Opinion
Samsung’s Galaxy S21 FE is the most worthy phone of 2022
The Galaxy S21 FE 5G was the first Samsung smartphone launched this year. I have been using this device for quite a while now as my daily driver. And, now all I want to say about it is that Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is the most worthy phone of 2022.
Being a tech writer, I have used a lot of smartphones. It’s not that I didn’t like any other phone apart from the Galaxy S21 FE. But some smartphones, which have good features, are more expensive, and less pricey phones do not have such good functions. And if some phones have good features at a low cost, then their design is not that satisfactory.
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Be it design, performance, camera, display, or software, the affordable flagship Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is much better than many other high-end phones of this year and that is why I call it the most worthy phone of 2022. Here’s what I loved most about this smartphone –
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Processor:
The Galaxy S21 FE equips the Octa-Core Samsung Exynos 2100 5nm EUV processor paired with 8GB LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB internal storage. This processor handles almost any task thrown at it with ease.
At the time of my usage – which includes social media apps, continuous browsing, and watching videos on YouTube, the Galaxy S21 FE performed very well. I have also played casual games in it and that too ran smoothly.
Camera:
Samsung offers three rear cameras for the Galaxy S21 FE smartphone and all are quite commendable. This camera setup consists of a 12MP primary camera (with f/1.8 aperture), an 8MP telephoto camera (with f/2.4 aperture, 3X optical zoom, 30x Super-Resolution Zoom), and a 12MP 123-degree ultra-wide camera (with f/2.2 aperture).
All three cameras perform very well in the daylight but the night shots’ details are not so satisfactory. However, the low-light images have been improved compared to the Galaxy S20 FE. Lastly, the 32MP front camera also captures good selfies.
Software:
The biggest thing which makes Galaxy S21 FE the best smartphone of this year is its pre-loaded Android operating system. Samsung launched the Galaxy S21 FE smartphone with Android 12-based One UI 4.0 software system.
Most notably, it is eligible for Samsung’s new software update policy. It means it will get four generations of Android upgrades and five years of security patches. It has recently grabbed its first major software update which is Android 13-based One UI 5.0.
- Don’t forget to read – One UI 5 update made my Galaxy S21 FE AWESOME, thanks Samsung!
Design:
Samsung brings a Galaxy S21-like design for the Galaxy S21 FE that has a contour-cut camera module. However, there are some minor changes – the shell around the cameras is plastic, the display is flat, and has a thin metal frame.
The back is made of plastic but it doesn’t feel cheap anywhere, whereas, it has a soft matte finish which made me fall in love with the design. Also, the device comes in four beautiful colors – White, Lavender, Graphite, and Olive. And, Graphite and Lavender are my favorites.
Samsung Theme Park is a great application, which is available on select Galaxy devices through the Good Lock suite. As Android 14 development continues, hopes are high for the next One UI version and we advise Samsung to integrate Theme Park customization tools into One UI 6.0.
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Theme Park is an app, that belongs to the Good Lock customization suite. The application makes it possible to create a custom theme that consists of wallpaper, keyboard, quick panel, icon, and volume panel. Combining Theme Park tools, Samsung can swiftly make One UI 6.0 the ultimate customizable software.
Theme Park tools should be a part of One UI 6:
Since Good Lock is not available for all Galaxy models and all regions/markets, Theme Park can only be used on a limited scale. At the same time, some users are either unaware of the Good Lock tool or don’t want to enter into the hurdle of creating a custom theme.
Using the Theme tool of the Theme Park app, you can set the wallpaper and get the color combination for the theme. It is somehow similar to the Color Palette but allows you to manually select a main color and a style, which affects the overall color and mood of the theme.
The Keyboard customization tool of Theme Park is also useful. It brings fruitful features such as personalization of Key style, and tap color as well as allows you to use an image on all keys. If you spend some free with the Keyboard tool, you can create give an epic look and feel to it.
Quick panel can’t be customized in the One UI software, except for changing colors derived from the Material You palette. Using the Theme Park app, users can give different color shades to the elements of the Quick panel such as primary toggles, brightness slider, and text as well as blur level of background.
Icon customization is the greatest feature of the Theme Park application. There is a huge directory of shapes that can be altered with One UI’s default icon shapes. Moreover, the tool also lets users pick their preferred color for the icons and background tray.
One UI 5.1 removed Material You theming from the Volume panel to deliver a better user experience. However, it doesn’t mean the Volume panel can’t be customized as the Theme Park app is here to help us. However, we can just assign different colors to the interface elements.
One UI 6
Samsung may begin the Android 14-based One UI 6.0 Beta testing by August 2023. The Galaxy S23 series is ready to become the first Galaxy to run the new One UI 6 software, however, the company is expected to release the official version later this year. We want Samsung to integrate Theme Park tools into the next One UI version.
Samsung One UI 5.0 introduced enhanced animation and new visuals on Galaxy devices. The company further refined both aspects with the Android 13-based One UI 5.1 and now there are high hopes for Android 14-based One UI 6.0.
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Since the beginning, Samsung’s One UI software greatly evolved and is defined as the best Android skin. Apple, which is the company’s biggest rival in key markets still has a lead in animation and visuals, hence, Samsung has a great opportunity with One UI 6.0.
Samsung One UI 6.0 Animation & Visuals
System animation and visuals are the key factors of user interface and user experience. Powerful hardware aside, if the phone doesn’t have smoother animation and lag-free transition features, it can never be counted as a competitor in the market.
The One UI 6.0 software will be based on the new Android 14 operating system. Pixel phones with stock Android also offer great system animation and elegant visual effects. Samsung should take benefit of the power of Android OS and make it just amazing with further refinements.
With the One UI 5.1, the South Korean tech giant has greatly refined the animation and visuals on Galaxy devices. One UI 5.1 is an Android 13-based software but has radical improvements over the initial One UI 5 version. With a generation gap, consumers are hoping for big from Samsung and it should do it too.
Despite being an unstable software system, OnePlus’ OxygenOS also feels smooth like butter. The company plays cleverly by making the most interactive things best to reduce attention from other limitations. The visuals of OxygenOS are nice and the animations are a close rival to One UI.
Samsung will not participate in Google’s Android 14 Public Beta program, while the One UI 6 Beta is likely to begin this August. In 2022, the company may take about two months in the adoption and distribution of the next software to Galaxy devices.
A slightly delayed software update would be considered the best gift instead of an early rollout packed with bugs and problems. Samsung should take its time to work on animation and visuals, and redefine the definition of user experience on Galaxy devices.
Samsung offers tons of features for its Galaxy devices to customize almost everything, even a small lock icon on the lock screen. Currently, Samsung is busy in rolling out its mature software One UI 5.1 based on Android 13 for eligible Galaxy devices. On the other hand, Google already started testing Android 14 and Apple releases iOS beta updates throughout the year, so why is Samsung lagging behind with One UI?
If we talk about Apple, then it pushes regular iOS beta updates so that users can get an error-free service. The company gives its users the opportunity to test the upcoming new iOS features before the stable release throughout the year. Samsung should also follow the footprints of Apple to provide a regular One UI beta update for testing new features.
Obviously, it is difficult for Samsung to roll out a One UI beta like Apple’s iOS beta as Google releases only one major update in a year. And based on that new Android version, Samsung initiates testing its One UI Beta which lasts only for a short period of time.
But Samsung can make some significant changes according to its own so that when a new Android OS stable will arrive, it can be easily deployed by Samsung for Galaxy devices. Samsung can also begin One UI beta update along with Google so whenever the Korean tech giant delivers its new custom skin then users can get a bug-free and better experience.
Samsung can start the One UI beta program only for limited flagship models including Galaxy S23, Galaxy S22, Galaxy S21, Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy Z Fold 3, and Galaxy Z Flip 3, also in the limited beta testing countries.
The question is why should Samsung run iOS beta like One UI beta for a whole year? Is there any benefit from this? Yes, it has benefits. If Samsung runs the One UI beta throughout the year, it will be able to provide a bug-free service through its stable updates as well as enhance the stability.
Most importantly, Galaxy users can enjoy the upcoming features of the new Android OS ahead like Pixel devices. As of now, Pixel devices have started enjoying the features of Android 14 while Samsung will start testing these features in August or September and the stable release will be in October or November.