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The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra offers a superior camera setup with its high megapixel count and powerful zoom capabilities, making it a good choice for photography enthusiasts. It also has a larger and sharper screen, which is beneficial for those who consume a lot of media on their phones. Additionally, it supports the latest Wi-Fi 6e standard, potentially providing faster internet speeds. However, the Galaxy S20 FE, while having a lower-quality camera and smaller screen, might be the better choice if you're looking to save money. It still provides a quality experience typical of Samsung's Galaxy line but at a more budget-friendly price. Both phones have a plastic back, sizable battery life, and run on the Android operating system. If you prioritize top-end features and have a budget that allows, the S21 Ultra is the way to go; otherwise, the S20 FE offers good performance at a lower cost. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
- Good battery life
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
- Good for taking photos
- Good for recording videos
- Very good display quality
- Good performance
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
6.2
7.8
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has only fair overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra surpasses the S20 FE in camera performance, most notably in selfie quality which is regarded as very important; the S21 Ultra also excels in overall photo and video capabilities including dynamic range, low light performance, and camera versatility, making it the better choice for photography and videography enthusiasts willing to invest in a more premium device. In contrast, the S20 FE offers fair camera performance across various metrics including selfie quality, making it a more budget-friendly option for users with moderate camera usage.
Photo Quality
6.3
7.8
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra takes good photos, while the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE takes only fair photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra delivers better selfie quality than the Galaxy S20 FE, which is in line with its overall superior photos software experience and camera versatility, including its strong performance in dynamic range and low light situations. The Galaxy S20 FE, while still capable, does not match the Galaxy S21 Ultra's camera prowess, as reflected by its lower assessments across these areas.
Video Quality
5.5
7.1
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra takes good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE takes poor videos.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE provides a good video experience with fair stabilization, dynamic range, low light performance, and mic quality, while the S21 Ultra ups the ante with very good low light performance and dynamic range, indicating it's better suited for high-quality video recording in various conditions, but typically comes with a higher price tag. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the superior choice for video enthusiasts seeking the best resolution and framerate combination, coupled with a good software experience and stabilization, but if budget is a concern, the S20 FE still offers competent video capabilities at a likely lower cost..
Battery
7.8 Hours
6.7 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has 7.8 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has 6.7 hours of battery life.
Cost
$198
$423
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has a price of $198 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra costs $423.
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Key similarities
Screen Size
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has a screen size of 6.5 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is 6.8 inches.
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How the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Samsung Galaxy S20 FE | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$198 | $423 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Samsung | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 2, 2020 | January 29, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.5" | 6.8" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 3200 x 1440 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | Yes | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 405 | 515 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | SD865 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 6 GB | 12 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 6.4/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 5.5/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto, Super Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 108 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7.8 Hours | 6.7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4500 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 15 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | Yes (4.5 watts) | Yes (4.5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 6.29" x 2.93" | 6.5" x 2.98" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.70 oz | 8.01 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Plastic | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | No | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.2 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 6e | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6)2, 5, 41, 66, 71 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Cloud Navy, Cloud Red, Cloud White, Cloud Orange, Cloud Lavendar, Cloud Mint | Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Navy, Phantom Titanium | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | No | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | Yes | No | |
Shopping
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
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Dig into reviews and images
Android Authority
Eric Zeman | March 2023
"The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is a fine phone. The flat display glass may turn off some, but the 120Hz refresh rate turned me on. I really liked the overall size and usability of the phone, and the six different colors mean you’ll likely find a version to suit your personal style. Other pros include solid performance, excellent battery life, and straightforward software."
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
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Dig into reviews and images
Android Authority
David Imel | January 2023
"The Galaxy S21 Ultra is a killer combo of great design, blazing-fast performance, a wonderful display, long-lasting battery life, and one of the most versatile camera systems you can get in a smartphone today."
Get a great deal on the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE or the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
About Samsung
Samsung is one of the most recognizable names in the smartphone industry, standing as the undisputed best-selling brand of Android smartphones in the United States for many years now. Samsung is known for offering a variety of smartphones in all available price points, as well as for implementing cutting-edge technology and innovative features in their flagship devices, ones that often shape the market going forward. The company offers its own unique spin on Android, called One UI, which focuses on offering a multitude of features and is heavily customizable, according to user preference.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
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Phones evaluated
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About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
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Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.
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Phones Expert
Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.
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