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Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S26

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 S26
Phone 2

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S26

4.7(224)

₹87,999

View details →
Expert verdict

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S26: Comparison Summary

Price

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is priced lower at ₹22,464, giving it an affordability edge. The price gap is ₹65,535.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G wins
Display

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G features a — display. Samsung Galaxy S26 offers 6.3" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, FHD+, 120Hz. Samsung Galaxy S26 has a higher 120Hz refresh rate.

Samsung Galaxy S26 wins
Performance

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G runs the —. Samsung Galaxy S26 is powered by the Samsung Exynos 2600 (2nm). Different chipsets mean benchmark scores and power efficiency will vary; check independent reviews for real-world impact.

Camera

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G offers a — camera system. Samsung Galaxy S26 has 50MP + 12MP + 10MP. Both phones support 4K video recording.

Battery

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G packs a — setup. Samsung Galaxy S26 uses 4300 mAh, 25W. Samsung Galaxy S26 has a larger 4300 mAh battery.

Samsung Galaxy S26 wins
Software & Ecosystem

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G runs —. Samsung Galaxy S26 ships with Android 16, One UI 8.5. 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 S26

89%

Very Good

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 S26

₹87,999

Pros

  • Most compact Samsung flagship
  • Exynos 2600 (2nm) for efficiency and performance
  • IP68 water resistance
  • 7-year update guarantee
  • Galaxy AI features

Cons

  • Only 25W charging — S26+ gets 45W
  • FHD+ not QHD+ like S26+
  • Smaller 4300 mAh battery
  • ₹87,999 is not inexpensive
Full specifications

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S26 — Complete specification table

At a Glance
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Samsung Galaxy S26
Starting Price
₹22,464
Lower price
₹87,999
Network
5G
5G
Launched
—
March 2026
User Rating
—
4.7/5 (224 ratings)
Higher rating
Available colours
1 options
Sky Blue, Black
Display
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Samsung Galaxy S26
Screen Size
6.4 inches
—
Resolution
2400 × 1080 px FHD+
2340 × 1080 (FHD+)
Panel Type
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
—
Refresh Rate
120Hz
1–120Hz (adaptive)
Brightness
1300 nits peak
2600 nits peak
Size
—
6.3 inches
Type
—
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Protection
—
Corning Gorilla Armor 2
Performance
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Samsung Galaxy S26
Processor
Samsung Exynos 2100 (5nm)
Samsung Exynos 2600
CPU Cores
Octa-core (1× 2.9GHz + 3× 2.8GHz + 4× 2.2GHz)
—
GPU
Mali-G78 MP14
—
RAM
8GB LPDDR5
12 GB LPDDR5X
Storage
256GB UFS 3.1
256 GB / 512 GB UFS 4.0
Expandable Storage
No
—
Architecture
—
2nm TSMC
AnTuTu Score
—
~3,100,000
Camera
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Samsung Galaxy S26
Main Camera
12MP f/1.8 OIS
—
Ultra-Wide Camera
12MP f/2.2
—
Telephoto Camera
8MP f/2.4 OIS (3× optical)
—
Front Camera
32MP f/2.2
12 MP, f/2.2
Video Recording
4K @ 60fps
—
Main
—
50 MP, f/1.8, OIS, Dual Pixel AF
Ultra-wide
—
12 MP, f/2.2, 120° FOV
Telephoto
—
10 MP, f/2.4, 3× optical zoom, OIS
Video
—
8K @30fps, 4K @60fps
Battery & Charging
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Samsung Galaxy S26
Battery Capacity
4500 mAh
—
Charging Speed
25W wired
—
Wireless Charging
15W (Qi)
15W wireless
Reverse Wireless
4.5W
4.5W
Capacity
—
4300 mAh
Wired Charging
—
25W fast charging
Connectivity
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Samsung Galaxy S26
Network
5G SA/NSA
5G SA/NSA, 4G LTE
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.0
6.0
USB
USB Type-C 2.0
USB-C 3.2 Gen 2
NFC
Yes
Yes
Design & Build
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Samsung Galaxy S26
Body Material
Plastic frame and back (matte finish)
—
IP Rating
IP68 (1.5m, 30 min)
—
Dimensions
155.7 × 74.5 × 8.2 mm
71.7 × 149.6 × 7.2 mm
Weight
177g
167 g
Fingerprint Sensor
Under-display (optical)
—
Build
—
Armour Aluminium, Gorilla Armor 2
Water Resistance
—
IP68 (1.5m/30 min)
Software
Specification
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Samsung Galaxy S26
OS at Launch
Android 12
—
UI
One UI 4.1
One UI 8.5
Current OS
Android 15 (One UI 7)
—
Update Status
Reached end of OS updates (4 years completed)
—
OS
—
Android 16
Updates
—
7 years OS + security
AI Features
—
Galaxy AI (Now Assist, Call Screen, Photo Assist, Creative Studio, Privacy Alerts)
Price comparison

All variants and prices

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

8GB RAM / 256GB
₹22,464

Samsung Galaxy S26

12GB RAM / 256GB· Sky Blue
₹87,999
12GB RAM / 512GB· Black
₹1,07,999
Common questions

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S26: Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G or Samsung Galaxy S26?
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G and Samsung Galaxy S26 target similar market segments. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G starts at ₹22,464 and runs — with a — display and — chip. The Samsung Galaxy S26 starts at ₹87,999 and offers 6.3" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, FHD+, 120Hz with Samsung Exynos 2600 (2nm). 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 S26?
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G starts at ₹22,464 and the Samsung Galaxy S26 starts at ₹87,999 in India. The price difference between base models is ₹65,535. 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 S26?
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G offers a — camera system. Samsung Galaxy S26 provides 50MP + 12MP + 10MP. 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 S26?
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G comes with a — battery. Samsung Galaxy S26 includes 4300 mAh, 25W. 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.
Is Samsung Galaxy S26 available on Amazon India?
Yes. The Samsung Galaxy S26 is available on Amazon India in 12GB/256GB (₹87,999) and 12GB/512GB (₹1,07,999) configurations in Sky Blue, Black, White and Cobalt Violet. It is also available on Samsung Shop and Flipkart.
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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.