Is the Samsung Galaxy S21FE (Fan Edition) Better than the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G?

The Galaxy A53 5G and Galaxy S21 FE are excellent choices if you want a great Samsung phone that isn’t as expensive as a flagship smartphone like the Galaxy S22+. However, is the Galaxy S21 FE truly superior to the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G?

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G and Galaxy S21 FE are both undeniably cutting-edge Samsung devices on the outside. The curved sides gradually contribute to the massive camera hump on the back, and the vertical placement of the camera sensors on both devices is very similar.

The Galaxy S21 FE, on the other hand, is designed to be more similar to the Galaxy S21 or S22, bringing it closer to those high-end phones. So, in this article, I will contrast these two affordable phones to determine which is more valuable for your hard-earned money.

An in-depth comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21FE and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

When comparing two phones, the best place to start is with a quick rundown of the specs being displayed side-by-side so that you can get a brief idea of how both phones compare and allow us to have a quick overview of the phones.

Specifications

Display 

Samsung gave the Galaxy A53 5G a slightly larger display than the Galaxy S21 FE, measuring 6.5 inches as opposed to 6.4 inches, although both phones have a 120 Hz refresh rate.

You can anticipate brilliant colours, flawless black levels, and some of the best picture quality you’ll find on any phone because they both feature Samsung’s AMOLED display technology.

The smaller panel doesn’t feel especially cramped, and I’d even say it makes the S21 FE easier to use with one hand than the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G.

The Galaxy S21 FE can support a 120 Hz refresh rate if you set motion smoothness to high in the device’s Settings app. As a result, scrolling will appear smoother on the Galaxy S21 FE’s display, improving the user experience in general.

However, it appears that the only way to switch between 120 Hz and 60 Hz is manual; the other Galaxy S21 smartphones feature adaptable displays that change as needed. Even though it’s a small distinction, it helps to understand why the ordinary S21 costs $100 more than the S21.

My testing shows that the Galaxy S21 FE reproduces 119.8% of the sRGB colour spectrum in natural mode, which is a really impressive showing for a smartphone. Comparatively speaking, the Galaxy S21 has 109.2%. Colours are equally true on the Galaxy S21 FE as they are on the more costly model, as both Samsung phones have Delta-E ratings of 0.29.

With Adaptive Brightness activated, I measured the Galaxy S21 FE’s display to be 700 nits bright. That falls barely short of the Galaxy S21’s maximum brightness of 711 nits. The S21 FE is still bright enough to see outside, even though the 795-nit iPhone 13 is brighter.

The Samsung Galaxy A53, on the other hand, has a super AMOLED display with a full HD resolution of 2400 x 1080p and 405 pixels per inch. It also has a 120 Hz refresh rate panel. The A53 has that bold, bright, and colourful appearance that I know a lot of people like.

In comparison to other devices on the market today, this OLED display does not get as dark with its blacks or as bright for outdoor viewing. I still think it’s very valuable. With a screen this large, 1080p is the only way to go, and with 120 Hz enabled, this phone feels exceptionally responsive and silky smooth with every tap and touch.

On the whole, I think both phones have very similar displays, and it would be very hard for anyone to notice any visible changes.

Camera 

Here’s an example of where the spec sheet falls short. On paper, the Galaxy A53 5G appears to be the superior option. Its 64MP main camera sensor has a higher resolution than the 12MP sensor found on the Galaxy S21 FE, and it has a fourth dedicated macro camera that could be useful for certain types of close-up photos and videos.

However, when it comes to cameras, numbers don’t mean much. While the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G takes some of the best pictures in its price range, the Galaxy S21 FE easily outperforms it in every situation. Part of this can be attributed to the sensors themselves. 

While the camera on the Galaxy S21 FE has a lower resolution, it compensates by having physically larger pixels. This allows more light to enter the sensor (imagine large windows versus small windows in a house), resulting in less noisy, more detailed photos in all lighting conditions.

Additionally, the Galaxy S21 FE features a significantly stronger processor than the Galaxy A53 5G, which is utilized to smooth out the video while it is being recorded and for computational photography. The Galaxy S21 FE can generate photos with a broader dynamic range and is more frequently able to capture moving objects with greater clarity when taking pictures.

Additionally, the Galaxy S21 FE sports a 3X telephoto lens, which aids in maintaining clarity while zooming in. The Galaxy S21 Ultra and Galaxy S22 Ultra are the outliers to this rule, but you’ll find the same amount of zoom detail on all Galaxy S models, which helps the phone stand out whenever you need to digitally enlarge an image.

Processor

This is where the real distinction lies. Though the phone initially cost twice as much, the Galaxy S21 FE currently offers exceptional performance that is almost twice as good as the Galaxy A53. The S21 FE is currently Samsung’s finest value because it costs only $150 more than the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G.

The Galaxy A53 5G uses Samsung’s own Exynos 1280 chip, which was designed with efficiency in mind above all else, whereas the S21 FE has the exact same Snapdragon 888 chipset as the more costly Galaxy S21.

Power users and mobile gamers will notice the biggest difference as a result of the vastly improved performance of the Galaxy S21 FE, which is the faster phone. Additionally, it means that the Galaxy S21 FE will consistently achieve 120 Hz thanks to the additional headroom, in contrast to the Galaxy A53 5G’s lower-powered chipset, which drops to 60 Hz for games with demanding graphics and occasionally exhibits latency. 

But if you prioritise battery life above all else, all that extra hardware might not be the right choice for you. Because it runs slower than the Snapdragon 888, the Exynos 1280 chipset found within the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G uses less energy. Furthermore, the battery of the Galaxy A53 5G is about 10% bigger than that of the Galaxy S21 FE.

Battery Life 

The Galaxy S21 FE has a 4,500 mAh battery inside, which is the same size as the battery in the phone’s predecessor. You may anticipate some improvement in battery life over the Galaxy S20 FE’s middling performance, given the new phone’s somewhat smaller screen and more power-efficient CPU.

However, that is not the case. The Galaxy S21 FE performed admirably in daily use, but towards the end of the day, it needed to be charged. The Galaxy S21 FE struggled in my difficult battery test, where I had a phone continuously browse the internet over 5G until it ran out of power. On my battery test, the phone averaged 7 hours, 46 minutes, or about two hours less than the typical smartphone. 

When the screen’s 120Hz refresh rate was on, I recorded that time. When that feature is disabled, the Galaxy S21 FE lasts 9 hours and 15 minutes, which is a significant improvement. However, it’s terrible that to extend the battery life of the Galaxy S21 FE, you have to turn off a prominent feature.

Samsung has to improve the battery life on its top devices given that the Galaxy S21 has a comparable gap—less than 7 hours with its adaptive mode activated and 9 hours and 53 minutes in 60 Hz mode.

However, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G can easily provide you with up to 18 hours of screen time thanks to its 5000mAh battery, so you won’t need to disable the 120Hz option or employ any other energy-saving measures. 

The Galaxy S21 FE will unquestionably need to be charged at the end of the day to be usable the following day because the A53 will undoubtedly last much longer than the S21 FE. On a really busy day, power users might even need to top it up a little earlier.

Storage 

In terms of storage, both the S21 FE and the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G have 128 and 256 GB of storage space, and they also share similar RAM capacities, including 6GB and 8GB of RAM each, but the A53 also has a 4GB version, which helps keep the price down. 

However, the A53 has a microSD card slot, which allows the phone’s storage to be expanded up to 1 TB. In terms of storage, the A53 definitely has an advantage over the S21 FE.

Design 

On the outside, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G and Galaxy S21 FE are both undeniably cutting-edge Samsung gadgets. The curved sides gradually contribute to the enormous camera hump on the rear, and the vertical placement of the camera sensors is quite similar on both devices. 

The Galaxy S21 FE, on the other hand, adheres more closely to the design of the Galaxy S21 or S22, better putting it in line with those high-end phones. 

The backs of both phones are polycarbonate and have a matte powder finish. Modern polycarbonate smartphones don’t resemble the old, greasy, shiny plastic that so many phone makers, including Samsung, had previously utilized.

The Galaxy A53 5G stays with a shiny trim, while the Galaxy S21 Fe’s sides have a matte finish. As my brother and I both noted when we first saw the phones, we both tend to go toward the matte edges. Our opinions diverge when it comes to the Galaxy A53 5G’s flat sides. 

Personally, I like the Galaxy A53 5G’s stockier, flatter sides better than the Galaxy S21 FE’s somewhat more rounded edges.

Dimensions and Weight 

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE. It weighs 177g and measures 7.9mm thick. The Galaxy A53 5G, on the other hand, is 8.1mm thick and weighs 189g. Notably, the Galaxy S21 FE has a slightly smaller screen size of 6.4 inches, whereas the A53 has a larger screen size of 6.5 inches. The full dimensions are listed in the specifications section at the top of this article.

Colours 

In terms of colours, the S21 FE has more stylish and colourful options than the A53. The S21FE comes in white, graphite, lavender, and olive, while the A53 comes in black, white, blue, and peach. My favourite colours are Phantom Black and Pink Gold because they make the S22 pop.

Pros and Cons of the S21 FE 

Pros:

• The Snapdragon 888 processor is the same as the Galaxy S21.
• A vibrant, colourful display
• Night Mode has been improved.
• Excellent all-around cameras.

Cons: 

• Comes with Android 12
• The telephoto lens with lower resolution than the Galaxy S21
• RAM is less than that of the Galaxy S21.
• The refresh rate of 120 Hz is not adaptive.
• With the Galaxy S22 now available, it’s difficult to recommend.
• The battery life falls short.

The Pros and Cons of the Samsung Galaxy A53?

Pros

• A good display with a refresh rate of 120Hz.
• Up to 1TB of expandable storage
• Excellent design and build quality
• Excellent software assistance.

Cons

• Average performance
• The Macro and depth cameras are useless.

Pricing and Availability 

The price of the Galaxy S20 FE, which debuted at a $300 discount from the Galaxy S20, was a big part of its appeal. However, after lowering prices on the Galaxy S21 lineup last year, Samsung found it more difficult to offer the Galaxy S21 FE at such a significant discount than its main flagships. However, you can find it on places like eBay for about $250 and on Amazon for about $300. 

The Samsung Galaxy A53 is easily accessible in a variety of retail locations and shops. It costs around $349 on Amazon, which, in my opinion, makes it a decent price. 

Additionally, it costs roughly $340 on eBay. Samsung also offers direct sales from its retail locations, where you can get the A53 for around $330. However, you should think about purchasing the A53 from a network provider if you want the best prices.

Summary 

The Galaxy S21 FE is an excellent addition to Samsung’s S21 lineup, retaining the best features of those flagship phones at a lower cost. 

The tradeoffs you must make to save $100 are minor, with the most significant being the lack of an adaptive display, which can reduce battery life.

Otherwise, this is a solid phone, matching the performance of last year’s top Android flagships and delivering photos that compete with some of the best camera phones I’ve tested. 

However, it is coming up against an equally impressive phone in the A53, and there are a few key things you need to consider, and that all depends on you. 

The camera system on the S21 FE is much better than the A53, but not by far. The S21 may have a better processor, but it is highly inefficient and drains the already smaller battery on the S21 FE. 

On the other hand, you would have a much bigger battery and a similarly comparable camera to the S21 FE, but you would miss out on the S21 FE’s impressive chip. 

Comparative Overview 

The S21 FE and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G mobile phones are very similar phones in many ways, but they are also very different in others. They both have similar AMOLED displays. While the S21 FE’s camera system is superior, the A53 can compete with a much improved primary camera over the previous year’s model. Furthermore, while the S21 FE has internal storage models that exceed the A53’s 256GB model, the A53 can accept an additional SD card, which helps bridge the storage gap.

The A53 also outperforms the S21 FE with a 5000 mAh battery, whereas the S22 only has a 4500 mAh battery, which is very disappointing. Finally, aside from the camera system, I believe the only area where the S21 FE outperforms the A53 is in their processors. While the S21 FE boasts the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, which is a very impressive processor, the A53 houses the solid but arguably outclassed Exynos 1280 processor, which is a sufficient processor but does not compete with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chip.

Recommendation 

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G and Galaxy S21 FE both offer the “value phone” proposition, but only one feels like a truly stellar value. While we initially chose the Galaxy A53 because it was half the price of the S21 FE, things have changed.

The Galaxy A53 is priced at $350, while the Galaxy S21 FE is also priced at $300. The Galaxy S21 FE is the phone to get right now if you want a new Samsung phone. 

The S21 FE’s price effectively makes it one of the best values in 2022, and after comparing the two devices, it is an easy recommendation for the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G.

Conclusion 

Both phones offer an excellent experience in their respective markets. Even though the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G does not outperform the Galaxy S21 FE in every way, I believe it is an excellent value in the mid-range market. 

You’ll get a fashionable phone with Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and an IP67 rating. It also has an excellent display, a large 5,000 mAh battery, respectable internals for dependable performance, and a reasonably priced pair of adaptable cameras. 

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G doesn’t have many flaws, but it lacks the dexterity of the Galaxy S21 FE and falls short in a few key areas. They are both excellent phones in the end, but I feel the S21 FE just shades it given its price and superior specs. Once again, I just want to say thank you so much for reading this article. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you have any questions, then please feel free to drop them in the comment section below.

FAQs – Is the Samsung Galaxy S21FE (Fan Edition) Better than the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G?

Q: Is the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G better than the Samsung S21 FE?

A: As you can see, you have a nearly 50% performance advantage in favour of the S21 FE over the A53, and that just means it’s going to be the snappier phone.

Q: What does the “FE” stand for at Samsung?

A: The FE stands for Fan Edition

Q: How long does the S21 FE battery last?

A: The Galaxy S21 FE’s 4,500 mAh battery provided 666 minutes of continuous uptime before giving up the ghost. This is somewhat disappointing, given that the almost identical S20 FE from last year has 100 minutes more run time.

Q: Is the Samsung A53 a worthwhile option?

A: The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is expected to be a mid-range workhorse for many years to come. It’s a fantastic device for people who don’t want to spend a fortune but still need a phone that can do everything because long-lasting software updates, a screen that looks the part, and a battery that can last the distance are all promised.

Q: What makes the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G unique?

A: The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G has a 120Hz refresh rate, 2400 x 1080 resolution, and 800 nits of maximum brightness Infinity-O Super AMOLED display, which Samsung refers to as its punch-hole design panels. It is 6.5 inches in size, the same as the A52 5G. The A53 5G’s 120Hz mode is excellent, just as you would expect.

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