The smartphone market is overflowing with options, making it tough to choose. Today, we're pitting a budget champion, the Realme 3i, against a flagship contender, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G. Can the Realme 3i hold its own against a phone with premium features and power?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is the clear winner, offering vastly superior performance, a stunning display, and a more versatile camera system. However, the Realme 3i provides incredible value for budget-conscious buyers seeking basic functionality and long battery life.
| 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, 38, 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, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat12 600/50 Mbps | 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 | 2019, July. Released 2019, July | 2022, January 04 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2022, January 07 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 156.1 x 75.6 x 8.3 mm (6.15 x 2.98 x 0.33 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 | 175 g (6.17 oz) | 177 g (6.24 oz) |
| | - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 720 x 1520 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~271 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.2 inches, 95.9 cm2 (~81.3% 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 (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53) | 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 | Mediatek MT6771 Helio P60 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - Version 1Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - Version 2 |
| GPU | Mali-G72 MP3 | Adreno 660 - Version 1Mali-G78 MP14 - Version 2 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, Realme UI | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/1.8, 1/3.1", 1.12µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR | 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 | HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 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 | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | Unspecified |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | 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 | 10W wired | 25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min
15W wireless
Reverse wireless |
| Type | 4230 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Diamond Blue, Diamond Red, Diamond Black | White, Graphite, Lavender, Olive |
| Models | RMX1827 | 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 8000 INR | € 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 3i
- Excellent value for money
- Long battery life
- Reliable for basic tasks
- Lightweight and compact
- Outdated chipset
- Mediocre camera
- Low display quality
- Slow charging
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
- Powerful performance
- Stunning display (120Hz AMOLED)
- Versatile camera system
- Fast charging (wired & wireless)
- 5G connectivity
- Higher price point
- Battery life slightly less than Realme 3i
- Design can feel a bit generic
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G boasts a vibrant AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 792 nits, offering exceptional clarity and smoothness. The Realme 3i's LCD display is adequate for everyday use but lacks the color accuracy and responsiveness of the S21 FE. The S21 FE's infinite contrast ratio is a significant advantage.
Camera Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G's camera system is a major upgrade, offering better image quality, more features (like optical image stabilization), and improved low-light performance. While the Realme 3i's camera is functional, it struggles in challenging conditions and lacks the versatility of the S21 FE.
Performance
The Snapdragon 888 (or Exynos 2100) in the S21 FE 5G delivers significantly faster performance than the Helio P60 in the Realme 3i. Expect smoother multitasking, quicker app loading times, and a much better gaming experience on the S21 FE. The S21 FE's CPU architecture is far more advanced.
Battery Life
Both phones offer impressive battery life. The Realme 3i, with its smaller display and less demanding chipset, can often achieve the advertised 92h endurance rating. The S21 FE 5G also provides excellent battery life, especially considering its more powerful hardware. The S21 FE's 25W wired and 15W wireless charging are also significant advantages over the Realme 3i's 10W wired charging.
Buying Guide
The Realme 3i is ideal for students, first-time smartphone users, or anyone needing a reliable device for calls, texts, and basic apps without breaking the bank. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is perfect for power users, mobile gamers, photography enthusiasts, and those who demand a premium experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Realme 3i still worth buying in 2024?
If your budget is extremely tight and you only need a phone for basic tasks, the Realme 3i can still be a viable option. However, newer budget phones offer significantly better performance and features.
❓ What is the biggest difference between the two phones?
The biggest difference is performance. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G offers a vastly superior processor and overall user experience compared to the Realme 3i.
