Realme GT Neo2 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G: Which Flagship Killer Wins?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Realme GT Neo2 offers a superior value proposition. Its Snapdragon 870 delivers excellent performance, coupled with blazing-fast 65W charging and impressive endurance. While the S21 FE boasts a brighter screen, the trade-offs in battery life and potential thermal throttling make the GT Neo2 the more consistently reliable choice.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Realme GT Neo2 | Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 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, 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 / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, September 22 | 2022, January 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, September 28 | Available. Released 2022, January 07 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 162.9 x 75.8 x 9 mm (6.41 x 2.98 x 0.35 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 | 199.8 g (7.05 oz) | 177 g (6.24 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~398 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.62 inches, 105.8 cm2 (~85.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585) | 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 SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - Version 1Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - Version 2 |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 660 - Version 1Mali-G78 MP14 - Version 2 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, Realme UI 3.0 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.3, 16mm, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) | 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@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | 32-bit/384kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavIC | 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 Direct | 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 | 65W wired, 100% in 36 min | 25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Neo Black, Neo Blue, Neo Green | White, Graphite, Lavender, Olive |
| Models | RMX3370 | 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 980 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 111h | Endurance rating 92h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -25.1 LUFS (Very good) | -26.9 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 726039 (v9) GeekBench: 3185 (v5.1) GFXBench: 49fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 566529 (v8), 719696 (v9) GeekBench: 3049 (v5.1) GFXBench: 56fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Realme GT Neo2
- Significantly faster 65W charging
- Superior battery endurance (111h)
- More consistent performance due to Snapdragon 870's efficiency
- Lower peak display brightness
- Lacks wireless charging
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Samsung’s One UI software ecosystem
- Shorter battery life (92h)
- Potential for thermal throttling with Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100
- Slower wired charging (25W)
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G takes the lead in display brightness, achieving a measured 792 nits compared to the Realme GT Neo2’s 659 nits. This difference is noticeable in direct sunlight. Both displays share an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, typical of AMOLED panels. However, the S21 FE’s higher peak brightness is a significant advantage for outdoor users. While neither specification details PWM frequency, Samsung historically uses higher frequencies, potentially making the S21 FE a better choice for users sensitive to screen flicker.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature capable camera systems, but detailed sensor information is limited. The focus should be on image processing and lens quality. Samsung’s image processing typically leans towards vibrant, saturated colors, while Realme often aims for a more natural look. Without detailed sensor size comparisons, it’s difficult to declare a clear winner. The presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is crucial for video recording and low-light photography, but not specified for either device in the provided data. The 2MP macro cameras on both phones are largely marketing filler and offer limited practical benefit.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Realme GT Neo2 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G (7nm), while the S21 FE comes in two variants: Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) and Exynos 2100 (5nm). On paper, the Snapdragon 888 and Exynos 2100 offer higher peak performance due to their newer architectures (Cortex-X1 prime core) and smaller process node. However, the Snapdragon 870 is known for its excellent efficiency and sustained performance. The 5nm process of the S21 FE’s chips *should* offer better thermal efficiency, but the Snapdragon 888 is notorious for throttling under prolonged load. The GT Neo2’s 870 is likely to maintain higher clock speeds for longer periods, benefiting gaming and demanding tasks. The S21 FE’s CPU variations introduce inconsistency; the 2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 version offers a slight edge over the 2.84 GHz variant.
Battery Life
The Realme GT Neo2 boasts an endurance rating of 111 hours, significantly exceeding the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE’s 92 hours. This translates to a real-world advantage in battery life. While the S21 FE offers 25W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging, the GT Neo2’s 65W wired charging is substantially faster, achieving a full charge in just 36 minutes. The S21 FE takes 30 minutes to reach 50% charge. The faster charging speed of the GT Neo2 mitigates the impact of its slightly smaller battery capacity, making it the more convenient option for users who frequently need to top up their device.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme GT Neo2 if you prioritize sustained gaming performance, rapid charging, and maximizing value for your money. It’s ideal for power users and mobile gamers who demand responsiveness. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G if you prefer a brighter display for outdoor visibility, a more polished software experience with Samsung’s One UI, and the convenience of wireless charging, even if it means sacrificing some battery life and potentially dealing with thermal throttling under heavy load.