Last updated: May 12th, 2026 at 13:10 UTC+02:00
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In this case, buying cheaper might be better.
Reading time: 3 minutes
Abhijeet Mishra / SamMobile
The Galaxy S21 FE had a rocky start in early 2022. It was overpriced even by today’s Fan Edition standards, but the Exynos 2100 and Snapdragon 888 chips were decent.
However, after a four-year run, the Galaxy S21 FE is now nearing the end of its life. For many users, a replacement is sounding more appealing by the day.
Of note is that the S21 FE is over four years old and has already received Android 16 with One UI 8.0. But with Samsung’s recent shifts in its One UI update schedule, it’s unclear whether the January 2022 Fan Edition phone will get One UI 8.5.
Galaxy S21 FE users looking to upgrade without going over budget have a few clear paths.
Let’s focus on that last option. Even as a mid-range phone, the Galaxy A57 makes a strong case because it is a much newer phone. Here are a few main reasons why it can be a decent S21 FE replacement:
On that last point, the Exynos 1680 is genuinely more impressive than it may seem at a glance. For example, in the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme test, it shows much better numbers than the Exynos 2100. The Galaxy A57 posts around 1600 points in that test, while the S21 FE posts closer to 1,000 points.
Synthetic benchmarks don't tell the whole story, but those scores at least show that the mid-range chip is capable. And because the Exynos 1680 is built on a 4nm process instead of 5nm, it’s also more power-efficient.
So while the Galaxy A57 is a mid-range phone through and through, it benefits from arriving to the market years after the S21 FE and for being a decent phone in its own right. Even if it might not be a significant upgrade across the board, it looks like a decent replacement for a lower-than-FE price. And it's arguably a better gaming phone thanks to performance, battery life, and brighter screen.
That said, moving to the A57 does mean giving up a couple of features, including Samsung DeX and wireless charging. But if you need a replacement sooner rather than later, the Galaxy A57 remains a strong option if you can look past those few features that it lacks.
Mihai is a blogger and column writer at SamMobile. His first Samsung phone was an A800 which took a lot of beating, and a part of him still misses the novelty of the clamshell design. In his free time, he enjoys watching shows, documentaries, and stand-up comedy; listening to music, taking walks, and occasionally playing old(er) video games.
