Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs Motorola Edge 50

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, released in January 2022, and the Motorola Edge 50 Pro, launched in April 2024, are both smartphones designed to offer a comprehensive user experience. While the Galaxy S21 FE 5G builds on Samsung's established flagship features, the Motorola Edge 50 Pro introduces a more recent design and updated internal components. Both devices operate on the Android platform, providing access to a wide ecosystem of applications and services.

When considering the long-term usability of these devices, their release timelines and software support policies are key factors.

• Release Timeline: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G was released in early 2022, making it an older model compared to the Motorola Edge 50 Pro, which launched in early 2024. This difference in release date impacts their respective software support cycles.
• Software Longevity: The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G launched with Android 12 and is expected to receive up to Android 16, along with several years of security updates. The Motorola Edge 50 Pro, launching with Android 14, is anticipated to receive three major OS upgrades, extending its support to Android 17, and four years of security updates. This means the Motorola device may offer a slightly longer period of receiving the latest Android versions.
• Practical Lifespan: Both phones are built with materials and designs that contribute to a reasonable practical lifespan. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G features Gorilla Glass Victus on the front and an aluminum frame, with a plastic back, offering a balance of durability. The Motorola Edge 50 Pro incorporates Gorilla Glass for its front display and an aluminum frame, often paired with a vegan leather back, providing a distinct tactile experience. Both devices typically offer moderate repairability, with parts generally available for common repairs.

The performance of a smartphone is crucial for daily tasks, from browsing to demanding applications and multitasking.

• Everyday Responsiveness: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G, equipped with a capable processor from its release era, handles everyday applications and general navigation smoothly. Users generally report a fluid experience for common tasks. The Motorola Edge 50 Pro, featuring a more recent generation processor, offers responsive performance for daily use and can manage demanding applications effectively.
• Multitasking and Gaming: For multitasking, both devices are designed to keep multiple applications running without significant slowdowns. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G provides sufficient memory configurations to support active multitasking. The Motorola Edge 50 Pro, with its newer internal architecture, tends to offer a slightly more optimized experience for heavy multitasking and mobile gaming, though some users note potential sluggishness after intense gaming sessions.
• Battery Behavior: Both phones feature a 4500 mAh battery capacity. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G generally provides a full day of use for moderate users, though heavy users might find themselves needing to charge before the day ends. The Motorola Edge 50 Pro is noted for its efficient power management, often resulting in strong battery life that can extend through a full day even with considerable use.

The display is a primary interface for any smartphone, and both models offer distinct visual experiences.

• Display Technology and Clarity: The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G features a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, known for its deep blacks and vibrant colors, providing clear visuals for various content. The Motorola Edge 50 Pro sports a 6.7-inch pOLED display, which also delivers rich colors and high contrast.
• Resolution and Brightness: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G offers a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, resulting in sharp images and text. Its display can reach sufficient brightness levels for comfortable outdoor viewing. The Motorola Edge 50 Pro features a higher resolution of 1220 x 2712 pixels, contributing to even finer detail, and boasts a high peak brightness, making it highly visible even in bright sunlight.
• Refresh Rate and Smoothness: Both devices offer a high refresh rate for smoother scrolling and more fluid animations. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G has a 120Hz refresh rate. The Motorola Edge 50 Pro elevates this with a 144Hz refresh rate, which can provide an even more fluid visual experience, particularly noticeable during fast-paced content or gaming.

The camera systems on both smartphones are designed to capture a variety of moments, each with its own strengths.

• Rear Camera Capabilities: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G features a versatile triple-camera setup, including a 12MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, and an 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. This configuration allows for a range of photographic styles. The Motorola Edge 50 Pro also comes with a triple-camera system, featuring a 50MP wide lens with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 13MP ultrawide lens that doubles as a macro camera, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.
• Photography Performance: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G is known for producing detailed and color-accurate photos in good lighting conditions, with its main and ultrawide lenses performing well. Its telephoto lens provides useful optical zoom. The Motorola Edge 50 Pro's main camera excels in capturing sharp images with balanced colors, and its telephoto lens also performs well in optimal light. Some users note that the ultrawide camera's color science might differ slightly from the main lens.
• Video Recording and Audio: Both devices support 4K video recording. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G offers 4K at 30/60fps, with good stabilization for general use. The Motorola Edge 50 Pro also records 4K video at 30fps across its cameras, with its primary camera offering good stability. For audio, the Motorola Edge 50 Pro is praised for its clear and loud stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support, enhancing media consumption. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G also provides a good audio experience with stereo speakers.