Google Pixel 3 (128GB) vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE (SM-G990U 128GB)
Side by side comparison between Google Pixel 3 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE phones, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
5.5"
POLED
POLED
1080x2160
12.2
MP
MP
8mp
4GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
2915
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
6.4"
AMOLED
AMOLED
1080x2400
12.2
MP
MP
32mp
6GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
4500
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better phone? Samsung Galaxy S21 FE (SM-G990U 128GB)
The phonemore's choice is much more technical than personal. Therefore, you shouldn't only consider this. Our goal is to help you, but what's important to us may not be important to you. You decide which one is the best! Comment!
4 Advantages 
22 Advantages | 28 Common items in both devices |
| 7.9 millimeters (0.31 inches) |
| Aluminum frame, glass front/back / Aluminum body, glass front, plastic back |
| 16 million |
| PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras / PDAF: phase detection autofocus |
| OIS: Optical stabilization |
| HDR photo on both cameras / HDR photo/video on both cameras |
| f/1.8 (aperture) |
| +21 specs and more in the table below |
Check the comparison table below for more items that are not evaluated in comparison score above.
Highlight differences Clear highlight📱 Model features | ||
| Google Pixel 3 (128GB) | Galaxy S21 FE (SM-G990U 128GB) | |
| Model | Pixel 3 (128GB) | Galaxy S21 FE (SM-G990U 128GB) |
| Other model names | Google Pixel 3 G013A, HTC Blueline | Galaxy S21 FE 5G SM-G990U1 (Snapdragon) |
| Country or region available |  (Global, International) |  USA |
| Brand | Samsung | |
| Release date | 10/18/2018, Announced: 10/9/2018 | 1/7/2022, Announced: 1/4/2022 |
| Depth | 7.9 millimeters (0.31 inches) | 7.9 millimeters (0.31 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 68.2 x 145.6 millimeters (2.69 x 5.73 in) | 74.5 x 155.7 millimeters (2.93 x 6.13 in) |
| Weight | 148 grams (5.18 ounces) | 177 grams (6.2 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Aluminum frame, glass front/back Back: Gorilla Glass 5 | Aluminum body, glass front, plastic back |
| Protection against water and others | IP68 certified: water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30min and dust-resistant | IP68 certified: water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30min and dust-resistant |
📲 Display | ||
| Google Pixel 3 (128GB) | Galaxy S21 FE (SM-G990U 128GB) | |
| Display type | P-OLED | Dynamic AMOLED |
| Screen size | 5.5" inches | 6.4" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~78.6% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~85.3% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1080x2160 pixels (18:9) | 1080x2400 pixels (20:9) |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 439 PPI | 411 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Gorilla Glass 5 | Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Display features | HDR8 Always-On Display 100% DCI-P3 | 1300nits[peak] HDR10+ Always-On Display |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| Google Pixel 3 (128GB) | Galaxy S21 FE (SM-G990U 128GB) | |
| System version | Android 9.0 Pie | Android 12 |
| Firmware update | Android 12 | Android 14 |
| User Interface | feature not registered | One UI 4.1 / 5.1 / 6.0 |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Google Pixel 3 (128GB) | Galaxy S21 FE (SM-G990U 128GB) | |
| Chipset | 64bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (SDM845) (10nm) | 64bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (SM8350) (5nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core, 2 processors: 4x 2.5GHz Kryo 385 Gold (Quad-core) 4x 1.6GHz Kryo 385 Silver (Quad-core) | Octa-core, 3 processors: 1x 2.84GHz Kryo 680 (Single-core) 3x 2.42GHz Kryo 680 (Triple-core) 4x 1.8GHz Kryo 680 (Quad-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | Qualcomm Adreno 630 (710MHz) | Qualcomm Adreno 660 (840MHz) |
| Performance (benchmark) | AnTuTu: 285044 (v7) Geekbench: 8337 (v4.4) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 566529 (v8), 719696 (v9) Geekbench: 3049 (v5.1) GFXBench: 56fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Google Pixel 3 (128GB) | Galaxy S21 FE (SM-G990U 128GB) | |
| RAM memory | 4GB LPDDR4X | 6GB LPDDR5 |
| Internal storage | 128GB (114GB available) UFS 2.1 | 128GB (97GB available) UFS 3.1 |
| External storage | Not supported | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Google Pixel 3 (128GB) | Galaxy S21 FE (SM-G990U 128GB) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Dual-SIM Standby - Call active on one sim card |
| SIM card | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) | 2 slots (Dual-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 1024/75 Mbps | 2000/1024 Mbps |
| Network technology | 2G, 3G, 4G | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G |
| Frequency, bands | Expand band details Collapse details | |
| GSM MHz band | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 2G network | CDMA 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 | UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | LTE Cat16 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 66, 71) TD-LTE (38, 40, 41) | LTE Cat20 (1, 3, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28) TD-LTE (34, 38, 39, 40, 41) VoLTE |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | SA/NSA/Sub6 (1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 78, 79) |
| Primary data network | CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, EDGE, GPRS, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, HSDPA, HSUPA, UMTS, HSPA+, LTE, LTE-A, TD-LTE | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A, SA/NSA |
| Secondary 2G network | Not supported | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Secondary 3G network | Not supported | UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 |
| Secondary 4G network | Not supported | LTE Cat20 (1, 3, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28) TD-LTE (34, 38, 39, 40, 41) VoLTE |
| Secondary data network | Not supported | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A, SA/NSA |
📷 Camera | ||
| Google Pixel 3 (128GB) | Galaxy S21 FE (SM-G990U 128GB) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | 12.2 megapixels | (triple camera) 12.2 megapixels 12MP ultrawide f/2.2123°13mm1/3"1.12µm 8MP telephoto f/2.476mm1/4.5"1.0µmPDAFOIS3x-optical-zoom |
| Main camera resolution | 4032x3024 pixels | 4032x3024 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) 30 fps | 4K UHD (3840x2160) 60 fps |
| Flash | Dual-LED flash | LED flash |
| Focal aperture | f/1.8 (aperture) | f/1.8 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 28mm lens | 26mm lens |
| Sensor size | 1/2.55" inches | 1/1.76" inches |
| Pixel size | 1.4µm pixel | 1.8µm pixel |
| Autofocus | PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras | PDAF: phase detection autofocus |
| Touch focus | Supported | Supported |
| Image stabilization | OIS: Optical stabilization | OIS: Optical stabilization |
| Zoom | Only digital zoom | Digital and optical zoom |
| Face/smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection |
| BSI sensor | Not supported | Supported |
| HDR | HDR photo on both cameras | HDR photo/video on both cameras |
| Camera extras | 1080p@120fps | 4K@30/60fps 1080p@30/60fps 1080p@240fps (slow motion) 720p@960fps (slow motion) |
📸 Front camera | ||
| Google Pixel 3 (128GB) | Galaxy S21 FE (SM-G990U 128GB) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | (dual front camera) 8 megapixels 8MP ultrawide f/2.219mm | 32 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 3264x2448 pixels | 6528x4896 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | Full HD (1920x1080) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | f/1.8 (aperture) | f/2.2 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 28mm lens | 26mm lens |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | 1/2.74" inches |
| Pixel size | feature not registered | 0.8µm pixel |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| Google Pixel 3 (128GB) | Galaxy S21 FE (SM-G990U 128GB) | |
| Loudspeaker | Stereo sound | Stereo sound 32-bit/384kHz Dolby Atmos Tuned by AKG |
| Active noise cancellation | 2 microphones or more | 2 microphones or more |
| Radio | Not supported | Not supported |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263 | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, XviD, MKV |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, OGG, eAAC+, FLAC | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| Google Pixel 3 (128GB) | Galaxy S21 FE (SM-G990U 128GB) | |
| USB | USB 3.1 Type-C, USB OTG On-The-Go | USB 3.2 Type-C, USB OTG On-The-Go |
| Audio output | Type-C jack with 3.5mm jack adapter | Type-C reversible connector |
| TV output | USB Type-C (reversible) | USB Type-C SlimPort® |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 + A2DP/LE | 5.0 + A2DP/LE |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac [wifi5] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) + MIMO WiFi Direct, hotspot | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax [wifi6] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) + MIMO WiFi Direct, hotspot |
| DLNA | Supported | Supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou |
| NFC | Supported | Supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Google Pixel 3 (128GB) | Galaxy S21 FE (SM-G990U 128GB) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Barometer Compass Fingerprint sensor (rear-mounted) Gyroscope Hall effect Proximity sensor | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Barometer Compass Face unlock Fingerprint sensor (under display) Gyroscope Hall effect Proximity sensor |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| Google Pixel 3 (128GB) | Galaxy S21 FE (SM-G990U 128GB) | |
| Battery type | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 2915 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Charger, watts | 18W (9V/2A) Wired fast charging USB Power Delivery 2.0 | 25W Wired fast charging Reverse charging by cable USB Power Delivery 3.0 |
| Inductive / wireless charging | Qi wireless charging | 15W Qi wireless charging 4.5W Reverse wireless charging |
| Talk time autonomy | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Standby | feature not registered | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| Google Pixel 3 (128GB) | Galaxy S21 FE (SM-G990U 128GB) | |
| Call control | Voice dialing, Voice recorder | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands |
| Messaging | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail |
| Hands-free calling | Supported | Supported |
| Video calling | Supported | Supported |
| Ringtones | Polyphonic and customized | Polyphonic and customized |
| Web browser | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 |
| Antenna | Internal antenna | Internal antenna |
| Qwerty physical keyboard | Not supported | Not supported |
| Miscellaneous | • Colors: Clearly White, Just Black, Not Pink | • Colors: Graphite, White, Lavender, Olive |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Google Pixel 3 (128GB) | Galaxy S21 FE (SM-G990U 128GB) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | feature not registered | 0.77W/kg (head), 0.9W/kg (body) |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |