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A Samsung phone, likely Galaxy S21 FE, just hit the FCC

Passing through the FCC is usually a sign that a smartphone's release is imminent.
By
June 30, 2021
Samsung Galaxy S21 camera macro 1
David Imel / Android Authority
TL;DR
  • A Samsung phone just passed through the FCC, and it looks very likely it could be the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE.
  • The phone supports mmWave connections and has the model number SM-G990U, which has been rumored to be the S21 FE.
  • A phone passing through the FCC is a sign that a smartphone’s release in the US is coming very soon.

Samsung has a lot of products in the works. It has two foldables — the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 — as well as a new smartwatch that will feature a brand new operating system.

It also has the “Fan Edition” of the Samsung Galaxy S21 in the works. However, we still have no idea when it will launch. Thankfully, it looks like it won’t be that much longer because a phone that seems to be the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE just flew through the FCC.

Related: Samsung Galaxy S21 FE: What we know so far

The FCC site just published a certification page for a phone with model number SM-G990U. This has long been rumored to be connected to the Galaxy S21 FE. As a side note, the Galaxy S21 in the US is model number SM-G991U, so that just makes it seem even more likely.

The FCC documents also show that the phone in question supports mmWave 5G connections. This is good news for anyone who may have been worried that the Galaxy S21 FE would be Sub6 only.

Also apparent in the listing is the presence of the Snapdragon 888 SoC (Snapdragon SM8350), Wi-Fi 6 support, Bluetooth 5.0 support, NFC, and Wireless Power Transfer which also suggest wireless charging. The device may also feature 45W charging support as suggested below.

While the Galaxy Z Fold 3 will support MST according to its own FCC listing, we couldn’t find any mention of MST support for the presumed S21 FE.

A phone passing through the FCC is a surefire sign that a full launch is imminent. It’s possible we could see the S21 FE — and thus, everything else Samsung has in store — at some point in July or early August.