The $600 Samsung Galaxy S23 FE revives the corporate’s Fan Version, and is promoting for considerably lower than the unique worth Galaxy S23 for $800. Samsung on Tuesday unveiled the low-priced flagship telephone, which retains many cutting-edge options such because the inclusion of a telephoto lens for the digicam and reverse wi-fi charging. Nevertheless, there are noticeable modifications that will not have an effect on the telephone’s general enchantment, however they reveal how Samsung was in a position to provide the telephone with a worth distinction of $200. (Worldwide pricing wasn’t instantly accessible, however its US worth converts to roughly £500 and AU$950.)
This story is a part of Samsung occasionCNET’s assortment of reports, ideas, and how-tos on Samsung’s hottest merchandise.
The S23 FE launch comes after Samsung briefly discontinued the road in 2022, after it launched Galaxy S21 FE Early that 12 months however he determined For not launching the Galaxy S22 FE. These telephones goal to offer as a lot of a flagship telephone expertise as doable for much less cash, and in some circumstances enhance by together with a bigger battery and display screen. Whereas Samsung gives a variety of Galaxy A telephones Priced at $450 or much less, Samsung’s FE telephones are inclined to deal with the obvious options of its high-end line whereas making cuts in areas which may be much less apparent.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE has a 6.4-inch show.
Within the case of the Galaxy S23 FE, Samsung determined to downgrade with final 12 months’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor — however that processor continues to be very highly effective for many duties and might be present in Motorola telephones. $1000 Razr Plus Foldable telephone. There’s additionally a noticeable change within the look of the telephone, with the usual Galaxy S23 utilizing a glossier aluminum body than the aluminum used on the FE.
The Galaxy S23 FE has a 50MP large digicam and a 12MP ultra-wide digicam, much like the Galaxy S23, however the 8MP telephoto digicam is a slight step up from the S23’s common 10MP zoom digicam. The S23 FE additionally makes use of a 10-megapixel front-facing digicam, versus the 12-megapixel digicam on the usual S23.
Photograph taken with Samsung Galaxy S23 FE at Samsung showroom 837.
Nevertheless, the Galaxy S23 FE features a barely bigger battery than the unique S23: 4,500 versus 3,900 mAh. The telephone can be barely bigger than the Galaxy S23, because the FE features a 6.4-inch show that makes it barely shorter than the S23 Plus’ 6.6-inch show. The S23 FE’s show can function at a 120Hz refresh fee, however will modify between 60Hz, relying on telephone exercise, to avoid wasting battery.
However past these variations, the telephone shares many similarities with the Galaxy S23. This contains Android 13, 25W quick wired charging, wi-fi charging together with the power to wirelessly cost different gadgets, an in-display fingerprint sensor, and 128GB or 256GB storage choices. In contrast to cheaper $450 for the Galaxy A54 5GThe S23 FE doesn’t embrace expandable storage through microSD card.
The telephone shall be accessible in six colours at launch, with mint, purple, cream, and graphite stocked in shops. Indigo and Tangerine colours may also be accessible by means of Samsung’s web site.
Throughout my brief time with the telephone, I paired it with the Galaxy Watch 6, browsed web sites and took some pattern pictures at Samsung’s 837 showroom in New York.
The Galaxy S23 FE makes use of a 10-megapixel entrance digicam.
These truffles had been displayed at Samsung showroom 837. These are executed utilizing the default digicam zoom setting.
The identical cupcakes had been enlarged utilizing the Galaxy S23 FE’s telephoto lens.
Though I am going to want extra time with the telephone to get a greater impression, my preliminary ideas place the Galaxy S23 FE as much less of a ‘fanboy’ different, however as an possibility to think about as a step up from $499 Pixel 7A And Galaxy A54. Whereas a digicam take a look at could be wanted to see how the FE compares to the 7A, Samsung’s new telephone has a barely bigger display screen than Google’s telephone. The S23 FE additionally features a telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, which neither the 7A nor the Galaxy A54 do.
The Galaxy S23 FE arrives in the midst of the busy fall telephone season, debuting the night time earlier than Google plans to unveil its Pixel 8 line. Samsung can be more likely to unveil Galaxy S24 Early subsequent 12 months, that’s, just some months from now.
However the FE gives a extra premium possibility for these trying to step up from telephones that usually price $300-$500, and might present all of the fundamentals at that cheaper price.