LG Velvet vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G: A Detailed Comparison for 2024
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 888 (or Exynos 2100) offers significantly faster performance than the LG Velvet’s Snapdragon 845, and its brighter display and faster charging provide a more modern user experience. However, the Velvet’s unique design and lower price may appeal to budget-conscious buyers.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | LG Velvet | Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40 | 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, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1600/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, July 28. Released 2020, July 31 | 2022, January 04 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2022, January 07 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 167.1 x 74.1 x 7.9 mm (6.58 x 2.92 x 0.31 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) MIL-STD-810G compliant* *does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~88.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | P-OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) | 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 SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - Version 1Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - Version 2 |
| GPU | Adreno 630 | Adreno 660 - Version 1Mali-G78 MP14 - Version 2 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 15mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm Auxiliary lens | 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@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/1.9, 29mm (standard), 1/3.06, 1.0µm | 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 | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 32-bit/384kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | Unspecified |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | USB Type-C, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 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, barometer | 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 | 15W wired, QC3 9W wireless | 25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4300 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Aurora Silver | White, Graphite, Lavender, Olive |
| Models | LMG910EMW, LM-G910EMW | 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 360 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) |
LG Velvet
- Unique and stylish design
- More affordable price point
- Potentially more comfortable in hand due to smaller size
- Significantly slower processor
- Slower charging speeds
- Less vibrant display
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
- Much faster performance with Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Faster charging and wireless charging capabilities
- Higher price
- Potential for thermal throttling (Exynos variant)
- Larger size may not suit all users
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 792 nits, compared to the LG Velvet’s unspecified peak brightness. This translates to better visibility outdoors. While both offer an 'infinite' contrast ratio (typical for OLED panels), the S21 FE’s higher brightness and potentially more refined color calibration provide a superior viewing experience. The S21 FE’s display technology is also likely to benefit from more advanced color management algorithms, though specifics aren’t provided. The Velvet’s display, while still OLED, is likely to be less vibrant and harder to see in direct sunlight.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer capable camera systems, but details are limited. The S21 FE likely benefits from Samsung’s advanced image processing algorithms and potentially larger sensor sizes, though specific sensor details aren’t provided. The S21 FE’s video capabilities are also likely superior, benefiting from the more powerful ISP within the Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100. The LG Velvet’s camera, while decent, is likely to struggle in low-light conditions compared to the S21 FE. The presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on the S21 FE is highly probable, further enhancing image and video quality. We’d caution against placing too much stock in any 2MP macro lens either phone might have; their utility is limited.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The LG Velvet’s Snapdragon 845 (10nm) is a capable chip, but the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G’s Snapdragon 888 (5nm) – or Exynos 2100 in some regions – represents a substantial leap in performance. The 5nm process node allows for greater transistor density and improved thermal efficiency. The S21 FE’s CPU, featuring a Cortex-X1 prime core, offers significantly faster single-core performance, crucial for responsive app launches and smooth scrolling. The Snapdragon 888’s Adreno 660 GPU also provides a considerable advantage in graphics-intensive tasks like gaming. The Velvet’s Kryo 385 cores, while efficient, simply can’t compete with the newer architecture. The Exynos 2100 variant of the S21 FE may exhibit some thermal throttling under sustained load, but even throttled, it will likely outperform the Velvet’s Snapdragon 845.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 92 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite the Velvet’s older chipset. However, the S21 FE’s 25W wired charging with PD3.0 support (50% in 30 minutes) is a significant advantage over the Velvet’s slower 15W QC3 charging. The S21 FE also offers 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Velvet. While the Velvet’s battery efficiency might be comparable, the S21 FE’s faster charging speeds minimize downtime and offer greater convenience.
Buying Guide
Buy the LG Velvet if you prioritize a unique aesthetic, a more manageable size, and are willing to compromise on raw performance and modern features to save money. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G if you demand faster processing speeds for gaming and multitasking, a brighter and more vibrant display, and faster charging capabilities, even if it means spending a bit more.