The Biggest Differences Between the Galaxy S23 FE and Galaxy S23
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE may be the latest smartphone from Samsung, but is it the best? Building on the success of the Galaxy S23 , the S23 FE offers a slightly stripped-down version of the flagship with a few missing features that you may or may not miss.
Characteristics
The Galaxy S23 and S23 FE share some similarities, as well as a few key differences. To begin with, the Galaxy S23 FE is slightly larger than the S23, but the latter comes with a newer chipset and some other features that the S23 FE doesn’t have. Here’s what the two devices look like on paper:
Characteristics of Galaxy S23:
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OS: Android 13/One UI 5.1.
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Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
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Dimensions: 5.76 by 2.79 by 0.3 inches.
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Display: 6.1-inch, resolution 2340 x 1080, frequency 120 Hz.
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Cameras: 50 MP, 12 MP, 10 MP (rear); 12 MP (front)
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Battery 3900 mAh
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Battery life (according to PCMag testing ): 13 hours 12 minutes.
Galaxy S23 FE specifications:
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OS: Android 13/One UI 5.1.
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Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
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Dimensions: 6.22 by 3.01 by 0.32 inches.
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Display: 6.4 inches, resolution 2340 x 1080, frequency 120 Hz.
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Cameras: 50 MP, 12 MP, 8 MP (rear); 10 MP (front)
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Battery 4500 mAh
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Battery life (as tested by PCMag ): 10 hours.
Display
Even though the S23 FE is a cheaper phone, it actually has a slightly larger display than the S23. The Galaxy S23 is a more compact variant in Samsung’s lineup with a 6.1-inch display. On the other hand, the S23 FE has an increased screen size to 6.4 inches.
However, size is not the only difference here. While both have the same resolution, the Galaxy S23 is made using Gorilla Glass Victus 2, the latest and strongest version of Corning glass. The Galaxy S23 FE uses 2016’s Gorilla Glass 5, which is still shatter-resistant but doesn’t offer the same level of protection as the S23’s glass. If protection is paramount, the S23 has the advantage here. (But if you’re willing to put a screen protector and/or case on your phone, this difference may not matter much.)
The Galaxy S23’s display is also rated at a maximum brightness of 1,750 nits, while the Galaxy S23 FE’s display is rated at 1,450 nits. Both are still bright enough to be seen outdoors, but the S23’s extra brightness can make a difference in direct sunlight. Additionally, while both have the same 2340 x 1080 resolution, the Galaxy S23 is smaller and has a slightly higher pixel density. To the experienced eye it may seem a little sharper, but most won’t notice it.
Battery life
PCMag extensively tested both devices to achieve the battery life figures listed above. So, both the Galaxy S23 and S23 FE should get you through the day without needing to charge unless you’re constantly playing games or browsing TikTok.
The Galaxy S23 has a 3,900 mAh battery, while the Galaxy S23 FE has a slightly larger 4,500 mAh battery. But larger size doesn’t always mean longer battery life: the FE’s larger display, for example, uses slightly more power than the S23. Both also offer wireless charging up to 15W and wired charging up to a maximum of 25W. This means you can reach 0 to 50% battery in 30 minutes and 0 to 100% in under 100 minutes on both devices, although the Galaxy S23 charges slightly faster due to its smaller size.
If you’re looking purely at battery life, the Galaxy S23 is again a winner as it offers an extra three hours of active use compared to the cheaper Galaxy S23 FE.
Cameras
The Galaxy S23 FE forgoes the usual sacrifices that mid-range devices make and offers the same camera array as the Galaxy S23. Unfortunately, these cameras aren’t enough to set it apart from its competitors (namely the impressive Pixel 7a), which I touched on in my first look at the Galaxy S23 FE .
If you’re looking for strict camera power, the Galaxy S23 is the winner here. However, the S23 FE comes in second. The biggest difference, of course, is the 10MP telephoto lens on the S23, as opposed to the 8MP telephoto lens on the S23 FE and the 12MP selfie camera on the front of the S23. The S23 FE has a 10 MP front camera with a slightly lower resolution, but both are quite suitable for taking photos in portrait mode.
While the extra two megapixels might not seem like a big difference for the rear telephoto lens, it definitely helps the Galaxy S23 take slightly better photos. The f/2.2 aperture also means it performs slightly better in low light than the S23 FE’s f/2.4 aperture. Additionally, the S23 has Samsung’s 30x Space Zoom feature, which is unfortunately missing from the cheaper Galaxy S23 FE.
Those looking for the sharpest, highest resolution photos will prefer the Galaxy S23’s improved cameras over the cheaper S23 FE options. At the end of the day, both devices suffer from Samsung’s long-standing oversaturation problems, but that’s something you can fix with a third-party program.
Performance
The Galaxy S23 has a newer processor, so its performance is slightly higher than the S23 FE. When tested on Geekbench 6 , the Galaxy S23 scored 1857 points in single-core mode and 4908 points in multi-core mode. According to NanoReview , the slightly older Galaxy S23 FE chip scored 1,564 in single-core mode and 3,750 in multi-core mode on Geekbench.
While these numbers vary, especially on multi-core processors, it all comes down to actual usage. Even with a two-year-old SoC, the Galaxy S23 FE is more than capable of handling everyday tasks. Plus, a larger display means you’ll have more room to multitask if you want to take advantage of the various multitasking capabilities Samsung has built into its devices over the years. The S23 is undoubtedly a faster phone, but that extra power only really helps with the most demanding tasks.
Bottom line
Both the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 FE are excellent devices that offer all the features that Samsung introduced in this generation. The S23 starts at $799.99 for the 8GB/128GB model and increases by $60 for the 256GB model. On the other hand, the Galaxy S23 FE starts at $599.99 for 8GB/128GB and rises to $659.99 if you want to double the storage.
My opinion is that in terms of overall value, the Galaxy S23 FE wins here. Saving $200, you still get all the Samsung features with FE. Of course, if you want the best Samsung has to offer, including the latest processor and display, then it’s the Galaxy S23. But you shouldn’t feel like you’re missing out on anything important with the S23 FE.