June Wan/ZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysThe Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is the corporate’s newest Android cellphone, coming with a 6.4-inch show, triple digital camera system, and OneUI software program options.With a beginning value of $599, it sits oddly between the similar-looking Galaxy A54 5G ($449) and the extra premium Galaxy S23 ($799).Customers ought to think about the Galaxy S23 FE if they need a great-value Samsung cellphone that does not compromise on the extra delicate issues like IP score, wi-fi charging, and software program help.
I have been testing the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE over the previous two weeks and I hate to confess how a lot of a battle it has been to seek out the most effective shopping for recommendation.
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Do not get me incorrect, the $599 Android cellphone is a strong deal; quite a lot of its finest options are additionally current in telephones which can be double the worth. However its design feels uninspiring, its late-year launch looks like an afterthought, and Samsung not sticking to its “Fan Version” branding removes among the “for the folks” luster that the unique mannequin launched.
So, why does the Galaxy S23 FE exist? After a lot deliberation and some too many loopy partitions, I’ve give you the definitive listing of explanation why you should purchase Samsung’s newest smartphone above all else, even when it is the corporate’s most complicated launch this yr.
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Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
The corporate’s newest Galaxy cellphone would not scream premium, but it surely bears simply sufficient options to place it a tier above the mid-range competitors.
First, let’s discuss design. There are some parts to love right here, and a few others that aren’t as interesting to me. For instance, I like the flat, 6.4-inch AMOLED show that refreshes at 120Hz. This display, in most lighting circumstances, is extra vibrant and brighter than some other sub-$600 cellphone I’ve examined. And the absence of a curved show — which the trade as an entire appears to lastly be shifting away from — means it is a lot simpler to use a display protector.
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Then again, the aluminum sides, although polished and seemingly sturdy sufficient to take a drop or two, do not curve into the again glass as easily as I might want. This makes the Galaxy S23 FE really feel rougher on the perimeters, particularly when it is pressed in opposition to your palm. The bezels are additionally obnoxiously thick for a 2023 cellphone, however I digress.
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Talking of sturdiness, this mannequin comes with a Gorilla Glass 5 entrance panel, a downgrade on paper in comparison with the Gorilla Glass Victus discovered on costlier telephones, however secretly higher for day-to-day use.
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That is as a result of whereas Gorilla Glass 5 isn’t as shatterproof as its successor, the decrease degree of hardness signifies that the show can be much less prone to get scratches and scuffs. I could not drop my cellphone on daily basis, however I do carry it round in a pants pocket that will have cash, keys, and different small trinkets that may depart marks on the display.
Smartphone colours are getting boring, however not right here. Samsung, very like it has with earlier FE fashions, affords the Galaxy S23 FE in Cream, Graphite, Mint, and Purple (pictured beneath). It is extra of a Barney-purple than anything and helps the machine pop in a sea of dark-colored slabs. When you usually use your cellphone and not using a case — or with one of many clear TPU ones — then you definately’ll be in for a deal with.
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A $599 cellphone can solely provide you with a lot, and the compromises that you have to be conscious of with the Galaxy S23 FE primarily stem from the processor and digital camera system. A Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip powers the machine, and it is a lot able to dealing with extra strenuous duties like video modifying and operating recreation emulators.
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However, it solely takes a couple of minutes earlier than the cellphone begins to heat up, resulting in the eventual framerate drop and app freeze. Had Samsung gone with a extra power-efficient chipset, such because the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Plus that got here out simply months after the 8 Gen 1, the Galaxy S23 FE could be in a a lot, significantly better place.
A Professional taking pictures mode with focus peaking makes the Galaxy S23 FE digital camera somewhat extra appropriate for photographers.
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As for the cameras, I am largely impressed by the 50MP essential sensor, which captures photographs which can be surprisingly color-accurate and will definitely move the attention take a look at. The shutter velocity can be higher than I anticipated, pacing properly with the $900 iPhone 15 Plus and $1,700 OnePlus Open that I used to be additionally testing on the time. The place the triple digital camera system falls quick is within the 12MP ultrawide and 8MP telephoto lenses, each of which — as a lot as I benefit from the versatility of — cannot produce as a lot element and readability as the primary sensor.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
To summarize, this is the listing of explanation why you should purchase the Galaxy S23 FE, together with some extras which can be delicate however make a notable distinction:
Among the best shows within the sub-$600 market, perfect for streaming and gaming on the go.Gorilla Glass 5 is low-key useful for customers who do not drop their telephones usually however continuously expertise scratches and scuffs.The Mint and Purple colours make different telephones look boring.An IP68 score and wi-fi charging help are sometimes lacking from telephones on this value vary. Not right here.Samsung is promising as much as 5 years of safety patches and 4 years of working system updates.
That mentioned, whereas the Galaxy S23 FE sits between the Galaxy A54 and S23 within the Samsung hierarchy, it would not essentially make both one any much less useful. Actually, you are extra prone to discover the 2 older Samsung telephones on sale this vacation procuring season than the S23 FE, which launched only some weeks in the past.
If retailers find yourself slashing $100-$200 off the Galaxy S23 mannequin, very like how they did throughout July’s Prime Day occasion, the S23 FE can be a tough promote — and Samsung can solely blame itself for that.