Moto G100 vs. Galaxy S21 FE 5G: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range and Flagship Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a refined experience and a better camera, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 888 (or Exynos 2100) provides a noticeable performance edge, and the brighter display enhances content consumption. However, the Moto G100 excels in battery endurance and offers compelling value for budget-conscious users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Motorola Moto G100 | 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 | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 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 | 2025, October 14 | 2022, January 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, October 20 | Available. Released 2022, January 07 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, silicone polymer (eco leather) back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 166.2 x 76.5 x 8.6 mm (6.54 x 3.01 x 0.34 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 | 210 g (7.41 oz) | 177 g (6.24 oz) |
| Water repellent design | 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 (~392 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.72 inches, 109.0 cm2 (~85.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz, 1050 nits (peak) | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.40 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.95 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 | Qualcomm SM7435-AB Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - Version 1Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - Version 2 |
| GPU | Adreno 710 | Adreno 660 - Version 1Mali-G78 MP14 - Version 2 |
| OS | Android 15 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.9 (wide), 1/1.95", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | - |
| 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 | 64 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, Laser AF 16 MP, f/2.2, 117˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm, PDAF 2 MP, f/2.4, (depth) TOF 3D | 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/2.2, (wide), 1.0µm 8 MP, f/2.4, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm | - |
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 0.7µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps | 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, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | Unspecified |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Ready For support | Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Samsung DeX (desktop experience support) | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 30W wired | 25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Si/C Li-Ion 7000 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Green | White, Graphite, Lavender, Olive |
| Models | XT2533-4 | 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 170 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 100h | Endurance rating 92h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1427:1 (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -29.4 LUFS (Average) | -26.9 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 556137 (v8) GeekBench: 2860 (v5.1) GFXBench: 47fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 566529 (v8), 719696 (v9) GeekBench: 3049 (v5.1) GFXBench: 56fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Motorola Moto G100
- Exceptional battery life (100h endurance)
- More affordable price point
- Efficient 4nm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset
- Less powerful processor compared to the S21 FE
- Likely inferior camera performance
- Missing wireless charging
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
- Flagship-level performance with Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Faster charging and wireless charging capabilities
- Shorter battery life (92h endurance)
- Higher price tag
- Potential for thermal throttling (Exynos variant)
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 792 nits, compared to the Motorola Moto G100’s nominal 1427:1 contrast ratio. While the G100’s contrast ratio suggests deep blacks, the S21 FE’s higher peak brightness translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. Samsung’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a superior OLED panel, likely with better black levels. The S21 FE’s display is likely to offer a more immersive viewing experience, particularly for HDR content, though the G100’s size isn’t specified, potentially offering a larger viewing area.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature photo and video capabilities, 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 are missing. The G100’s camera system is likely more focused on affordability, potentially sacrificing low-light performance and dynamic range. Without specific sensor information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment, but Samsung’s history suggests a more refined camera experience. The inclusion of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on the S21 FE is highly probable, further enhancing image quality.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G utilizes either the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) or the Exynos 2100 (5nm), both built on a smaller 5nm process compared to the Moto G100’s Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4nm). While the 4nm process of the 7s Gen 2 is more efficient, the Snapdragon 888’s Cortex-X1 prime core (2.84/2.9 GHz) and more powerful GPU deliver substantially higher peak performance. The G100’s Cortex-A78 cores (2.40 GHz) are capable, but the S21 FE’s architecture provides a clear advantage in demanding applications and gaming. The Exynos variant of the S21 FE may exhibit more thermal throttling under sustained load, but both versions outperform the G100’s chipset.
Battery Life
The Motorola Moto G100 claims an impressive endurance rating of 100 hours, significantly exceeding the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G’s 92 hours. However, this doesn’t tell the whole story. The S21 FE offers faster charging at 25W with PD3.0 (50% in 30 minutes) and includes 15W wireless and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the G100’s 30W wired charging. The G100’s larger endurance rating likely stems from a combination of a larger battery capacity (unspecified) and the more efficient 4nm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset. While the S21 FE charges faster, the G100 will likely last longer between charges.
Buying Guide
Buy the Motorola Moto G100 if you need maximum battery life and prioritize value for money, and are willing to compromise on camera quality and peak performance. It's ideal for users who heavily rely on their phone throughout the day and engage in less demanding tasks. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G if you prefer a more polished user experience, a brighter and more vibrant display, and a capable camera system, and are willing to pay a premium for flagship-level performance and features.