Tokyo, 24 February, /AJMEDIA/
If you’re an Android fan shopping for a new smartphone, you might find yourself deciding between the $800 Galaxy S22 and $700 Galaxy S21 FE. Not only are they similarly priced, but they’re around the same size and both have a triple-lens camera. That said, there are some important differences between the two.
The Galaxy S21 FE is essentially a repackaged version of last year’s Galaxy S21, while the Galaxy S22 is the next generation of the S21. The Galaxy S21 FE runs on a slightly older processor than the S22 and its main camera is lower-resolution. It doesn’t have the improvements that Samsung has made to nighttime photography, and its design is less exciting than that of the Galaxy S22. But the S21 FE has a noticeably larger screen than the S22, a sharper selfie camera and, most importantly, a lower price.
The Galaxy S22 is better suited for those who want better camera quality and prefer smaller devices, while the S21 FE is for those who prioritize screen size and a lower price.
Here’s a closer look at how the two smartphones compare.
The most obvious difference between the two devices can be seen by just looking at them: The Galaxy S22 has a 6.1-inch screen, while the Galaxy S21 FE has a 6.4-inch display. Which size is better depends on your preference. The Galaxy S22 can seem a little cramped, especially when typing, while the Galaxy S21 FE feels like a better balance of portability and screen space. Compared with the Galaxy S22 Plus and Ultra, the Galaxy S22 feels right for people who prefer smaller phones like the iPhone 13 Mini or Samsung Galaxy S10E. However, both of those phones are considerably smaller than the S22.
The Galaxy S22 and S21 FE have very similar display quality. The Galaxy S22 technically has more pixels per inch, but the difference isn’t noticeable. Both phones can crank their screens’ refresh rates up to 120Hz for smoother scrolling and they both support HDR10 Plus, so you’re not missing out on anything major by opting for the cheaper FE. The Galaxy S22 family has a new feature called Vision Booster, which adjusts the screen to the lighting in your surroundings, but I didn’t notice much of a difference between the two.
Where you will notice a difference, however, is in the phones’ design. The Galaxy S22 is made from metal and glass, giving it a more elegant and expensive feel than the cheaper Galaxy S21 FE. The S22’s metallic edges even remind me a bit of the iPhone 13 Pro. The Galaxy S21 FE’s design looks dull by comparison, but that probably doesn’t matter much if you plan to cover your device with a case. The Galaxy S22 is also slightly lighter than the Galaxy S21 FE at 167 grams compared with the S21 FE’s 177 grams.