ZTE Cymbal 2 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G: A Detailed Showdown

The smartphone market offers a dizzying array of choices, from ultra-budget options to premium flagships. Today, we're putting two very different devices head-to-head: the ZTE Cymbal 2, a contender in the affordable space, and the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, a more established flagship. Let's see how they stack up.

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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is the clear winner, offering significantly superior performance, camera quality, and display technology. However, the ZTE Cymbal 2 provides a compelling option for users on a tight budget who prioritize basic functionality over premium features.

PHONES
Phone Names	ZTE Cymbal 2	Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 1900	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 66	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
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1600/200 Mbps, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
	-	41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA

Launch
Announced	2020, January. Released 2020, January	2022, January 04
Status	Discontinued	Available. Released 2022, January 07

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	109 x 56 x 19.5 mm (4.29 x 2.20 x 0.77 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	135 g (4.76 oz)	177 g (6.24 oz)
	-	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution	240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~143 ppi density)	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size	2.8 inches, 24.3 cm2 (~39.8% screen-to-body ratio)	6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	TFT LCD	Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+
	Cover display: TFT LCD, 1.77 inches	Always-on display

Platform
CPU	Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53	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 QM215 Snapdragon 215 (28 nm)	Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - Version 1Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - Version 2
GPU	Adreno 308	Adreno 660 - Version 1Mali-G78 MP14 - Version 2
OS	Linux 3.18.71	Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8

Memory
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot)	No
Internal	8GB 1GB RAM	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM

Main Camera
Features	-	LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single	2 MP	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	720p@30fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	-	HDR
Single	-	32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm
Video	-	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	4.2, A2DP	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	No	Yes
Positioning	No	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
Radio	No	Unspecified
USB	microUSB 2.0	USB Type-C, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity	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
Type	Li-Ion 1600 mAh, removable	Li-Ion 4500 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black	White, Graphite, Lavender, Olive
Models	-	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 60 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)

ZTE Cymbal 2

Extremely affordable
Long battery life (potentially)
Simple and easy to use

Low performance
Basic camera
Outdated chipset
Low-resolution display

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

Powerful processor
Excellent camera
Vibrant display
5G connectivity
Fast charging

Higher price
Battery life not as exceptional as Cymbal 2 (though still good)
Design can feel a bit dated

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G boasts a significantly brighter and more vibrant display with a high contrast ratio, offering a much better viewing experience. The Cymbal 2 likely has a more basic LCD panel with lower brightness and color accuracy. The S21 FE's display is a clear advantage.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy S21 FE 5G's camera system is far more advanced, offering better image quality, more features, and improved low-light performance. The Cymbal 2's camera is likely a basic unit suitable for casual snapshots, but won't compete with the S21 FE's capabilities.

Performance

The Galaxy S21 FE 5G's Snapdragon 888 (or Exynos 2100) is a powerhouse compared to the Cymbal 2's Snapdragon 215. Expect noticeably faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the S21 FE. The Cymbal 2 will handle basic tasks adequately, but struggles with demanding applications.

Battery Life

While the Cymbal 2 boasts an impressive endurance rating of 92h, this is likely due to its low-powered components. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G also offers excellent battery life, and benefits from faster charging speeds (both wired and wireless).

Buying Guide

The ZTE Cymbal 2 is ideal for first-time smartphone users, seniors, or anyone needing a simple, reliable device for calls, texts, and basic apps. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is perfect for users who demand a fast processor, excellent camera, vibrant display, and 5G connectivity, and are willing to pay a premium.