Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S25+

Our Verdict: There's four years between the Galaxy S21 FE 5G and the Galaxy S25+, so the Galaxy S25+ is ahead on most things. The S25+ has the better camera on paper, 50MP versus 12MP, and the S25+ has the bigger battery of the two, 4900mAh against 4500mAh, which usually means longer between charges. The S25+ has the stronger screen, bigger at 6.7" against 6.4" and sharper at 513 PPI, and the S25+ offers up to 512GB of storage versus 256GB on the S21 FE 5G. Coming from the S21 FE 5G, the S25+ is a genuine upgrade rather than a token one.

If you'd rather pay up front, the S21 FE 5G is the cheaper buy at £130 SIM-free.

Expert Rating
3.9
10 reviews
4.0
10 reviews
Screen
6.4" 6.7"
Display
Dynamic AMOLED 2X capacitive touchscreen Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Resolution
1080 x 2400 1440 x 3120
Pixels Per Inch
411 513
Rear Camera
12 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
32 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset
Exynos 990 Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
Battery
4,500 mAh 4,900 mAh
Storage
128GB, 256GB 256GB, 512GB
OS
Android 12 Android 15
SIM Type
Nano SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e
Bluetooth
5.0 with A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE
Dimensions
159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4 mm 158.44 x 75.79 x 7.35 mm
Weight
177 grams 190 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes
Contracts
- £69.83/mo (£30.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£129.99 £539.99

Prices updated 25 July 2026

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G Samsung Galaxy S25+ Samsung Galaxy S25+
Expert Rating 3.9
10 reviews
4.0
10 reviews
Screen 6.4" 6.7"
Display Dynamic AMOLED 2X capacitive touchscreen Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Resolution 1080 x 2400 1440 x 3120
Pixels Per Inch 411 513
Rear Camera 12 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 32 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset Exynos 990 Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
Battery 4,500 mAh 4,900 mAh
Storage 128GB, 256GB 256GB, 512GB
OS Android 12 Android 15
SIM Type Nano SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e
Bluetooth 5.0 with A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE
Dimensions 159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4 mm 158.44 x 75.79 x 7.35 mm
Weight 177 grams 190 grams
Water Resistance IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes
Contracts - £69.83/mo
£30.00 upfront
SIM-free £129.99 £539.99
Prices updated 25 July 2026
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

128GB

Graphite

Refurbished

From £129.99

Samsung Galaxy S25+
Samsung Galaxy S25+

12 Months

256GB

Icy Blue

Refurbished

5GB

Data

£69.83 per month, £30 upfront.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which has the better screen, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G or Samsung Galaxy S25+?

The Samsung Galaxy S25+ has the bigger screen at 6.7" compared to the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G's 6.4", the Samsung Galaxy S25+ has the sharper display at 513 pixels per inch versus 411, and the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G uses a Dynamic AMOLED 2X capacitive touchscreen panel while the Samsung Galaxy S25+ has a Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X.

Which has the better camera, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G or Samsung Galaxy S25+?

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G features a 12 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy S25+ has a 50 Megapixels rear camera. Both devices also have front-facing cameras for selfies and video calls.

Which is cheaper to buy SIM-free, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G or Samsung Galaxy S25+?

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £129.99.

What storage options are available for the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G and Samsung Galaxy S25+?

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is available in 128GB, 256GB, while the Samsung Galaxy S25+ comes in 256GB, 512GB.

What processors do the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G and Samsung Galaxy S25+ use?

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is powered by the Exynos 990, while the Samsung Galaxy S25+ uses the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G or Samsung Galaxy S25+?

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is the more portable of the two: it's 13g lighter at 177 grams, it's also the more compact phone at 159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4 mm, the Samsung Galaxy S25+ is slimmer at 7.35mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G or Samsung Galaxy S25+?

Both phones share the same water resistance rating of IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes.

What operating system do the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G and Samsung Galaxy S25+ run?

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G runs Android 12 and the Samsung Galaxy S25+ runs Android 15. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.