Best Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G plans

It might not hold a candle to its flagship counterpart, but Samsung’s Galaxy S21 FE 5G drives a hard bargain to save money without committing to major compromises.

Announced earlier this month and due to hit retail shelves on the 30th of January 2022, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is basically a more budget-friendly version of last year’s Samsung Galaxy S21. 

The difference in price between the two isn’t huge, nor is it the only thing separating the two devices. However, if you’re already working within a tight budget then the savings here might be enough to seal the deal. 

In any case, it’s always worth doing your research into what plans and mobile providers can offer you the best deal before you pull the trigger. That rule applies just as much for devices like the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G as it does the next iPhone. 

Here are our picks for the best Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G plans in Australia:

If you’re the budget-savvy buyer that the more affordable Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is aimed at, there’s a good chance that the best way for you to get your hands on this device is as cheaply as possible. If that’s the case, then Woolworth Mobile $25 Mobile Phone Plan is probably your best bet.

This plan includes unlimited national calls and texts, plus 20 GB of monthly data. Data you don’t use each month rolls over into the next, up to a maximum of 300 GB. You can even give those excess gigabytes to other Woolworths mobile customers if you feel like it. 

Split out over a 36-month plan, a Samsung Galaxy S21 FE with 128 GB will cost you $54/month. The next closest plan, Vodasfone’s $40 Lite Plan, costs $67/month so there are some pretty clear savings to be had.

Opting for a 24-month plan bumps that figure up to $68.50/month. However, again compared to Vodafone's $40 Lite Plan, you’re still coming out ahead by approximately $15 per month.

Woolworth’s Mobile also uses part of the Telstra network, so you’ll benefit from the better coverage and many of the same technological investments enjoyed by standard Telstra customers. 

That said, Woolworth’s Mobile customers are only able to access Telstra’s 3G and 4G footprint. For now, the carrier’s 5G network is off limits. You won’t be able to realise the higher 5G connectivity speeds that the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is capable of offering, even if you will save a decent chunk of cash as a consolation prize.

Vodafone’s $45 Lite+ plan is currently the cheap-but-not-too-cheap choice when it comes to Australian mobile plans, which makes it a perfect pairing for Samsung’s Galaxy S21 FE 5G. 

Teamed up with Samsung’s latest fan edition device, Vodafone’s $45 Lite+ plan will run you either $72.75 a month for 36 months or $86.62/month over 24 months. 

That monthly figure nets you unlimited standard national calls, 30GB of monthly Max Speed data, 5G connectivity in selected areas, plus 100 mins of international calls to Zone 1 countries.

You also get $5-per-day roaming in eligible countries and infinite-but-speed capped data should you exceed your monthly allowance. 

If you’re already opting to pay extra for the version of the new Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G with a little bit of extra storage, then paying a little bit more for a plan that offers more monthly data is going to put you in a position to make the most of it. 

Optus’ $55 Choice Plus Plan is a standout option here. A Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G on the 36-month version of this plan will run you a total of $85.52/month. Meanwhile, a 24-month arrangement will rack up a monthly bill of $100.78.

In either case, you’ll get unlimited national calls and SMS within Australia, unlimited standard international calls and texts to 35 eligible countries, access to Optus’ faster 5G network speeds plus 80 GB of monthly high speed data. If you exceed that limit, you’ll have your connection speed capped but you won’t be charged more. 

The $55 Optus Choice Plus Plan also includes access to Optus Sport and an OS Fitness subscription.

On the other hand, if you’re looking to offset the higher handset cost with a cheaper plan, Woolworths Mobile’s $35 Mobile Phone Plan is hard to beat. 

Paired up with a 256 GB model of the new Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, you’re looking at either $67/month on a 36-month plan or $83/month on a 24-month plan. 

This plan includes unlimited national calls and texts, plus 40 GB of monthly data. Data you don’t use each month rolls over into the next, up to a maximum of 300 GB. You can even give that excess data to other Woolworths mobile customers if you feel like it. 

There are compromises here in the form of 5G connectivity and a smaller monthly data cap, but concrete savings to be had for those willing to make them.

Even if it doesn’t include access to the 5G part of the network, Woolworths Mobile still uses the Telstra network. You’ll also score 10% off your first Woolworths Online order each month.

While the overall look and feel of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G doesn’t deviate too much from that of its pricier and more premium counterpart, there are a few key spec differences and design decisions that set the two devices apart.

The first and most noticeable difference here is the material design found on the cheaper Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G. Rather than the mix of plastic and aluminium found in the flagship S21, the back of the S21 FE 5G is almost entirely plastic. 

The second big difference is size. The Galaxy S21 boasts a larger 6.2-inch display, which loses out to the larger 6.4-inch display on the Galaxy S21 FE 5G when it comes to raw screen space. Aside from size, the two devices share the same screen resolution and 120Hz refresh rate.

The third major difference that potential buyers will want to keep in mind when it comes to choosing between the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 FE is that the latter boasts a slightly larger battery inside it. The S21 FE rocks a 4500mAh battery while the regular Galaxy S21 caps out at 4000mAh. 

Although that detail is a promising sign that the cheaper of the two devices might be able to offer longer battery life, size doesn’t tell the whole story. The Galaxy S21 FE features a larger screen, which naturally consumes more power. This means that the difference between the battery life offered by it and the S21 might not be as great as you’d hope or assume it might be.  

The final difference worth noting concerns the camera configuration found on the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G. 

While the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G boasts a better front-facing camera with triple the megapixels of the selfie shooter found in the Galaxy S21, the telephoto lens on the rear camera is significantly worse than that of Samsung’s 2021 flagship. 

The Samsung Galaxy S21’s telephoto lens touts a 64-megapixel sensor, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G has just 8-megapixels. This detail translates into a pretty big performance difference when it comes to the quality of the optical zoom on the latter compared to the standard Galaxy S21. 

All the above said, the two devices almost have more in common than they do otherwise. 

Under the hood, both the Samsung Galaxy S21 and Samsung S21 FE are powered by Samsung’s house-brand Exynos 2100 processor, armed with a high refresh rate screen, and are kitted out with the same degree of IP68 water resistance.

The two devices also share support for 5G connectivity and come in the same 128GB and 256GB storage configurations. 

Here’s how the specs compare between the two devices:

Australian pricing for the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G starts at $999 for the 128GB model. The 256GB version of the device is a little bit pricier at $1,099. Given that you’re essentially doubling the on-board storage for an extra $100, this upgrade is probably going to make sense for all but the most aggressive penny-pinchers.

For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S21 range starts at $1,249 for 128GB of storage. Meanwhile, the 256GB model is priced at $1,349. Discounting any price depreciation or promotional discounts, you’re looking at a difference in the street price of around $250 between the Galaxy S21 and the Galaxy S21 FE 5G.

These prices are taken from the official Samsung store but don’t expect third party resellers and retailers like JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman to deviate too far from this baseline. At least, not in the short term. 

If you’re looking to squeeze more out of your money when it comes to picking up a Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, the best way is going to be by picking up the device on a good plan or by taking advantage of a pre-order deal while you can. 

If you're not quite sold on our picks above, check out the widgets below for the rundown on what each of Australia's carriers has to offer when it comes to plans for the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G.