Galaxy S23 FE Tries, but Fails, to Stand Out From the Crowd
Samsung’s FE line has always tried to find a balance between expensive, feature-rich flagships and low-budget devices filled with compromises. But with so many other options in this mid-range segment, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE faces an uphill battle – a battle made even tougher by stiff competition from the Pixel 7a. Unfortunately, in my opinion, this is not enough to get ahead.
Increased competition
Part of what should make the Galaxy S23 FE so attractive are the features it borrows from its more expensive siblings in the main Galaxy flagship lineup. The FE, or Fan Edition, aims to offer a better camera setup than most mid-range devices in its price range, while eliminating some of the other features that drive up the price of more expensive smartphones in the market.
In fact, I’ve often found it easiest to view the FE series as Samsung’s version of the A-series Pixel. While the Pixel 7a offers many of the same features as the more expensive flagship Pixels, it lacks many of the “enthusiast” features to help keep the price down.
While the Galaxy S23 FE has a lot going for it (like a dedicated telephoto lens), the Pixel 7a is much cheaper and offers better photos on average, so the S23 FE’s one big plus seems minor.
Characteristics
That doesn’t mean the Galaxy S23 FE isn’t worth it. The $599 phone comes with a host of features, including a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with a 2340 x 1080 resolution and a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz. It’s also powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (or Exynos 2200, depending on where you buy it from).
Samsung only packs 8GB of RAM in this phone, and the maximum storage capacity is only 256GB, with no expandability. However, there is a 4,500mAh battery, which should mean long battery life. Here is a complete list of main characteristics:
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Display: 6.4-inch AMOLED (2340 x 1080; 120 Hz)
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Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/Exynos 2200
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RAM: 8 GB
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Memory: 128 GB, 256 GB / non-expandable.
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Cameras: main 50 MP (f/1.8), ultra-wide-angle 12 MP (f/2.2), telephoto 8 MP (f/2.4) with 3x optical zoom at the rear, front 10 MP (f/2. 4).
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Charging speed: 25W
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Battery size: 4500 mAh
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Size: 6.2 x 3 x 0.32 inches (158 x 76.5 x 8.2 mm)
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Weight: 7.37 ounces (209 grams)
There’s nothing wrong with these specs, especially on a $600 phone. And compared to other models in the same price range (or cheaper), the main difference is the telephoto lens. However, this strength is often undermined by inconsistent image quality , which can easily make photos look overexposed and oversaturated.
Problems with the camera are not unique to the 23 FE. Issues such as saturation are seen across all Galaxy devices . It’s not the end of the world, but compared to the more balanced photos taken by the Pixel 7a (and other Pixels, for that matter), the differences are stark.
The lack of expandable memory also seems to be a huge drawback here. Samsung even offers an expandable SD card in its cheaper Galaxy A54, so why not use it in the more expensive S23 FE?
How does the S23 FE compare with the S23?
Since the Galaxy S23 is $200 cheaper than the Galaxy S23, choosing the S23 FE’s larger display might seem like a no-brainer. But a decision based solely on price and display size may come back to bite you in the long run. The S23 FE is taller than the regular S23, allowing for extra screen real estate, and the FE is also slightly heavier than the base 23, weighing in at 7.37 ounces compared to the S23’s six ounces. This may not seem like much, but every difference here makes a difference when you’re using your phone with one hand.
The extra bulk and size of the S23 FE means it’s not as comfortable for small hands as the Galaxy S23. While we won’t do a full comparison here, there are a lot of features missing between the two. Add to that the fact that you can often find deals on the Galaxy S23 that bring it closer to the same price as the S23 FE, and there’s not much reason to choose the FE.
The S23 FE continues to be a solid phone.
Ultimately, the Galaxy S23 FE is still a good phone. The main problem here is not that Samsung has gotten lazy or its line-up has deteriorated, but that competition in this area has become fierce. Now Samsung is even competing with itself by placing the cheaper Galaxy A54 and S23 FE so close to each other.
The Galaxy S23 FE is still a smartphone designed for those who want a camera more similar to the flagship Galaxy S23 series without having to pay for a more expensive flagship variant. However, as I said above, mid-range phones like the S23 FE have gotten better in every way, meaning that a slightly better camera isn’t enough to make a device stand out from the rest of the options you can find at this price point.
If you love Samsung as a brand and can’t justify paying an extra $200 for the Galaxy S23, the S23 FE is a good alternative and will even give you access to Android 14 later this year thanks to Samsung’s promised four years of support. But it’s hard not to look around and think: “Is there something even better on the market for this money?”