The Galaxy S21 FE is one of the most anticipated devices from Samsung this year after the success of last years Galaxy S20 FE. The phone was rumoured to launch in Q3 of this year but a report from Korea now suggests that the device might be jeopardised by the global chip shortage.
According to a report by ETNews (which has now been deleted), Samsung have suspended production of the S21 FE due to a lack of processors. On June 11, Samsung supply partners were apparently informed that the manufacturer was going to suspend production of S21 FE parts and were going to cancel orders for various materials. The partners reportedly believe that this decision means a withdrawal of the S21 FE launch.
Samsung was rumoured to use the Snapdragon 888 chipset for the new device but there might not be enough chips to go around. “I know that Samsung has allocated Qualcomm APs [application processors – ed] to foldable phones and suspended the FE model because there is not enough semiconductors,” an industry source told ETNews. “After getting approval for mass production, each company started production, but there was an unprecedented issue of stopping.”
Samsung has told outlet Android Authority that they do not comment on rumours and speculations when asked about the halting of production but Samsung also told Bloomberg in a separate response that no decision has been made about the upcoming device. “While we cannot discuss details of the unreleased product, nothing has been determined regarding the alleged production suspension.”
If production has indeed been stopped, it is possible that it will resume but halting production will result in a delay. Samsung will only be able to resume production if they address the chip shortage that is supposedly the reason for stopping the production. Qualcomm had previously stated however that this chip delay could last till late 2021 and Intel says that the delay could last a couple of years. If this report is true, we may not get to see a Galaxy S21 FE in Q3, or at all for that matter.
