Galaxy S21 FE 5G Vs iPhone 17 Pro

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, released in January 2022, and the Apple iPhone 17 Pro, introduced in September 2025, represent distinct approaches to high-performance smartphones. While the Galaxy S21 FE 5G offers a comprehensive Android experience with a focus on fan-favorite features, the iPhone 17 Pro showcases Apple's latest advancements in its iOS ecosystem, emphasizing cutting-edge performance, camera technology, and display innovation. Both devices operate on their respective advanced mobile operating systems, Android and iOS, providing users with different software experiences and ecosystems.

The expected practical lifespan and software support differ between these two devices, largely due to their release timelines and manufacturer policies.

• Release Timeline: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G was released in January 2022, making it an older model compared to the iPhone 17 Pro, which debuted in September 2025. This age difference inherently means the iPhone 17 Pro will receive software updates for a longer period.
• Software Longevity: Samsung typically provides several years of Android and security updates for its flagship and FE series, with the S21 FE 5G launching with Android 12 and being upgradable to newer versions. Apple is known for its extended software support, often providing iOS updates for five to six years or more from a device's release. The iPhone 17 Pro, launching with iOS 26, is expected to receive updates well into the future, offering a longer software lifespan.
• Durability Features: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G features a Gorilla Glass Victus front, a plastic back, and an aluminum frame, along with an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. The iPhone 17 Pro incorporates Ceramic Shield 2 on both the front and back for enhanced scratch resistance, and it also carries an IP68 rating for water and dust protection. User reports for the iPhone 17 Pro indicate that while the display glass is highly durable, the aluminum frame may show scratches more readily, suggesting that a protective case could be beneficial for maintaining its appearance.

Performance capabilities are a key differentiator, with the iPhone 17 Pro featuring a newer generation of internal components compared to the Galaxy S21 FE 5G.

• Processing Power: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G is powered by a processor that handles demanding applications and multitasking effectively for its generation. The iPhone 17 Pro, equipped with a more recent chip, offers enhanced processing speeds and graphical performance, resulting in smoother operation for intensive tasks, advanced gaming, and complex AI computations.
• Multitasking and Storage: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G comes with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and storage options up to 256GB, providing ample space and responsiveness for typical smartphone usage. The iPhone 17 Pro features 12GB of RAM and offers storage configurations up to 1TB, with a 2TB option available on the Pro Max variant, facilitating extensive multitasking and storage for large files and applications.
• Battery Behavior: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G includes a 4500 mAh battery, which generally provides a full day of use for many users, though heavy usage might require more frequent charging. The iPhone 17 Pro, with a battery capacity around 3988-4252 mAh, is reported by users to offer robust battery life, often lasting a full day even with heavy use, and some Pro Max users have noted up to two days of usage. Both devices support fast wired and wireless charging.

Both devices offer vibrant displays, but the iPhone 17 Pro introduces several advancements in screen technology.

• Display Technology and Clarity: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G features a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, providing clear visuals and vibrant colors. The iPhone 17 Pro has a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a higher resolution of 2622x1206 pixels, resulting in a sharper image with greater detail.
• Brightness and Refresh Rate: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G offers a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and animations, with a typical peak brightness of around 700 nits and a peak of 1200 nits. The iPhone 17 Pro also features a 120Hz ProMotion adaptive refresh rate, which can scale down to 1Hz for efficiency, and boasts significantly higher peak brightness levels, reaching up to 3000 nits for outdoor visibility and 1600 nits for HDR content. The iPhone 17 Pro also includes an anti-reflective coating for improved viewing in bright conditions.
• Additional Display Features: The iPhone 17 Pro includes the Dynamic Island, an interactive area at the top of the display that adapts to show alerts and activities. Both devices offer an always-on display feature.

The camera systems on both smartphones are designed for versatile photography, with the iPhone 17 Pro featuring a more advanced and higher-resolution setup.

• Rear Camera System: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G is equipped with a triple rear camera system consisting of a 12 MP wide lens, an 8 MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 12 MP ultrawide lens. The iPhone 17 Pro features a more advanced 48 MP Pro Fusion camera system, including a 48 MP main lens, a 48 MP ultrawide lens, and a 48 MP telephoto lens capable of 4x optical zoom and 8x optical-quality zoom through sensor cropping.
• Photography and Video Capabilities: Both phones offer strong performance in everyday photography. The iPhone 17 Pro's higher-resolution sensors and advanced image processing contribute to more detailed images, especially with its telephoto capabilities. For video, both support 4K recording, but the iPhone 17 Pro extends capabilities with 4K Dolby Vision video up to 120fps, ProRes video recording, and spatial video recording. The iPhone 17 Pro also introduces a Dual Capture feature, allowing simultaneous recording from front and rear cameras.
• Front Camera: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G has a 32 MP front camera. The iPhone 17 Pro features an 18 MP Center Stage front camera with a unique square sensor design, which allows for more flexible framing and can rotate the image without physically rotating the phone, enhancing selfies and video calls.