Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs. Galaxy A73 5G: A Deep Dive into Samsung's Mid-Range and Flagship Contenders
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing raw performance and a brighter display, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 888 (or Exynos 2100) chipset provides a significant performance leap over the A73's Snapdragon 778G. However, the A73 offers a competitive experience for everyday tasks and boasts a potentially longer software support lifecycle.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G | Samsung Galaxy A73 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, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International | 1, 3, 5, 7, 28, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| 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 | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, January 04 | 2022, March 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, January 07 | Available. Released 2022, April 22 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame | - |
| Dimensions | 155.7 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm (6.13 x 2.93 x 0.31 in) | 163.7 x 76.1 x 7.6 mm (6.44 x 3.00 x 0.30 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 177 g (6.24 oz) | 181 g (6.38 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 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~87.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+ | Super AMOLED Plus, 120Hz, 800 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 (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - Version 1Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - Version 2 | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 - Version 1Mali-G78 MP14 - Version 2 | Adreno 642L |
| OS | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| 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 | - |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | 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@30fps |
| 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 (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | Unspecified | Unspecified |
| 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, proximity, compass |
| Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Samsung DeX (desktop experience support) | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 4500 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | White, Graphite, Lavender, Olive | Gray, Mint, 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-A736B, SM-A736B/DS |
| Price | € 199.00 / $ 143.95 / £ 154.99 / ₹ 29,990 | About 600 EUR |
| SAR | 0.77 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) | 1.14 W/kg (head) |
| SAR EU | 0.95 W/kg (head) 1.48 W/kg (body) | 1.28 W/kg (head) 1.42 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 S21 FE 5G
- Significantly faster processor for gaming and demanding apps
- Brighter display for better outdoor visibility
- Wireless charging and reverse wireless charging capabilities
- Potential for thermal throttling under sustained load
- May be more expensive than the A73 5G
Samsung Galaxy A73 5G
- Potentially longer software support lifecycle
- Modern design and build quality
- Competitive price point
- Noticeably slower processor compared to the S21 FE
- Lacks wireless charging
Display Comparison
The S21 FE 5G boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 792 nits, compared to the A73 5G (brightness data unavailable, but expected to be lower). While both likely utilize AMOLED panels, the S21 FE’s higher peak brightness translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. The 'Infinite' contrast ratio, common to Samsung AMOLEDs, is present on the S21 FE, suggesting deep blacks and vibrant colors. The A73’s display, while likely good, is expected to be less impactful in bright environments.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature capable camera systems, but the S21 FE 5G likely holds an edge due to its flagship heritage. While specific sensor details are missing, the S21 FE’s image processing benefits from the more powerful ISP within the Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100. The A73 5G’s camera is expected to be competent for everyday photography, but may struggle in low-light conditions compared to the S21 FE. The presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is assumed on both, but the S21 FE’s implementation is likely more refined. We'll disregard the likely inclusion of a 2MP macro lens on the A73, as these sensors rarely deliver significant image quality improvements.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The S21 FE 5G utilizes either the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) or the Exynos 2100 (5nm), both built on a 5nm process. This contrasts with the A73 5G’s Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm). The Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100’s octa-core configuration, featuring a Cortex-X1 prime core clocked up to 2.9GHz, delivers substantially higher CPU and GPU performance. The A73’s Cortex-A78 prime core at 2.4GHz is capable, but cannot match the flagship-level processing power. The 5nm process of the S21 FE’s chips also contributes to better thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads.
Battery Life
The S21 FE 5G achieves an endurance rating of 92 hours, indicating solid battery life. Both phones support 25W wired charging, with the S21 FE offering 50% charge in 30 minutes. The A73 lacks wireless charging, a feature present on the S21 FE (15W wireless and reverse wireless). While the A73 may have a slightly larger battery capacity (data unavailable), the S21 FE’s more efficient chipset and optimized software could offset this difference, resulting in comparable real-world battery performance.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G if you need a phone capable of handling demanding games, intensive multitasking, and benefit from a significantly brighter display for outdoor visibility. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A73 5G if you prefer a more balanced device with a focus on battery life, a modern design, and a potentially lower price point, prioritizing everyday usability over peak performance.