Samsung Galaxy S21 FE vs A54: Which Samsung Phone Wins?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing raw performance and occasional gaming, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is the better choice, especially if you can find a good deal. However, the Galaxy A54 excels in battery endurance and offers a more consistent, all-day experience, making it ideal for everyday users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G | Samsung Galaxy A54 |
| 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, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International | 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 | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1600/200 Mbps, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, January 04 | 2023, March 15 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, January 07 | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 155.7 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm (6.13 x 2.93 x 0.31 in) | 158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 177 g (6.24 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+ | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Always-on display | - | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 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 | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - Version 1Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - Version 2 | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 - Version 1Mali-G78 MP14 - Version 2 | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| OS | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 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 | 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.X", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| 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 | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | No |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, 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, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Samsung DeX (desktop experience support) | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 4500 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | White, Graphite, Lavender, Olive | Lime, Graphite, Violet, White |
| Models | SM-G990B, SM-G990B/DS, SM-G990U, SM-G990U1, SM-G990W, SM-G990E, SM-G9900, SM-G990B2, SM-G990U2, SM-G990W2, SM-G990U3 | SM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W |
| Price | € 199.00 / $ 143.95 / £ 154.99 / ₹ 29,990 | € 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999 |
| SAR | 0.77 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) | 0.81 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.95 W/kg (head) 1.48 W/kg (body) | 0.69 W/kg (head) 1.34 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 92h | Endurance rating 119h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -26.9 LUFS (Good) | -26.6 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 566529 (v8), 719696 (v9) GeekBench: 3049 (v5.1) GFXBench: 56fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 506678 (v9) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
- Significantly faster processor for gaming and demanding apps
- Brighter display (potentially more accurate colors)
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Inferior battery life compared to the A54
- Potential for thermal throttling under heavy load
- Older model, potentially fewer software updates
Samsung Galaxy A54
- Exceptional battery life for all-day use
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- More modern software update commitment
- Less powerful processor for demanding tasks
- No wireless charging
- Potentially less refined image processing
Display Comparison
Both phones feature 'Infinite' contrast ratio displays, but the A54 boasts a significantly higher peak brightness of 980 nits compared to the S21 FE’s 792 nits. This translates to better outdoor visibility for the A54. While both are excellent, the A54’s brighter panel provides a more comfortable viewing experience in direct sunlight. Neither display specification details refresh rate, but both are expected to be 120Hz, a common feature in this price bracket. The S21 FE’s display, while dimmer, may offer slightly more accurate color reproduction, a common trait of flagship-level panels.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer versatile camera systems, but the S21 FE likely holds an edge in image processing capabilities due to its flagship heritage. While both are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, specific sensor details are missing. The S21 FE’s image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100 is more advanced, potentially resulting in better dynamic range and low-light performance. The A54’s camera system is optimized for everyday photography, prioritizing ease of use and consistent results. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on both devices is largely a marketing feature with limited practical benefit.
Performance
The S21 FE’s chipset – either the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G or Exynos 2100 – represents a substantial performance leap over the A54’s Exynos 1380. The Snapdragon 888 (and even the Exynos 2100) utilizes a Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.84/2.9 GHz, compared to the A54’s Cortex-A78 cores at 2.4 GHz. This difference is particularly noticeable in demanding tasks like video editing and graphically intensive games. The S21 FE’s LPDDR5 RAM (spec not explicitly stated, but standard for the chipset) also contributes to faster app loading and multitasking. However, the Exynos 1380 in the A54 is more power-efficient, contributing to its superior battery life. The S21 FE’s performance can also be impacted by thermal throttling, especially in the Snapdragon 888 version.
Battery Life
The Galaxy A54 decisively wins in battery endurance. Its endurance rating of 119 hours significantly surpasses the S21 FE’s 92 hours. This translates to a real-world active use score of 11:15h for the A54. While both support 25W wired charging, the A54’s more efficient chipset and larger battery capacity (implied, though not stated) mean it will likely spend less time plugged in. The S21 FE offers 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the A54, providing added convenience for compatible users.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G if you need a more powerful processor for demanding apps, enjoy mobile gaming, and appreciate a brighter display. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A54 if you prioritize exceptional battery life, a consistently smooth experience for everyday tasks, and a more modern software update commitment.