The HTC Panache, a relic of a bygone era, faces off against the contemporary Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G. This comparison explores how a phone from 2010 stacks up against a modern flagship, highlighting the incredible advancements in mobile technology over the years. Prepare for a surprising look at the evolution of smartphones.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is the clear winner. While the HTC Panache holds nostalgic charm, the S21 FE’s superior performance, camera, display, and battery life make it the practical choice for modern users. It’s a David vs. Goliath battle where Goliath easily prevails.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 1700 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA 14.4/2 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1600/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2011, June. Released 2011, July | 2022, January 04 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2022, January 07 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 122.2 x 62.5 x 11.1 mm (4.81 x 2.46 x 0.44 in) | 155.7 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm (6.13 x 2.93 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 150 g (5.29 oz) | 177 g (6.24 oz) |
| | Optical trackpad | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~246 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 3.8 inches, 41.1 cm2 (~53.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | 1.0 GHz Scorpion | 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 | Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2 | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - Version 1Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - Version 2 |
| GPU | Adreno 205 | Adreno 660 - Version 1Mali-G78 MP14 - Version 2 |
| OS | Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), Sense UI 2 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included | No |
| Internal | 8GB (1.2GB user available), 768MB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 5 MP, AF | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Triple | - | 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 | 720p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | VGA videocall camera | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Video | - | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 32-bit/384kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP, EDR | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | - | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | Unspecified |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | MP4/H.264 player
MP3/WAV/eAAC+ player
Organizer
Document viewer
Voice memo/dial/commands
Predictive text input (Swype) | Bixby natural language commands and dictation
Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)
Samsung DeX (desktop experience support) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min
15W wireless
Reverse wireless |
| Stand-by | Up to 243 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 6 h 40 min | - |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1400 mAh battery | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black | 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 200 EUR | € 199.00 / $ 143.95 / £ 154.99 / ₹ 29,990 |
| SAR | 0.68 W/kg (head) | 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) |
HTC Panache
- Nostalgic appeal
- Simple and easy to use
- Compact size
- Outdated technology
- Poor performance
- Low-resolution display
- Basic camera
- Limited app support
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
- Excellent performance
- High-quality camera
- Vibrant display
- Long battery life
- 5G connectivity
- Modern features
- Can be expensive
- Plastic build (depending on variant)
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G boasts a vibrant, high-resolution display with a peak brightness of 792 nits and an infinite contrast ratio. The HTC Panache, by comparison, has a much smaller, lower-resolution screen with significantly lower brightness and contrast. The difference is night and day.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy S21 FE 5G’s camera system is a significant upgrade. It offers multiple lenses, advanced features, and excellent image quality in various conditions. The HTC Panache’s camera is rudimentary by today's standards, producing low-resolution images with limited features.
Performance
The Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100 in the S21 FE 5G offers vastly superior processing power compared to the HTC Panache's aging Snapdragon S2. Expect smooth multitasking, demanding games, and quick app loading on the S21 FE, while the Panache will struggle with even basic tasks.
Battery Life
The S21 FE 5G’s endurance rating of 92h is exceptional. It provides multiple days of use on a single charge. The HTC Panache’s battery life was decent for its time, but it pales in comparison to the S21 FE’s modern power efficiency.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the HTC Panache? Collectors of vintage tech or those seeking a simple, basic phone for calls and texts. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G? Anyone needing a modern smartphone with a great camera, fast performance, and long battery life – a solid all-around choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the HTC Panache still usable in 2024?
Yes, but its limited functionality and outdated technology make it unsuitable for most modern tasks. It's best suited for collectors or those needing a very basic phone.
❓ What are the key differences between the Snapdragon 888 and Exynos 2100 versions of the S21 FE 5G?
Performance is generally comparable, with the Snapdragon version often exhibiting slightly better efficiency and gaming performance. Regional availability dictates which chipset you'll find.
