drops and scratches.
• Repairability: The Galaxy S21 FE generally offers reasonable repairability, with a score around 7.5 to 8.2 out of 10, though its battery is often glued in place, making replacement more challenging. The Galaxy S24 shows improved repairability, scoring 9 out of 10, partly due to the inclusion of pull tabs for easier battery removal.

The performance of these two smartphones reflects the advancements in mobile processing technology over a two-year span, impacting everything from daily tasks to demanding applications.

• Everyday Responsiveness: The Galaxy S21 FE handles typical daily usage, such as browsing, social media, and light multitasking, with smooth responsiveness. The Galaxy S24, with its more recent internal components, delivers a noticeably smoother experience, especially when navigating the interface, launching applications, and switching between multiple demanding apps.
• Demanding Applications and Gaming: For intensive tasks like high-fidelity mobile gaming or video editing, the Galaxy S24 provides a more consistent and fluid experience, maintaining higher frame rates and reducing load times. Users upgrading from the S21 FE to the S24 often report a significant improvement in overall speed and a reduction in overheating during prolonged heavy use.
• Storage and Multitasking: Both devices offer various storage configurations, with the S24 generally providing faster storage technology. The S24 also typically comes with more base RAM, which contributes to more efficient multitasking and keeping more applications active in the background without needing to reload.

Both the Galaxy S21 FE and Galaxy S24 feature vibrant displays, but the newer model incorporates enhancements that improve the viewing experience.

• Display Technology and Clarity: Both phones utilize Dynamic AMOLED 2X display technology, known for its deep blacks and vibrant colors. The S21 FE features a 6.4-inch screen, while the S24 has a slightly more compact 6.2-inch display. Both offer Full HD+ resolution, providing sharp and clear visuals for everyday content consumption.
• Brightness and Outdoor Visibility: The Galaxy S21 FE offers good outdoor visibility with a peak brightness that is sufficient for most conditions. The Galaxy S24 significantly enhances this with a higher peak brightness of up to 2600 nits, making it exceptionally clear and readable even in direct sunlight.
• Refresh Rate and Smoothness: Both devices feature a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and fluid animations. The S21 FE's refresh rate can be set to 60Hz or 120Hz. The S24, however, offers an adaptive refresh rate that can dynamically scale from 1Hz to 120Hz, optimizing power consumption while maintaining visual fluidity.

The camera systems on both devices are capable, but the Galaxy S24 introduces advancements in sensor technology and image processing.

• Rear Camera System: The Galaxy S21 FE features a triple-camera setup with a 12MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide, and an 8MP telephoto lens offering 3x optical zoom. The Galaxy S24 also has a triple-camera system, but it upgrades the main sensor to 50MP, retains a 12MP ultrawide, and includes a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. This larger main sensor on the S24 generally captures more detail and performs better in various lighting conditions.
• Photography Performance: The S21 FE delivers good photos with vibrant colors in ample lighting, and its night mode helps in darker scenarios. The S24 offers improved image processing, resulting in more natural-looking photos, better color balance, and enhanced low-light performance. Users often note the S24's camera is a significant step up, particularly for overall image quality and detail.
• Video and Front Camera: Both phones support 4K video recording. The S21 FE has a 32MP front camera, which produces detailed selfies. The S24 features a 12MP front camera, which, combined with improved processing, also delivers quality selfies and video calls.