The Realme 14 Pro Lite arrives as a compelling budget option powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, though an older flagship, remains a strong contender thanks to recent price drops and its powerful Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100 chipset. This comparison dissects these two phones to determine which delivers the best experience for your money.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G offers a more refined experience with its brighter display and significantly more powerful processor. However, the Realme 14 Pro Lite provides excellent value, particularly for those prioritizing efficiency and a newer device at a lower price point.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41, 77, 78 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, March 05 | 2022, January 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, March 05 | Available. Released 2022, January 07 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 161.3 x 73.9 x 8.2 mm (6.35 x 2.91 x 0.32 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 | 188 g (6.63 oz) | 177 g (6.24 oz) |
| | - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 7i | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~90.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 600 nits (typ), 1200 nits (HBM), 2000 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 14, Realme UI 5.0 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.95", 0.8µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, 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 | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS, OIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.5, 22mm (wide) | 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 | - | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers (Hi-Res audio) | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 32-bit/384kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | Unspecified |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band | 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 | 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 | 45W wired, 50% in 27 min | 25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min
15W wireless
Reverse wireless |
| Type | 5200 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Glass Gold, Glass Purple | 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 | ₹ 18,899 | € 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) |
Realme 14 Pro Lite
- Faster 45W charging
- More efficient Snapdragon 7s Gen 2
- Likely more affordable price
- Less powerful processor
- Limited camera information
- Unknown display quality
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
- Significantly more powerful Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100
- Brighter and higher-quality display
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Slower 25W charging
- Older device with potentially shorter software support
- Potential for overheating with Exynos variant
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 792 nits, compared to the Realme 14 Pro Lite’s unspecified peak brightness. This difference is crucial for outdoor visibility. While the Realme 14 Pro Lite’s panel technology isn’t detailed, the S21 FE’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio suggests a high-quality AMOLED. The S21 FE’s display is likely to offer a more immersive viewing experience, especially for media consumption. The absence of refresh rate information for the Realme 14 Pro Lite is a notable omission, while the S21 FE is expected to have a 120Hz panel.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature capable camera systems, but details are limited. The Realme 14 Pro Lite’s camera specs are not provided beyond 'Photo / Video', making a direct comparison difficult. The Galaxy S21 FE’s camera system, while not detailed in sensor size, is expected to deliver superior image quality due to its flagship-level image signal processor (ISP) and advanced computational photography algorithms. The S21 FE’s inclusion of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is also a significant advantage for capturing sharp photos and stable videos, especially in low-light conditions. The Realme 14 Pro Lite’s camera is likely to be adequate for casual use, but will likely fall short of the S21 FE’s capabilities.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, depending on the region, utilizes either the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5nm) or the Exynos 2100 (5nm). Both are significantly more powerful than the Realme 14 Pro Lite’s Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4nm). The Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100’s Cortex-X1 prime core (2.84/2.9 GHz) provides a substantial performance boost for demanding tasks. While the 4nm process of the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 offers improved efficiency, it cannot match the sheer processing power of the 5nm Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100. Gamers and power users will overwhelmingly benefit from the S21 FE’s superior CPU and GPU.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G has an endurance rating of 92 hours, indicating solid battery life. While the Realme 14 Pro Lite’s battery capacity is unknown, its 45W wired charging (50% in 27 minutes) is faster than the S21 FE’s 25W wired charging (50% in 30 minutes). The S21 FE also supports 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Realme 14 Pro Lite. The faster charging on the Realme 14 Pro Lite could be a significant advantage for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly, but the S21 FE’s overall endurance is likely to be better.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme 14 Pro Lite if you need a modern, efficient phone for everyday tasks and light gaming, and value a newer device with fast charging at a budget-friendly price. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G if you prioritize raw performance for demanding games and applications, a brighter and more vibrant display, and the broader ecosystem of Samsung features, even if it means accepting an older device and potentially shorter software support.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 2100 chip in the Galaxy S21 FE 5G suffer from overheating issues?
The Exynos 2100 variant of the Galaxy S21 FE was known to run hotter than the Snapdragon 888 version, particularly during prolonged gaming sessions. Samsung implemented software optimizations to mitigate this, but it remains a potential concern for users in regions where the Exynos variant is sold. The Snapdragon 888 version generally exhibits better thermal performance.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on the Galaxy S21 FE 5G actually useful?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on smartphones offer limited utility. The low resolution results in images lacking detail. While it can be used for close-up shots, the quality is often subpar compared to using the main camera in a dedicated macro mode (if available) or cropping into a regular photo.
❓ Can the Realme 14 Pro Lite handle demanding games like PUBG Mobile at high frame rates?
While the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 is a capable mid-range chipset, it's unlikely to consistently deliver a smooth experience at maximum settings in demanding games like PUBG Mobile. Expect to need to lower graphics settings to achieve stable frame rates. The S21 FE with its Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100 will provide a significantly better gaming experience.
❓ How long will the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G receive software updates?
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G launched with Android 12 and is expected to receive four years of Android OS updates and five years of security updates from its release date. This means it should continue to receive updates until around 2026, but this is shorter than the potential support lifespan of the newer Realme 14 Pro Lite.
