Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs. Meizu X8: A Detailed Comparison of Performance and Value

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G arrived as a 'Fan Edition' aiming to deliver flagship experiences at a more accessible price. However, the Meizu X8, while older, represents a compelling budget option. This comparison dissects the core differences between these two devices, focusing on where the S21 FE’s more powerful hardware translates into tangible benefits for the user, and whether those benefits justify the price premium.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 888 (or Exynos 2100) chipset provides significantly faster performance, a brighter and more vibrant display, and a more versatile camera system. While the Meizu X8 offers excellent value, it can't match the S21 FE's overall capabilities.

PHONES
Phone Names	Meizu X8	Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - China	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China	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 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat15 800/150 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1600/200 Mbps, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
	CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA - China	41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA

Launch
Announced	2018, September. Released 2018, October	2022, January 04
Status	Discontinued	Available. Released 2022, January 07

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	151.2 x 74.6 x 7.8 mm (5.95 x 2.94 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	160 g (5.64 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 2220 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~398 ppi density)	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size	6.2 inches, 97.6 cm2 (~86.5% screen-to-body ratio)	6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+
	-	Always-on display

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz 360 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 360 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 SDM710 Snapdragon 710 (10 nm)	Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - Version 1Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - Version 2
GPU	Adreno 616	Adreno 660 - Version 1Mali-G78 MP14 - Version 2
OS	Android 8.0 (Oreo), Flyme UI	Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM

Main Camera
Dual	12 MP, f/1.9, 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF 5 MP	-
Features	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama	LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single	-	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	1080p@30fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	-	HDR
Single	20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.8", 1.0µm	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	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	No	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
Radio	No	Unspecified
USB	USB Type-C 2.0	USB Type-C, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, 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	-	25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless
Type	Li-Ion 3210 mAh, non-removable	Li-Ion 4500 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, Blue, White	White, Graphite, Lavender, Olive
Models	X8	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	-	0.77 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)

Meizu X8

Excellent value for money
Compact and lightweight design
Sufficient for basic tasks

Outdated chipset
Inferior camera performance
Less vibrant display

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

Powerful Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100 chipset
Bright and vibrant display
Versatile camera system
Fast charging capabilities

Higher price point
Potential for thermal throttling (Exynos version)
Larger size and weight

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 792 nits, compared to the Meizu X8’s unspecified brightness. This makes the S21 FE far more usable outdoors under direct sunlight. While both displays have an 'infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, the S21 FE likely benefits from Samsung’s superior panel technology and color calibration. The S21 FE’s higher resolution (assumed, based on market segment) also contributes to a sharper image. The Meizu X8, being an older device, likely uses a less advanced panel, potentially impacting color accuracy and viewing angles.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature photo and video capabilities, but the S21 FE is expected to deliver significantly better image quality. While specific sensor details for the Meizu X8 are unavailable, the S21 FE benefits from a more advanced image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100. The S21 FE likely features a larger main sensor and optical image stabilization (OIS), resulting in sharper images, better low-light performance, and more stable videos. The Meizu X8’s camera system is likely more basic, potentially lacking features like OIS and advanced computational photography.

Performance

The performance gap is substantial. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, equipped with either the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5nm) or Exynos 2100 (5nm), offers a massive leap in processing power compared to the Meizu X8’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 (10nm). The S21 FE’s CPU configuration – a Cortex-X1 prime core alongside Cortex-A78 and A55 cores – is architecturally superior to the Snapdragon 710’s Kryo 360 cores. The 5nm process node used in the S21 FE’s chipsets also provides better thermal efficiency, reducing throttling during sustained workloads. This translates to smoother gaming, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user experience on the S21 FE.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G has an endurance rating of 92 hours, indicating solid battery life. Its 25W wired charging with PD3.0 support allows for a 50% charge in 30 minutes, and it also offers 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. The Meizu X8’s battery capacity and charging speed are unspecified, but given its lower power chipset, it likely offers comparable battery life. However, the S21 FE’s faster charging capabilities provide a more convenient user experience.

Buying Guide

Buy the Meizu X8 if you prioritize affordability and a compact form factor for basic daily tasks like browsing, social media, and light communication. It’s ideal for users who don’t demand high-end gaming or photography. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G if you need a phone capable of handling demanding games, intensive multitasking, and capturing high-quality photos and videos. It’s the better choice for power users and those who want a more future-proof device.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 2100 version of the S21 FE suffer from overheating during prolonged gaming sessions?

The Exynos 2100 variant of the S21 FE has been reported to experience more thermal throttling than the Snapdragon 888 version during extended gaming. While still capable, users may notice performance dips after prolonged use. Optimizing game settings and ensuring adequate ventilation can help mitigate this issue.

❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on the Meizu X8 actually useful for taking detailed close-up shots?

Generally, 2MP macro cameras on budget phones like the Meizu X8 offer limited detail and image quality. They often struggle in low light and produce soft, noisy images. While they can be fun to experiment with, don't expect professional-level macro photography.

❓ Can the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G reliably run PUBG Mobile at 90fps?

Yes, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, particularly the Snapdragon 888 version, can achieve and maintain 90fps in PUBG Mobile with the graphics settings appropriately adjusted. However, achieving a stable 90fps may require lowering the graphics settings to balanced or smooth.

❓ How does the Snapdragon 710 in the Meizu X8 handle multitasking compared to the S21 FE?

The Snapdragon 710 in the Meizu X8 is capable of handling basic multitasking, but it will struggle with numerous apps running simultaneously or demanding applications. The S21 FE’s Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100 offers significantly better multitasking performance due to its more powerful CPU and larger memory bandwidth.