Samsung Galaxy S23 FE review

Summary

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE offers a premium experience at a more affordable price point compared to the Galaxy S23. It features a glass back, a 6.4-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, and IP68 dust and water resistance. Powered by last year's flagship chipset, it delivers solid performance but with some thermal management issues. The 4500mAh battery provides over 9 hours of active use, and the phone supports 25W fast charging. The camera setup, including a 50MP main camera, captures detailed photos with vibrant colors. The S23 FE is a well-rounded choice, especially for those seeking a balance between cost and high-end features.

Takeaways

• 📱 The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is positioned as a more affordable premium alternative to the Galaxy S flagships.
• 🎨 It features a glass back and a matte aluminum frame, available in a striking Purple colorway with a silver accent.
• 🔍 The phone is notably heavier than its predecessor, the S21 FE, by over 30 grams.
• 💧 It offers IP68-rated protection against dust and water, ensuring durability.
• 🖥 The 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED display has a 1080p resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ support but has thicker bezels than flagship models.
• 🔊 The S23 FE boasts improved stereo speakers with enhanced bass and sound quality compared to the S21 FE.
• 🔐 It utilizes an under-display fingerprint scanner for quick and reliable security.
• 📲 Storage options are 128GB or 256GB, non-expandable via microSD, similar to previous models.
• 📊 The phone is powered by either an Exynos 2200 or Snapdragon 8 gen 1 chipset, depending on the market.
• 🔋 The 4500mAh battery provides an active use score of 9 hours and 45 minutes, with 25W fast charging support but no included charger.
• 📸 The camera setup includes a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide, and an 8MP 3x telephoto, offering good detail and color reproduction in various lighting conditions.

Q & A

What is the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE's position in the market compared to the regular S23?

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is positioned as a more affordable, yet still premium alternative to the true Galaxy S flagships.

What are the design updates in the Galaxy S23 FE compared to the S21 FE?

The Galaxy S23 FE has a glass back instead of a plastic one, a matte aluminum frame, and is heavier by over 30 grams compared to the previous model.

What is the display specification of the S23 FE?

The S23 FE features a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with 1080p resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate.

How does the S23 FE's display compare to the previous model in terms of protection?

The S23 FE has Gorilla Glass 5 on the front, which is a downgrade from the Gorilla Glass Victus used in the previous model.

What is the battery capacity of the S23 FE and how does it perform in terms of active use?

The S23 FE has a 4500 mAh battery and achieved an active use score of 9 hours and 45 minutes in tests.

What are the differences in the camera setup between the S23 FE and the S23?

The S23 FE has a similar camera setup to the S23, but the zoom camera uses an 8MP sensor instead of the 10MP one found on the S23.

How does the S23 FE perform in terms of thermal management during stress tests?

The S23 FE showed significant throttling in the CPU and unimpressive GPU performance stability during prolonged stress tests.

What is the charging capability of the S23 FE and does it come with a charger?

The S23 FE supports 25 watt fast charging and, like its predecessors, does not come with a charger in the box.

What are the software features and updates承诺 for the S23 FE?

The S23 FE runs on Samsung's OneUI 5.1 over Android 13, with upcoming updates to OneUI 6 and Android 14. It is promised to receive up to 4 years of OS upgrades and 5 years of security patches.

How does the S23 FE's selfie camera compare to the previous model?

The S23 FE's 10MP selfie camera does not have autofocus but still delivers excellent quality with plenty of detail, good contrast, and dynamic range.

Should potential buyers consider the regular S23 over the S23 FE considering the price difference?

In markets where the price difference between the S23 and the S23 FE is not significant, buyers might consider the higher-end S23 for its smaller screen and other potential advantages.