The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is a fresh ‘Fan Edition’ mobile phone that has recently made its debut in India. The device carries a price tag slightly lower than the standard Galaxy S23 model and presents a few compromises in comparison. However, it strives to offer a top-tier experience with its exquisite design, cutting-edge chipset, and triple rear camera arrangement. This setup includes an 8MP telephoto lens capable of achieving 3x optical zoom. To understand its real-life performance and compare it with rival devices, keep reading this comprehensive review of the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE.

Design

The design of the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE bears a striking resemblance to that of the Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus (review) flagships, which is quite understandable. The phone sports a flat back adorned with a layer of glass and three distinct camera rings. Its frame is made of aluminium and showcases elegantly curved edges. However, it’s important to note that the corners of the device may feel a bit sharp, especially considering its weight. Weighing in at 209 grams, it might be a slight inconvenience for users who enjoy holding their device for extended periods of time, such as when streaming or engaging in other activities. Furthermore, the Galaxy S23 FE cannot be considered compact by any means. With a thickness of 8.9mm and a height of approximately 6.22 inches, it is a sizable device. With that being said, I must commend the phone’s sleek and minimalist design, as well as its attractive Mint colour option. In addition to Mint, the handset is also available in Purple and Graphite colours. Moving forward, the S23 FE boasts an IP68 certification for water and dust resistance and features a USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer, conveniently located at the bottom edge of the device.

 

Display

The Galaxy S23 FE presents a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen with FHD+ resolution on its front. It possesses an adaptive refresh rate of 120Hz and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. Unfortunately, the display does not achieve the same bezel-less design as the more expensive Galaxy S23 series smartphones. However, it maintains the distinctive richness and vibrant colours that are typically associated with Samsung’s AMOLED panels. Additionally, the S23 FE impresses with its broad viewing angles and superb visibility even in direct sunlight. The device also holds Widevine L1 certification, ensuring a delightful streaming experience in FHD resolution from various OTT platforms. This is complemented by the phone’s stereo speakers, powered by Dolby Atmos, which deliver loud and crisp audio. In terms of security, the Galaxy S23 FE incorporates an in-display fingerprint scanner that is conveniently positioned and swiftly unlocks the smartphone.

 

Performance and Software

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is equipped with the advanced 4nm Exynos 2200 chipset at its core. For those who are not familiar, this exclusive chipset competes with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC in terms of performance. This remarkable chipset empowers the smartphone to effortlessly handle any task that comes its way, delivering unparalleled computing power. In day-to-day usage, the smartphone operates seamlessly, with no signs of lag or interruption. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE establishes itself as a dependable device for daily performance, ensuring that you can confidently rely on it for all your everyday tasks and activities. The phone comes in two RAM and storage options: 8GB + 128GB and 12GB + 256 GB. Unfortunately, there is no slot available to expand

The phone has storage of a micro SD card, so it’s essential to choose our preferred variant wisely. As for the software, the Galaxy S23 FE runs on OneUI 5.1, which is based on Android 13 right out of the box. The software experience is not noticeably different from Samsung smartphones released in the past year. While the phone does come with a few pre-installed apps, it maintains a clean and user-friendly interface. Additionally, it offers a range of customization options and features, including call recording and screen recording. Samsung has made a commitment to provide four years of significant software upgrades and an additional two years of security updates for this smartphone.

 

Camera

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is equipped with a triple rear-camera setup, comprising a 50MP primary detector, a 12MP ultra-wide-angle unit, and an 8MP zoom lens, particularly its telephoto lens which takes amazing close-ups. However, the latter lacks the same level of zoom capability as that of the S23 5G, providing only a 3x digital magnification instead of 10x. On the front, the device features a 10MP camera in a hole-punch design, perfect for video calls and self-portraits. Under bright sunlight, pictures taken with the wide-angle lens display distortion at the outer edges, yet still come off quite impressive. However, indoor and dim-lit situations bring about grainy, under-saturated images, compared to the more vivid and sharp imaging capabilities of the primary shooter. Clarity diminishes a bit in the night mode, despite its corrective capabilities, yet colour rendition remains impressive. Self-portraits are of decent quality for social media and possess vibrant colours, yet lack detail.

 

Battery

Sporting a humble 4,500mAh battery, the Galaxy S23 FE is capable enough to endure an entire day, if not longer, with regular utilization. The device provides a satisfactory 5 hours of screen-on-time (SOT) with a blend of usage. During the PC Mark battery test, the handset achieved an admirable score of 9 hours and 35 minutes. The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE accommodates 25W charging; however, it is crucial to acknowledge that the charger is not included in the package. Utilizing a non-Samsung 80W charger extended the charging time to over 90 minutes to achieve a full charge from 10 to 100 per cent.

 

Price

In India, the initial value for the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is Rs. 59,999. On October 12, 2023, Amazon is providing the device at its most affordable rate of Rs. 59,999. This expense is for the fundamental version of the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, including 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. The gadget is also obtainable in Mint, Graphite, and Purple color varieties. The advanced version with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage can be purchased for Rs. 64,999. You are free to select either of the two variants, available for purchase on Samsung.com and the Amazon India website as from October 5.

Thus, though the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE has some remarkable features, it also comes packed with a set number of drawbacks in its user experience too. However, it could be a good option for someone like me who loves to just have a Samsung phone in the pocket that would come off at a reasonable price. However, if you are someone looking for quite an engaging user experience with good camera facilities or a busy person, who needs to have hassle-free charging with long-lasting battery durability, then I would strictly advise to think of other options as the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE smartphone might not be the smartest option in the basket, certainly not fit enough to be a ‘fan’s edition’ as they claim it to be this time.