Samsung’s Galaxy S21 FE could be supported longer than the S21 and S21 Ultra

By Michael Allison December 8, 2021

Samsung is thought to be preparing the launch of the Galaxy S21 Fan Edition (FE) in a matter of weeks. Now, a new report from enthusiast site SamMobile says the phone will run Android 12 and One UI 4 out of the box, making it the first new Samsung device to come with the new OS, potentially beating out other members of the S21 series in terms of software support.

While what software version a phone launches with is ordinarily trivial, a few things make this release noteworthy. The S21 FE was first supposed to launch in 2021 with One UI 3 and Android 11 on board, and Samsung offered to deliver three software updates and four years of security updates to the device. Initially, because of the delayed release, Samsung would only have had to update the S21 FE to Android 12, Android 13, and Android 14.

Recommended Videos

But since the S21 FE will now launch with Android 12, we could see support up to Android 15. If Samsung does launch the S21 FE, it’ll stand out quite a bit next to other Android manufacturers. It’s common practice for Android phone makers to deliver an outdated build of Android on a new model — see HMD Global launching the Nokia 8.3 with Android 10 shortly after Android 11 launched, or even Samsung’s recent Galaxy A13 launch.

It would have been understandable, though blameworthy, if Samsung had pushed out the S21 FE with the old Android version as long as it offered an update down the line. Fortunately, the company appears to be doing the right thing here, meaning the Galaxy S21 FE will likely be supported through 2025 for software updates, and 2026 for security updates.

Other than that, Samsung’s Galaxy S21 FE has been a thoroughly leaked phone. It has a 6.5-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a triple-camera layout, 128GB of storage with 6GB of RAM, and it’s all powered by a Snapdragon 888 processor. It is said to come in a selection of four colors and will be priced at $700 — about $100 over the capable Google Pixel 6.

Topics

Michael Allison

Mobile News Writer

A UK-based tech journalist for Digital Trends, helping keep track and make sense of the fast-paced world of tech with a…

Mobile

I’m still using the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra for one important reason

The back of the Galaxy S23 Ultra, focusing on its rear cameras.

It's been about five months since the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra hit the scene. In the time since then, the S23 Ultra has made it obvious why it's one of the best smartphones money can buy. It looks great, has incredible performance, and has one of the most versatile cameras on the market.

Although the Galaxy S23 Ultra isn't my main Android phone these days, it is one that I love coming back to — and for one reason. The camera! The entire camera system on the Galaxy S23 Ultra has proven its worth time and time again, and over the course of this year, one aspect of it has stood out among every other phone I've used.
The telephoto camera is too good

Mobile

A cheaper Galaxy S23 is coming, and this is our first look at it

Samsung Galaxy S23 Fan Edition leaked render.

Samsung is apparently ready to launch a watered-down Galaxy S23 later this year, despite previous rumors it doesn’t exist. Smartprix has shared alleged renders of the Galaxy S23 Fan Edition (aka the Galaxy S23 FE), which is reportedly coming out later this year.

Notably, Samsung skipped a Fan Edition treatment for the Galaxy S22 after launching an S21 FE variant. Instead, the company lowered the asking price of Galaxy S22 following the launch of Galaxy S23 last year, keeping the former on the shelf as an entry point to the Galaxy flagship experience.

Mobile

Asus’ latest Android phone could be a big threat to the Galaxy S23 Ultra

Holding the Asus Zenfone 9 to show how it's able to be used one-handed.

After plenty of speculation and waiting, Asus is finally ready to launch its next flagship smartphone, the Zenfone 10, at the end of this month. First announced late last night on the Asus Taiwan Instagram account, the Zenfone 10 will be officially revealed in full and launch on June 29.

Asus tends to make pretty solid devices despite not being quite as popular as the smartphone giants like Samsung, Google, and Apple. But the Zenfone 10 looks like it's shaping up to be one of the best Android phones on the market. Based on a handful of videos posted on the Asus website on a page devoted to the Zenfone 10 launch event, the phone's specs make it seem like it might be able to go toe-to-toe with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra with one key difference: its size.