Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
How long will it last?
Official promiseSupported until January 2027 · Buy-by January 2025
Samsung promises 5 years of updates for this phone, so it's supported until January 2027 — buying it today still gets you about 0.6 years of safe use.
Source: Samsung's official policy · last verified 2026-06-11 · how we compute this
TrueCost
Street price ÷ months of safe use remaining — the number that makes cheap short-lived phones expensive, and well-supported ones cheap.
431% above the under-$300 median ($6.74/mo, dying phones excluded)
Our verdict
A 2022 budget flagship that still delivers a 120Hz screen and triple cameras, best as a cheap used buy with limited support left.
Pros
- 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED display
- Triple rear camera with a 3x telephoto
- Flagship Snapdragon 888 (US) performance for the price
- IP68 rating and 32MP selfie camera
Cons
- Snapdragon 888 (US) is dated and runs warm
- Only one year of security updates remaining
Full specifications
Display
💡 Bigger numbers = smoother scrolling (Hz) and easier outdoor reading (nits).
| Screen | 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, FHD+, 120Hz |
Performance
💡 The phone's brain — it decides speed today and how well it ages.
| Chipset | Snapdragon 888 (US) |
| RAM | 6GB / 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB |
Cameras
💡 Megapixels aren't everything — lens variety matters more day-to-day.
| main | 12MP |
| ultra-wide | 12MP |
| telephoto 3x | 8MP |
| front | 32MP |
Battery & charging
💡 Capacity in mAh — bigger usually means longer between charges.
| Battery | 4,500 mAh |
| Charging | 25W wired, 15W wireless |
Build
💡 Size, weight, and the materials between your phone and the floor.
| Dimensions | 155.7 × 74.5 × 7.9 mm |
| Weight | 177 g |
| Materials | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus (front) |
| Water resistance | IP68 |
Software & connectivity
💡 The software it ships with, and how far it can upgrade.
| Software | Android 12 with One UI 4.0 at launch |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, USB-C |
| Update policy | 4 OS upgrades · 5 years of security updates (official promise) |
Better-value alternatives
Similar price, lower cost per month of safe ownership.
Frequently asked questions
How long will the Galaxy S21 FE get updates?
Four OS upgrades and five years of security patches from launch, ending around January 2027.
Which chip is in the US Galaxy S21 FE?
The US model uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888.
Does the S21 FE have a telephoto camera?
Yes, an 8MP 3x optical telephoto alongside 12MP main and 12MP ultra-wide lenses.
Compare it
Specs are collected from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers and change often. Support end dates follow each brand's official policy (or, for Apple, its documented historical pattern). Last verified 2026-06-11.