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

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, released in January 2022, and the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G, launched in February 2022, are both Android smartphones from Samsung's Galaxy series. While sharing a similar software experience with Android 12 at launch, the S22 introduces a more refined design and updated internal components, offering a slightly different user experience compared to its Fan Edition counterpart. Both devices aim to provide a premium smartphone experience within their respective segments.

When considering the long-term usability of these devices, several factors come into play, including their release timelines and expected software support.

• Release Timeline: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G was released in January 2022, while the Galaxy S22 5G followed shortly after in February 2022. This means the S22 benefits from a slightly newer starting point for software updates.
• Software Longevity: Both devices launched with Android 12 and are expected to receive several years of major Android updates and security patches. The Galaxy S22, being the slightly newer flagship, may receive software support for a marginally longer period than the S21 FE, potentially extending its practical lifespan by an additional year of major OS upgrades.
• Build and 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 30 minutes. The S21 FE uses Gorilla Glass Victus for screen protection and a plastic back with an aluminum frame, offering a balance of durability and a lighter feel. The S22 elevates this with Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both the front and back, coupled with an aluminum frame, suggesting enhanced scratch and drop resistance.

The performance of a smartphone is crucial for daily tasks, from navigating apps to demanding gaming sessions. Both the Galaxy S21 FE 5G and Galaxy S22 5G offer capable performance, though with some distinctions.

• Processing Power: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G is equipped with a powerful processor that handles demanding applications and multitasking smoothly, providing a responsive user experience for most activities, including gaming and streaming. The Galaxy S22 5G features a newer generation processor, which offers incremental improvements in raw processing speed and graphical rendering capabilities, resulting in slightly faster app loading times and a more fluid experience in graphically intensive games.
• Multitasking and Storage: Both devices typically come with 8GB of RAM, ensuring efficient multitasking and smooth transitions between applications. Storage options for both models generally start at 128GB, with 256GB variants also available, providing ample space for apps, photos, and videos. Neither device supports expandable storage via a microSD card.
• Battery Behavior: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G houses a 4500mAh battery, which generally provides a full day of use for many users, though heavy usage, especially with the 120Hz refresh rate enabled, may require a charge before the day ends. The Galaxy S22 5G has a smaller 3700mAh battery. While its newer processor offers improved power efficiency, user reports indicate that heavy use can lead to more frequent charging, and some users experience battery anxiety.

The display is a primary interface for any smartphone, and both the Galaxy S21 FE 5G and Galaxy S22 5G offer vibrant viewing experiences with Samsung's signature display technology.

• Display Technology and Size: Both phones feature a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, known for its deep blacks, high contrast, and vivid colors. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G has a 6.4-inch screen, offering a more expansive viewing area. The Galaxy S22 5G features a more compact 6.1-inch display, which contributes to its smaller overall footprint.
• Resolution and Refresh Rate: Both displays offer a Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2400 pixels for the S21 FE, 1080 x 2340 pixels for the S22), providing sharp and clear visuals for everyday content consumption. Both also support a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, which makes scrolling, animations, and gaming appear exceptionally smooth.
• Brightness and Outdoor Visibility: The Galaxy S21 FE's display offers good brightness for outdoor use. The Galaxy S22's display can achieve a higher peak brightness of up to 1300 nits, enhancing visibility in bright sunlight and improving HDR content viewing.

Both the Galaxy S21 FE 5G and Galaxy S22 5G are equipped with versatile camera systems designed to capture a variety of moments, though with some key differences in their main sensors.

• Rear Camera System: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G features a triple-camera setup with a 12MP main wide-angle lens, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and an 8MP telephoto lens capable of 3x optical zoom and up to 30x digital zoom. The Galaxy S22 5G also has a triple-camera system, but it upgrades the main sensor to 50MP, alongside a 12MP ultrawide and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The larger main sensor on the S22 generally allows for better light capture and more detailed images, especially in challenging lighting conditions.
• Photography Performance: Both phones deliver vibrant and detailed photos in good lighting. The S21 FE's camera produces good results, with its ultrawide and telephoto lenses offering flexibility. The S22, with its higher-resolution main sensor, tends to offer improved low-light performance and overall image clarity. Both support features like optical image stabilization (OIS) on their main and telephoto lenses for sharper photos and more stable videos.
• Video Recording and Front Camera: Both devices can record 4K video at 30/60fps. The S22 also supports 8K video recording at 24fps. For selfies, the S21 FE has a 32MP front camera, while the S22 features a 10MP front camera. User opinions on the front camera quality vary, with some finding the S21 FE's front camera to be particularly good, even in low light.