Smartphone reviewSamsung Galaxy S23 FE: The fan edition is back - but is relatively pricey
Smartphone review
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE: The fan edition is back - but is relatively pricey
Samsung has launched another sub-series of its flagship device, which is very similar to the premium versions, but with some slight compromises and a price that is not attractive enough, says Itai Smuskowitz, CTech's smartphone critic
Top Line
On the face of it, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is a kind of imitation or a slightly weaker version of the S23, which on the outside looks like the real thing. In practice, it feels very close and sometimes even identical to other models in the series and it will certainly be sufficient for most uses and for most consumers.
The slight differences in hardware and structure lead to a relatively slight difference in price as well - the FE can cost over $700, depending on the storage volume, and is slightly cheaper than the basic model of the S23. However, the price is too close to a full flagship device and one would have expected a bigger discount. In addition, there are already plenty of rumors and leaks regarding the next generation, the S24, which should be released in about a month. So, those who would like to equip themselves with a flagship device would perhaps prefer to wait, and on the other hand, those who would like to save on the price would prefer... also to wait, for discounts on the S23 models.
Bottom line, the FE provides good performance, good design and good protection, but the price is not attractive enough, at least for now.
Details
Rumors of the death of Samsung's FE model smartphone were premature. There was no S22 FE last year and there were estimations that the company had abandoned the idea, but this year it came back with the S23 FE.
What is this even about? FE stands for Fan Edition, when according to Samsung after the launch of S devices, its flagship series, the company "heard the feedback from consumers" and put together a new model with all the features they liked. It may sound like a premium plus - an edition for die-hard fans who will agree to pay more for premium features, but in reality it is actually a premium minus device, a device that is very similar to its big brother, with some compromises and a lower price.
Structure and design: Welcome to the family
Externally, you immediately notice the family resemblance—the design of the S23 FE continues that of the entire S23 series, and the physical feel is also similar and nearly identical. The corners are rounded, the device feels solid, a little heavy, and exhibits good build and assembly quality. The back is made of glass that feels very smooth, and three lenses stand out from the body of the device.
The first difference is also physical, but not very noticeable: the screen is 6.4 inches, bigger than the basic S23 but smaller than the Plus and Ultra versions.
These similarities apply to other characteristics: the FE weighs 209 grams, a little heavier than the basic S23 and the Plus, and less than the Ultra. In practice, it feels relatively heavy, but not excessively so—it's still comfortable to hold and carry around in your pocket.
As mentioned, it feels solid and durable, but even here, there is a compromise—the glass on the front and back is "only" Gorilla Glass 5, compared to Victus 2 in its sibling series. In terms of sensitivity to dust and water, there is no difference, and the FE also meets the IP68 standard, which should ensure very good protection for the device.
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Hardware: a little less on paper, but the difference is not really noticeable
The flagship devices include the most powerful processors, i.e., Snapdragon 8 generation 2 or at least generation 1, but the FE presents a compromise here as well—Samsung integrated its Exynos 2200 processor here, which is also found in some S22 models from last year. On paper, there are differences; in practice, most consumers will not feel them, at least most of the time. The phone responds quickly to every action, apps load swiftly, and there are no problems even with relatively heavy games. The FE's screen is excellent, with brightness strong enough for reading and operating in daylight.
The phone comes with a memory of 8 gigabytes, and you can choose between 128 gigabytes or 256 gigabytes of storage. As usual with many devices from recent years, there is no slot for a memory card, no headphone jack, and the device kit does not include a charger or adapter for headphones. On the positive side, there is an eSim that you can use when traveling abroad. The speakers are fine, nothing more—not particularly successful, and it is better to use headphones or a Bluetooth speaker.
The battery is also along the lines of the other models of the S23 series. In the FE, it is a 4,500 mAh battery, more than the basic S23, which is enough for a full day of work. The device supports charging with a power of 25 watts, less than what you will find in cheaper Xiaomi devices, for example, but enough to charge about 50% in half an hour.
Software and interface: one of the first models to receive an upgrade
The FE arrived with Android 13 and version 5.1 of Samsung's One UI interface, which during the test was updated to version 6. Those who are familiar with the interface on Samsung devices will not find any major changes here. There is a slightly more convenient method for moving apps between screens or to rearrange photos, changing the resolution while shooting is more accessible and faster, but the basis remains the same - the apps are arranged in an "app drawer" with widget shortcuts on the main screens.
Camera: friendly and successful
As mentioned, the FE is equipped with 3 lenses, and they offer a 50-megapixel sensor for wide-angle photography, an 8-megapixel sensor with X3 optical zoom and a 12-megapixel sensor for ultra-wide-angle photography, and there is also a selfie camera with a 10-megapixel sensor.
The transition between the shooting modes is a little friendlier, as mentioned, thanks to the upgrade of One UI, both in stills and in video, and the results do not embarrass the family - it is not the highest quality, but the results are overall very good, with realistic colors and are not exaggerated or highlighted. The camera also detects on its own when it is necessary to switch to night mode, and even then the images are sharp and successful.
