Stylish smartphone "Galaxy S21 FE 5G" with both specifications and design released overseas

Samsung's new smartphone "Galaxy S21 FE 5G"

Samsung announced the new smartphone "Galaxy S21 FE 5G" in January 2022. An exhibition was immediately held at the Samsung booth at CES 2022 held in Las Vegas, and I quickly checked the actual machine. [Photo] The Galaxy S21 FE 5G, which can be used not only for selfies, but also for heavy usage such as games and video editing, is available in four colors: olive, lavender, white, and graphite (black). White and graphite are common colors, but lavender is a new coloring that appeared in the "Galaxy S21 series" announced a year ago, and features an elegant color that has not been seen in smartphones until then. Galaxy S21 FE 5G adds more olives. The coloring that looks like a chic color and gives an image of nature is also an elegant impression. The display is 6.4 inches, which is between the 6.7 inches of last year's Galaxy S21+ 5G and the 6.2 inches of the Galaxy S21 5G. The chipset is equipped with a high-spec Snapdragon 888, which is similar to the Galaxy S21 series. The product name "FE" stands for "Fun Edition", but the Galaxy S21 FE is a high-spec smartphone that offers a display size that is "not too big and not too small". The front camera has 32 million pixels, which is close to the 40 million pixels of last year's top model "Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G". The Galaxy S21 FE is a model with an enhanced design, but it is also conscious of female users and is trying to compete with the upper and middle models of Chinese manufacturers as a smartphone that can take beautiful selfies. Of course, the communication method is compatible with 5G. When I actually took a selfie, I was able to take a beautiful selfie even in a dark place in the exhibition hall. Nowadays, people often stay indoors instead of going outdoors, so the improvement in the image quality of the front camera is a welcome evolution. In addition, since it is equipped with Snapdragon 888, it moves smoothly even in heavy games. The product name gives the impression that it is a model that is one rank lower than the flagship, but I have no complaints about the operation. It boasts a performance that can handle video editing well. The finish on the back is matte with less luster, but the colors of lavender and olive give a bright impression. There are no specification numbers written around the camera, and it is a design that is embedded smoothly with the back without any steps. This camera design is used not only in the Galaxy S21 series, but also in the Galaxy A series and others. It's not flashy, but in the midst of many smartphones with eye-catching designs around the camera, it seems like they're going in the opposite direction of fashion. Well, the main body is made by integrating the metal frame on the side with the back side. The basic model of the Galaxy S21 series, the Galaxy S21 5G, had a resin finish on the back, but the Galaxy S21 FE 5G is the same as the top model. Yet the US price is $699.99. The Galaxy S21 costs $799.99 and the Galaxy S21+ costs $999.99, so even considering the camera performance, the Galaxy S21 FE 5G's high cost performance shines. The main camera is 12 million pixels, the ultra-wide angle is 12 million pixels, and the 3x portrait telephoto is 8 million pixels. In fact, the Galaxy S21+ and Galaxy S21 have a 3x telephoto of 64 million pixels, which is a big difference in terms of specifications. However, the Galaxy S21 FE 5G has improved the performance of the front camera, and it can be said that this camera performance is sufficient for taking photos that are uploaded daily to modern SNS. This is not the first Samsung model to use the FE name, with the Galaxy S20 FE being released in January last year. In Japan, large new smartphone products are usually introduced in spring and autumn, so there is no introduction of the FE series. In particular, the next flagship model "Galaxy S22" series will be announced in February this year. In Japan, Samsung's smartphone models are limited compared to overseas, and we can't expect the release of this Galaxy S21 FE 5G. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G is a high-spec product that can be said to be a Japanese favorite, and it also puts a lot of effort into its design. The Galaxy series in Japan is basically sold by carriers, but it might be interesting to introduce this Galaxy S21 FE 5G, which can be said to be a unique model, by Samsung itself SIM-free.

Yasuhiro Yamane + Ayano Tominaga