BLU Bold N3 vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G: A Detailed Performance and Value Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing raw performance and fast charging, the BLU Bold N3 offers a compelling package. Its Dimensity 7050, coupled with 66W charging, provides a noticeable edge. However, the Galaxy S21 FE 5G’s established brand, potentially brighter display, and more refined software experience make it a strong contender for those valuing polish and ecosystem integration.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | BLU Bold N3 | Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 17, 25, 26, 41, 66, 71 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 77 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 1, 3, 5, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1600/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023, July | 2022, January 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, August | Available. Released 2022, January 07 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, glass back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 164.2 x 74.7 x 8.8 mm (6.46 x 2.94 x 0.35 in) | 155.7 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm (6.13 x 2.93 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 180 g (6.35 oz) | 177 g (6.24 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~90.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 120Hz | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) - Version 1Octa-core (1x2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A55) - Version 2 |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 7050 (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - Version 1Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - Version 2 |
| GPU | Mali-G68 MC4 | Adreno 660 - Version 1Mali-G78 MP14 - Version 2 |
| OS | Android 13 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 76mm (telephoto), 1/4.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3", 1.0µm | - |
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 32-bit/384kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | Unspecified |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| - | Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Samsung DeX (desktop experience support) | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired, 100% in 39 min | 25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4700 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Sage Green | White, Graphite, Lavender, Olive |
| Models | - | SM-G990B, SM-G990B/DS, SM-G990U, SM-G990U1, SM-G990W, SM-G990E, SM-G9900, SM-G990B2, SM-G990U2, SM-G990W2, SM-G990U3 |
| Price | About 250 EUR | € 199.00 / $ 143.95 / £ 154.99 / ₹ 29,990 |
| SAR | - | 0.77 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.95 W/kg (head) 1.48 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 92h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -26.9 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 566529 (v8), 719696 (v9) GeekBench: 3049 (v5.1) GFXBench: 56fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
BLU Bold N3
- Significantly faster 66W charging
- Potentially better thermal efficiency with the 6nm Dimensity 7050
- Likely more affordable price point
- Less established brand reputation
- Unknown display quality and brightness
- Camera specifications are currently unknown
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
- Brighter display (792 nits)
- More refined software experience
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Slower 25W charging
- Potential for thermal throttling with the Exynos variant
- Higher price compared to the BLU Bold N3
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 792 nits, suggesting excellent outdoor visibility, a feature not explicitly specified for the BLU Bold N3. While the S21 FE’s contrast ratio is listed as ‘infinite (nominal)’, the absence of LTPO technology means it lacks the variable refresh rate efficiency found in some higher-end displays. The BLU Bold N3’s display specifications are currently unknown, making a direct comparison difficult, but its price point suggests it may not reach the S21 FE’s brightness levels. The S21 FE’s display is likely to offer a more vibrant and visible experience in direct sunlight.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature ‘Photo / Video’ capabilities, but detailed sensor information is lacking for the BLU Bold N3. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G’s camera system is likely to be more sophisticated, benefiting from Samsung’s image processing expertise. While the S21 FE may include a 2MP macro camera (often of limited utility), its primary sensor and image signal processor (ISP) are expected to deliver superior image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. Without specific details on the BLU Bold N3’s camera hardware, it’s difficult to assess its capabilities beyond basic photography.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The BLU Bold N3 utilizes the Mediatek Dimensity 7050 (6nm), featuring an octa-core configuration with 2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 and 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G comes in two variants: one with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) and another with the Exynos 2100 (5nm). The Snapdragon 888’s Cortex-X1 prime core (2.84 GHz or 2.9 GHz depending on the version) offers a performance advantage over the Dimensity 7050’s A78 cores. However, the Dimensity 7050’s 6nm process *could* offer better efficiency. The Exynos 2100 variant of the S21 FE has historically faced thermal throttling concerns, potentially negating its theoretical performance lead. The S21 FE’s LPDDR5 RAM, while not specified for the BLU Bold N3, is likely faster than the RAM used in the BLU device, further contributing to its responsiveness.
Battery Life
The Galaxy S21 FE 5G has an endurance rating of 92 hours, indicating solid battery life. However, its 25W wired charging (50% in 30 minutes) is significantly slower than the BLU Bold N3’s 66W charging (100% in 39 minutes). This means the BLU Bold N3 can top up much faster, mitigating any potential battery capacity differences. The S21 FE also supports 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, features absent in the BLU Bold N3. The faster charging of the BLU Bold N3 is a significant advantage for users who frequently need to quickly replenish their battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the BLU Bold N3 if you need a phone focused on maximizing performance-per-dollar, especially if fast charging is a priority and you're comfortable with a less established brand. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G if you prefer a more polished software experience, a potentially brighter display for outdoor visibility, and the benefits of Samsung’s ecosystem, even if it means paying a premium and accepting slower charging.