Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs Motorola Edge 30 Pro

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (released January 2022) and the Motorola Edge 30 Pro (released March 2022) are both smartphones that offer robust features for everyday use. While the Galaxy S21 FE 5G focuses on a balanced experience with a strong camera system and extended software support, the Motorola Edge 30 Pro prioritizes raw performance and a high refresh rate display. Both devices run on the Android operating system, providing a familiar user experience with their respective software customizations.

When considering the long-term usability of these devices, several factors contribute to their expected lifespan, including software support and physical resilience.

• Software Longevity: The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G launched with Android 12 and is expected to receive up to four years of major OS updates and five years of security updates, offering a longer period of official software support. The Motorola Edge 30 Pro also launched with Android 12 but typically receives a shorter update cycle, with expectations of around two years of OS upgrades.
• Physical Durability: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G features an IP68 rating for significant dust and water resistance, along with a Gorilla Glass Victus front for enhanced screen protection. The Motorola Edge 30 Pro offers an IP52 rating, indicating splash resistance, and uses Gorilla Glass 3 for its display.
• Repairability: The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G generally receives a good repairability score, with many components being accessible, though the battery is often glued in place. The Motorola Edge 30 Pro has an acceptable repairability score, but some internal components and the battery can be challenging to access due to adhesive.

Both smartphones are equipped with powerful internal components designed to handle demanding applications and multitasking, though they approach performance with slightly different philosophies.

• Processing Power: The Motorola Edge 30 Pro is powered by a current-generation processor, which delivers excellent performance, making it feel snappy and responsive for all tasks, including intensive gaming and heavy multitasking. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G also features a high-performance processor, providing smooth operation for daily apps, gaming, and general responsiveness.
• Multitasking and Storage: Both devices offer various RAM configurations, with the Motorola Edge 30 Pro available with up to 12GB of RAM, potentially allowing for more applications to remain open in the background without refreshing. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G comes with up to 8GB of RAM. Both offer ample internal storage options, ranging from 128GB to 256GB for the S21 FE 5G and up to 512GB for the Edge 30 Pro.
• Battery Behavior: The Motorola Edge 30 Pro houses a 4800 mAh battery, which generally provides solid all-day usage for moderate users, though heavy use might require an evening top-up. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G has a 4500 mAh battery, also capable of lasting a full day for moderate use, but some heavy users have noted it might need more frequent charging. The Edge 30 Pro supports faster wired charging at 68W compared to the S21 FE 5G's 25W.

The visual experience on both smartphones is a key differentiator, with each offering distinct display technologies and features.

• Display Technology and Clarity: The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G features a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, known for its vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast. The Motorola Edge 30 Pro comes with a larger 6.7-inch P-OLED display, also offering rich colors and good contrast. Both displays provide a Full HD+ resolution (2400 x 1080 pixels), ensuring sharp and clear visuals for text and images.
• Refresh Rate and Smoothness: The Motorola Edge 30 Pro boasts a higher 144Hz refresh rate, which translates to exceptionally smooth scrolling and fluid animations, particularly noticeable in compatible games and user interface navigation. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G offers a 120Hz refresh rate, providing a very smooth experience for most users, though it is not adaptive.
• Brightness and Viewing Experience: Both phones offer good brightness levels, making them suitable for outdoor use. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G's display can reach high peak brightness for good visibility in bright conditions. The larger screen of the Motorola Edge 30 Pro provides an expansive viewing area, which can enhance media consumption and gaming.

The camera systems on these devices offer different strengths, catering to varying photography and videography preferences.

• Rear Camera Capabilities: The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G features a versatile triple-camera setup, including a 12MP main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 12MP ultrawide lens, and an 8MP telephoto lens capable of 3x optical zoom. This configuration is praised for producing vibrant photos with good detail and color reproduction in various lighting conditions. The Motorola Edge 30 Pro also has a triple-camera system, with a 50MP main sensor (OIS) and a 50MP ultrawide sensor that doubles as a macro lens, alongside a 2MP depth sensor. While the main camera can capture good images, user feedback often describes the overall camera performance as average compared to competitors, particularly in low-light scenarios.
• Front Camera and Video Recording: The Motorola Edge 30 Pro stands out with a high-resolution 60MP front-facing camera, capable of capturing detailed selfies. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G features a 32MP front camera, which also delivers quality selfies and video calls. For video, the Edge 30 Pro can record up to 8K resolution at 30 frames per second, while both phones support 4K video recording at 60 frames per second from their main rear cameras.
• Audio Experience: The Motorola Edge 30 Pro includes stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support, enhancing the media consumption experience. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G also offers stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos.