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Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A26

Side-by-side comparison of specifications, price, camera, battery and performance in India

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Phone 1

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

₹22,464

View details →
Samsung Galaxy A26
Phone 2

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy A26

₹21,999

View details →
Expert verdict

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A26: Comparison Summary

Price

Samsung Galaxy A26 is priced lower at ₹21,999, giving it an affordability edge. The price gap is ₹465.

Samsung Galaxy A26 wins
Display

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G features a — display. Samsung Galaxy A26 offers —. Both offer the same refresh rate.

Performance

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G runs the —. Samsung Galaxy A26 is powered by the —. Both phones share the same chipset, so raw performance will be near-identical.

Camera

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G offers a — camera system. Samsung Galaxy A26 has —. Both phones support 4K video recording.

Battery

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G packs a — setup. Samsung Galaxy A26 uses —. Both phones have the same battery capacity.

Software & Ecosystem

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G runs —. Samsung Galaxy A26 ships with —. Software update timelines and AI features differ significantly between the two ecosystems.

Spec score

Overall rating breakdown

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

65%

Fair

Samsung Galaxy A26

65%

Fair

Strengths and weaknesses

Pros and cons

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

₹22,464

Pros

  • At ₹22,464 it carries IP68 water resistance — extremely rare at this price in 2025
  • 177g weight is exceptionally light for a phone with these specifications
  • 32MP selfie camera with portrait video — still competitive for social media users
  • Wireless charging support is rare at this price point

Cons

  • Exynos 2100 has reached a performance ceiling — newer mid-range chips can outpace it in benchmarks
  • OS updates have ended (hit 4-year limit) — no longer receives Android version upgrades
  • No expandable storage — 256GB only
  • 25W wired charging is slow and no charger is included in box

Samsung Galaxy A26

₹21,999

Pros

  • 6-year update guarantee is industry-leading at the ₹22K price — most rivals offer 2–3 years
  • Galaxy AI features like Circle to Search bring flagship-level intelligence to mid-range
  • 120Hz AMOLED delivers smooth, vivid display performance
  • Under-display fingerprint sensor looks cleaner than side-mounted alternatives

Cons

  • Exynos 1380 lags behind Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 on raw benchmarks and sustained gaming
  • No NFC — contactless payment options are absent
  • 25W charging is slower than competing phones at this price
  • Mono speaker — no stereo output
Full specifications

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A26 — Complete specification table

At a Glance
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Samsung Galaxy A26
Starting Price
₹22,464
₹21,999
Lower price
Network
5G
5G
Launched
—
—
User Rating
—
—
Available colours
1 options
2 options
Display
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Samsung Galaxy A26
Screen Size
6.4 inches
6.7 inches
Resolution
2400 × 1080 px FHD+
2400 × 1080 px FHD+
Panel Type
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Super AMOLED
Refresh Rate
120Hz
120Hz
Brightness
1300 nits peak
800 nits typical
Performance
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Samsung Galaxy A26
Processor
Samsung Exynos 2100 (5nm)
Samsung Exynos 1380 (5nm)
CPU Cores
Octa-core (1× 2.9GHz + 3× 2.8GHz + 4× 2.2GHz)
Octa-core (4× 2.4GHz + 4× 2.0GHz)
GPU
Mali-G78 MP14
—
RAM
8GB LPDDR5
8GB LPDDR4X + 8GB RAM Plus
Storage
256GB UFS 3.1
128GB / 256GB UFS 2.2
Expandable Storage
No
Up to 1TB via microSD
Camera
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Samsung Galaxy A26
Main Camera
12MP f/1.8 OIS
50MP f/1.8
Ultra-Wide Camera
12MP f/2.2
8MP f/2.2
Telephoto Camera
8MP f/2.4 OIS (3× optical)
—
Front Camera
32MP f/2.2
13MP f/2.2
Video Recording
4K @ 60fps
4K @ 30fps
Macro Camera
—
2MP f/2.4
Battery & Charging
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Samsung Galaxy A26
Battery Capacity
4500 mAh
5000 mAh
Charging Speed
25W wired
25W wired
Wireless Charging
15W (Qi)
No
Reverse Wireless
4.5W
—
Connectivity
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Samsung Galaxy A26
Network
5G SA/NSA
5G SA/NSA
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth 5.3
USB
USB Type-C 2.0
USB Type-C 2.0
NFC
Yes
No
Design & Build
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Samsung Galaxy A26
Body Material
Plastic frame and back (matte finish)
Plastic frame and back
IP Rating
IP68 (1.5m, 30 min)
—
Dimensions
155.7 × 74.5 × 8.2 mm
162.9 × 77.5 × 7.7 mm
Weight
177g
192g
Fingerprint Sensor
Under-display (optical)
Under-display (optical)
Water Resistance
—
IP54 splash resistant
SIM
—
Dual SIM (Nano + Nano)
Software
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Samsung Galaxy A26
OS at Launch
Android 12
Android 15
UI
One UI 4.1
One UI 7
Current OS
Android 15 (One UI 7)
—
Update Status
Reached end of OS updates (4 years completed)
—
AI Features
—
Galaxy AI (Circle to Search, Chat Assist, Photo Remaster)
Update Promise
—
6 years OS, 6 years security
Price comparison

All variants and prices

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

8GB RAM / 256GB
₹22,464

Samsung Galaxy A26

8GB RAM / 128GB
₹21,999
8GB RAM / 256GB
₹24,999
Common questions

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A26: Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G or Samsung Galaxy A26?
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G and Samsung Galaxy A26 target similar market segments. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G starts at ₹22,464 and runs — with a — display and — chip. The Samsung Galaxy A26 starts at ₹21,999 and offers — with —. If battery life is the priority, compare their mAh capacities. If display quality matters, compare refresh rates and panel types. Neither has a universal advantage — the choice depends on your use case and ecosystem preference.
What is the price difference between Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G and Samsung Galaxy A26?
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G starts at ₹22,464 and the Samsung Galaxy A26 starts at ₹21,999 in India. The price difference between base models is ₹465. Both phones are available in multiple RAM/storage variants at different price points.
Does Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G have a better camera than Samsung Galaxy A26?
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G offers a — camera system. Samsung Galaxy A26 provides —. Camera quality depends on factors beyond megapixels — including sensor size, aperture, OIS, and computational photography. For the most accurate comparison, refer to independent review sites that run controlled camera tests in the same conditions.
Which phone has longer battery life: Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G or Samsung Galaxy A26?
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G comes with a — battery. Samsung Galaxy A26 includes —. Battery life also depends on the display resolution, refresh rate, and software optimisation. A larger mAh does not guarantee proportionally longer life if the display or processor is more power-hungry.
Is Samsung Galaxy S21 FE still worth buying in 2025?
The S21 FE at ₹22,464 is a unique case: IP68 water resistance, wireless charging, 32MP selfie, and a lightweight 177g body in this price range is genuinely rare. However, its OS updates ended in 2026 (4-year limit from 2022 launch). Security patches continue until 2027. If you plan to use it for 1–2 years, it is still capable. For longer ownership, consider newer phones with active update cycles.
How many years of updates does Samsung Galaxy A26 get?
Samsung guarantees 6 years of Android OS updates and 6 years of monthly security patches for the Galaxy A26. It launched on Android 15 and is committed to receive updates through Android 21. This is one of the longest software support windows available in the ₹20,000–25,000 bracket.
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Editorial note

Specifications on Gadzela are sourced from official brand announcements and cross-referenced against published datasheets. Prices shown reflect India launch prices and may vary by retailer or over time. Always verify before purchasing. This page does not contain sponsored placements.