Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Compare Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra side by side: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, 12MP vs…

Samsung

Galaxy S26 Ultra

$1,299

17categories won

2 categories tied · 22 scored in total · add a third phone

Information Gain

Which one wins?

MxMob Algorithmic Verdict

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra takes the overall win

Overall Pick

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra proves superior overall against the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, outperforming on gaming and photography. In camera testing, the Galaxy S26 Ultra leads with superior optics, while battery endurance leans towards the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Choose the Galaxy S26 Ultra if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the Galaxy S21 FE 5G if its lower retail price better fit your budget.

🔋 BatteryGalaxy S26 Ultra

Galaxy S26 Ultra takes battery honors offering 5,000 mAh alongside 60W charging.

🎮 GamingGalaxy S26 Ultra

Galaxy S26 Ultra provides greater sustained gaming output with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy and 16GB RAM.

📸 CameraGalaxy S26 Ultra

Galaxy S26 Ultra takes photography with 200MP optics and 5x optical telephoto capabilities.

🏷️ ValueGalaxy S21 FE 5G

Galaxy S21 FE 5G provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $349 vs $1299.

Category verdicts are computed algorithmically from verified technical specifications and hardware benchmarks. Rows where neither figure is objectively better — screen size preference, operating system choice, aesthetic build materials — are displayed for direct reference without scoring bias.

Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs Galaxy S26 Ultra: specifications compared

Display

Display comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S21 FE 5G	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Screen size	6.4"	6.9"
Resolution	1080 x 2340	1440 x 3120Winner
Pixel density	403 ppi	498 ppiWinner
Refresh rate	120 Hz	120 Hz
Peak brightness	1200 nits	2400 nitsWinner

Performance

Performance comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S21 FE 5G	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
Process node	5 nm	3 nmWinner
AnTuTu score	810,000	2,400,000Winner
Geekbench multi	3650	8900Winner
Maximum RAM	8 GB	16 GBWinner
Maximum storage	256GB	1TBWinner

Camera

Camera comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S21 FE 5G	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Main sensor	12 MP	200 MPWinner
Rear cameras	3	4Winner
Optical zoom	3x	5xWinner
Ultrawide	12 MP	50 MPWinner
Selfie camera	32 MPWinner	12 MP
Max video	4K at 60fps	8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps

Battery and charging

Battery and charging comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S21 FE 5G	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Capacity	4,500 mAh	5,000 mAhWinner
Wired charging	25 W	60 WWinner
Wireless charging	15 W	25 WWinner

Design

Design comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S21 FE 5G	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Weight	177 gWinner	214 g
Thickness	7.9 mm	7.9 mm
Water resistance	IP68	IP68
Build	Aluminum frame, plastic back, Gorilla Glass Victus front	Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame

Software and support

Software and support comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S21 FE 5G	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Operating system	Android 12	Android 16
OS updates	4 years	7 yearsWinner
Security updates	5 years	7 yearsWinner

Connectivity and value

Connectivity and value comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S21 FE 5G	Galaxy S26 Ultra
5G	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth)
Storage expansion	None	None
3.5mm jack	No	No
Launch price	$349Winner	$1,299