Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Review: Flagship experience at a cut-down price

Pros
– Vibrant Super AMOLED, 120Hz display
– Cameras almost as good as the Galaxy S23
– 8K recording
– Solid performance
– Samsung’s software policy

Cons
– 25W charging, with no charging brick in the box
– Exynos SoC offered in India may be off-putting for some people
– Could have been priced a little better
– Bezels are a bit thicker than other options at this pricepoint

Price: Rs 59,999 for the base 8GB + 128GB variant
Rating: 4/5

When it comes to Android flagships and ultra-premium devices, Samsung’s Galaxy S series has been the safest bet for a lot of users, as well as tech enthusiasts. For this reason, their FE or Fan Edition devices have also been a pretty respectable line of smartphones, especially for people who want to enjoy the best that the mainstream Galaxy S series, but don’t want to spend S-series-like money on a smartphone.

This year’s Galaxy S23 series was truly something special. It set the yardstick for all premium, flagship Android devices this year. With the Galaxy S23 FE, Samsung hopes it tries to replicate the success of the S20 FE. The SS0 FE was a cracker of a device that tech reviewers and enthusiasts wholeheartedly recommended to anyone looking for a no-nonsense smartphone. The S21 FE was again, a pretty solid device, but did not find as many takers. As a result, there was no S22 FE.

So does the S23 FE live up to the lofty standards that the S20 FE set? Where does the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE 5G stand? Is it a solid choice for its price, or is it a device that, like the S21 FE will be ignored, given the options people have now? We find out.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE 5G review: The design
At a quick glance, it’s not easy to spot any disparities in the appearance of the Galaxy S23 and the Galaxy S23 FE, which is intentional. However, when you pick up the FE model, you can tell that Samsung has used more budget-friendly materials. Unlike the standard S23, which boasts Gorilla Glass Victus 2, the Galaxy S23 FE settles for Gorilla Glass 5. It does maintain an IP68 water resistance rating, matching the S23 and surpassing the Galaxy A54’s IP67 rating.

The rear of the Galaxy S23 FE closely resembles Samsung’s flagship devices, featuring vertically aligned cameras that are seamlessly integrated without any noticeable camera bump. It offers a minimalist look that emphasizes the phone’s colour options.

Speaking of colours, Samsung offers a choice of colours including mint, purple, graphite, and cream, which are a bit more vibrant compared to the S23’s more subdued hues. You also get two special editions of the S23 FE in blue and orange. These coloured back panels are protected by a layer of glass and reinforced with Gorilla Glass 5. The unit we tested, was in purple.

The midframe is constructed from aluminium, but unlike the regular Galaxy S23, there are no claims of using recycled metals. It has a satin-like finish, which also extends to the buttons. While the frame is curved and feels smooth to the touch, it forms sharp edges along the back, making the phone somewhat uncomfortable to hold for extended periods.

One noticeable difference with the S23 FE is that the camera lenses protrude a bit more from the back of the phone. As a result, there’s a slight wobble when you place the Galaxy S23 FE on its back.

The Galaxy S23 FE is larger in both height and width compared to the standard S23. This accommodates its larger 6.4-inch display, whereas the S23 keeps it more compact at 6.1 inches. However, this also means that the S23 FE might be harder to handle for individuals with smaller hands, especially since it weighs 209 grams, making it feel somewhat heavy.

On the plus side, the Galaxy S23 FE offers excellent water and dust resistance, boasting an IP68 rating.

Overall, the Galaxy S23 FE has a premium look and feel, except for the occasional discomfort it may cause when held too tightly. While we appreciate Samsung’s design approach across all its devices this year, it might be wise to reserve it for its premium range and have something different for its more budget options. It’s essential for Samsung to differentiate between a device that costs Rs 20,000 and one that costs Rs 60,000 for its long-term success.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE 5G review: The display
The Galaxy S23 FE boasts a 6.4-inch Dynamic 2X AMOLED display. Dynamic 2X is a term coined by Samsung to describe displays with a high 120Hz refresh rate and support for 100 per cent of the DCI-P3 color gamut. In simpler terms, these screens are incredibly vibrant and offer the most vivid colors you can find on a smartphone, although the colours on the S23 FE’s display may not appear as vibrant as the S23. It also shines with a peak brightness of up to 1450 nits, allowing you to use it even in the brightest sunlight without visibility issues.

One minor difference between the Galaxy S23 series and the Galaxy S23 FE is the absence of an LTPO switch in the latter. This means the display’s refresh rate doesn’t adapt to the content actively. It reverts to 60Hz when not in use to conserve battery, as a smoother 120Hz refresh rate display consumes more power. While the Galaxy S23 FE’s display is slightly less bright than the more premium Galaxy S23 series, you wouldn’t notice a significant difference unless you’re comparing them side by side. The Galaxy S23 FE remains easily visible even in bright outdoor conditions, making it practical in harsh lighting.

What’s hard to miss, though, are the relatively large bezels around the FE’s display, particularly at the bottom. For context, the Galaxy S23 Plus has similar dimensions but sports a larger 6.6-inch display, while the Galaxy S23, with its similarly sized 6.4-inch display, occupies less space in the hand. These bezels might make the Galaxy S23 FE a bit less appealing compared to its more premium counterparts or other flagship phones. .

The phone also features an in-display fingerprint scanner, which is faster than most A-series models but might be slightly slower than Samsung’s flagship series. This is because the FE uses an optical fingerprint scanner, which relies on light to scan and detect the ridges on your fingers. In contrast, the Galaxy S23 (and all Samsung Galaxy S series phones starting with the S10) uses an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, which employs sound pulses to scan fingerprints, making it generally more accurate and capable of working with dirty fingers. However, most smartphones still use optical fingerprint scanners, so you won’t feel at a disadvantage here.

If you’re not too concerned about the technical details, the display performs admirably in any lighting condition. Finally, it lacks Dolby Vision, but has Samsung’s HDR10+ codec instead.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE 5G review: The camera
The Galaxy S23 FE brings some noteworthy camera upgrades compared to its predecessors. It sports a beefy 50MP primary rear camera, a significant bump from the previous 12MP shooters found on earlier FE models. Furthermore, it packs an 8MP camera for 3x optical zoom and a 12MP ultra-wide camera.

When it comes to taking photos in daylight, the Galaxy S23 FE performs admirably, although it doesn’t quite match the top-tier quality of the Galaxy S23 or Galaxy Z Fold 5. You’ll get excellent detail and accurate colours. By default, photos are saved as 12MP shots, but you can switch to 50MP to capture more detail in landscape shots. The phone’s tendency to amp up colours can be a plus in certain situations, although the HDR performance can be a bit hit or miss.

The camera’s not-so-quick shutter can lead to motion blur when capturing moving subjects. To mitigate this, you can use the Motion Photo feature, but it automatically selects the best shot instead of giving you the choice. For more control over your images, consider using the Pro Mode.

In low-light conditions and at night, the camera still delivers good results. It’s smart enough to activate Night Mode on its own when needed, although it can sometimes go overboard with noise reduction. If that’s a concern, you can manually turn off automatic Night mode by tapping the crescent moon icon above the zoom buttons.

The 3x zoom camera performs decently well, whether you’re taking regular pictures or portraits. Colors look pleasing, and the dynamic range is good. However, zoomed-in shots from the S23 FE tend to come out a bit soft, whether you’re at 3x or 30x.

Regarding video capabilities, the Galaxy S23 FE borrows several features from the main Galaxy S23 lineup, including support for 8K video, thanks to the 50MP primary camera. Video quality remains consistent across the three rear cameras, with the primary camera delivering the best results, especially when shooting 4K videos at 60 fps.

As for the selfie camera, the Galaxy S23 FE has transitioned from a 32MP sensor to a 10MP sensor. Despite the lower megapixel count, this isn’t a downgrade; instead, it’s a higher-quality sensor similar to what’s found in Samsung’s flagship phones. The front camera also does remarkably well at taking portraits, although the edge detection can occasionally be a bit wonky.

Check out a few sample photos taken using the Galaxy S23 FE, here.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE 5G review: The performance, software experience and UI
The Galaxy S23 FE is equipped with the Exynos 2200 chipset in most markets, which has stirred up some controversy due to the less-than-ideal track record of Exynos chips in recent years and the reported efficiency and heating problems with the Exynos 2200 in the Galaxy S22 series. However, in the United States, the S23 FE comes with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.

Surprisingly, despite the Exynos chip, the device’s performance is quite commendable, handling most tasks with ease. What’s more, it manages to stay cool during operation, thanks to a larger vapor chamber, and can maintain high frame rates for extended periods when playing games.

One notable omission on the Galaxy S23 FE is the absence of the new UFS 4.0 storage technology. Instead, it sticks with the older UFS 3.1 standard for both the 128GB and 256GB variants, without the option of expanding storage with a microSD card.

In contrast, the Galaxy S23 series uses UFS 4.0 for the models with 256GB or more storage. Nevertheless, in everyday use, the difference between UFS 3.1 and 4.0 isn’t all that noticeable.

The S23 FE performs well in benchmark tests and daily usage. It smoothly handles multitasking, although some issues may crop up during extended gaming sessions. Games like Asphalt 9 and Call of Duty Mobile run effortlessly at medium settings, consistently achieving 45-60fps. However, after about half an hour of gaming, the device does warm up a bit, but not to a level that should be concerning.

Whether you’re switching between multiple apps, browsing with multiple tabs open in the Chrome browser, recording and editing videos, or indulging in gaming sessions, Samsung’s Exynos 2200 chipset handles it all without any signs of lag or overheating, even during prolonged periods of gaming or media streaming.

As for the user interface, we get a clean and organized experience, with just a few bloatware. Beyond the pre-installed Google services and Samsung apps, only a handful of additional apps like Netflix, Spotify, and Samsung Global Goals are included.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE 5G review: The battery life
The Galaxy S23 FE boasts a 4,500 mAh battery, which may not break any records in terms of battery life, but it’s definitely sufficient to see you through a full day of usage. It handles a mix of basic tasks like social media browsing and checking emails, as well as some moderately demanding activities such as taking photos and watching videos.

At 70 per cent brightness, you can comfortably enjoy more than 9-10 hours of screen-on time and over 18 hours of overall usage. In our regular usage, we texted, made calls, had a few photography sessions, surfed the web, played a few video games, checked emails, attended office conference calls, and, of course, indulged in some video binge-watching.

The S23 FE offers versatile charging options, including wireless charging, reverse wireless charging, and 25W wired charging. Naturally, wired charging is the fastest method – it takes about 90 minutes to go from a completely depleted battery to a full 100 per cent, and you’ll hit 50 per cent in the first 30 minutes.

Furthermore, the phone’s Wireless Power Share feature allows you to charge up your accessories like wireless earbuds by using the Galaxy S23 FE as a wireless charger itself. Place your accessories on the back of the phone, and they’ll juice up.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE 5G review: The verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is a pretty solid smartphone and embodies the spirit of the S23 series in a more cut-down price. However, priced at Rs 60,000 for the base variant, it faces some really tough competition, sometimes even from Samsung’s own offerings. The Galaxy A54, for example, is a solid choice.

The S23 FE would be great for someone who would like to have a similar camera experience as the S23, but wouldn’t want to pay the price of the S23. However, given how budget smartphones have improved their camera offerings in the last two years, Samsung finds itself in a sticky situation with the S23 FE.

Having said that, there are a number of reasons why one would be inclined to go for the S23 FE. Apart from a seriously good camera array, it has a premium build and design and a pretty awesome display.

Additionally, Samsung has committed to providing four major Android updates and five years of security updates, ensuring long-term software support.

Priced at Rs 59,999, the Galaxy S23 FE might come off as a tad expensive at first. However, there are certain aspects where the higher cost makes sense. Still, if the Galaxy S23 FE were positioned with a more competitive price point, avoiding direct competition with its current rivals, it would be a much easier recommendation to make without any hesitations. Nevertheless, the Galaxy S23 FE stands as a reliable option for individuals in search of a capable and stylish device.