A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE offers a middle-ground price with a plastic body, featuring a 6.4-inch OLED screen with high brightness and a refresh rate that enables smooth scrolling. Its camera setup is sufficient for everyday photography, but if a top-tier camera is crucial, the Sony Xperia 1 V boasts a higher resolution and more advanced features, optimal for photography enthusiasts or professionals. Battery-wise, the Xperia 1 V has a larger capacity, potentially leading to longer usage between charges. With a glass body and a 6.5-inch display that promotes a cinematic aspect ratio and high brightness, the Xperia 1 V is premium-priced, reflecting its high-end specifications and build quality. If budget is a significant concern, the Galaxy S21 FE provides value for money, but if you prioritize camera quality and an immersive screen experience, investing more in the Xperia 1 V could be worthwhile. Both run on Android, so operating system preferences won't sway your decision. 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 Sony Xperia 1 V.
Advantages of the Sony Xperia 1 V
- Very good battery life
- Very good display quality
- Excellent performance
Key differences
Video Quality
5.9
6.4
The Sony Xperia 1 V takes only fair videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE takes poor videos.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is noted for having a very good video resolution and framerate, paired with good video software experience and stabilization, whereas the Sony Xperia 1 V has very good ratings in both video software experience and stabilization but offers only fair performance in video resolution and framerate. The Galaxy S21 FE could outperform the Xperia 1 V in capturing detailed and smooth videos, whereas the Xperia 1 V might provide a more user-friendly video recording experience, although with potentially lower resolution and framerate.
Battery
6.7 Hours
8.2 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has 6.7 hours of battery life. The Sony Xperia 1 V has 8.2 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has a screen size of 6.4 inches and the Sony Xperia 1 V is 6.5 inches.
Cost
$770
$1,099
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has a price of $770 and the Sony Xperia 1 V costs $1,099.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Phone
Find your new phone
Key similarities
Overall Camera Quality
7.0
7.1
The Sony Xperia 1 V and Samsung Galaxy S21 FE both have good overall cameras quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is known for its good selfie camera which factors greatly into its overall camera performance, while the Sony Xperia 1 V offers a fair selfie experience which might not meet the same expectations. For customers prioritizing front-facing camera quality, the S21 FE could be a better choice, but if camera versatility and other factors like battery life or screen size are equally important, the Xperia 1 V may still appeal despite its modest selfie capabilities.
Photo Quality
6.9
6.8
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE and Sony Xperia 1 V both have only fair photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has a good photos software experience with fair dynamic range and good low light performance for photographs, contributing to its overall satisfactory camera performance. Conversely, the Sony Xperia 1 V, while offering camera versatility and higher resolution, has a poor score in dynamic range and only fair performance in low light situations, which can impact the quality of captured images. Both phones have very good selfie capabilities, appealing to selfie enthusiasts.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE and the Sony Xperia 1 V compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Samsung Galaxy S21 FE | Sony Xperia 1 V |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$770 | $1,099 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Samsung | Sony | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 29, 2022 | May 28, 2023 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.4" | 6.5" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 3840 x 1644 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 401 | 643 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | SD888 | SD8G2 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 256 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 6 GB | 12 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 7.1/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 6.9/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 5.9/10 | 6.4/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 48 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.7 Hours | 8.2 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 (5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 6.13" x 2.93" | 6.5" x 2.8" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.24 oz | 6.60 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Plastic | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | Yes | |
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)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Side | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Graphite, Lavender, Olive, White, Navy Blue | Black | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | No | Yes | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | Yes | |
Shopping
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
See more
Dig into reviews and images
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."
Sony Xperia 1 V
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Android Police
Will Sattelberg | June 2023
"The Sony Xperia 1 V is unlike anything else you'll find on the market today. With an ultra-tall 4K OLED panel, a textured glass back for added grip, and all of the manual controls Alpha fans could ask for, this is nothing like modern Android flagships — something that might win over some old-school smartphone fans."
Get a great deal on the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE or the Sony Xperia 1 V
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.
About Sony
Sony has had a long history in the mobile market, entering the scene all the way back in 1993 with its first commercially available phone, the CM-H333. Nowadays, their Xperia line of phones provide well-rounded and sometimes expensive devices with a focus on camera software that includes extensive support for manual tweaking of settings. Sony's dedication to audio quality is also evident in its smartphones, which often feature high-resolution audio support while also being one of the few remaining manufacturers that consistently provide headphone jacks in their phones. The company's version of Android is also considered to be close to stock, enabling a bloatware-free experience for its users.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Phone guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare Samsung Galaxy S21 FE vs. OnePlus 12
VS
Compare Samsung Galaxy S21 FE vs. Motorola Motorola Edge+ (2023)
VS
Compare Samsung Galaxy S21 FE vs. Samsung Galaxy S24
VS
Compare Sony Xperia 1 V vs. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
VS
Compare Sony Xperia 1 V vs. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
VS
Compare Sony Xperia 1 V vs. Samsung Galaxy S23+
VS
FAQs
FAQs about phones
Why trust us
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
68
Phones evaluated
7,820
Phones stats compiled
8
Proprietary Phones ratings developed
151,800
Recommendations made
86,020
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.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
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.
Seth Peoples
Phones Expert
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.
Efthimis Kotanidis
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.
Featured in
