Samsung Galaxy Quantum 2 vs S21 FE 5G: A Detailed Comparison of Performance and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing overall performance and a more modern feature set, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is the better choice. Its Snapdragon 888 (or Exynos 2100) offers a significant performance leap over the Quantum 2’s Snapdragon 855+, despite similar 25W charging speeds. However, the Quantum 2 remains compelling for security-conscious users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy Quantum 2 | 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, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 78 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 13 | 2022, January 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, April 23 | Available. Released 2022, January 07 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 161.9 x 73.8 x 8.1 mm (6.37 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 |
| Weight | 176 g (6.21 oz) | 177 g (6.24 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~524 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, 1200 nits (peak) | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| 120Hz@FHD / 60Hz@QHD refresh rate | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | 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 SM8150 Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm), QRNG security chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - Version 1Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - Version 2 |
| GPU | Adreno 640 (700 MHz) | Adreno 660 - Version 1Mali-G78 MP14 - Version 2 |
| OS | Android 11, One UI 3.1 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7X", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm 5 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@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 10 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 | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | 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 | 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 Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), 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 | 25W wired | 25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Violet | White, Graphite, Lavender, Olive |
| Models | SM-A826S | 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 520 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 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 Quantum 2
- Integrated QRNG security chipset for enhanced privacy
- Potentially lower price point due to older hardware
- Solid performance for everyday tasks
- Older Snapdragon 855+ chipset is less powerful than the S21 FE’s options
- Limited feature set compared to the S21 FE
- Less detailed display specifications
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
- More powerful Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100 chipset
- Brighter and higher-quality display
- Faster charging and wireless charging options
- Potentially higher price point
- Exynos variant may exhibit thermal throttling under sustained load
- Lacks the Quantum 2’s dedicated QRNG security
Display Comparison
The S21 FE 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 792 nits, compared to the Quantum 2’s unspecified brightness. While both lack LTPO technology for variable refresh rates, the S21 FE’s higher peak brightness translates to better outdoor visibility. The S21 FE also benefits from an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting a superior OLED panel. The Quantum 2’s display specs are less detailed, making a direct comparison challenging, but the S21 FE clearly holds an advantage in display quality.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are lacking for the Quantum 2. The S21 FE’s camera system is expected to be more advanced, benefiting from Samsung’s image processing algorithms and potentially larger sensors. While the presence of a 2MP macro camera on the S21 FE is unlikely to be a significant draw, the overall camera experience will likely be superior due to the more modern ISP within the Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100. The Quantum 2’s camera performance remains largely unknown without further details.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The S21 FE 5G utilizes either the Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) or the Exynos 2100 (5nm), both built on a more advanced 5nm process compared to the Quantum 2’s 7nm Snapdragon 855+. This translates to improved power efficiency and performance. The Snapdragon 888’s Cortex-X1 prime core (2.84/2.9 GHz depending on version) offers a substantial architectural upgrade over the Kryo 485 in the 855+. While the Quantum 2’s CPU clock speeds appear competitive on paper, the newer architecture and process node of the S21 FE’s chipsets deliver a more responsive and capable experience, especially in demanding tasks. Thermal management will likely be better on the S21 FE due to the 5nm process.
Battery Life
Both devices share a 25W wired charging capability, with the S21 FE adding PD3.0 support and achieving 50% charge in 30 minutes. The S21 FE also includes 15W wireless and reverse wireless charging, features absent in the Quantum 2. Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 92 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite potentially different battery capacities. The S21 FE’s faster charging and wireless charging options provide greater convenience.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Quantum 2 if you prioritize on-device security with its QRNG chipset and are comfortable with a slightly older processor. It’s ideal for users who handle sensitive data and want a more private mobile experience. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G if you want a faster, more versatile phone with a brighter display, potentially better camera performance, and access to newer software features, even if it means sacrificing the Quantum 2’s unique security focus.