vivo X60 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G: A Deep Dive into Performance and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G emerges as the stronger choice. While the vivo X60 offers a smooth experience, the S21 FE’s brighter display, more versatile camera system, and wireless charging capabilities justify its slightly higher price, especially considering the potential performance benefits of the Snapdragon 888 variant.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | vivo X60 | 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, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41 - International | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 7, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA - International | 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, March 22 | 2022, January 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, April 02 | Available. Released 2022, January 07 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Schott Xensation Up), glass back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 159.6 x 75 x 7.4 mm (6.28 x 2.95 x 0.29 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 | 176 g (6.21 oz) | 177 g (6.24 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Schott Xensation Up | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2376 pixels (~398 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.56 inches, 104.6 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ | 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, Funtouch 11.1 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Zeiss optics, color spectrum sensor, Pixel Shift, LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.5, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide) | - |
| Single | - | 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@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 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 |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 32-bit/384kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavIC | 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, optical), accelerometer, gyro, 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 | 33W wired | 25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | 4300 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Midnight Black, Shimmer Blue | White, Graphite, Lavender, Olive |
| Models | V2045 | 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 550 EUR | € 199.00 / $ 143.95 / £ 154.99 / ₹ 29,990 |
| SAR | 0.35 W/kg (head) 0.63 W/kg (body) | 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) |
vivo X60
- Efficient Snapdragon 870 processor
- Smooth and responsive user experience
- Potentially better sustained performance due to thermal efficiency
- Slower 33W charging
- Lacks wireless charging
- Less detailed camera specifications
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- More powerful Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100 chipset
- Versatile camera system with advanced features
- Potential for thermal throttling (Snapdragon 888)
- Exynos variant may offer slightly lower performance
- Slightly higher price
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 792 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the vivo X60. This makes the S21 FE far more usable in direct sunlight. While both likely employ high refresh rate panels (implied for the S21 FE based on its market positioning), the S21 FE’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio suggests a superior OLED panel. The X60’s display quality is likely very good, but the S21 FE offers a more visually impactful experience.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature capable camera systems, but the S21 FE appears to offer greater versatility. While both are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, the S21 FE benefits from Samsung’s extensive image processing expertise. The X60’s camera specs are not detailed enough to make a direct comparison, but the S21 FE’s likely includes features like Single Take and Director’s View. The S21 FE’s larger sensor (implied by its flagship status) will likely capture more light and detail, especially in low-light conditions. The X60 may excel in specific scenarios, but the S21 FE offers a more well-rounded camera experience.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The vivo X60’s Snapdragon 870 5G (7nm) is a highly efficient processor, offering excellent performance for everyday tasks and gaming. However, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, depending on the region, comes with either the Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) or the Exynos 2100 (5nm). Both of these chips are more powerful than the 870, particularly in GPU-intensive tasks. The 5nm process node used in the S21 FE’s chipsets offers improved thermal efficiency, though the Snapdragon 888 is known to throttle under sustained load. The X60’s 870 will likely maintain consistent performance for longer periods. The S21 FE’s CPU configuration, with the Cortex-X1 prime core, provides a performance edge in single-threaded applications.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 92 hours, suggesting comparable battery life despite the vivo X60’s slower 33W charging versus the S21 FE’s 25W wired (with PD3.0 and 50% charge in 30 minutes), 15W wireless, and reverse wireless charging. The S21 FE’s faster charging, combined with wireless charging options, provides greater convenience. The X60’s lower charging wattage means a longer time to fully charge, but the efficient Snapdragon 870 may offset this with better overall power consumption.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo X60 if you prioritize a consistently smooth experience and efficient power management, and are less concerned with advanced camera features or wireless convenience. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G if you value a brighter, more vibrant display, a more comprehensive camera system with video capabilities, and the added convenience of wireless charging and reverse wireless power share, even if it means potentially dealing with some thermal throttling depending on the chipset version.