The recently announced Samsung Galaxy 21 FE has been rumored ever since the device was delayed in 2021. Given how well the Galaxy S20 FE was received by fans for the incredible value it offered, the S21 FE has big shoes to fill. Let's see if it's a better value phone than the regular S21.

What Are the Tradeoffs?

First, let's start with the price. The regular Galaxy S21 launched at $799, although you can now find it for much lower if you keep your eyes peeled for special deals. The Galaxy S21 FE starts at $699 but the base model now comes with 6GB of RAM instead of 8GB, a noticeable downgrade.

For the $100 cut, you also lose the 64MP telephoto camera for an 8MP one with no Optical Image Stabilization. But you do get a 3x optical zoom on the S21 FE instead of 1.1x optical zoom on the regular Galaxy S21, which is a decent upgrade.

The front camera is also better with a 32MP sensor instead of a 10MP one. Sadly though, the fingerprint sensor on the S21 FE is an optical one, not ultrasonic. But you do get a bigger battery (4500mAh) and a slightly bigger screen (6.4 inches).

Related: Samsung Galaxy S21 vs. Google Pixel 5: Which Is Better?

The Galaxy S21 FE Is Overpriced

The Galaxy S21 FE makes some smart compromises to offer noticeable improvements. But at that price, we can't say that it provides better value than the regular Galaxy S21. If the device was priced just a hundred dollars less, it would've justified the "Fan Edition" label.

But as things currently stand, the Galaxy S21 FE is not a phone you should consider if you're looking for a good value, at least not right now. If you still want the device, it's best to wait for some time until Samsung announces any special offers or discounts to knock down the price.