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The Galaxy S21 FE finally launched, and there are quite a few phones I want to compare it to. One of the first ones that came to mind is one of Google’s flagships. In this article, we’ll compare the Google Pixel 6 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE. Why, though? Well, both of these are flagship-level phones, in a way, but are not the best the companies have to offer. Another major reason is their price tags, they’re somewhat similar. The Google Pixel 6 starts at $599, while the Galaxy S21 FE starts at $699.
The Google Pixel 6 is considered to be one of the best phones around at the moment, and some would even say it’s a bargain at that price point. Is that really the case, or is it better to spend an extra $100 on the Galaxy S21 FE? That’s something we’ll allow you to decide for yourself, based on the information provided here. That being said, let’s kick off the Google Pixel 6 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE comparison.
Specs
| Google Pixel 6 | Samsung Galaxy S21 FE | |
| Screen size | 6.4-inch fullHD+ AMOLED flat display (90Hz) | 6.4-inch FullHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display (120Hz adaptive refresh rate, LTPS) |
| Screen resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 2400 x 1080 |
| SoC | Google Tensor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 or Samsung Exynos 2100 |
| RAM | 8GB (LPDDR5) | 6GB/8GB (LPDDR5) |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB, non-expandable | 128GB/256GB, non-expandable |
| Rear cameras | 50MP (f/1.9 aperture, 1.2um pixel size, 26mm lens, omnidirectional PDAF, OIS, Laser AF) 12MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1.25um pixel size, 114-degree FoV) |
12MP (f/1.8 aperture, 1.8um pixel size, OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF) 12 MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1.12um pixel size, 123-degree FoV) 8MP (telephoto, f/2.4 aperture, 1.0um pixel size, OIS, PDAF, 3x optical zoom) |
| Front cameras | 8MP (f/2.0 aperture, 24mm lens, 1.12um pixel size) | 32MP (f/2.2 aperture, 0.8um pixel size, 26mm lens) |
| Battery | 4,614mAh, non-removable, 30W wired charging, 21W wireless charging | 4,500mAh, non-removable, 25W wired charging, 15W Qi wireless charging, Wireless PowerShare |
| Dimensions | 158.6 x 74.8 x 8.9mm | 155.7 x 74.5 x 7.9mm |
| Weight | 207 grams | 177 grams |
| Connectivity | 5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C | 5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C |
| Security | In-display fingerprint scanner (optical) | In-display fingerprint scanner (optical) |
| OS | Android 12 | Android 12 One UI 4.0 |
| Price | $599 | $699 |
| Buy | Samsung |
Google Pixel 6 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE: Design
They’re not exactly too similar when it comes to the design. They do offer a similar size, and both have a centered display camera hole, but that’s about it. The Google Pixel 6 is made out of metal and glass, while the Galaxy S21 FE does come with a metal frame, but it has plastic on its back. Both phones are quite slippery, though, so do note that using a case may be the best way to go.
The Google Pixel 6 is more square-ish than the Galaxy S21 FE, and it seemingly has thicker bezels. They’re not exactly thick, but due to the design, they do seem that way in renders. Both phones include flat displays, and have slightly curved backs. Their back sides do look considerably different, though. The Pixel 6 has a huge camera strip, that goes from the left all over to the right side. It also protrudes quite a bit.
The Galaxy S21 FE, on the other hand, includes three vertically-aligned cameras in the top-left corner. Its camera housing does protrude as well, but not nearly as much as the Pixel 6’s. It also looks rather normal, while the Pixel 6’s really does catch people’s attention. That may not be a bad thing for, you though, of course, people seem to love the Pixel 6’s camera design. It also makes sure that the phone doesn’t wobble on the table.
Google Pixel 6 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE: Display
What about their displays? Well, both phones include 6.4-inch OLED panels, but they’re kind of different. The Pixel 6 features a 6.4-inch fullHD+ (2400 x 1080) AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. This display is flat, and it supports HDR10+ content. Google also made sure this panel is well-protected, as the company decided to utilize Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus protection.
The Galaxy S21 FE, on the flip side, features a 6.4-inch fullHD+ (2400 x 1080) Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. This is a 120Hz panel, and it’s flat. This display also supports HDR10+ content, and it has the same protection as the Pixel 6. In other words, Gorilla Glass 6 sits on top of the Galaxy S21 FE’s display. So, as you can see, these panels are different, though both are quite great.
First and foremost, it’s worth noting that you won’t really notice that much of a difference between the 90Hz and 120Hz refresh rate. Both are very smooth, and Google did a great job with optimization. Both panels do offer great viewing angles, and both are well-protected. The colors on the Galaxy S21 FE’s display seem more accurate to us, though Google’s Material You overlay may have something to do with that. Also, the Galaxy S21 FE’s display doesn’t seem hollow when you tap it, unlike the Pixel 6’s. That’s because the Pixel 6’s display isn’t bonded to the mid-frame, and it’s easier to repair because of it. It does seem cheaper due to that fact, though.
Google Pixel 6 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE: Performance
On paper, both of these phones are quite powerful, does that reflect on their performance? Well, yes, it does. Both the Pixel 6 and Galaxy S21 FE offer stellar performance. The Pixel 6 includes Google’s Tensor SoC, the company’s first processor. The Galaxy S21 FE, on the other hand, comes with either the Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2200 SoCs, we’ve used the former. They also have enough RAM, though the Galaxy S21 FE starts at 6GB of RAM, unlike the Pixel 6, which offers 8GB of RAM.
Both phones fly through everyday tasks. You likely won’t see lag anywhere during regular use. Both can skip a beat from time to time, but those occurrences are very rare, and most people won’t even notice them. They’re as smooth as butter when it comes to performance, and that doesn’t end with regular tasks. They can really show their prowess in graphically-intensive tasks as well.
Both phones handle games without a problem, and the same goes for other graphically-intensive tasks. That is not surprising at all considering their internals, of course. We didn’t even notice that either phone got too hot during gaming or anything of the sort. So, when it comes to performance, you can’t go wrong.
Google Pixel 6 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE: Battery
The Google Pixel 6 comes with a 4,614mAh battery, while the Galaxy S21 FE includes a 4,500mAh unit. The Pixel 6 does have a lower refresh rate on its display, though, while displays resolutions and sizes are identical. Is there a significant difference in regards to battery life, though? Well, in our experience, no, not really. Neither of these two phones will win awards for battery life, not to say that it’s bad.
We were even able to cross the 6-hour screen-on-time mark on both phones, though didn’t get much more than that. Your mileage may vary, of course, as your usage will be different, not to mention your location, and so on. There are just so many parameters to consider when it comes to battery life, that it’s impossible to give out a general prediction. Do note that the battery life is not bad, though.
Both phones offer fast charging. The Google Pixel 6 offers 21W wired charging, though it slows down considerably after 50-percent. It will take you quite a bit of time to fully charge this phone. It does offer 21W wireless charging as well, though it can reach such speeds only with Google’s Pixel Stand. Reverse wireless charging is also supported. The Galaxy S21 FE supports 25W wired charging, 15W wireless chagrin, and reverse wireless charging.
Google Pixel 6 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE: Cameras
The Google Pixel 6 has two cameras on the back, while the Galaxy S21 FE includes three. The Pixel 6 lacks the telephoto camera, while both have wide and ultrawide units. Are those cameras any good, though? Well, yes, they are. During daylight, they can produce really sharp and detailed pictures with great colors. Their ultrawide cameras are also great in such conditions.
What about low-light shots? Well, both are good, but the Pixel 6 pulls ahead in such conditions. It allows for more light to enter a shot, and it does a better job of balancing everything. The same goes for its ultrawide camera, actually. The Pixel 6 also handles dynamic range a bit better in daylight shots. The Galaxy S21 FE does have the advantage of a physical telephoto camera, though the Pixel 6’s digital zoom is great, as it’s not your regular crop, Google uses AI for such shots.
The bottom line is, both cameras are great, but the Pixel 6 is a bit more reliable when you consider everything. The video recording is good on both, and both phones offer compelling selfie cameras as well.
Audio
Both devices include a set of stereo speakers. What they do not include is a 3.5mm headphone jack, though that’s not exactly surprising. Those stereo speakers are good on both smartphones. They’re not the best we’ve heard, but they are quite loud, and quite sharp. The vocals are clear, and you will even get some bass in both cases. If you hook up a decent pair of headphones, you’ll get solid audio output in return. Just keep in mind these are smartphones, and manage your expectations.