Samsung has just introduced the Galaxy S23 FE, succeeding last year's S21 FE and bypassing the S22 FE entirely.
While it may not reach the heights of the flagship S23 models or the S22+, it offers an affordable alternative to those seeking a Samsung smartphone.
Design and Display
The device sports a 6.4-inch flat Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 1080p resolution and a variable 60-120Hz refresh rate for improved battery efficiency.
It's slightly larger and heavier than its predecessor, weighing 209g compared to the previous 177g.
Impressively, Samsung has constructed both the phone's body and internal components using sustainable materials, including pre-consumer aluminum, glass, and post-consumer plastic from recycled fishing nets, water barrels, and PET bottles. The phone is also IP68 water and dustproof.
Internals and Software
Samsung has been relatively tight-lipped about the chipset, only mentioning "Advanced 4nm Processing."
It appears to be an older silicon, but buyers can choose between the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or the Exynos 2200, depending on their region.
While it may not match the 2023 phones with dedicated "for Galaxy" chips, it still represents a significant upgrade over the Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100 found in the S21 FE.
This year's base configuration offers 8 GB of RAM, eliminating the previous 6 GB option. Storage options include 128 GB or 256 GB, with no expandable storage slot available.
Cameras
The camera system has received a substantial boost, with a 50MP sensor replacing the previous 12MP one.
However, it's worth noting that the S23 FE still falls short of the S23 and even the S22 models, particularly in terms of its lower-resolution ultrawide (10MP, 123°) and telephoto (8MP, 3x) cameras.
Surprisingly, the selfie camera has also dropped to a 10MP resolution after two generations of featuring 32MP sensors in the FE models.
Battery and Pricing
Despite being slightly bulkier than its predecessor, the S23 FE maintains the same 4,500 mAh battery capacity.
Wired charging remains at 25W, providing a 0-50% charge in just 30 minutes, and wireless charging is also supported. Pricing and availability details are yet to be revealed.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Specifications
- Chipset: Exynos 2200 (International) / Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (USA)
- CPU: Octa-core (1×2.8 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3×2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4×1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) – International
Octa-core (1×3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3×2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) – USA
- GPU: Xclipse 920 (International), Adreno 730 (USA)
- OS: Android 13, One UI 5.1
- Supported Networks: 2G, 3G, 4G LTE, 5G
- Display: 6.4″ Dynamic AMOLED with 1080 x 2340 pixels resolution, 120Hz, HDR10+
- Memory:
- RAM: 8 GB
- Internal: 128 GB, 256 GB
- Card slot: No
- Camera:
- Rear (Quad): 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), PDAF, OIS
- 8 MP, f/2.4, 75mm (telephoto), PDAF, 3x optical zoom
- 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide)
- Front: 10 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide)
- Colors: Mint, Cream, Graphite, Purple, Indigo, Tangerine
- Fingerprint sensor: Under-display
- Battery: 4,500 mAh, 25W wired charging, wireless charging
- Price: To be announced
