The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (2022) supports Expert RAW in DNG format and has no mechanical shutter — the image counter stored in each DNG file records total electronic captures. Drop an Expert RAW DNG to read it instantly.
Check Image Counter →The Galaxy S21 FE (Fan Edition, January 2022) is powered by the Snapdragon 888 (US/Korea) or Exynos 2100 (other markets) and features a triple rear camera system: a 12 MP main sensor (f/1.8, OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF), a 12 MP ultrawide (f/2.2, 123°), and an 8 MP 3× telephoto (f/2.4, OIS). The 6.4-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display supports 120 Hz refresh.
The S21 FE was Samsung’s answer to enthusiasts who wanted the S21 design language and triple camera system at a lower price point. Like all Galaxy S series smartphones, it uses CMOS electronic readout only — every capture increments the persistent image counter embedded in Expert RAW DNG files.
| Model | Release | Main Camera | Telephoto | RAW Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S21 FE | 2022 | 12 MP f/1.8, OIS | 8 MP 3×, f/2.4, OIS | Expert RAW (DNG) |
| Galaxy S21 | 2021 | 12 MP f/1.8, OIS | 64 MP 3× crop-zoom, f/2.0 | Expert RAW (DNG) |
| Galaxy S21+ | 2021 | 12 MP f/1.8, OIS | 64 MP 3× crop-zoom, f/2.0 | Expert RAW (DNG) |
| Galaxy S23 FE | 2023 | 50 MP f/1.8, OIS | 8 MP 3×, f/2.4, OIS | Expert RAW (DNG) |
DCIM/Expert RAW..dng file to your computer.| What to Check | How |
|---|---|
| Battery health | Settings → Battery and device care → Battery. The 4500 mAh battery degrades with charge cycles; aim for >80% |
| Display condition | Inspect the 6.4-inch AMOLED for burn-in (display a white screen or checkerboard pattern) and dead pixels |
| Camera lenses | Test all three cameras in daylight and low light; verify OIS on the main and telephoto by shooting at 1/30 s |
| Chipset variant | Check Settings → About phone → Software information to confirm Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100 |
| Image counter | High counter (>30,000) suggests intensive camera use — not a hardware failure indicator |
The S23 FE (2023) brings a significant main camera upgrade: a 50 MP sensor replaces the S21 FE’s 12 MP, with meaningfully improved low-light performance and sharpness. Both FE models use the same 8 MP 3× optical telephoto. The S23 FE uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or Exynos 2200, delivering better GPU performance and improved video encoding.
For used buyers prioritising value, the S21 FE is a strong pick: flagship-tier Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100, true optical zoom telephoto, and the same OIS on the main camera — at a fraction of the original retail price.
No. The S21 FE uses CMOS electronic readout across all three cameras. There is no focal-plane shutter and no rated mechanical lifespan.
Active photographers may accumulate 20,000–40,000 captures per year. The counter indicates usage intensity but has no bearing on hardware wear — inspect battery health, screen, and camera lenses when evaluating a used unit.
No. The image counter is stored in persistent hardware memory and cannot be reset by any user action.
For camera output and DNG image counters, the chipset variant makes no difference. Both deliver the same camera experience and identical RAW files. The Snapdragon variant tends to run slightly cooler under sustained gaming loads, but this does not affect photography performance.