Samsung Galaxy S21 FE vs. Galaxy S22: Biggest differences we expect

Samsung Galaxy S21 Atomic number 26 vs. Galaxy S22: Biggest differences we look

(Image credit: Tom's Guide, Allow'due south Become Digital)

Picking from among the best Samsung phones figures to be a lot more than complicated next month when we're faced with a Samsung Milky way S21 FE vs. Galaxy S22 conclusion. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Fe has already arrived this year, giving shoppers a low-toll version of Samsung'due south current flagship. But that current flagship is about to get replaced.

Waiting in the wings is the Samsung Galaxy S22, an upgrade to the Milky way S21 released last year. Samsung is holding a Milky way Unpacked effect on February 9, and all signs betoken to a trio of S22 phones debuting with improvements and enhancements to the models that are already on our all-time phones list.

Samsung fans will probably want to await until the Galaxy S22 models appear before deciding whether to take hold of one of the new flagships or salve some money with the Milky way S21 FE. Merely since we've heard so many rumors about Samsung'due south S22 plans, it'due south possible to do a preliminary Samsung Galaxy S21 Atomic number 26 vs. Galaxy S22 comparing now. That manner, yous tin become a meliorate thought of which device is better suited for your needs.

Because shoppers considering the lower-cost Galaxy S21 Atomic number 26 are unlikely to spring for the more than expensive Galaxy S22 Plus and Galaxy S22 Ultra models, we'll confine our comparison to the entry-level Milky way S22 and its rumored features.

Samsung Milky way S21 Iron vs. Galaxy S22: Specs

	Galaxy S21 Iron	Milky way S22 (rumored)
Price	$699	$799 - $899
Screen size	six.4 inches	6.1 inches
Refresh rate	120Hz, manually adapted	120Hz, adaptive
CPU	Snapdragon 888	Snapdragon eight Gen 1/Exynos 2200
RAM	6GB, 8GB	8GB
Storage	128GB, 256GB	128GB, 256GB
Rear cameras	12MP main; 12MP ultrawide; 8MP telephoto	50MP principal; 12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto
Front camera	32MP	10MP
Battery size	4,500 mAh	3,800 mAh
Colors	Black, white, lavander, green	Black, green, pink, gold, white

Samsung Galaxy S21 Iron vs. Galaxy S22: Price and availability

After a lengthy delay — nosotros were expecting to meet the Galaxy S21 Atomic number 26 in 2022 — Samsung released the budget edition of the S21 in Jan. The Milky way S21 FE is on auction for $699 — a $100 discount from the regular S21. For context, the Galaxy S20 Iron debuted at $300 less than the Milky way S20, just Samsung charged much more for its flagships back and then.

The smaller cost difference between the Milky way S21 Atomic number 26 and S21 accounts for some of the tepid response to the phone, but the Iron is also hurt by how closely its launch was to the expected release of the Galaxy S22. Samsung is property an Unpacked effect on February 9, at which time we await to see the latest flagships. If Samsung'southward past release schedule is any indicator, that puts the Galaxy S22 on runway to ship before the finish of Feb.

The large question is whether the Milky way S22 adopts the S21's starting price of $799. While some rumors have claimed that there volition be no price changes to this year's entry level flagship, a belatedly-breaking rumor hints that a price hike might exist in the works. Specifically, this rumor suggests Samsung will charge $899 for the Galaxy S22, with the other models also seeing corresponding price hikes. That's bad news for shoppers, only it does brand the $699 Milky way S21 Fe a much attractive proposition.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Fe vs. Galaxy S22: Blueprint and display

The Galaxy S21 FE follows the course prepare by the Galaxy S20 Iron by adopting the blueprint of Galaxy S21, while scaling dorsum a few features hither and in that location. The wait of the device is essentially the same every bit Samsung's master flagship, and with the Milky way S22 expected to change piffling of that design, the new model and the Galaxy S21 could look a lot akin, right down to the profile cutting design in which the rear camera array blends into the side of the phone. (The S22 may apply fancier materials than the primarily plastic S21 Atomic number 26.)

The biggest deviation is the display used by the two phones, and not just because the Milky way S21 Fe's vi.4-inch AMOLED screen is expected to be larger than the 6.1-inch console Samsung reportedly plans to apply for the Milky way S22. Both phones support a 120Hz refresh rate, but the Galaxy S21 Fe's refresh rate must exist adjusted manually. Similar the residue of the Galaxy S21 lineup, the S22 should feature an adaptive brandish that automatically adjusts the refresh charge per unit based on your on-screen activity. That, in turn, should meliorate battery life.

Samsung Galaxy S22 — Galaxy S22 (Paradigm credit: LetsGoDigital)

In terms of colors, you can become the Milky way S21 Fe in blackness, lavender, olive and white. Nosotros've seen renders of the Galaxy S22 in black, white, green and pink, and there's as well rumors of a gilt pick.

Samsung Milky way S21 FE vs. Milky way S22: Cameras

Here's an surface area where you're going to notice a difference between the Milky way S1 FE and the Galaxy S22. Samsung tends to strip back the camera specs on its Atomic number 26 models, and that continued with the Galaxy S21 Iron. The new phone features a 12MP chief camera along with 12MP ultrawide and 8MP telephoto lenses. That telephoto lens is incomparably less powerful than the 64MP counterpart on the Galaxy S21, though the S21 Iron does support a software-powered 30x Infinite Zoom capability.

That said, the Galaxy S21 Iron holds up pretty well when yous compare its camera output to other top phones. Our Samsung Galaxy S21 Atomic number 26 vs. Google Pixel 6 face-off gave the camera edge to Google's phone, for example, simply the gap wasn't that big. And the S21 FE produced better zooms and impressive low-calorie-free photos thank you to an improved night mode.

Galaxy s21 FE vs. Galaxy S22 — Milky way S22 (Epitome credit: Evan Blass)

Still, you'd look a gap between what the Galaxy S21 FE can practise and what Samsung has planned for the Milky way S22. Supposedly, that upcoming flagship is getting a much more powerful main camera with a 50MP sensor. The telephoto lens is also supposed to get an upgrade from a hybrid zoom to an optical ane. And the S22 may exist able to support 8K video capture at 60 frames per 2nd. (The S21 Atomic number 26 tops out at 4K video capture.)

Samsung Milky way S21 Fe vs. Galaxy S22: Performance and software

The Galaxy S21 family is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888 organisation-on-chip, and the Milky way S21 Atomic number 26 to follow arrange. That'southward expert news since Qualcomm's chip powers some of the best-performing Android phones that came out last yr. In our testing, the Galaxy S21 FE produced results that were in line with those devices, though its Geekbench scores were slightly lower than the standard S21. That'south likely due to the fact that the base S21 FE model only features 6GB of memory.

We expect the Galaxy S22 to characteristic a little more horsepower nether the hood with the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, at least for models released in the U.Due south. European customers are supposed to get an Exynos 2200-powered Galaxy S22, according to rumors.. Regardless of which chipset powers the Galaxy S22, you'd expect performance gains over the Galaxy S21 Iron and its Snapdragon 888 silicon, even if the uptick isn't massive.

Because the Galaxy S21 FE debuted in 2022 and non terminal yr, it shipped with Android 12 preinstalled. That's the aforementioned operating system nosotros'd expect for the Milky way S22 besides. That ways the software feel should be the same between the Galaxy S21 FE and Galaxy S22, though shoppers who pay upwardly for the Galaxy S22 Ultra should be able to have advantage of Samsung'south South Pen, which is expected to be included with the high-end model.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE vs. Galaxy S22: Battery life and charging

Battery life could be ane area where the Galaxy S22 really distinguishes itself over the Galaxy S21 Iron, if only because the latter'southward functioning proved so disappointing. Despite a hefty 4,500 mAh battery, the Milky way S21 FE turned in a disappointing upshot on our bombardment test, in which nosotros have phones surf the spider web over cellular until they run out of power.

With the screen set to its 120Hz refresh charge per unit, the Milky way S21 FE couldn't last for 8 hours, which is nearly 2 hours behind the average result for smartphones. Results improved considerably in one case nosotros set the Galaxy S21 FE's refresh charge per unit to 60Hz, with the phone holding out for 9 hours and 15 minutes. With the Galaxy S22 expected to offer an adaptive refresh rate, this disparity might be less of an issue.

Because it'southward supposed to exist a smaller phone, the battery in the Milky way S22 is expected to be smaller than the one the S21 Fe uses. Rumors point to a 3,800 mAh power pack in Samsung's upcoming telephone. The upcoming flagship is also expected to back up 25W wired charging, the same speed the Milky way S21 FE charges at.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Fe vs. Milky way S22: Outlook

The Galaxy S21 Iron debuted to more often than not positive though muted reviews, and a big reason why is because we're waiting to see how Samsung differentiates the upcoming Milky way S22 flagships. A big gap in price volition make the Galaxy S21 Fe more appealing, though Samsung fans could also turn to the S21 FE if the S22's new features don't seem like big leaps frontward.

A lot will depend on the quality of cameras Samsung uses on the Galaxy S22, and whether that device can more finer compete with the best camera phones. Nosotros're also eager to see if the Galaxy S22 delivers better battery life, an area where the Galaxy S21 Fe failed to distinguish itself.

February'south Galaxy S22 release will be the definitive word on our Samsung Milky way S21 Fe vs. Galaxy S22 comparison.

Philip Michaels is a senior editor at Tom's Guide. He has stiff opinions nearly Apple, the Oakland Athletics and old movies. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.