Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs. Galaxy M42 5G: Which Samsung 5G Phone Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 888 (or Exynos 2100) chipset provides significantly faster performance, a brighter and more refined display, and faster charging. While the M42 5G offers respectable battery life, the S21 FE’s overall experience justifies the price difference.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy M42 5G | 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, 12, 17, 20, 28, 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, 7, 8, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 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 | 2021, April 28 | 2022, January 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, May 01 | Available. Released 2022, January 07 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 164.4 x 75.9 x 8.6 mm (6.47 x 2.99 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 | 190 g (6.70 oz) | 177 g (6.24 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~266 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) | 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 SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - Version 1Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - Version 2 |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 660 - Version 1Mali-G78 MP14 - Version 2 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 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@30fps, 720p@480fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 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 | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | 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 Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Virtual proximity sensing | Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Samsung DeX (desktop experience support) | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 15W wired | 25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Prism Dot Black, Prism Dot Gray | White, Graphite, Lavender, Olive |
| Models | SM-M426B, SM-M426B/DS | 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 220 EUR | € 199.00 / $ 143.95 / £ 154.99 / ₹ 29,990 |
| SAR | 0.69 W/kg (head) | 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) |
Samsung Galaxy M42 5G
- More affordable price point
- Respectable battery life (92h endurance)
- 5G connectivity
- Significantly slower processor
- Slower charging speed (15W)
- Likely lower quality display
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
- Flagship-level performance (Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100)
- Brighter and more refined display
- Faster charging (25W wired, 15W wireless)
- Higher price
- Potential for Exynos variant to exhibit thermal throttling
- Battery life is comparable, not superior
Display Comparison
The S21 FE boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 792 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the M42 5G. While both offer a 'nominal' infinite contrast ratio typical of OLED panels, the S21 FE’s higher peak brightness translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. The S21 FE’s panel likely benefits from Samsung’s more advanced display technology, potentially including features like adaptive refresh rates (not specified in the data, but standard for the S21 FE) for smoother scrolling and animations. The M42 5G’s display, while adequate, is likely a more cost-optimized solution.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but the specifics are lacking. However, given the S21 FE’s flagship positioning, it’s reasonable to assume a more sophisticated camera system with larger sensors and more advanced image processing. The S21 FE likely benefits from features like optical image stabilization (OIS) on the main sensor, which is crucial for sharp photos and stable videos. The M42 5G likely relies on software-based stabilization. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on the M42 5G is a common cost-cutting measure, and its utility is limited compared to a dedicated, higher-resolution camera.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The S21 FE utilizes either the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5nm) or the Exynos 2100 (5nm), both built on a more advanced 5nm process compared to the M42 5G’s Snapdragon 750G (8nm). This translates to a substantial performance advantage for the S21 FE, particularly in CPU-intensive tasks. The S21 FE’s CPU configuration, featuring a Cortex-X1 prime core, offers significantly higher peak performance than the M42 5G’s Kryo 570 cores. The 5nm process also contributes to better thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads. The M42 5G’s Snapdragon 750G is a capable mid-range chip, but it cannot compete with the flagship-level power of the S21 FE.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 92 hours, suggesting comparable overall battery life. However, the S21 FE compensates for potentially higher power consumption from its more powerful chipset with faster charging capabilities. The S21 FE supports 25W wired charging with PD3.0, achieving 50% charge in 30 minutes, alongside 15W wireless and reverse wireless charging. The M42 5G is limited to 15W wired charging, resulting in a significantly slower charging experience. While both have similar endurance, the S21 FE offers greater convenience with its faster charging options.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy M42 5G if you prioritize affordability and 5G connectivity above all else, and your usage primarily revolves around everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and light media consumption. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G if you demand a smoother, more responsive experience for gaming, demanding apps, and photography, and are willing to invest in a more premium device with faster charging and a superior display.