Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G Camera Test | Samples &Performance
I've been shooting with the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G for three months straight. Coffee shops. Street photography. Family gatherings. Late-night cityscapes. The kind of real-world testing that matters way more than controlled lab environments or carefully staged press photos.
Here's what I actually found – the good, the frustrating, and everything between.
The Camera Hardware You're Working With
Before diving into samples, let's establish what Samsung packed into the FE's camera module.
The main shooter uses a 12MP sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization. Same sensor found in the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. Dual Pixel autofocus handles focusing duties. Nothing revolutionary on paper but proven technology that works.
Ultrawide expands to 12MP with f/2.2 aperture and 123-degree field of view. Again, identical to what the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G offers. Consistent hardware choices between the two phones simplify direct comparisons.
Telephoto is where Samsung made changes. The FE uses an 8MP sensor with 3x optical zoom and f/2.4 aperture. The standard Samsung Galaxy S21 5G went different direction with a 64MP sensor using hybrid zoom instead of true optical. Different approaches to solving the same problem – getting closer to distant subjects.
Front camera shoots 32MP selfies with f/2.2 aperture. Higher resolution than the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G's 10MP front shooter. More megapixels don't automatically mean better selfies though. We'll test that claim shortly.
Daylight Photography – Where Phones Shine
Every smartphone takes decent photos in good light. The real question is whether a phone takes great photos when conditions cooperate.
The S21 FE handles sunny conditions confidently. Colors punch without crossing into oversaturation territory. Samsung's processing leans vibrant compared to Google's more muted approach – neither is wrong, just different preferences.
Dynamic range impresses in contrasty scenes. Shooting into partial shade while keeping bright sky detail challenges many phone cameras. The FE balances these situations better than I expected. Shadow recovery doesn't introduce excessive noise. Highlights rarely blow out completely unless you're shooting directly into the sun.
Sharpness peaks in the frame center and softens slightly toward edges. Typical for smartphone lenses. Pixel-peeping reveals this but normal viewing distances hide the falloff entirely. Most people will never notice.
I shot identical scenes with both the FE and the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G for direct comparison. Main camera results were nearly indistinguishable. Same processing pipeline, same sensor, same output. If someone handed you photos from both phones randomly, you'd struggle to identify which came from which device.
Autofocus locks quickly and accurately in good light. Tapping to focus responds instantly. Tracking moving subjects works reasonably well for kids and pets though dedicated sports photography remains challenging for any smartphone.
White balance occasionally shifts warmer than reality. Indoor shots under mixed lighting sometimes skew slightly orange. Easy enough to correct in editing but worth noting if color accuracy matters for your use case.
Ultrawide Lens Performance
The 123-degree field of view captures expansive scenes impressively. Architecture, landscapes, group photos – situations where stepping back isn't possible benefit tremendously from ultrawide capability.
Distortion correction works well at frame edges. Early ultrawide implementations on phones produced warped, fish-eye-looking results. Samsung's processing straightens lines effectively while maintaining the wide perspective.
Sharpness drops noticeably compared to the main camera. Expected given the cheaper optics and smaller aperture. Center sharpness remains acceptable but corners go soft. Fine for social media sharing, less ideal for printing large.
Color matching between main and ultrawide cameras improved over previous Samsung generations. Switching between lenses no longer produces jarring color shifts. The FE and Samsung Galaxy S21 5G both benefit from this calibration work. Seamless switching makes for better user experience.
Low light ultrawide performance suffers substantially. The smaller aperture gathers less light. No stabilization means longer exposures introduce blur. I'd avoid the ultrawide lens after sunset unless you're capturing stationary subjects and can brace the phone.
The Telephoto Situation
This is where the S21 FE differs most from its sibling. The true 3x optical zoom versus the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G's hybrid approach creates different results in different situations.
At exactly 3x magnification, the FE produces cleaner results. True optical zoom means no digital processing or cropping. Detail holds up well. Noise stays controlled. Portraits from moderate distance look natural without the compression artifacts digital zoom introduces.
Beyond 3x, tables turn. The FE switches to digital zoom quickly and quality degrades rapidly. The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G's 64MP sensor allows cropping further before quality collapse. At 10x zoom, the standard S21 pulls ahead visibly.
Which approach works better depends entirely on how you shoot. If most of your zoom usage stays around 3x – typical portrait distances, across-the-room shots – the FE satisfies. If you frequently push beyond that for sports, wildlife, or distant subjects, the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G handles those scenarios better.
My usage patterns favor the 3x optical approach. I rarely zoom beyond that anyway. Your mileage varies based on shooting habits.
Portrait Mode Testing
Samsung's portrait processing has improved dramatically over recent generations. The S21 FE benefits from these software advances even while using older hardware.
Edge detection handles complex subjects reasonably well. Hair separation works better than previous Samsung attempts. Glasses don't confuse the algorithm as badly as they used to. Still not perfect – very fine hair strands or complex backgrounds occasionally fool the system.
Bokeh simulation looks natural at default settings. Adjustable blur intensity lets you dial from subtle to dramatic. I prefer the middle settings personally. Maximum blur looks artificial. Minimum barely differentiates from regular photos.
Skin tone handling leans flattering. Samsung smooths skin slightly by default. Some people appreciate this. Others find it artificial. Beauty mode toggles let you control processing intensity but even "off" applies subtle smoothing compared to raw captures.
Compared to the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G portrait mode, results match closely. Same processing, same algorithms, same output quality. Both phones handle portrait situations competently without matching dedicated portrait-focused devices like Pixel phones.
Pet portraits work surprisingly well. The FE recognizes animals and applies appropriate blur separation. Dog photos came out better than expected. Cats proved trickier – their tendency to move constantly challenged the processing more than cooperative canine subjects.
Low Light and Night Mode
Smartphone low-light photography improved dramatically thanks to computational techniques. The S21 FE leverages these advances effectively though not class-leadingly.
Night mode captures multiple frames and combines them computationally. Results brighten scenes substantially while controlling noise better than single exposures could. Handheld shots in dim restaurants produce usable results rather than blurry messes.
Processing time runs several seconds for night mode captures. The phone prompts you to hold steady during capture. Any movement during this window degrades results. Bracing against something stable improves output noticeably.
Compared to the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G in low light, results again match closely. Same sensor limitations, same processing strengths and weaknesses. Neither phone embarrasses itself but neither matches the Pixel 6 or iPhone 13 in challenging conditions.
Noise appears at moderate levels in dim conditions. Samsung's processing smooths noise aggressively which preserves clean appearance but sacrifices fine detail. Faces look good. Textured surfaces like brick or fabric lose definition. Acceptable tradeoffs for social sharing, less ideal for professional work.
The main camera handles low light far better than telephoto or ultrawide. Those lenses struggle significantly once light drops. Stick with the primary sensor after dark for best results.
Video Recording Capabilities
The S21 FE records up to 8K resolution at 24fps. Impressive specification but practically limited. Files balloon enormously. Most people lack displays to appreciate the resolution. Battery drains rapidly. More novelty than daily driver feature.
4K at 60fps represents the sweet spot. Smooth motion, excellent detail, manageable file sizes. This setting produces genuinely good video suitable for serious projects.
Stabilization works well at 4K30 and below. Higher framerates reduce stabilization effectiveness. Walking footage at 4K60 shows more shake than 4K30. Moving subjects benefit from the smoother motion of 60fps though. Tradeoffs everywhere.
Audio capture through the phone's microphones produces acceptable results. Wind noise causes problems outdoors. Voices record clearly in calm environments. External microphones improve audio dramatically if video quality matters for your work.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G records identical video specifications. Same codec support, same stabilization approach, same maximum resolutions. Video performance ties between these phones.
Director's View lets you record from multiple cameras simultaneously. Neat feature for content creators though I rarely used it practically. More useful for vloggers who benefit from picture-in-picture effects.
Selfie Camera Deep Dive
The 32MP front camera sounds impressive versus the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G's 10MP. Reality proves more nuanced.
Default processing bins those 32 megapixels down to 12MP output. The extra resolution exists mainly for cropping flexibility and detail in good light. You can force full 32MP capture but files bloat without proportional quality gains.
Sharpness looks good in decent lighting. Detail renders clearly without excessive processing artifacts. Samsung's beautification smooths skin by default – adjustable but never fully disabled. If you want raw, unprocessed selfies, look elsewhere.
Dynamic range impresses for a front-facing camera. Backlit selfies with windows behind you don't blow out as badly as older phones. Face exposure generally balances well against brighter backgrounds.
Portrait mode from the front camera works but shows limitations. Without depth sensor assistance, edge detection relies purely on software. Hair separation gets messy. Backgrounds near subject edges sometimes blur incorrectly.
Group selfies benefit from wide-angle switching. Toggle to wider view captures more people without awkward arm extension. Quality drops slightly in wide mode but the flexibility helps.
Low light selfies deteriorate quickly. The front sensor's smaller size struggles gathering light. Screen flash helps but produces unflattering illumination. Avoid important selfies in dim conditions if possible.
Processing and Color Science
Samsung's processing philosophy emphasizes punch and vibrancy. Colors pop. Contrast skews dramatic. Photos look immediately impressive on phone screens.
This approach polarizes photographers. Some love the ready-to-share output requiring no editing. Others find it overdone, preferring flatter capture for personal adjustment later.
Scene optimization recognizes subjects and adjusts processing accordingly. Food photos warm slightly. Foliage saturates greener. Sunset skies punch dramatic oranges. Sometimes helpful, sometimes overeager. Disable if you want more neutral starting points.
HDR processing handles high-contrast scenes aggressively. Shadow recovery pulls detail sometimes beyond natural appearance. Highlights compress rather than blow out completely. Results generally please casual viewers while frustrating purists wanting more natural rendition.
Compared to the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G processing, output matches expectedly. Same algorithms processing same sensor data produces same results. Users satisfied with S21 photography will feel equally satisfied with the FE.
RAW capture exists for those wanting maximum control. DNG files from the Pro mode bypass most processing, letting you develop images personally. Workflow adds complexity but rewards control-oriented photographers.
Real-World Sample Scenarios
Theory matters less than practice. Here's how the FE handled specific situations I encountered.
Restaurant dinner with friends: Mixed artificial lighting challenged white balance. Food photos came out warmly appealing. Group shots showed noise but remained shareable. Main camera handled it; ultrawide produced murky results.
Outdoor wedding ceremony: Bright sunshine meant easy shooting. Colors reproduced beautifully. Telephoto captured ceremony moments from guest distance effectively. The 3x optical zoom proved perfect for this scenario where the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G's hybrid approach might have worked differently.
Street photography walk: Quick autofocus captured candid moments reliably. Dynamic range handled harsh shadows between buildings well. Battery drained faster than expected with constant shooting – something to monitor.
Pet portraits in living room: Moderate indoor lighting produced good results. Portrait mode separated my dog from the couch background acceptably. Movement between shots occasionally fooled autofocus.
Night cityscape from rooftop: Tripod-assisted night mode captured impressive detail. Handheld attempts showed more noise and less sharpness. Main camera worked; ultrawide disappointed in the low light.
How It Compares Overall
The S21 FE camera system delivers flagship-tier results matching the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G in most scenarios. Same main sensor, same ultrawide sensor, same processing pipeline equals same output quality for the majority of shooting situations.
Telephoto differences create divergence in specific use cases. The FE's true 3x optical zoom produces cleaner results at that magnification. The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G's hybrid approach extends usable range further. Neither wins universally.
Against newer competition like the S22 or Pixel 6, the FE shows its age somewhat. Main camera rivals those devices. Low light processing falls behind current leaders. Telephoto can't match the S22's improved sensor.
Value proposition remains strong though. For the current pricing, you're getting extremely capable cameras that satisfy casual and enthusiast photographers alike. Professional work might demand newer hardware but social sharing, printing reasonable sizes, and documenting daily life all work perfectly well.
The Bottom Line on S21 FE Cameras
Three months of shooting revealed cameras that perform exactly as expected – competently, consistently, and without major weaknesses or standout strengths.
The S21 FE matches the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G photographically while costing less new and retaining value better used. If camera quality drives your purchase decision between these two phones specifically, neither disappoints but neither distinguishes itself dramatically either.
Main camera handles daylight beautifully and low light acceptably. Ultrawide captures expansive scenes when lighting cooperates. Telephoto satisfies moderate zoom needs. Selfie camera produces flattering results with some processing caveats.
Samsung built good cameras into the FE. Not revolutionary. Not class-leading. But reliably good in ways that matter for how most people actually photograph their lives.
Worth buying for the cameras alone? Probably not over newer options if photography ranks as top priority. Worth buying as a well-rounded phone that also takes genuinely good photos? Absolutely. The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G and the FE both deliver in this regard, making either a solid choice for photography enthusiasts working within budget constraints.
Your photos will look good. Your Instagram will stay populated. Your memories will be captured competently. Sometimes that's exactly what a camera needs to accomplish.