The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is good but arrived at the wrong time

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

There’s clearly nonetheless a spot available in the market for a telephone just like the Galaxy S23 FE (fan version), providing specs that vaguely approximate a flagship for a lesser worth. However the competitors within the £/$500 to £/$600 worth class is a robust and diversified bunch.

With first rate efficiency, a vibrant show, and flagship options like wi-fi charging and a devoted telephoto digital camera, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE nonetheless has quite a bit to supply. There are query marks regarding whether or not it’s sufficient, nonetheless.

Take a look at the competitors in our choose of one of the best 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 title, Samsung has broadly caught to the Galaxy S23’s design language with the Galaxy S23 FE. It’s larger, bulkier, and customarily much less refined, but it surely in any other case seems to be 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 fairly 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 powerful.

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

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

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Subsequently, nonetheless, the telephone did endure a minor spill (I’m undecided it even certified as a drop) onto a picket desk from no greater than a foot within the air, after which I discovered a few contemporary albeit small marks on the body. Was that first ding a pre-existing situation in spite of everything, or is the Galaxy S23 FE body significantly liable to nicks and scrapes?

It’s not possible to name it both manner with any certainty, however I’d actually be fascinated with investing in a case if this was my telephone.

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 worth. The Nothing Telephone (2) solely provides an IP54 score, for instance.

Display screen & Audio system

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

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

Samsung is a dab hand with AMOLED expertise by this level, and the Galaxy S23 FE outputs vibrant color. You may wish to reign these in a 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 worth. With a 98.6% sRGB gamut protection and a mean Delta E of 1.94, it’s removed from unhealthy, however ‘punched up’ is unquestionably 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 clean 120Hz peak refresh price, locations it proper up there with the remainder of the S23 vary, although a said 1450 nits peak brightness drops it a bit brief. You continue to get assist for HDR10+ content material, although.

With autobrightness turned off, I discovered the highest brightness setting to be a fairly meagre 394 nits. It’s comfy to have a look at even once 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 digital camera mounting. It’s distracting, and it additionally resembles the strategy taken with cheaper telephones.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

All-in-all, this can be a fairly first rate show for the cash, although the equally priced Nothing Telephone (2) show will get barely brighter, and is a extra superior LTPO panel to regulate the refresh price all the way down to 1Hz to save lots of 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 telephone, 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 manner decrease CPU and GPU benchmark scores. The truth is, it scores far nearer to (and certainly barely behind) the Nothing Telephone (2) with its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1.

Taken in isolation, nonetheless, 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 digital camera app, unlocking utilizing the in-display fingerprint sensor, and loading up net pages all motor alongside in a really ‘flagship’ vogue.

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 Impression. It’ll run in Excessive graphical settings, however not as easily as an out-and-out flagship telephone 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 inside capability. There’s no microSD slot to develop that latter spec, so select rigorously.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE benchmarks

Cameras

• 50Mp predominant digital camera
• 12Mp ultrawide
• 8Mp telephoto
• 10Mp selfie

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

Even so, that shouldn’t take away from the truth that Samsung is providing a correct triple digital camera 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 point out.

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

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Samsung’s well-known color pop and picture processing accentuates surroundings and meals photos properly, whereas evening photographs are crisp and clear, if maybe a bit over-brightened. You gained’t have to manually change to a devoted Evening mode both, because of Samsung’s sensible digital camera AI.

The 12Mp ultra-wide clearly can’t match the principle sensor for element or clear publicity, but it surely’s nonetheless first rate. One factor Samsung has at all times performed effectively is provide a fair 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 once you look carefully, it nonetheless presents a notable enchancment over the cropped zooms of its equally priced rivals, aided little question by the availability of OIS assist.

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

With a barely wider capturing angle, you can too 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 larger physique, Samsung has been capable of match the Galaxy S23 FE with a 4500mAh battery. That’s not huge generally Android telephone phrases, but it surely’s a lot larger than the Galaxy S23’s 3900mAh, and solely a bit smaller than the Galaxy S23+‘s 4700mAh cell.

In my expertise, this was ample to get via 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 telephone working below an prolonged combined workload at 200 nits. At 10 hours and a couple of minutes, it fell greater than 4 hours in need of the Nothing Telephone (2), and about 45 minutes in need of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 7a.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Jon Mundy / Foundry

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

It additionally helps 15W wi-fi charging, which is at all times welcome (although not distinctive) in a telephone of this worth.

Software program & Apps

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

On the time of writing, the Galaxy S23 FE has obtained its Android 14 replace, and is operating 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 strategy to software program and it doesn’t maintain again in making use of it.

Fortunately, Samsung’s expertise as one of many authentic Android producers implies that its UI is as mature as anybody else’s. Which means it’s reliable, polished, and fairly fluid. This maturity and consistency additionally implies that Samsung has persevered with its personal strategy 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 must be manually downloaded from the Google Play Retailer.

Samsung has arguably earned the best to do issues its personal manner – for a lot of thousands and thousands of individuals, the Samsung manner is the Android manner, in spite of everything. 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

Reduce via the muddle, nonetheless, 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 assist 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 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 inside 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.

Consequently, it finds itself squeezed by robust competitors from the mid-range to at least one aspect and discounted ‘inexpensive 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 Telephone (2) with its comparable beginning worth, the Pixel 8 for £100 extra, and the OnePlus Nord 3 for £100 much less.

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

Discover out which handset we rank as one of the best 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 worth. Its efficiency, show, and digital camera system aren’t wherever close to prime of the pile, however they’re nonetheless first rate for the cash.

Its devoted 3x telephoto digital camera is an actual boon at this worth level, providing a welcome distinguishing issue in comparison with the Nothing Telephone (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 positively a timing situation 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 first rate software program assist and a complete function set that features issues like wi-fi charging and IP68 certification, it stays a secure wager.

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 predominant digital camera
• 12Mp ultra-wide digital camera
• 8Mp telephoto macro digital camera
• As much as 8K @ 24fps rear video
• 10Mp front-facing digital camera
• 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