June Wan/ZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysThe Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is the corporate’s newest Android telephone, coming with a 6.4-inch show, triple digital camera system, and OneUI software program options.With a beginning worth 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 telephone that does not compromise on the extra delicate issues like IP ranking, 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 improper, the $599 Android telephone is a stable deal; a variety of its finest options are additionally current in telephones which might be double the value. However its design feels uninspiring, its late-year launch looks like an afterthought, and Samsung now not sticking to its “Fan Version” branding removes a few of 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 provide you with the definitive record of explanation why you can 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 telephone does not scream premium, nevertheless it 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 every other sub-$600 telephone I’ve examined. And the absence of a curved show — which the trade as a complete appears to lastly be transferring away from — means it is a lot simpler to use a display protector.
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However, 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 sides, particularly when it is pressed towards your palm. The bezels are additionally obnoxiously thick for a 2023 telephone, 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 dearer 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 stage of hardness implies that the show can also be much less prone to get scratches and scuffs. I could not drop my telephone every single day, however I do carry it round in a pants pocket that will have cash, keys, and different small trinkets that may go away marks on the display.
Smartphone colours are getting boring, however not right here. Samsung, very like it has with earlier FE fashions, provides 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. In case you usually use your telephone with out a case — or with one of many clear TPU ones — then you definitely’ll be in for a deal with.
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A $599 telephone can solely provide you with a lot, and the compromises that try 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 loads able to dealing with extra strenuous duties like video enhancing and working sport emulators.
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However, it solely takes a couple of minutes earlier than the telephone 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 can be in a a lot, significantly better place.
A Professional capturing mode with focus peaking makes the Galaxy S23 FE digital camera a bit extra appropriate for photographers.
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As for the cameras, I am principally impressed by the 50MP foremost sensor, which captures photographs which might be surprisingly color-accurate and will definitely move the attention check. The shutter velocity can also be higher than I anticipated, pacing effectively 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 brief 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, here is the record of explanation why you can purchase the Galaxy S23 FE, together with some extras which might be delicate however make a notable distinction:
The most effective shows within the sub-$600 market, splendid for streaming and gaming on the go.Gorilla Glass 5 is low-key useful for customers who do not drop their telephones typically however steadily expertise scratches and scuffs.The Mint and Purple colours make different telephones look boring.An IP68 ranking and wi-fi charging help are sometimes lacking from telephones on this worth 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 does not essentially make both one any much less precious. The truth is, 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 will likely be a tough promote — and Samsung can solely blame itself for that.