Samsung has clarified that the company is yet to decide on the production status of the the Galaxy S21 Fan Edition, its next ‘budget flagship’ smartphone. More simply referred to as the Galaxy S21 FE, the highly-anticipated Samsung smartphone had been rumored to debut later this year. If the launch time frame of the Galaxy S20 FE is correct, the cheaper Galaxy S21 phone might break cover in September.
It is worth noting that at the company's Unpacked event in September of last year, Samsung promised to launch more ‘Fan Edition’ versions of its flagship phones in the years to come. Since then, multiple leaks have surfaced online, which include everything from alleged renders showcasing a familiar Galaxy S21 inspired design to benchmark scores and specifications for the Galaxy S21 FE.
Lately, conflicting reports have emerged regarding not only the launch date but also the possibility of the Galaxy S21 FE being nixed entirely. Samsung is already rumored to have canceled the 2021 Galaxy Note series, which further raises doubt whether the Galaxy S21 FE might also be on the chopping block. While the absence of a Galaxy Note series phone in 2021 might be a result of Samsung looking to streamline its device portfolio, the Galaxy S21 FE's fate might be in trouble due to the global semiconductor shortage. A now-deleted ETNews report claims that Samsung has suspended the production of Galaxy S21 FE, thanks to the ongoing global semiconductor crisis. Samsung reportedly canceled component orders for the Galaxy S21 FE ahead of its planned launch in August. Even more recently, the South Korean electronics giant told Bloomberg that it has yet to decide whether to suspend or move forward with the production of Galaxy S21 FE.
Will Galaxy S21 FE Be Another Hit For Samsung?
As a result of the global chip shortage, the Galaxy S21 is not the only device whose fate remains uncertain at the moment. The Galaxy S21 FE is still a few months away from its tentative August-September launch window, but it won’t be surprising to see a delay, or even a possible cancelation assuming the chip shortage worsens in the coming weeks. Interestingly, Samsung has neither accepted nor explicitly denied that it is facing component supply issues for the Galaxy S21 FE, which might lead to a delay in its official debut or cancelation. Another question is whether Samsung is as eager as it was last year to launch an affordable 'Fan Edition' device in 2o21.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE was praised for its appealing combination of powerful specs and an attractive asking price without cutting too many corners. However, the Galaxy S21 series lowered the price barrier in 2021, compared to the Galaxy S20 series. For example, the Galaxy S21 can currently be purchased for around $799 in the US, which further shrinks the breathing room for a Galaxy S21 FE in 2021. To differentiate its next budget flagship from the vanilla Galaxy S21 flagship, Samsung will have to position the Galaxy S21 FE in an even lower price bracket, without losing the competitive edge against the likes of iPhone 12 Mini. This is definitely not going to be an easy task, and might possibly help Samsung decide whether to move ahead with a market launch.
Then again, is also worth pointing out that the original report citing supply issues for halting the Galaxy S21 FE's production has now been pulled. What this means is unclear, but it could be an indication that Samsung might resolve its component shortage issues and go ahead with the mass production as planned. The leaked specifications of Galaxy S21 FE paint the picture of a fairly powerful phone with perks such as a 120Hz AMOLED display and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 SoC. If priced right, it could be another winner for Samsung in its key markets.