I was right about the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE — we don't need this phone

I was right almost the Samsung Milky way S21 Iron — we don't demand this phone

(Image credit: Tom'south Guide)

After many troubles and delays, Samsung finally fabricated the Galaxy S21 FE official. On its surface, it's a pretty good phone for $699, but no handset exists in a vacuum. I've been saying for months — since September, in fact — that Samsung should have only canned this one and saved all the fanfare for the Galaxy S22.

When we have excellent phones that offer flagship experiences, similar the spectacular Pixel vi, for less than the Milky way S21 Atomic number 26, I fail to meet a reason why this device should accept come to marketplace. Sure, it offers a lot of high-end features for its $699 toll point, and that means a lot to a sure segment of smartphone buyers.

But and then in that location's the regular Galaxy S21, which tin can oftentimes be establish for less than the S21 Atomic number 26, depending the bachelor deals. The beingness of the new fellow member of the S21 too further muddles the line between Samsung's unlike offerings, like the Galaxy A52.

Samsung won a lot of good will with the Galaxy S20 FE in 2020. Back and so, the Galaxy S20 serial was ludicrously expensive and the Atomic number 26 offered almost of the same features for $699. Nosotros called information technology a value triumph and information technology certainly was. Merely in 2021, Samsung knocked $200 off the Galaxy S21 prices, with the base model starting at $799.

At that, the Galaxy S21 Iron lost whatsoever reason to exist. I thought any cost-saving measures would hamper the experience to a small degree, and while at that place's naught wrong with the phone, y'all certainly get a amend device with the Milky way S21 for $100 more. A higher resolution telephoto lens and an adaptive display refresh rate on the regular S21 stand out immediately.

My colleague Philip Michaels is handling the Galaxy S21 FE review, but from what I've gathered, you'd exist better off either going with the $599 Pixel 6, saving upward for (or finding a good deal on) the Galaxy S21, or waiting for the Galaxy S22. The latter is rumored to launch in a month and y'all can bet there volition exist practiced deals on information technology, both from Samsung and carriers.

Half-dozen months ago, the Galaxy S21 Atomic number 26 might have made more sense, but at the outset of 2022? This phone shouldn't exist and I recall Samsung was foolish to go alee with it. Not only is it too piffling too late, just at present the Korean phone maker runs the risk of eating into either the S21 Atomic number 26's or Milky way S22's sales. In a perfect world, both devices could exist, merely now the S21 FE seems like information technology's but in the way.

Jordan is the Phones Editor for Tom's Guide, covering all things telephone-related. He's written about phones for over five years and plans to proceed for a long while to come. He loves nothing more than relaxing in his home with a volume, game, or his latest personal writing project. Jordan likes finding new things to swoop into, from books and games to new mechanical keyboard switches and fun keycap sets. Hashemite kingdom of jordan tends to lurk on social media, but you can all-time achieve him on Twitter.