Galaxy S21 FE 5G Vs Galaxy S25

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, released in January 2022, and the Samsung Galaxy S25, launched in February 2025, represent different generations within Samsung's smartphone lineup. While both devices offer a premium Android experience, the Galaxy S25 introduces significant advancements in processing power, camera capabilities, and long-term software support. Both run on the Android operating system, with the S25 benefiting from a more recent version and an extended update commitment.

The practical lifespan of a smartphone is heavily influenced by its release date and the manufacturer's commitment to software updates.

• Release Timeline: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G was released in January 2022, making it over four years old as of early 2026 [4, 12]. The Galaxy S25, released in February 2025, is a much newer device [1, 25].
• Software Longevity: The S21 FE 5G was initially promised four major OS updates and five years of security updates, with its final OS update expected to be Android 16 [12, 38]. Its security updates transitioned to a quarterly schedule in October 2025 [16]. In contrast, the Galaxy S25 benefits from Samsung's extended policy, offering seven years of OS upgrades and security updates, with support projected to end around 2032 [1, 7, 43]. This means the S25 will receive updates for a significantly longer period.
• Repairability: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G has a repairability score of 7.5 out of 10, with some challenges noted for battery replacement due to strong adhesive [21, 41]. The Galaxy S25, however, boasts a higher repairability score of 9 out of 10, featuring design improvements like easier battery access with pull tabs [18, 34, 36]. Both devices are designed with IP68 water and dust resistance, contributing to their overall durability [4, 17].

Performance differences between these two devices are notable, reflecting the generational gap in hardware and software optimization.

• Processing Power: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G is powered by a capable processor that handles everyday tasks smoothly, though some users reported it could get warm under heavy usage, particularly the Exynos variant [2, 13, 15]. The Galaxy S25 features a current-generation processor, designed for superior performance and efficiency, ensuring very fast multitasking and seamless gaming experiences [1, 3, 19].
• System Responsiveness: The S21 FE 5G offers a responsive user experience for general navigation and app usage [2]. The Galaxy S25 provides an elevated level of smoothness and responsiveness, attributed to its advanced processor and optimized software, making interactions feel fluid and immediate [26, 37].
• Memory and Storage: The S21 FE 5G typically comes with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and storage options up to 256GB [4]. The Galaxy S25 starts with 12GB of RAM across all models, providing substantial headroom for demanding applications and extensive multitasking, alongside storage options up to 512GB [1, 3, 17].

Both devices offer vibrant displays, but the newer Galaxy S25 incorporates advancements in display technology.

• Display Technology: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G features a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, known for its vibrant colors and deep blacks [4, 5, 8]. The Galaxy S25 comes with a 6.2-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display, which offers similar visual quality but with more advanced power efficiency and adaptive refresh rate capabilities [1, 3, 19].
• Resolution and Clarity: Both phones provide a Full HD+ resolution (2340x1080 pixels), delivering crisp and clear visuals for everyday viewing, web browsing, and media consumption [4, 17]. The S21 FE has a pixel density of 403 PPI [4], while the S25 has 416 PPI [1].
• Brightness and Refresh Rate: The S21 FE 5G offers a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and a peak brightness of 1200 nits, providing good visibility outdoors [4, 32]. The Galaxy S25 also features a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and significantly higher peak brightness of up to 2600 nits, enhancing outdoor visibility and HDR content viewing [1, 3, 19].

The camera systems on both smartphones are designed to capture quality images, with the Galaxy S25 benefiting from newer optimizations and hardware.

• Rear Camera System: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G is equipped with a triple camera setup, typically including a 12MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and an 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom [23, 32]. The Galaxy S25 also features a triple rear camera system, comprising a 50MP wide-angle main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom [1, 3, 17].
• Photography Performance: The S21 FE 5G delivers decent photos in various conditions, with good performance in everyday scenarios [13, 35]. The Galaxy S25, with its higher resolution main sensor and optimized software, captures vibrant and detailed photos, with improved image quality and color reproduction [3, 19].
• Video Recording and Front Camera: Both devices are capable of high-quality video recording. The S21 FE 5G has a 32MP front camera [32], while the Galaxy S25 features a 12MP front camera, which is optimized for high-quality selfies and 4K video recording [3, 19].