In September 2020, Samsung decided to put another alternative version of the S20 on the market. The Galaxy S20 FE was born there – with the acronym being used as “Fan Edition” [“Edição de Fã”, em tradução direta para o português].
The idea was to offer a device similar to the top of the line today, but at a reduced cost, opting for simpler materials. The finishing colors were chosen based on the preference of the brand’s fans.
During CES 2022, the electronics fair held in early January in the United States, Samsung showed the world the lineup update for 2022: the Galaxy S21 FE. We’ve put the last generation device side by side with the current model so you can choose: which of the two smartphones is more worth it?
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE hit stores in November 2020. The device has a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1080 x 2040 pixels. As an operating system, the device comes with Android 10 from the factory, but there is already an update available for Android 12 – and the updates should probably stop here.
Weighing 190 grams, the device has a plastic finish on the back with aluminum sides. The Galaxy S20 FE arrived in Brazil with the Exynos 990 processor, but later the company chose to market versions with the Snapdragon 865 – and it is important that you keep an eye on this technical specification before buying the product.
With a microSD card slot, the Galaxy S20 FE is available with 6GB and 8GB RAM versions, as well as 128GB and 256GB storage. There are three rear cameras: 12-megapixel wide, 8-megapixel telephoto and 12-megapixel ultrawide. The rated battery capacity is 4,500 mAh.
The device hit stores costing R$ 4,499, but today it can be found for around R$ 2,600. The Galaxy S20 FE is available in five colors: navy (blue), white (white), mint (green), red (red) and lavender (purple).
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE hit stores in January 2022. The device has a 6.4-inch 2x Dynamic AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2040 pixels. As an operating system, the device is the first from Samsung to come from the factory with Android 12 – which guarantees an update at least to Android 13.
Lighter, with 177 grams, the device has a plastic finish on the back with aluminum sides. The Galaxy S20 FE arrives in Brazil with the Exynos 2100 processor, although abroad some countries market a version with Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 – which is not scheduled to be launched here.
With no microSD card slot, the Galaxy S21 FE is available with 6GB and 8GB RAM versions, as well as 128GB and 256GB storage. There are three rear cameras: 12-megapixel wide, 8-megapixel telephoto and 12-megapixel ultrawide. The rated battery capacity is 4,500 mAh.
The device arrived at stores costing R$ 4,499, but it is already possible to find it in promotions with a 10% discount for cash payment or in bundles with the Galaxy Buds 2 as a gift for the same value. The Galaxy S21 FE is available in four colors: white (white), olive (green), graphite (black) and lavender (purple).
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE: which is better?
There are few significant differences between the model launched in late 2020 and the one that hits stores in early 2022.. If you already have a Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, exchanging it for the newest one does not make any sense, since the gains will not be very significant.
Nominal battery capacity, cameras, storage capacity and RAM memory are exactly the same. What changes is the processor – the newer version Exynos 2100 has better performance and is more economical – and the display size – which decreases from 6.5 inches to 6.4 inches.
There are fewer color choices in the 2022 line and in terms of design the differences are subtle. Note, for example, that the three rear camera lenses are “integrated” to the side of the device, while on the S20 FE they were detached in a “separate” set.
For now: go for the Galaxy S20 FE. When the price of the Galaxy S21 FE is closer to R$ 3 thousand, then it becomes a more interesting option.
Finally, there is no way not to mention the price: there was no increase compared to the 2020 launch, but today the difference between them is almost R$ 2 thousand, which is not justified if we put the models side by side. In practice, it’s as if you were paying that extra amount “only” for a newer processor and for the certainty of receiving at least one or two more Android updates in the following years.
Therefore, if you are going to make this purchase today [janeiro de 2022], it is still worth choosing the Galaxy S20 FE, as it has a better cost-benefit ratio. The Galaxy S21 FE is a device with great specs, but for the launch price this is not (yet) a good choice.