Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is finally here with SD888, Android 12

Right on schedule, Samsung didn't wait long to announce something in 2022. The Galaxy S21 FE is here and it's just what we've been expecting.

Upfront, the Galaxy S21 FE 5G has a 6.4-inch 2340x1080px AMOLED that can run with a refresh rate of 120Hz and a touch sampling rate of up to 240Hz (only in Gaming mode). The panel is covered by Gorilla Glass Victus.

Processing is handled by the Snapdragon 888, but just like the rest of the S21 series, there is also a version with the Exynos 2100 chipset. However, it seems it will be limited to very few markets.

There are four cameras on the Galaxy S21 FE 5G - a 32MP fixed-focus f/2.2 selfie shooter and a 0.5x-1x-3x combo on the rear. The cameras at the back are identical to those on the S20 FE. There is a 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide, 12MP 1/1.76-inch f/1.8 main camera with OIS, and an 8MP f/2.4 3x tele.

The Galaxy S21 FE 5G is loaded with shooting modes - Night mode takes up to 14 images to combine into a multi-frame single image; there's Multi-camera recording that can combine the front and rear wide cameras in a single video. AI face restoration uses deep learning to enhance textures in the eyebrows and lips. And Object Eraser works just like Magic Eraser on the Pixel 6 series, allowing you to get rid of straggle objects in your images.

The S21 FE 5G is slimmer (7.9mm vs. 8.4mm) and lighter (177g vs. 190g) than its predecessor, the S21 FE, and comes with what Samsung calls a Contour Cut Design. What that means is that the camera bump is nicely integrated into the back cover, and it's covered by a matte finish surface, which should help with fingerprints.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE

Inside, there's a 4,500mAh battery that Samsung promises can keep things running for up to two days.

Finally, arguably the most important bit - the Galaxy S21 FE 5G will be widely available by January 11 (some markets sooner), priced €749/£699 for the 8/128GB model. It's available in four colors - White, Graphite, Lavender, and this new Olive.

Some markets will have a pre-order bundle with the excellent Galaxy Buds2 ANC earbuds, which may offset the fact that the Galaxy S21 FE doesn't have a charger in the box.