Choosing between the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE and the Galaxy S22 Ultra comes down to your priorities. If you're willing to pay more for top-notch performance, the Galaxy S22 Ultra offers a higher quality camera, a larger and better quality screen, a processor with faster performance and extra features such as the S Pen stylus and glass back material. However, the Galaxy S21 FE is more affordable, with a plastic back that might be more durable and still provides a high-quality OLED display and a competent camera system, although it won't perform as well as the Galaxy S22 Ultra's camera. The Galaxy S22 Ultra also has a brighter screen which could be more comfortable to view in direct sunlight, and a slightly longer battery life. Both have 5G support, water resistance, wireless charging, and run on Android. 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 S21 FE
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has no clear advantages over the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Very good for taking photos
Good for recording videos
Good battery life
Best in class display quality
Good performance
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
7.0/10
8.4/10
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has very good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has good overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has a very good camera setup that outperforms the Galaxy S21 FE, particularly in versatility and the quality of selfies, which are very important factors. While both phones offer a very good photo software experience, the S22 Ultra's superior photo performance in dynamic range and low light, along with more versatile camera options, explains the difference in camera capabilities.
Photo Quality
6.9/10
8.5/10
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra takes very good photos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE takes only fair photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra captures very good selfies, surpassing the already good selfie performance of the Galaxy S21 FE, due to a synthesis of improved photo resolution, software experience, dynamic range, and low light performance, along with increased camera versatility which may include better sensor quality and enhanced processing capabilities.
Video Quality
5.9/10
7.4/10
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra takes good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE takes poor videos.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra offers superior video capabilities with its higher video resolution/framerate, enhanced video stabilization, and better performance in dynamic range and low-light conditions, resulting in clearer and more detailed footage even in challenging situations. While the Galaxy S21 FE takes competent videos with good stabilization and software experience, its capabilities are outmatched by the S22 Ultra, which also has better microphone quality for clearer audio capture.
Battery
6.7 Hours
7.8 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has 6.7 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has 7.8 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has a screen size of 6.4 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is 6.8 inches.
Cost
$600
$930
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has a price of $600 and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra costs $930.
"The Galaxy S21 FE is a fine addition to Samsung's S21 lineup, retaining the very best features of those flagship phones for a more modest price. This is a solid phone, matching the performance of the top Android flagships from a year ago and delivering photos that hold their own against some of the best camera phones we've tested."
"The Galaxy S22 Ultra is a bit of a “greatest hits” compilation of Samsung’s best ideas from former devices. Moreover, it packs much of the same productivity-enabling software as previous Note devices coupled with the power of the S Pen while keeping the total package reasonable in terms of cost. The phone has more features, more cameras, and more software to put to use than many competing phones. It’s a hardcore device that nearly has it all."
Get a great deal on the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE or the Samsung Galaxy S22 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.
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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8
Proprietary Phones ratings developed
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Recommendations made
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Consumer hours saved
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.
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Phones Expert
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