Samsung's Galaxy S21 FE has a delayed launch, given that its predecessor, the Galaxy S20 FE, was released in October 2020. But that doesn't mean it won't be worth the wait when Samsung's new mid-range smartphone finally arrives.

We're hearing that the Galaxy S21 FE will launch in January, bringing improved specs and Android 12 at the same $699 starting price as the previous model. However, other rumors suggest that the price will be higher than expected. Then again, the excellent Google Pixel 6 starts at just $599, so it looks like Samsung will have to bring its A-game if it wants to make our best smartphones list.

Based on a fairly large amount of leaks and rumors, here are the five major upgrades we expect for the Galaxy S21 FE.

The new Galaxy S21 FE should offer higher performance thanks to the Snapdragon 888 chip it is rumored to feature. According to a leak from a Chinese TENAA-certified site, the Galaxy S21 FE will feature 8GB of RAM, a notable jump up from the S20 FE's 6GB of RAM.

According to this same certification, the Galaxy S21 FE will be available in 128GB and 256GB storage options. The previous model had 128GB. [The S20 FE has a 6.5-inch OLED panel, so on the surface the Galaxy S21 FE's rumored 6.4-inch FHD display would appear to be a downgrade.

However, the new S21 FE is expected to feature the same 120Hz refresh rate as its predecessor, but with a dynamic panel that can automatically adjust the rate. This could significantly reduce battery life. The regular Galaxy S21 could be clocked down from 120Hz to 48Hz, which is what we expect here.

The Chinese certification list for the Galaxy S21 FE lists three rear cameras consisting of a 32MP main lens, a 12MP ultrawide, and an 8MP telephoto (30x space zoom). The previous S20 FE had a 12MP, 12MP, and 8MP setup. Nevertheless, new spec leaks indicate that the S21 FE will not have this camera upgrade.

The front camera is again suggested to offer a sharp 32MP resolution. We expect Samsung to step up its computational photography game with better image quality and AI capabilities that rival the likes of the Pixel 6.

Appropriate for the younger demographic, the Galaxy S21 FE is said to come in four colors. It will reportedly be available in black, white, lavender, and green.

Additionally, the S21 FE will reportedly feature the same Contour Cut design introduced by the Galaxy S21 on its rear camera. Thanks to the Contour Cut, the camera array blends in nicely as it wraps around the sides of the phone.

The Galaxy S21 FE may have a smaller battery than its predecessor, at 4,370 mAh, according to one leak. This would put it behind the Galaxy S20 FE's 4,500 mAh pack, but it remains to be seen what the final specs will be.

However, the FCC listing (via SamMobile) points to the possibility of 45W fast charging, which would be an upgrade over the S20 FE's 25W charging.

At least on paper, the Galaxy S21 FE does not appear to be a major upgrade from the Galaxy S20 FE. The biggest upgrades based on rumors seem to be a processor, a more dynamic 120Hz display, faster charging, and a sleeker design.

However, Samsung should fill in the gaps when the Galaxy S21 FE launches, especially around camera capabilities. We will provide more details as they become available.