Motorola Edge 30 Fusion vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G: The Ultimate Showdown

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and two contenders vying for your attention are the Motorola Edge 30 Fusion and the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G. Both offer compelling features, but cater to slightly different needs. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide which one deserves your money.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Motorola Edge 30 Fusion takes the lead with its significantly faster charging and brighter display, alongside a comparable processor. However, the S21 FE's Samsung ecosystem integration and potentially more refined camera software might sway some buyers. Ultimately, the Edge 30 Fusion offers better value for the price.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola Edge 30 Fusion Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - InternationalHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 66 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International1, 3, 5, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1600/200 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - PRC41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2022, September 082022, January 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, September 08Available. Released 2022, January 07
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame
Dimensions158.5 x 72 x 7.5 mm or 7.7 mm155.7 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 + Nano-SIM
Weight168 g / 175 g (5.93 oz)177 g (6.24 oz)
 Splash and dust resistantIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeP-OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1100 nits (peak)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.99 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 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
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - Version 1Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - Version 2
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 660 - Version 1Mali-G78 MP14 - Version 2
OSAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 14Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.1-
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single-32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm, AF Auxiliary lens12 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
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, AF32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoUnspecified
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 Ready For 3.5 supportBixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Samsung DeX (desktop experience support)
Battery
Charging68W wired, 50% in 10 min25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4400 mAhLi-Ion 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsNeptune Blue, Cosmic Grey, Solar Gold, Aurora White, Viva MagentaWhite, Graphite, Lavender, Olive
ModelsXT2243-1SM-G990B, SM-G990B/DS, SM-G990U, SM-G990U1, SM-G990W, SM-G990E, SM-G9900, SM-G990B2, SM-G990U2, SM-G990W2, SM-G990U3
PriceAbout 150 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 101h Endurance rating 92h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -24.6 LUFS (Very good) -26.9 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 827929 (v9) GeekBench: 3458 (v5.1) GFXBench: 62fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 566529 (v8), 719696 (v9) GeekBench: 3049 (v5.1) GFXBench: 56fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Motorola Edge 30 Fusion

  • Faster 68W Charging
  • Brighter Display (946 nits)
  • Excellent Battery Life (101h Endurance)
  • Competitive Price

  • Camera software may be less refined
  • Less established brand recognition

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

  • Samsung Ecosystem Integration
  • Potentially more refined camera software
  • Brand Recognition
  • Wireless Charging (including reverse wireless)

  • Slower 25W Charging
  • Lower Peak Brightness (792 nits)
  • Slightly lower battery endurance
  • Higher Price

Display Comparison

The Motorola Edge 30 Fusion boasts a peak brightness of 946 nits, significantly outshining the S21 FE's 792 nits. Both offer excellent contrast ratios (nominally infinite), but the Edge 30 Fusion's higher brightness makes it more usable outdoors. Both utilize OLED panels, ensuring vibrant colors and deep blacks.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is subjective. The S21 FE benefits from Samsung's established camera processing algorithms, potentially delivering more consistent results in various conditions. The Edge 30 Fusion's camera is capable, but may lack the same level of refinement. Both offer versatile camera setups, including ultrawide lenses.

Performance

Both phones are powered by the Snapdragon 888+ 5G chipset, offering flagship-level performance. The S21 FE has two CPU versions, one with the Snapdragon 888 and another with the Exynos 2100. While both are capable, the Snapdragon generally offers slightly better efficiency and performance. Day-to-day tasks and gaming are handled smoothly on both devices.

Battery Life

The Motorola Edge 30 Fusion demonstrates a clear advantage in battery life, with an endurance rating of 101 hours compared to the S21 FE's 92 hours. Furthermore, the Edge 30 Fusion's 68W charging is significantly faster than the S21 FE's 25W wired charging, allowing for much quicker top-ups.

Buying Guide

The Motorola Edge 30 Fusion is ideal for users prioritizing fast charging, a vibrant display, and a smooth performance experience at a competitive price. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is a better choice for those deeply invested in the Samsung ecosystem, seeking a more polished camera experience, and appreciating the brand recognition.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better software support?
Samsung typically offers longer software update support than Motorola, making the S21 FE a potentially better long-term investment for software updates.
❓ Is the S21 FE worth the extra cost?
If you're heavily invested in the Samsung ecosystem and prioritize a polished camera experience, the S21 FE might be worth the premium. Otherwise, the Edge 30 Fusion offers excellent value for the price.