Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs Google Pixel 4a

71 out of 100

54 out of 100

Here we compared two smartphones: the 6.4-inch Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (with Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 ) that was released on January 4, 2022, against the Google Pixel 4a, which is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G and came out 17 months before. On this page, you will find tests, full specs, strengths, and weaknesses of each of the devices.

Differences
Review
Specs
Benchmarks
Battery life
Camera
Comments

Key differences

An overview of the main advantages of each smartphone

Reasons to consider the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

Waterproof body (IP68 classification)
The rear camera has a 3x optical zoom
Higher display refresh rate – 120 Hz
Has a 0.59 inch larger screen size
Comes with 1360 mAh larger battery capacity: 4500 vs 3140 mAh
74% better performance in AnTuTu Benchmark (625K versus 359K)
Handles wireless charging up to 15W
Slow-motion recording at 960FPS
Uses a faster type of memory: LPDDR5 2750 MHz
Compatible with Wi-Fi 6 wireless networks
Has an ultra-wide angle camera lens
Thinner bezels – 6.3% more screen real estate
The phone is 1-year and 5-months newer

Reasons to consider the Google Pixel 4a

Newer Bluetooth version (v5.1)
10% higher pixel density (443 vs 401 PPI)
Weighs 34 grams less
Better grip in hands – the body is 5.1 mm narrower
Includes a 3.5 mm headphone audio jack port
Ready for eSIM technology

Review

Evaluation of Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G and Google Pixel 4a crucial features

Display

Screen quality, color accuracy, brightness

Type	Dynamic AMOLED	OLED
Size	6.4 inches	5.81 inches
Resolution	1080 x 2340 pixels	1080 x 2340 pixels
Aspect ratio	20:9	19.5:9
PPI	401 ppi	443 ppi
Refresh rate	120 Hz	60 Hz
Adaptive refresh rate	No	No
Max rated brightness	420 nits	700 nits
Max rated brightness in HDR	1200 nits	-
HDR support	Yes, HDR10+	Yes, HDR10
Screen protection	Gorilla Glass Victus	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Screen-to-body ratio	89.6%	83.3%
Display features	- DCI-P3 - Always-On Display	- Always-On Display

RGB color space	97%	95.3%
PWM	247 Hz	255 Hz
Response time	6 ms	6.2 ms
Contrast	∞ Infinity	∞ Infinity

Height	155.7 mm (6.13 inches)	144 mm (5.67 inches)
Width	74.5 mm (2.93 inches)	69.4 mm (2.73 inches)
Thickness	7.9 mm (0.31 inches)	8.2 mm (0.32 inches)
Weight	177 g (6.24 oz)	143 g (5.04 oz)
Waterproof	IP68	No
Rear material	Plastic	Plastic
Frame material	Metal	Plastic
Colors	White, Gray, Green, Purple	Black
Fingerprint scanner	Yes, in-display	Yes, rear

Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 888	Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G
Max clock	2840 MHz	2200 MHz
CPU cores	8 (1 + 3 + 4)	8 (2 + 6)
Architecture	- 4 cores at 1.8 GHz: Kryo 680 Silver (Cortex-A55) - 3 cores at 2.42 GHz: Kryo 680 Gold (Cortex-A78) - 1 core at 2.84 GHz: Kryo 680 Prime (Cortex-X1)	- 6 cores at 1.8 GHz: Kryo 470 Silver (Cortex-A55) - 2 cores at 2.2 GHz: Kryo 470 Gold (Cortex-A76)
L3 cache	4 MB	-
Lithography process	5 nanometers	8 nanometers
Graphics	Adreno 660	Adreno 618
GPU shading units	1024	256
GPU clock	792 MHz	825 MHz
FLOPS	~1622 GFLOPS	~422.4 GFLOPS

CPU	140597	115287
GPU	209723	70626
Memory	134992	78602
UX	139479	92505
Total score	625671	359268

Max surface temperature	39.1 °C	41.4 °C
Stability	69%	99%
Graphics test	34 FPS	6 FPS
Graphics score	5703	1003

Web score	10889	-
Video editing	7079	-
Photo editing	28541	-
Data manipulation	10075	-
Writing score	14461	-

RAM size	6, 8 GB	6 GB
Memory type	LPDDR5	LPDDR4X
Memory clock	2750 MHz	2133 MHz
Channels	2	2

Storage size	128, 256 GB	128 GB
Storage type	UFS 3.1	UFS 2.1
Memory card	No	No

Operating system	Android 12 (Can be upgraded to Android 13)	Android 10 (Can be upgraded to Android 13)
ROM	One UI 5.0	Stock Android
OS size	17.5 GB	15 GB

Capacity	4500 mAh	3140 mAh
Max charge power	25 W	18 W
Battery type	Li-Ion	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Wireless charging	Yes (15 W)	No
Reverse charging	Yes, (wireless)	No
Fast charging	Yes (51% in 30 min)	Yes (50% in 25 min)
Full charging time	1:15 hr	1:27 hr

Battery life tests
Web browsing	07:42 hr	08:45 hr
Watching video	13:05 hr	11:16 hr
Gaming	05:29 hr	04:05 hr
Standby	91 hr	99 hr

Main camera
Matrix	12 megapixels	12.2 megapixels
Image resolution	4032 x 3024	4000 x 3000
Zoom	Optical, 3x	Digital
Flash	LED	Dual LED
Stabilization	Optical	Optical
8K video recording	No	No
4K video recording	Up to 60FPS	Up to 30FPS
1080p video recording	Up to 60FPS	Up to 60FPS
Slow motion	960 FPS (720p)	120 FPS (1080p)
Angle of widest lens	123°	-
Lenses	3 (12 MP + 8 MP + 12 MP)	1 (12.2 MP)
Wide (main) lens	- 12 MP - Aperture: f/1.8 - Focal length: 26 mm - Pixel size: 1.8 micron - Sensor: 1/1.76", Sony IMX555 (Exmor-RS CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) - Optical stabilization	- 12.2 MP - Aperture: f/1.7 - Focal length: 27 mm - Pixel size: 1.4 micron - Sensor: 1/2.55", Sony IMX363 (Exmor-RS CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) - Optical stabilization
Telephoto lens	- 8 MP - Aperture: f/2.4 - Focal length: 76 mm - Pixel size: 1 micron - Sensor: 1/4.5", Hynix Hi847 (CMOS) - Phase autofocus - Optical stabilization	-
Ultra-wide lens	- 12 MP - Aperture: f/2.2 - Focal length: 13 mm - Pixel size: 1.12 micron - Sensor: 1/3.0", Sony IMX258 (Exmor-RS CMOS)	-
Camera features	- Bokeh mode - Pro mode - RAW support	- Bokeh mode - Pro mode - RAW support
Samples	Photo samples of Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G from DxOMark	Photo samples of Google Pixel 4a from DxOMark

Selfie camera
Megapixels	32 megapixels	8 megapixels
Image resolution	6464 x 4864	3264 x 2448
Aperture	f/2.2	f/2.0
Focal length	26 mm	24 mm
Pixel size	0.8 microns	1.12 microns
Sensor type	Exmor-RS CMOS	CMOS
Sensor size	1/2.74"	1/2.8"
Video resolution	2160p (4K) at 60 FPS	1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS

Wi-Fi standard	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac)
Wi-Fi features	- Dual Band - Wi-Fi MiMO - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display	- Dual Band - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display
Bluetooth version	5	5.1
Bluetooth features	LE	LE, A2DP
USB type	USB Type-C	USB Type-C
USB version	3.2	3.1
USB features	- Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG	- Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG
GPS	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS
NFC *	Yes	Yes
Infrared port	No	No

Number of SIM *	2	2
Type of SIM card	Nano	Nano
Multi SIM mode	Standby	Standby
eSIM support *	No	Yes
Hybrid slot	No	No
LTE Cat *	19	15
5G support	Yes	No

Speakers	Stereo	Stereo
Headphone audio jack	No	Yes
FM radio	No	No
Dolby Atmos	Yes	Yes

Category	Flagship	Mid-range
Announced	January 2022	August 2020
Release date	January 2022	October 2020
SAR (head)	0.95 W/kg	1.37 W/kg
SAR (body)	1.48 W/kg	1.39 W/kg
Sensors	- Hall-effect sensor - Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint	- Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint
Bundled charger	Not included	-

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs Google Pixel 4a

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs Google Pixel 4a

Key differences

Review

Value for money

Tests and specifications

Display

Design and build

Performance

Benchmarks

Memory

Software

Battery

Camera

DxOMark camera tests

Connectivity

Sound

Other

Conclusion