Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs Sony Xperia 1 VIII

Compare Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G vs Sony Xperia 1 VIII side by side: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2, 12MP vs 50MP camera…

Samsung

Xperia 1 VIII

$1,449

10categories won

6 categories tied · 19 scored in total · add a third phone

Information Gain

Which one wins?

MxMob Algorithmic Verdict

Sony Xperia 1 VIII takes the overall win

Overall Pick

The Sony Xperia 1 VIII proves superior overall against the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, outperforming on gaming and photography. In camera testing, the Xperia 1 VIII leads with superior optics, while battery endurance leans towards the Xperia 1 VIII. Choose the Xperia 1 VIII if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the Galaxy S21 FE 5G if its lower retail price better fit your budget.

🔋 BatteryXperia 1 VIII

Xperia 1 VIII takes battery honors offering 5,500 mAh alongside 45W charging.

🎮 GamingXperia 1 VIII

Xperia 1 VIII provides greater sustained gaming output with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 and 16GB RAM.

📸 CameraXperia 1 VIII

Xperia 1 VIII takes photography with 50MP optics and 7.1x optical telephoto capabilities.

🏷️ ValueGalaxy S21 FE 5G

Galaxy S21 FE 5G provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $349 vs $1449.

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 Xperia 1 VIII: specifications compared

Display

Display comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, Sony Xperia 1 VIII
Specification	Galaxy S21 FE 5G	Xperia 1 VIII
Screen size	6.4"	6.5"
Resolution	1080 x 2340	1080 x 2340
Pixel density	403 ppi	—
Refresh rate	120 Hz	120 Hz
Peak brightness	1200 nits	2800 nitsWinner

Performance

Performance comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, Sony Xperia 1 VIII
Specification	Galaxy S21 FE 5G	Xperia 1 VIII
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2
Process node	5 nm	3 nmWinner
AnTuTu score	810,000	—
Geekbench multi	3650	—
Maximum RAM	8 GB	16 GBWinner
Maximum storage	256GB	512GBWinner

Camera

Camera comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, Sony Xperia 1 VIII
Specification	Galaxy S21 FE 5G	Xperia 1 VIII
Main sensor	12 MP	50 MPWinner
Rear cameras	3	3
Optical zoom	3x	7.1xWinner
Ultrawide	12 MP	48 MPWinner
Selfie camera	32 MPWinner	24 MP
Max video	4K at 60fps	—

Battery and charging

Battery and charging comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, Sony Xperia 1 VIII
Specification	Galaxy S21 FE 5G	Xperia 1 VIII
Capacity	4,500 mAh	5,500 mAhWinner
Wired charging	25 W	45 WWinner
Wireless charging	15 W	20 WWinner

Design

Design comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, Sony Xperia 1 VIII
Specification	Galaxy S21 FE 5G	Xperia 1 VIII
Weight	177 gWinner	192 g
Thickness	7.9 mm	8.2 mm
Water resistance	IP68	IP68
Build	Aluminum frame, plastic back, Gorilla Glass Victus front	—

Software and support

Software and support comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, Sony Xperia 1 VIII
Specification	Galaxy S21 FE 5G	Xperia 1 VIII
Operating system	Android 12	Android 16
OS updates	4 years	4 years
Security updates	5 years	5 years

Connectivity and value

Connectivity and value comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, Sony Xperia 1 VIII
Specification	Galaxy S21 FE 5G	Xperia 1 VIII
5G	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)	Wi-Fi 7
Storage expansion	None	None
3.5mm jack	No	Yes
Launch price	$349Winner	$1,449