Our iPhone 14 vs Galaxy S21 FE comparison pits Apple’s standard flagship against Samsung’s affordable flagship offering. The iPhone 14 is the most affordable model in the new iPhone 14 series, but it’s also the most boring phone in the lineup as it brings few improvements over its predecessor. It delivers a proven hardware package in an all-too-familiar package. The Galaxy S21 FE, on the other hand, is essentially a slimmed down version of the Galaxy S21, offering many of the top model’s best features at an affordable price. But which is the best value for money? We find out in this article.
Apple iPhone 14 vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE: Specs
| specification | Galaxy S22 | Apple iPhone 14 |
|---|---|---|
| To build |
|
|
| Dimensions and weight |
|
|
| Display |
|
|
| SoCs |
|
|
| RAM and storage |
|
|
| Battery charging |
|
|
| Security |
|
|
| Rear camera(s) |
|
|
| Front camera(s) | TrueDepth Camera: 12MP, ƒ/1.9 | 32MP, f/2.2, 81˚ FoV |
| Port(s) |
|
|
| audio |
|
|
| Connectivity |
|
|
| Software | ||
| Other Features |
|
Design and display
The design of the iPhone 14 has hardly changed from its predecessor. Other than the new color shades, it looks identical to the iPhone 13. That’s not a bad thing, because the iPhone 14 was a gorgeous phone and everything we loved about it carries over to the new model. . It has flat aluminum sides, a glass back and a ceramic shield on the front.
The Galaxy S21 FE shares design similarities with the Galaxy S21, with a plastic back, metal frame, and the Contour Cut camera module that houses three camera lenses. The Galaxy S21 FE is certainly less premium than the iPhone 14, but it doesn’t look cheap by any means.
Moving on to the display, the iPhone 14 sports a 6.1-inch OLED panel with 1170 x 2532 pixels, support for Dolby Vision content and a peak brightness of 1200 nits. The Galaxy S21 FE has a larger 6.4-inch AMOLED display with 1080 x 2400 pixels, 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ support. Both are high-quality displays, offering rich colors, deep blacks, and good sunlight readability. For content consumption, the Galaxy S21 FE appears to be a better choice as it has a larger display and a less obtrusive punch-hole notch, providing a more immersive viewing experience.
Camera
The Galaxy S21 FE has a triple camera system borrowed from the Galaxy S22. The setup consists of a 12MP f/1.8 main shooter, an 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide shooter. The iPhone 14, meanwhile, features a familiar dual-camera setup, with a 12MP f/1.5 primary camera and a 12MP f/2.4 ultra-wide shooter.
Both phones capture excellent images in daylight, but when it comes to low-light and night photography, the iPhone 14 has an edge. Thanks to the larger pixel size, faster aperture and Apple’s new photonic engine, the main camera of the iPhone 14 is able to deliver sharp images with lifelike colors even in harsh conditions. difficult lighting.
The Galaxy S21 FE has a more versatile camera system as it has an additional zoom lens which the iPhone 14 does not have. The iPhone 14 offers 5x digital zoom through the main camera, although it doesn’t match the S21 FE’s dedicated zoom lens.
Another area where the iPhone 14 dominates is the video department. Video performance on the iPhone has always been among the best in its class, and the iPhone 14 is no different. The cinematic mode that debuted on the iPhone 13 has been upgraded, while there’s a new action mode that offers gimbal-like stabilization for intense movement.
iPhone 14 Camera Examples
Galaxy S21 FE Camera Samples
Performance, battery and software
The iPhone 14 is powered by the A15 Bionic chipset. Although it is the same chipset as the iPhone 13, it incorporates a slightly faster GPU. The Galaxy S21 FE is available in two variants: the Snapdragon 888 variant for the US market and the Exynos 2100 variant for other markets.
In terms of raw power, the iPhone 14 is obviously superior – in fact, its A15 Bionic chip beats even the newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC. But that’s not to say the Galaxy S21 is a slow phone, far from it. The Galaxy S21 FE should feel snappier and smoother compared to the iPhone 14 thanks to its 120Hz high refresh rate display. 5 more powerful cores and improved thermal design. The Galaxy S21 FE can also play very well, but you may notice dropped frames and slowness when playing demanding games like Genshin Impact.
The Galaxy S21 FE packs a large 4,500mAh battery, a step up from the Galaxy S21’s 4,000mAh cell. Meanwhile, the iPhone 14 has a 3279mAh battery. The Galaxy S21 FE might have a bigger battery on paper, but the two phones are similar when it comes to endurance. Both phones will easily get you through a full day of use without any issues. As for charging, the Galaxy S21 FE offers 25W fast wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. The iPhone 14, on the other hand, supports charges 20W wired charging, 15W MagSafe magnetic charging, and 7.5W Qi wireless charging. inside the box. Your existing charger should work fine, otherwise you’ll have to shell out the cash for a compatible fast charger. Note that the iPhone 14 uses Apple’s proprietary Lightning connector while the Galaxy S21 FE uses the universal USB-C port.
The software experience is another important distinction between the iPhone 14 and the Galaxy S21 FE. With iPhone 14, you’ll get iOS 16, the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system. The Galaxy S21 FE runs Android 12, with an update to Android 13 expected later this year. Both phones offer lengthy software support. Samsung promises four years of operating system updates and five years of security updates. Unlike Samsung, Apple doesn’t publicly disclose its software commitment, but based on the past record, we can expect at least five years of iOS updates for the iPhone 14.
When it comes to biometrics, the Galaxy S21 FE has an in-display fingerprint scanner, while the iPhone 14 uses Face ID. One cool feature you’ll only find on the iPhone 14 is basic satellite connectivity, which lets you get in touch with emergency services when you find yourself stuck in a remote location with no cellular or internet connectivity.
iPhone 14 vs. Galaxy S21 FE: conclusion
If you don’t want to spend over $1,000, the iPhone 14 and Galaxy S21 FE are great options. The Galaxy S21 FE has a bigger, higher refresh rate screen, a more versatile camera system, and a bigger battery. Meanwhile, the iPhone 14 has a more premium build, more raw power, and better gaming performance. The iPhone 14’s camera system might not be as versatile as the Galaxy S21 FE, but it is much more consistent and reliable. Additionally, the iPhone 14 also offers top-notch video performance, has basic satellite connectivity, and offers longer software support.
The iPhone 14 is powered by the A15 Bionic chipset and is the first smartphone to offer basic satellite connectivity.
The Galaxy S21 FE offers a 6.4-inch AMOLED display and a triple camera system in an affordable package.
The iPhone 14 starts at $799, but you can take advantage of deals and discounts for big savings. The Galaxy S21 FE launched at $700, but you can find it for $600 or less at Amazon and Best Buy. Although the phone is a bit pricey on Samsung’s official website ($650), you can get up to $635 in instant credit with Samsung’s enhanced trade-in program.
#Apple #iPhone #Samsung #Galaxy #S21 #phone