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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Samsung Galaxy S23 has a higher overall camera quality, featuring better photo and video capabilities compared to the Galaxy S21 FE. It also offers more RAM and longer battery life, which could improve overall performance and usage time. However, the Galaxy S23 has a smaller screen size, which might be a downside if you prefer larger displays. Both models have similar price points, lack a headphone jack, and support wireless charging. If camera performance and battery life are your priority over screen size, the Galaxy S23 would be the better choice. 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 S23.
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S23
- Very good for taking photos
- Good for recording videos
- Very good battery life
- Very good display quality
- Excellent performance
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
7.0
8.3
The Samsung Galaxy S23 has very good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has good overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 offers a more advanced camera experience than the Galaxy S21 FE, with significant improvements in dynamic range and low light performance for both photos and videos, and it has a superior selfie camera. If camera versatility and image quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions, are a priority for you, and you value high-quality selfie photos, opting for the Galaxy S23 would be a better choice despite it likely being more expensive.
Photo Quality
6.9
8.3
The Samsung Galaxy S23 takes very good photos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE takes only fair photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE provides a good selfie experience and overall good photo capabilities, including resolution, dynamic range, and low light performance; however, the Samsung Galaxy S23 offers very good selfie quality, significantly improving on its predecessor's aspects like photo resolution, software experience, dynamic range, low light performance, and camera versatility.
Video Quality
5.9
7.8
The Samsung Galaxy S23 takes good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE takes poor videos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 takes excellent videos due to a better overall video experience, which includes enhancements in resolution and framerate, a more sophisticated video software experience, stronger video stabilization, wider dynamic range, superior performance in low light conditions, and higher microphone quality compared to the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, which takes good videos but falls short in these specific aspects. The improvements in the S23 lead to a more detailed video capture, smoother footage, better handling of varied lighting, and clearer sound, making it a better choice if video quality is a priority and budget is not a constraint.
Battery
6.7 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has 6.7 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S23 has 8 hours of battery life.
Cost
$770
$700
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has a price of $770 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 costs $700.
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Key similarities
Screen Size
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has a screen size of 6.4 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S23 is 6.1 inches.
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How the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE and the Samsung Galaxy S23 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Samsung Galaxy S21 FE | Samsung Galaxy S23 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$770 | $700 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Samsung | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 29, 2022 | February 17, 2023 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.4" | 6.1" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 2340 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 401 | 422 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | SD888 | SD8G2 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 7.1/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 6.9/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 5.9/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 50 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.7 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4500 mAh | 3900 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 | 6.13" x 2.93" | 5.76" x 2.79" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.24 oz | 5.93 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Plastic | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 6e | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)41, 66, 71, 260, 261 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 7, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 | |
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 | Graphite, Lavender, Olive, White, Navy Blue | Pink Gold, Phantom Black, Cream, Lavender, Green, Lime, Graphite | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | No | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
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Tom's Guide
Philip Michaels | March 2022
"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."
Samsung Galaxy S23
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The Verge
Allison Johnson | February 2023
"The 6.1-inch S23 is the best reasonably sized Android phone on the market in the US, partly because almost every other Android phone sold here is gigantic. But it’s also a really good device, with a battery that gets through a full day more comfortably than its predecessor. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset responsible for some of that battery performance improvement is slightly different — and slightly faster — than the 8 Gen 2 in other Android flagships."
Get a great deal on the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE or the Samsung Galaxy S23
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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Phones stats compiled
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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
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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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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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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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