Samsung and Google have both launched compelling flagship alternatives in recent months, but which is best?
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE and the Google Pixel 6 both claim to offer flagship thrills for a slightly lower price than you might expect to pay. We’ve tested both phones extensively, and you can read our reviews in the links above. But if you’re simply after the lowdown on which ‘affordable flagship’ is the better phone, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s our definitive view on the comparative strengths and weaknesses of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE and the Google Pixel 6. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE was released on January 7, 2022, about a year after the rest of the S21 range. It costs £699 / $699 / AU$999 for the 6GB RAM/128GB storage model, and £749 / $769.99 / AU$1,099 for the 8GB/256GB model. The Google Pixel 6 landed a few months earlier, on October 28,2021. Prices for the Pixel 6 start at $599 / £599 / AU$999 for 128GB. There’s also a 256GB model in the US and Australia markets, which costs $699/AU$1,129. We described the Galaxy S21 FE as “far too expensive” in our review, and that’s because its rival, the Pixel 6, is about $100/£100 cheaper. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE looks a lot like the Galaxy S21 – and, by extension, the Galaxy S22. All of these Samsung phones are identifiable by the company’s ‘Contour Cut’ camera module design, which seems to flow out of the frame of the phone. Google’s Pixel 6 design is all new, with a bold full-width camera module that resembles a futuristic visor. We dig the two-tone color scheme, too. The Pixel 6 (as well as the Pixel 6 Pro) is quite possibly the best-looking phone Google has ever made. Speaking of colors, the Galaxy S21 FE comes in White, Graphite (black), Lavender (purple), and Olive (green). The Pixel 6 gives you the options of Stormy Black, Sorta Seafoam, and Kinda Coral. One underwhelming feature the Galaxy S21 FE shares with the Galaxy S21 is a plastic body, which feels a little cheap given its price tag. Indeed, you might find yourself questioning that price difference between the S21 and the Pixel 6 when you see that the Pixel is all glass and metal. The Galaxy S21 FE is the smaller, lighter device here. It measures 155.7 x 74.5 x 7.9mm and weighs 177g, whereas the Pixel 6 measures 158.6 x 74.8 x 8.9mm and weighs 207g. Both phones are IP68 certified, so they have the same level of dust and water resistance. But for overall design, the Pixel 6 wins over the S21 FE. Both of these phones give you 6.4-inch FHD+ OLED displays, and both of our reviewers noted how vibrant they were. The Galaxy S21 FE has a slight advantage over the Pixel 6 because of its 120Hz refresh rate. Google’s phone only hits 90Hz. The vast majority of people won’t notice a difference, but the Galaxy S21 FE screen is noticeably smoother when scrolling through web pages, emails and the like.
