Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Review: Awkward Arrival

Value When Reviewed

From $579.99

Finest Costs In the present day: Samsung Galaxy S23 FE

$549.99

Samsung launched the Galaxy S23 FE, its extra reasonably priced various to the Galaxy S23, proper on the finish of 2023. It was a little bit of a curious determination with the Galaxy S24 mere months away, whereas on the time of writing, now we’ve got a assessment pattern, the mid-range Galaxy A55 is upon us.

There’s clearly nonetheless a niche out there for a cellphone just like the Galaxy S23 FE (fan version), providing specs that vaguely approximate a flagship for a lesser value. However the competitors within the £/$500 to £/$600 value class is a powerful and diverse bunch.

With respectable efficiency, a vibrant show, and flagship options like wi-fi charging and a devoted telephoto digicam, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE nonetheless has lots to supply. There are query marks regarding whether or not it’s sufficient, nevertheless.

Take a look at the competitors in our choose of the perfect mid-range telephones.

Design & Construct

• Related glass-and-aluminium design to Galaxy S23, however a lot bigger
• Extra liable to nicks than Galaxy S23
• Chunky bezels however IP68 rated

As befits its identify, Samsung has broadly caught to the Galaxy S23’s design language with the Galaxy S23 FE. It’s greater, bulkier, and usually much less refined, nevertheless it in any other case appears to be like very comparable.

Certainly, at 158 x 76.5 x 8.2mm and weighing 209g, the Galaxy S23 FE is greater and heavier than even the Galaxy S23 Plus. From a design perspective, the Galaxy S23 FE is solely much less wieldy than its brothers.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

It’s good to see that Samsung hasn’t been tempted to revert to plastic with the S23 FE. You’re nonetheless getting glass (although Gorilla Glass 5 quite than Victus 2) to the back and front, along with an aluminium body. The latter isn’t the Galaxy S23’s Armour Aluminium, although, so it’s not as robust.

Mentioned aluminium body is barely curved however with a pronounced edge that runs completely flush with the show and rear glass panel. I can solely communicate anecdotally right here, however there are indicators that it’s considerably liable to beauty harm, and never merely as a result of the body’s form and easy end make it really feel a little bit slippery.

I famous a ding on the nook of the handset early on in my time with the cellphone. I initially assumed this was from whoever had been testing the cellphone previous to me, as I hadn’t dropped or clattered the cellphone through the day or two I had spent with the cellphone as much as that time.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Subsequently, nevertheless, the cellphone did undergo a minor spill (I’m undecided it even certified as a drop) onto a wood desk from no increased than a foot within the air, after which I discovered a few recent albeit small marks on the body. Was that first ding a pre-existing situation in any case, or is the Galaxy S23 FE body significantly liable to nicks and scrapes?

It’s inconceivable to name it both method with any certainty, however I’d actually be serious about investing in a case if this was my cellphone.

In any other case, probably the most notable concession to cost within the Galaxy S23 FE’s design is its chunky bezels and an particularly giant chin. Conversely, you continue to get a full IP68 mud and water resistance score, which isn’t a given at this value. The Nothing Cellphone (2) solely provides an IP54 score, for instance.

Display & Audio system

• 6.4in Dynamic AMOLED
• Full HD+ decision
• 120Hz refresh fee

The Galaxy S23 FE’s show occupies the center floor within the vary at 6.4in. It’s a pleasant dimension, providing an ample however not overwhelming canvas.

Samsung is a dab hand with AMOLED know-how by this level, and the Galaxy S23 FE outputs vibrant color. You would possibly need to reign these in a little bit by switching to the Pure display screen mode, although the default Vivid look clearly has its followers.

Even within the extra restrained Pure mode, this isn’t strictly probably the most color correct show I’ve seen, even at this value. With a 98.6% sRGB gamut protection and a mean Delta E of 1.94, it’s removed from dangerous, however ‘punched up’ is certainly a phrase that springs to thoughts.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

The display screen’s 1080 x 2340 decision, along with a easy 120Hz peak refresh fee, locations it proper up there with the remainder of the S23 vary, although a acknowledged 1450 nits peak brightness drops it a little bit quick. You continue to get help for HDR10+ content material, although.

With autobrightness turned off, I discovered the highest brightness setting to be a reasonably meagre 394 nits. It’s comfy to have a look at even if you’re indoors, whereas most true flagships will want dropping down for a snug low-light viewing expertise.

It’s a disgrace Samsung has opted for a shiny hole-punch selfie digicam mounting. It’s distracting, and it additionally resembles the method taken with cheaper telephones.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

All-in-all, it is a fairly respectable show for the cash, although the equally priced Nothing Cellphone (2) show will get barely brighter, and is a extra superior LTPO panel to regulate the refresh fee all the way down to 1Hz to avoid wasting energy.

For the Galaxy S23 FE’s audio output, Samsung provides a stable set of stereo audio system; one on the underside fringe of the cellphone, and one within the earpiece. They get extraordinarily loud between them, although the piercing highs and insubstantial lows could make straying a lot past two-thirds quantity considerably uncomfortable on the ears.

Specs & Efficiency

• Exynos 2200 chipset
• 8GB of RAM
• 128- or 256GB storage

Samsung has rolled again a lot of the great work it did with the preliminary Galaxy S23 vary by reverting to its personal customized silicon. The place each different mannequin went with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the Galaxy S23 FE runs on the Exynos 2200 from the S22+ and S22 Extremely.

It’s a flat-out inferior chip, producing method decrease CPU and GPU benchmark scores. In truth, it scores far nearer to (and certainly barely behind) the Nothing Cellphone (2) with its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1.

Taken in isolation, nevertheless, there’s little to complain about with the Galaxy S23 FE’s real-world efficiency. Leaping between apps, double tapping the ability button to leap into the digicam app, unlocking utilizing the in-display fingerprint sensor, and loading up net pages all motor alongside in a really ‘flagship’ trend.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

The place I seen that the Galaxy S23 FE wasn’t working on the prime of its sport was when booting up Genshin Influence. It’ll run in Excessive graphical settings, however not as easily as an out-and-out flagship cellphone from 2024 and even 2023.

The reminiscence and storage choices are precisely the identical because the Galaxy S23, which suggests 8GB of RAM and both 128- or 256GB of inner capability. There’s no microSD slot to broaden that latter spec, so select rigorously.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE benchmarks

Cameras

• 50Mp primary digicam
• 12Mp ultrawide
• 8Mp telephoto
• 10Mp selfie

Samsung has outfitted the Galaxy S23 FE with a barely scaled again digicam system in comparison with the Galaxy S23. The principle 50Mp digicam and the 12Mp ultra-wide seem like the identical, however there’s a barely lesser 8Mp 3x telephoto digicam within the FE.

Even so, that shouldn’t take away from the truth that Samsung is providing a correct triple digicam system right here. That’s removed from widespread in something lower than an outright flagship, because the iPhone 15 and the Pixel 8 go to indicate.

The principle deal is that 50Mp shooter, after all, and it takes very stable pictures in a variety of lighting circumstances. It’s not the most recent or best sensor, however Samsung’s punchy processing ensures that you simply get constantly well-exposed, properly detailed pictures.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Samsung’s well-known color pop and picture processing accentuates surroundings and meals footage properly, whereas evening pictures are crisp and clear, if maybe a little bit over-brightened. You received’t have to manually swap to a devoted Night time mode both, due to Samsung’s good digicam AI.

The 12Mp ultra-wide clearly can’t match the primary sensor for element or clear publicity, nevertheless it’s nonetheless respectable. One factor Samsung has all the time executed effectively is provide an excellent color tone throughout all of its cameras, and that’s actually the case right here.

That applies, too, to the 8Mp 3x telephoto. Whereas its degree of element falls even decrease if you look intently, it nonetheless gives a notable enchancment over the cropped zooms of its equally priced rivals, aided little doubt by the availability of OIS help.

One other factor Samsung tends to do effectively is selfies, and the Galaxy S23 FE’s 10Mp entrance digicam acquits itself effectively, regardless of technically being a step down from the Galaxy S23’s 12Mp instance. Once more, Samsung’s picture processing is doing a little heavy lifting right here, nevertheless it ensures heat colors and a well-distinguished topic.

With a barely wider capturing angle, you may as well go for two ranges of framing relying on whether or not you’re after a solo or group shot.

Battery Life & Charging

• 4500mAh battery
• 25W charging
• 15W wi-fi charging
• No charging brick in field

With a a lot greater physique, Samsung has been capable of match the Galaxy S23 FE with a 4500mAh battery. That’s not large basically Android cellphone phrases, nevertheless it’s a lot greater than the Galaxy S23’s 3900mAh, and solely a little bit smaller than the Galaxy S23+‘s 4700mAh cell.

In my expertise, this was adequate to get by way of a day of sunshine to reasonable utilization (round 3 hours of display screen on time) with round half a tankful remaining. It ought to see you thru to bedtime on even a extra intensive day of utilization.

It didn’t fare so effectively within the PC Mark Work 3.0 battery take a look at, which simulates a cellphone working below an prolonged combined workload at 200 nits. At 10 hours and a couple of minutes, it fell greater than 4 hours wanting the Nothing Cellphone (2), and about 45 minutes wanting the Pixel 8 and Pixel 7a.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

There’s a 25W wired charging help however, similar to with different Galaxy telephones, you’ll want to provide the charger your self. Utilizing an applicable Samsung charger, I recorded the FE attending to 55% in half-hour.

It additionally helps 15W wi-fi charging, which is all the time welcome (although not distinctive) in a cellphone of this value.

Software program & Apps

• Android 14
• One UI 6
• 4 years of OS help, 5 of safety

On the time of writing, the Galaxy S23 FE has acquired its Android 14 replace, and is working Samsung’s customized One UI 6 on prime.

Samsung doesn’t precisely deal with Android with child’s gloves like, say, Motorola or Asus. It has its personal distinct method to software program and it doesn’t maintain again in making use of it.

Fortunately, Samsung’s expertise as one of many unique Android producers implies that its UI is as mature as anybody else’s. Because of this it’s reliable, polished, and fairly fluid. This maturity and consistency additionally implies that Samsung has endured with its personal method the place others (not least Google itself) have lengthy since diverged.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

The app tray sports activities a curious lateral scrolling format with no sense of alphabetical order; digital navigation buttons are taken because the default; and staple apps like Google Pockets and Google Calendar have to be manually downloaded from the Google Play Retailer.

Samsung has arguably earned the fitting to do issues its personal method – for a lot of thousands and thousands of individuals, the Samsung method is the Android method, in any case. However for somebody effectively versed in Google’s UI philosophy, all of it feels a bit cluttered, as evidenced by One UI’s extraordinarily busy notification/shortcut pane, or the availability of duplicate net browsers and app shops.

The much less stated about Bixby, Samsung’s all-but-sidelined private assistant, the higher.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Minimize by way of the litter, nevertheless, and One UI on the Galaxy S23 FE stays quick, fluid, and eminently customisable.

Like the remainder of the Galaxy S23 vary, Samsung is providing an honest software program help assurance, involving 4 years of OS updates (together with Android 14) and 5 years of safety updates. It would really feel prefer it got here to market a little bit later than it ought to have, however Samsung is dedicated to supporting the Galaxy S23 FE for the lengthy haul.

Value & Availability

With an RRP ranging from £599/$579.99 for 128GB of inner storage, shifting as much as £649/$639.99 for 256GB, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE occupies a place to the north of the mid-range market.

In consequence, it finds itself squeezed by sturdy competitors from the mid-range to at least one aspect and discounted ‘reasonably priced flagships to the opposite. For one factor, the worth of the Galaxy S23 itself has dropped to £699 within the wake of the Galaxy S24 launch, and that’s even earlier than you issue within the reductions that crop up for such older telephones.

Then there’s the Nothing Cellphone (2) with its comparable beginning value, the Pixel 8 for £100 extra, and the OnePlus Nord 3 for £100 much less.

One of many benefits of Samsung telephones is their large availability. You should buy the Galaxy S23 FE direct from the producer’s web site, after all, but in addition Amazon, Currys, AO and just about each different main cellphone retailer.

Discover out which handset we rank as the perfect mid-range telephones.

Must you purchase the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE?

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is a stable smartphone that provides a broadly flagship-like expertise for a less-than-flagship value. Its efficiency, show, and digicam system aren’t wherever close to prime of the pile, however they’re nonetheless respectable for the cash.

Its devoted 3x telephoto digicam is an actual boon at this value level, providing a welcome distinguishing issue in comparison with the Nothing Cellphone (2) and even the costlier Pixel 8. Conversely, neither the S23 FE’s {hardware} design nor its software program are as interesting as these aforementioned rivals.

There’s undoubtedly a timing challenge right here, with the Galaxy S23 FE quickly feeling considerably outdated inside Samsung’s vary, particularly with the older however flat-out-better Galaxy S23 now being closely discounted.

Even so, with respectable software program help and a complete characteristic set that features issues like wi-fi charging and IP68 certification, it stays a secure guess.

Specs

• Android 14
• 6.4in, FHD+, OLED, 120Hz, flat show
• In-display fingerprint sensor
• Exynos 2200
• 8GB RAM
• 128GB/256GB storage
• 50Mp, f/1.8 primary digicam
• 12Mp ultra-wide digicam
• 8Mp telephoto macro digicam
• As much as 8K @ 24fps rear video
• 10Mp front-facing digicam
• Stereo audio system
• Twin-SIM
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e
• Bluetooth 5.3
• 4500mAh battery
• 25W wired charging
• 15W wi-fi charging
• 158 x 76.5 x 8.2mm
• 209g
• Launch colors: Mint, Cream, Graphite, Purple, Indigo, Tangerine